I planned to work on the baby quilt this afternoon, but as it is quite a few weeks since I last did any free motion quilting (fmq), I thought I ought to have a bit of practice first (it's amazing how quickly you get out of the rhythm of fmq!) So I made up a sandwich with calico and cotton wadding, chose a contrasting thread (so that I could see what I was doinng) and got out my finger-gripper thingies
a short time later, I had produced this
well - good bits, and not so good bits! When I was watching the Ricky Timms show the other day, a guest on the show was demonstrating how to do a free motion ribbon. I think I need to work on mine!
I also recently watched someone doing free motion feathers ...... and again mine definitely needs more work - this doesn't remotely resemble a feather!
however I was happy with these flowers, although I prefer them without the cirle in the centre
the next task was to make up a little sample with the fabics from the baby quilt, backed with a piece of the fleece that the quilt is backed with
I had a good first session
and now for the finished project! I finally stitched the handles on to the block holder
I needed something rigid to hold clip the blocks to, and to give shape to the block holder ...... so when Malcolm bought this packet of two plastic chopping boards during the week (intending them for the kitchen) I immediately snaffled them!
I had recently bought these super little clips in Borderland Fabrics - they are ideal for holding the blocks in place
I had a hunt through my button stash to find suitable buttons
what did I use to hold the buttons together? An elastic hair band!
here is the finished block keeper, hanging on my mannequin .......
........ which seems to have become the recipient of several projects (and a silly t-shirt!)