Tuesday 31 May 2016

Flying Geese Mini Quilt.....

As some of you may be aware, since the beginning of the year I have really been practising hard to improve my free motion quilting and I have had some success.  I showed you recently the finished quilt I had made using the free motion quilting exercise blocks from a Craftsy class that I have been following taught by Christina Cameli.


I also showed you the quilt I finished following an online Quilt-a-long shared by Lori Kennedy of the Inbox Jaunt.


I was really pleased with both these quilts and with the progress that I have been making with my free motion quilting generally. I have regularly been making a free motion quilted block here and there which I am going to make into another quilt-as-you-go quilt when I feel I have made enough blocks and, this has been more good practice. 


The idea for this quilt comes from Christina Cameli's first book which is called 'First Steps to Free Motion Quilting'.


These projects have all been invaluable to helping me improve but, I really wanted to try quilting something that I had pieced from scratch and was a bit larger than the practice blocks I have been making.  With this in mind, I planned out and pieced together a small quilt taking inspiration from a quilt I had seen somewhere (don't remember where) some while ago and, which I knew would have the prefect amount of piecing and negative space to practice my quilting on.  I call it my flying geese quilt and I finished it this weekend.


I am delighted with how it has turned out.  I quilted it in sections using four different quilting patterns.


In the bigger open areas I used two different quilting patterns. An all over spiral (above) and a 'beads on a string' pattern (below).


Between the flying geese blocks there were smaller rectangles of space which I quilted using pebbles.


Finally, in the background of the flying geese blocks themselves I densely quilted using closely spaced lines.


I didn't quilt the 'geese' at all and this dense quilting next to them has the effect of making them puff out a little.  I love the overall texture and it was a fun little quilt to make!


40 comments:

  1. You are becoming a rock star quilter! Your determination is paying off. You are the second person I know who has recommended Christina's lessons. Love your little quilt. Love the little beads on a string. There is very little sewing going on in this neck of the woods. Summer is here. Garden time is here.
    Hope your day is beautiful. Janita

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    1. Thank you Janita! I am really pleased with this quilt.... I should be out in the garden more myself.... I have a lot of weeds growing!! I have an excuse today though.... it is pouring with rain! You have a lovely day too! Christine x

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  2. So fabulous! You did so well and practising really shows al fruit now. Love your Flyinggeese quilt and the pop up of the geese adds an additional effect to the lovely quilting. Well done, Christine!Hugs Martina

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    1. Thank you Martina! I am very pleased with this quilt and I think the quilting improves as your confidence grows! Hope you are enjoying a lovely week! Christine x

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  3. Wow Christine,this looks amazing,you are so clever my friend,well done xx

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    1. Thank you Shez! All those hours of practice are really starting to pay off! Christine x

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  4. What a beautiful quilt! Well done. I have Christina's book too but have not had the courage to attempt anything; but the photos of your work have given me the encouragment to give it a go. Thanks Christine ☺

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    1. Thank you! I hope that you do give it a go.... I am so pleased I stuck with it! All the practice is certainly worthwhile! Christine x

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  5. Great job with the quilting! Your geese really do pop out. I'm getting a little better at quilting, but I can never decide what pattern to do!

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    1. Thank you Sunny! I am just so pleased that I stuck with it.... the practice is certainly helping! Christine x

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  6. Your quilting is perfekt! If you set yourself a goal you always go after it, and I say you conquered free motion quilting!
    KATRIN W.

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    1. Thank you Katrin! I really was determined this time to improve and the practice has certainly paid off! Christine x

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  7. What great examples of your free motion quilting - looks as if you are getting really good! Well done

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    1. Thank you Pauline! It has been hard work but I am finally feeling a lot more confident! Christine x

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  8. This quilt is just so beautiful! It's incredible how the quilting plays so much part in a quilt; I'm really glad you can add this skill to your projects. Perhaps next time I should just jump in and give it a try... with a small quilt, of course! Have a nice week, Ariadna.

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    1. Thank you Ariadna! The quilting makes such a difference... I just love the texture it adds. I am so glad I am finally feeling more confident with it! Have a lovely week too! Christine x

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  9. I really like the FMQ backgrounds, they give such a pretty effect. Your practice is paying off, you are getting good! xx

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    1. Thanks Janet! They remind you of filling in Zentangles! I love the texture they add! Have a lovely week! Chrissie x

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  10. What a fun little project to show off your FM skills! You are living proof that practice is making perfect.

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    1. Thank you Mary Anne! I have certainly been working hard to improve and it is great to see it paying off! Christine x

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  11. It's fantastic. Love the way the quilting pops those flying geese!. Your quilting looks great - how clever are you! All of that practice has really paid off. It encourages me to try some more.

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    1. Thank you! I was really pleased with how this turned out... the practising has helped a lot! Christine x

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  12. Wow Christine, I'm very impressed, your quilting looks fantastic. Well done

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    1. Thank you Leanne! I was really happy with the results! Hope you are having a good week! Christine x

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  13. Wow--lots of fun quilting designs--my favorite is the beads on a string--looks very challenging!

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    1. Thank you Karen! I am having a lot of fun with my free motion quilting! Christine x

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  14. You are simply taking off into the great blue yonder with your FMQ Christine! This is a gorgeous quilt and the perfect design for letting your creativity fly! I love it!

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    1. Thank you Lara! I really enjoyed piecing and quilting this little project... I love the finished quilt! Christine x

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  15. Wonderful work Christine! Your FMQ is looking so beautiful and I love all the different effects and textures you have created here...lovely!
    Helen xox

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    1. Thank you Helen! I really enjoyed putting this project together and I love how the quilting turned out! Christine x

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  16. Dear Christine,
    my goodness, dear Christine your quilting is so lovely and good, I´m a little bit gealous... not really ;-))
    But you made such large exercises that your success is more than deserved.
    L-O-V-E-L-Y is your little Flying Geese Quilt. Have just much fun with the Quilt.
    Many hugs
    sigisart

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    1. Thank you Sigrid! I really enjoyed making this quilt and I love how it turned out! Enjoy the rest of your week! Christine x

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  17. I love seeing how dedicated practice turns someone from a beginner to a nothing-can-stop-you quilter! You are doing lovely work! Soon you'll be teaching FMQ classes : )

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    1. Thank you Christina! I have so enjoyed your classes and I have really caught the FMQ bug.... I keep looking for things I can quilt on! The practice definitely helped a lot! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

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  18. The practice has certainly paid off Christine. Your FMQ is looking amazing! What a lovely little quilt you designed. How clever!
    Barbara xx

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    1. Thank you Barbara! I am really enjoying the FMQ now which is something I didn't think I would hear myself say! Have a lovely weekend! Christine x

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  19. The quilting looks fantastic, you should be so proud!

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    1. Thank you Wendy! I am very pleased with my progress! Have a good weekend! Christine x

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  20. That really does look fantastic! Good job!

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