Free Motion Quilting Adventures Q &A

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend if you are in the US and if not, I hope you have still had a great weekend. I'm pretty sure I've put on a few pounds, but I'll work them off soon.

I feel like I should write a fabulously interesting and tip filled post but I just don't know what to write. I ought to shoot a video for my Youtube followers, but what to quilt for the video? It is totally amazing, but I've got 136 subscribers om my youtube channel! For my silly little videos? Really?

I've got quite a few customer projects that need to be done before or shortly after Christmas and I've also got a few other irons in the fire here at home. It's all very, very good, but a little overwhelming. Plus taking care of my kiddos and the hubby has an out of town project for work.

I did quilt more on a customer purse today and that was fun. Now to assemble the thing. Not so much fun.

And I have a pattern drawn up for another special customer quilt for a friend of a friend. Below is the preliminary drawing. Think of a two color, silhouette scheme.


Speaking of patterns, I saw that Craftsy has a pattern market place. I've had a few readers ask if I had a pattern available for a few things I have done. Do you think I should offer a few of my designs on there? I was thinking a simplified version of Poured Out 2 and a new version of the wedding wholecloth which I did finish.

Yesterday, my very creative daughter decorated her room. (Craft supplies are her love language. Now to convince her that neatness is part of mine.) When I saw the yarn taped all over her wall I nearly blew my top. But then I took a second look and saw that she had written with the yarn, "Jesus Lives". What could I say? I tucked her in and gave her a kiss. Christmas is very important to us and it's nice to know that the message that it's not all about presents has gotten through.

So in a spirit of thanks-giving, just after Thanksgiving, leave me a comment with a question you'd like answered and I will do my best to give you an answer.

Please don't leave me listening to the proverbial crickets chirping!

14 comments:

  1. I have been offering patterns on craftsy for about half a year. It has been an good experience!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt@yahoo.com
    ipatchandquilt.wordpress.com

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    1. So I'll add "prepare patterns for Craftsy" to my to do list.

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  2. I never knew you could subscribe to youtube!!! so now you have 137 subscribers!! I am learning lots from you already.... hard to think of a question... I have found it difficult to come up with an effective way of marking on darker fabrics...
    Hugz

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    1. Oh my, love my subscribers! In fact you will now be one of at least 148! A-maz-ing!

      So far my favorite method for dark colors is chalk. I use the zinc based iron off stuff in a pounce pad for big designs (how I marked Poured Out 2) and I have a tailor's chalk thingy that rolls it on in a line. I think a full post on marking is called for. Not that I'm an expert, since I generally try to avoid marking!

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  3. Can't wait to see that stitched out!! Going to quickly catch up on things so when my machine is back from the shop (can you believe it is STILL in the shop?) I will have time to sew!

    Be sure to take a pic of the yarn art. That is adorable!

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    1. Hmmm.... maybe you should have brought it up to my guy in Virginia! ;-)

      I did not get a pic before she incorporated it into some other new project. Sigh....

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  4. (YouTube subscriber here!) Now, that said, I say put a professional price on those patterns and load `em up! I have no clue how much "commission" Craftsy takes or their privacy policy. It's worth looking into before putting your artwork out there. You've taken care to watermark your photos so I'm sure you'll check it out.
    I love your video sharing and look forward to your blog posts in my email.
    Happiest of holidays, Christina in Cleveland

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    1. Amazingly enough, Craftsy doesn’t charge to list patterns there. I will look into the privacy and copyright issues for sure. Thanks so much for commenting and subscribing.

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  5. And another new subscriber and I've forwarded links to friends. I just watched your video on tension and although I am an experienced quilter I learned something new. Who knew you must raise the foot and needle before adjusting the tension! Not me! It looks like you have a Janome and I have two. I love The Bottom Line thread but when I use it top and bottom I get eyelashes. Same is true when I use Kimono silk on top and The Bottom Line in the bobbin. I don't have that problem with any other thread (including Monopoly) and I am wondering if you have any suggestions? I've tried different sizes of needles, adjusted top tension, tried th blue bobbin case but all to no avail!

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    1. Karen, I've had some trouble with the finer threads in my machine and though it's been a while since I've used the Bottom Line, I remember I did increase my bobbin tension a bit. Lately I've been trying something new, suggested by my Janome dealer, but I'm going to have to try it a little longer before I share. It might help, but flies in the face of the usual FMQ wisdom. (How's that for a teaser? Sorry.)

      Thanks for taking the time to comment, share, and subscribe!

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  6. I'm a newbie. So if you've covered this question elsewhere, so sorry. I've been enjoying your posts on using the toe and rulers. Do you think this technique is for a beginner, or would it help to have some more experience fmq first? I'm trying to pace myself. I keep seeing so many things I want to try, but I'm not sure where to start!! Right now, stitch in the ditch is as far as I've gotten...as I said...newbie! LOL

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  7. Well, it's hard to say. I feel like in order to smoothly move the quilt and ruler together, you need some experience. On the other hand, the rulers really guide the design for you, simplifying that part of it. Plus the ruler does help if you are having trouble with keeping the quilt flat and avoiding puckers.

    Certainly if you've tried stitching in the ditch by free motion instead of with your walking foot, it is very doable to switch to ruler work.

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  8. Thanks, Amy! Now to go back to the post to find the parts to fit my brother machine. So excited to try this. I'll practice for a bit to get more comfortable with the motion!

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