Sunday, November 27, 2011

QAYGFMQQAL #1

I am not good at keeping secrets. Holding in the sponsor-competition until December 26 may just kill me. And I already had one cat in the bag so two is too many. In my opinion, one cat in a bag is too many. I don't like cats. Except this one - I'd brake for this one because he is awesome and his name is Trouble. Honesttogoodnesscrossmyheartandhopetodie.
Dogs examining Trouble the black-n-white cat striking yoga poses in front of them. Right before the dogs freaked out.

So I'm going to let the first cat out of the bag.

I have been following with interest Cindy's fantastic Free Motion Fridays at Fluffy Sheep Quilting. One of my quilting aims for this year was to improve my free-motion quilting and I'm happy to say I've been getting better, but still have a long way to go. I had so many projects on at the time that I couldn't join in with Cindy and the gang. And it was mostly aimed at beginners, and I'm more intermediate. But I've been watching Cindy, Toni and a few others who have been FMQing their little hearts out and thinking what a great idea that was...

But I'd love to be able to use ALL of those pretty patterns in one quilt, so....

I decided that I'm going to do an 'intermediate' level, Quilt As You Go Free Motion Quilt-a-long (or a QAYGFMQQAL) starting in the new year.


You need basic FMQing skills, a pile of scraps of batting (or you can cut some up if you prefer) and a stack of solid colours, 6.5" squares.

I'm doing it to improve my free-motion skills and to increase my range and repertoire, but I'd love for you to join in too! I've talked Cindy of Tops To Treasures (what is it with Cindys and quilting?), Tamara of Quickstitch Quilting and Kay "Shocking" Hocking into doing a guest post for me as professional FMQ'rs but it will mostly be my dodgy domestic FMQ-ing, so don't feel intimidated!

I'm going to put up a linky party, probably on a fortnightly basis, for you to share your post on what you have done. It's kicking off in January, so if you're in, let me know in a comment and I'll either email you a requirements list or post one if there are a few people interested. And feel free to grab a button!

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22 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 27, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    I'm in, me me *waves hand excitedly in the air. I also was too busy to join in with Cindy and would probably say I'm more advanced beginner to intermediate so I really look forward to this!
    Can't wait to see what the professionals have to say too!

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  2. NicNovember 27, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    Our first cat was called Twit. I've also had a cat called Mischief. And though my current cat is called Macros (think Raymond E Feist, The Magician), he's also affectionately known as Painful Child.

    So I totally get a cat called Trouble :)

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  3. Sarah November 27, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    I am so in with this chick!
    If I get a chance before Christmas I'll be chopping a pile of wadding ready to go :)

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  4. Cindy SharpNovember 27, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    My family had a cat named Trouble when I was a kid, but my favorite kitty of all time is my little Fool of a Took.

    Looking forward to joining in on the fun.

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  5. GilesNovember 27, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    my cat Maggie definitely is trouble with a capital T! though she's very Jeckyl and Hyde (not sure how you spell that!) and is soppy one minute and spawn of Satan the next!

    Not sure I'll be up to FMQing though I did buy a book on it yesterday (intended as a Secret Santa gift ... ) so who knows, if I get chance I may take my first FMQ steps and be able to join in with your FMQ-a-long!

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  6. RachelNovember 27, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Looks like fun...to watch and learn from...LOL...I am really more of a beginner. Maybe an advanced beginner, but nowhere near intermediate...LOL

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  7. M-R CharbonneauNovember 28, 2011 at 12:13 AM

    Woo hoo! I'm in! Sounds like a lot of fun!

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  8. JaneNovember 28, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    I'm in, looking forward to it!
    Looks like you're attracting all the cat lovers here ;) - my cats aren't trouble, they're superheroes, at least they should be with names like Flash and Bolt.

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  9. SusanNovember 28, 2011 at 3:47 AM

    Oooh! Looks like fun! I'm in!

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  10. Kate @KwiltsbyKateNovember 28, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    I have heaps of scraps for this, can't wait to get started!

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  11. fabrics loverNovember 29, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    count me in..saya ikut..

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  12. MelissaNovember 29, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I'd love to join in! I was going to use all of my FMQ samples from FMQ Fridays but I'm going to have to repurpose those for another project!

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  13. NickyNovember 29, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    I am an ex FMQ Friday participant with Cindy and though just a beginner I will be practising until you start your QAL! Hope I can join in!

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  14. AllisonNovember 29, 2011 at 11:01 PM

    I'd love to join in, even though I can't call myself intermediate at FMQ, but I'll do my best to keep up :)

    I have a tortise-shell cat whose favorite way to nap is all stretched out like that :) Those yoga poses must be doing her some good, she is 18 years old now :)

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  15. Foolish FeathersNovember 30, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    Man, I am going to have to practice like crazy if I want to get to Intermediate by the time everything starts! I like to think that I am a fast learner, but I only have 3 FMQ stitches under my belt so far. I am so glad you came up with the idea cause I have wondered what a quilt made up of different stitches would look like.

    Since FMQ is the only thing I am officially allowing myself to do when baby girl comes, please count me in! (I have already been making little practice sandwiches to practice so I will add a couple dozen more).

    My brother used to have a cat I used to affectionally call "roadkill" for its love of darting out in front of cars...

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  16. Pat MerkleDecember 1, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    I'm in!!!! I was one of those from FM Friday! I'm ready to step it up a notch!

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  17. LynneDecember 1, 2011 at 5:27 AM

    That sounds exciting but I am still a beginner (although I have signed up for a Kim Bradley class in January!)

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  18. Janine @ Rainbow HareDecember 3, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    I'm very much a beginner - just a few weeks linking with Cindy but I'd love to give it a try :)

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  19. Danny HeyenDecember 4, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    I want to join!

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  20. Erin @ Billy Button DesignDecember 6, 2011 at 2:54 AM

    I'm joining up too...if that's ok

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  21. CalicojoanDecember 11, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    Great project, I think I have to be a part of it too!

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  22. Beverley's DesignsDecember 28, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    i'll be in this more practise lol email is beverley_812@hotmail.com .looking forward to this one ...

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