McTavishing Monday #3: A Free Motion Link Party

It's time for another free motion quilt-along featuring McTavishing here on Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures. As promised to a few readers, I have made a button for the link party.

Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures

I made one where you can copy the code to place the button on your own blog too! Look in the right sidebar for it. When the button is clicked, it will bring you to a new page on the blog I have created to list all of our quilt-along adventures.

Making the button wasn't too difficult, but getting the code to show so others could "grab it" and put it on their own blog was quite frustrating. Maybe it was the tutorials that google was dishing up for me, but they just weren't working. And then I found the sensible answer for this sort of thing and I was saved! It was the "Grab my Button" Code Generator!

Now on to the McTavishing!


Click to see more about Karen McTavish, McTavishing Monday Week #1, or last week's McTavishing Monday Week #2.

I've been subdividing the open space in my sampler with curvy lines first, then going back and filling in the smaller curves. This helps me get a more curvy, cohesive design. Not to mention, helps get my pins out of the way.


My method does lead to more backtracking, but it works for me. I do like how easy it is to travel from one area of this design to another. I never had to break thread to move to another spot.


I'm using Glide thread here. I hope you've either linked up or left a comment on any of these McTavishing Monday posts to qualify for the giveaway.Isn't this blue gorgeous on the black fabric?


Then I got started on another section in a lighter color thread. See how I go all over the area with a few bigger curves, then subdivide into smaller curves?


Then I start filling it in. Did you notice I'm using a black batting? Hobb's 80/20 in black. Nice stuff!


 I'll have finish up this section another day, so I can get this post live and then continue quilting on my commission quilt. It seems like this quilt is taking forever. Why must life get in the way of my quilting time?


This is the back of the quilt. Above is an area with a tree and curvy scroll fills. Below is part of the landscape scene, with mountains in the distance, clouds, and a fence below. The back isn't puckering, but it is wrinkly from being under my machine and in its "puddled" state.





I hope you've had a good chance to work on your McTavishing this week and will show us your results! Don't forget, if you are new to this design, drawings are perfectly fine to link up.

And the Craftsy sale is continuing until 11:59pm mountain time Tuesday! It's a great time to sign up for some fabulous classes.

Some quick rules:

  • Keep your post relevant to this quilt along please. Spammy posts will be deleted.
  • Make sure you link up to the individual post, not your home page as nobody wants to have to search around for the post if they're a little late to the party.
  • Link back to this post somewhere in your post. You've got to dance with the one who took you to the party, so make sure you link back.
  • Don't be a wall-flower. (Talking to myself here too. In person I am so stinking shy!) Visit the other links and leave comments.
  • Everyone who links or comments here will be entered in the drawing for the giveaway of Glide thread and possibly a few other things at the end of the month!
  • Please make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply commentor, especially if you ask a question.
Don't forget to bookmark this blog, follow, or sign it up in your favorite feed reader. Watch some free motion quilting videos on my Youtube channel. "Like" Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures on Facebook (I do post some short things on it pretty regularly), or even check out my Pinterest boards. I'll be visiting you too!

Linking up with Connie's Linky Tuesday.

30 comments:

  1. I love how your piece is coming along...the blue on the brown is gorgeous and gives a pop to your stitching...this is going to be so lovely when you are finished...

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    1. Thanks! It’s black actually, and the colors look gorgeous, but I have no clue what to do with it when I’m done! But it is fun to do.

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  2. Your sampler is looking beautiful. I'm going to follow the longer more open curves in the practice this week. I do love your thread

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    1. Thanks! I’m looking forward to seeing your work on this design. And I’m really liking this Glide thread. I can see why my longarm quilting friends like it so much.

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    2. I blew it. I thought the link was going to be open through Sunday. Just came over to link up & found it was closed. Oh well

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    3. Just think of it as being extra prepared for tomorrow!

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  3. Awesome! I was practicing a curvy foundation line on paper last night. You just confirmed that is works! I hope to apply it this week.

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  4. The blue thread is amazing! Love that look!!!
    I also started to use longer flowy lines and than go in perpendicular to these. After that I fill in the remainder".
    Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone with FMQ and let me try something new!!!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

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    1. You're quite welcome! I love colors that pop off a solid like this. I'm glad you like me being "pushy"! :-)

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  5. I love the blue thread. I'm still struggling with my backtracking but keep playing I can't seem to hit the line to follow wondering if my speed is to fast and maybe I can try going slower. I love the look of the longer lines and then filling in, it really helps your eye follow along and makes the thread almost look like it's waving.

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    1. Slow down a bit for the back tracking. It'll get easier with practice, I promise. The waviness and movement of this design is what I love most! I'm so glad that mine is finally getting that swooshiness.

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  6. I love your Mctavishing & the blue thread pops.

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  7. That blue thread looks delicious!

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  8. I love the look of the blue thread in your piece. I didn't get to practice at all this week as life got in the way. Hopefully this week will be better & I can get in come sewing. Seeing yours helps me see where I go wrong.

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    1. Life does get in the way sometimes. Here too, with 3 kids at home all the time. I hope you get some sewing time in. I swear it keeps me sane.

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  9. I have not had a chance to give Mctavishing a try yet. But I am learning as you do it and hope to get some fabric ready to give it a try soon. Doing home renovations gets in the way of sewing right now.

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  10. Your quilting is so neat and the Glide thread really shows up nice on the black! Thanks for sharing! Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  11. Your quilting and designs are wonderful. I've decided I need to practice on paper first. Just can't seem to get the technique down.

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  12. I haven't anything new just yet to link up - but the high contrast McTavishing looks wonderful!! Very nice! :)

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  13. Beautiful work Amy??? I am following, but not getting in the practice right now. I have a queen size quilt on the tiara. but I love what you are doing

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    1. Thanks for following along. I understand not wanting to pull off of a bigger project for this. Sigh…I have GOT to get my farm scene quilt done asap!

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  15. Your 'swooshing is really lovely Amy; your swirls are great.

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  16. Your 'swooshing' is really lovely Amy; your swirls are great.

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