Progress

I realize it's been a while since I posted.

Not much exciting and picture worthy going on around here.

We're getting ready to put up a second pen for the chickens and ducks.

We have all the supplies but haven't actually started yet.

Hopefully this week we will start.

I have basted two quilts in preparation for quilting.

A close up of the exciting basting stitches.

It took me two to three days per quilt sandwich.

Lots of hours sitting on the floor and stitching.

I think we're all thankful to have the living room floor back.

:)

(From one of my practice sessions.)

This is the first big project I have attempted to stitch free motion quilting.

I have to be honest and say I'm a bit intimidated.

I spent nearly a week practicing.

It is easier than I thought and yet it's challenging at the same time.

There's a lot to think about and do.

It takes coordination to move the quilt with my hands while the sewing machine stitches.

Think of it as if someone was holding a pencil stationary while

you moved the paper to draw something.

It takes practice.

Move too slow and you have tiny stitches.

Move too fast and you have large stitches.

I can change the speed and stitch length of my machine.. but it has to be coordinated with how I sew.

I watched a lot of videos on Youtube.

Practice, practice, practice.

Feeling semi-confident, I dove right in.

I know it won't be perfect and there will be lots of mistakes.

I'm OK with that. I have to start somewhere.

This was about halfway through the first side.

I was really satisfied with my progress.

Ah...pride before a fall.

 

It was then that I realized the batting had folded over and I had quilted it into the back.

Oops.

The good news is that due to the way I'm working on this project, no one will see this side.

I wasn't about to rip out stitches and redo this area.

I simply cut as close to the stitching as possible and left it.

:)

As I got to the darker fabric it was nearly impossible to see my stitches.

I began marking a box to sew in.

This has helped to keep me from stitching over my previous area.

I'm about halfway through one of the quilts.

I might be quite proficient by the time I'm done with both of them.

OK maybe not, but I'll have the experience!

I'm also occasionally working on my confetti table runner.

I have two sides attached.

I'm getting closer to actually finishing this top. :)