FMQing at last! FMQAL Row 1, blocks 1 and 2

Now the blocks are prepared, it's time to start FMQing at last!

I'm assuming you are familiar with FMQ basics so won't go into that again. Cindy's tips may be useful to reread (putting some calming music on would be a good idea if you're not into singing lullabies!).

Here are my top tips to remember:

Blocks sandwiched and quilted in the ditch

1. Drop your feed dogs (Leah Day suggests not to - try both ways and decide what works for you).
2. Put a new needle in. Blunt needles make a negative and noticeable difference.
3. Get your gloves out (it took me years of scoffing to try gloves - now I can't FMQ without them. Mine are $2 rubber tipped stretchy gardening gloves from the local hardware store)
4. Set your needle to the down position if you can. Two reasons. First, this prevents drag when you stop. It stops you inadvertantly moving the fabric when you stop as you take your hands over it. Second, if you want to pause and pivot the fabric so you can go in a different direction, you can without moving the fabric away from your last stitch.
5. Have a glass of wine if it's the right time of day. :) 

Choose your thread according to your confidence level:

• Option A: You're really not sure of yourself and won't be able to look at this thing if there are loads of obvious mistakes - choose monofilament 'invisible' thread.
• Option B: You're ok, you want to see your stitches but a bit worried about how it will look - use a medium contrast thread like grey or beige.
• Option C: Really good or really want to put yourself out there, mistakes be damned, high contrast thread like white.

I was going to be chicken go B, but I decided to be courageous and going for C. Again, no claims to be an expert here. I'm sure some of your blocks will smash mine, but this is about me improving my skills and being honest about it. (I almost don't care what you think of my stitching skills! But please feel free to leave nice comments telling me how wonderful I am!) :)

The first four designs are going to be based on curved free-motion quilting. I'll give you two at a time and I'll aim for every week on Thursday. At the end of the month, I'll post a  linky party as summary of our achievements.

To start with, choose your lightest block with the least contrast. (Although white on white is cheating!).

Row 1, Block 1 - practising curves

Loop-the-loop is my favourite FMQ design. It's great for butterfly and bee trails if you are appliquing flying critters. In a stipple you shouldn't cross over, but in a loop-the-loop, you need to.

It looks best (in my humble opinion) if you alternate the ways your loops go - so if you go down for one loop, go up for the next. Start in a corner. Loop up, loop around, loop down... Meander as you wish over the block. I've tested an app for my iPad demonstrating how this works. It's not as good as a video, but I'm working with what I've got available here!

Option if you don't want to loop the loop: Stipple or another favourite rounded filler (not spirals which are block 3).

Your turn!!!

A little while later...

Now, how fun was that?! A lot, I'm assuming. One is just not enough, so here's your second block building on the loop-the-loop.

Block 2: Flowers

This is a variation on the loop-the-loop. It's easier than it looks (but I can see at least one spot where I've screwed up so don't look too closely!). I'll show you step by step below the picture.

Ok, here's another ultra-dorky video from me... I will get better. Any suggestions?


Now, off you go!  I'll post the next two next week, and the linky party a week after that. :) It's my first QAL, so any feedback or suggestions welcome! I'm definitely Trying New Things with this app!



Remember, if you need any solids, Pink Castle Fabrics is offering 15% off for QuokkaQuilters with the code QQQ15. 
Have fun!