Thursday 18 February 2016

Free Motion Mavericks - Week 81 - Still Experimenting


This is as far as I have got with my latest experiment, using thermal curtain lining and one of my posh new needles that arrived through the post last week.  The idea was to reproduce the changes of tone that worked so well in the sunset landscape that I put into the 12 x 12 exhibition at Midsomer Quilting last year.

However, once I had done a small area of stitching for the sky in the distance, compared with last year's landscape, which is on calico and for which I used a finer needle, somehow the colours looked sludgy. 

Not even the patch of pink light in the photos can compensate for the dirty sky, but I rather like the illusion.  We have a bit of stained glass in the kitchen, and I am so used to the pretty colours it throws around on a sunny morning that I didn't even notice it until I looked at the photos later.

 

Eventually I worked out that the bobbin thread was showing through.  There isn't a problem with the tension, but because I have been using a thicker needle, and the curtain lining is more resistant, it doesn't close up over the hole left by the needle.  So the multi purpose mixed beige and neutral colour that I have used in the bobbin for all my previous landscapes shall have to be replaced by a different shade when I am working on curtain lining.


However, having made a start on the landscape, I had a change of plan last Friday.  I am busting my buttons to get a large quilt done very quickly.  For the moment it shall have to remain under wraps, but here is the back of the first section I have quilted.  The alternating waves and swirls are very easy and uncomplicated, so I should have this quilt finished by the end of the month.




blogbutton photo peacockfmq025_zpse5bceb10.jpg


Here goes for week 81...
 
A special welcome to Margarita, the first person to link up from Russia!

And it just so happens that the post in Week 80 that really caught my eye shows her beautiful collection of white quilted doilies, which she made using fabric that her mother bought over forty years ago.  If you haven't seen Margarita's blog post yet, nip over now and see more photos.

 



If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-

1.  Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2.  Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.
  
3.  Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.

4.  The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.

So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau and Russia have taken part.  The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.


Linking up to Kelly's blog My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday
and Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Nina-Marie's blog Creations... Quilts, Art... Whatever for Off The Wall Friday.
 

3 comments:

  1. Pretty quilting, Muv, even if it's not quite what you intended! Keep on experimenting - it's great to see all the possibilities! Whoop whoop!!

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  2. Thank you very much for the mention in the text of the post. With great pleasure I read your blog. particularly on the free stitch and sewing machines. My mother is an old Russian machine, probably 40-50-ies. The mechanism does not move. When I come to my mother. be sure to make it out of her, I shall clean and grease the. Hopefully. the machine will sew! The main parts are not confused))))

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    Replies
    1. Delighted to see you here, Margarita. Good luck with your mother's machine!

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