Although most of the trees have now lost their leaves, there are still a few field maples giving a splash of yellow here and there. I brought a leaf home so I could try capturing the shape in outline. After a dodgy start and getting a bad stitch because I had loaded the bobbin in the bobbin case the wrong way round, I managed to settle down to some serious treadling.
The leaf is strategically placed to cover the duff stitching. I might get round to unpicking it, or I might leave it in as a reminder to keep my wits about me when putting the bobbin in.
Somehow I ended up making the leaves more or less actual size. Really they needed to have been a bit smaller, so the gaps between the stems and stalks didn't look so empty.
The helicopters were a bit tricky because the wings stick out horizontally. Perhaps I will leave them out next time, they felt like a bit more fuss than they were worth.
However, I enjoyed doing the leaves, even though they ended up looking a bit more like ornamental acers rather than the field maples in the hedgerows.
Tea cosy update Carla has emailed me to say that the cosy has now safely arrived in Holland, and she has sent me a lovely photo taken at a free motion quilting class. Thank you Carla!
This post is being linked to Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Friday
and Leah Day's blog for Free Motion Friday - lots more blogs for you to visit!
They turned out really well. I can only hope to get better with more practice.
ReplyDeleteWow! I think it looks wonderful. I tried doing maple leaves on one of my doll quilts and they just morphed into other types of leaves. :) I'm amazed at yours and how closely they've stayed like each other. Great job.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilting. Your design is great!
ReplyDeleteMuv, how in the world do you make these beautiful leaves fit together so nicely? You have a spatial eye, for certain, and as always your stitching is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI've tried maple leaves, but ended up with some spectacularly wonky stars. LOL Beautiful work Muv.
ReplyDeleteI love these leaves! Actually, leaves are one of the first FMQ things I learned to quilt with confidence. Yours are gorgeous, and I actually like the helicopters, very lifelike!
ReplyDeleteThose are just lovely! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYour leaves are beautiful! They turned out so well.
ReplyDeleteA really lovely pattern! Thanks for this idea!
ReplyDeleteHello Lizzie! Thanks for never failing to inspire me with your quilting styles. I was wondering what your favourite variegated thread was-your colours are always beautiful. Thanks. E
ReplyDeleteps. I managed to get my mitts on a Singer 15 a few weeks after posting to you and she free-motions like a dream! Thank you. xx
Hello Anonymous E,
DeleteOh excellent news! I am so pleased you are getting on so well with your Singer 15. I always use Sulky cotton 30, definitely the best thread for the vintage machines - and the best colours.
http://www.barnyarns.co.uk/variegated-shades/
Every time I go to the quilt shop I come out with three more colours.
Ahh, I see that you live near Bristol not Suffolk.!
ReplyDeleteYes Valerie... not very handy for Suffolk!
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