Shhh- Don't Tell the Cat: Bird Appliqued Pillows

I recently finished these pillows- 16"x16".  They have an overlapped back, with a removable pillow form.  I received a lovely songbird datebook as a gift and it has been inspiring me to do something with birds.  I traced the outline of a Northern Mockingbird (the datebook has photos of birds each week).  Then used the tracing as a pattern for the raw edge applique. 

I free motion stitched around the birds.

12 Months of Free Motion Quilting

No, they are not sewn together.  I used a mishmash of scraps for the samples, 17 in all.  I learned so much this year!  I had only dabbled in free motion quilting, but now I feel confident to at least attempt to add stitching to my projects.  I learned about marking, threads, using a pattern, free handing (my favorite), borders etc.  I had never stitched a feather before!  I expect some of these to become pot holders, tote bags, pillows.  I made Valentine's Day cards from one.  Thank you for hosting and organizing this challenge Sewcalgal!



Free Motion Quilting Challenge

December's quilting expert is Patsy Thompson.  She instructed us in borders.  Sorry it is so hard to see in the picture.  There are several different designs.  I loved what she calls "hyper quilting"  where she will add a second color and design inside of a feather.

I added a snail to the middle.

Here is where my feathers meet in the border.  I don't think I'll be so scared of feather borders anymore.  This wraps up a year of Free Motion Quilting with experts provided by Sewcalgal.  I have really enjoyed the journey and have learned a lot!



Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

The Free Motion Quilting expert for sewcalgal's November challenge is Sarah Vedeler.  I really tried to make straight rows of swirls, I really did, but I guess I'm just not a straight row kinda gal. 

More practice will help.  I am having a great time with the assignments each month and I feel like I have learned so much!  Emma came to inspect.

I can't decide if she likes my stitching or just likes having her picture taken!



Feline Friday-Fabric Collage Vest

Here is my finished fabric collage vest using Rosemary Eichorn's Sewjourner vest #6!

I am really happy with how it turned out.  I've already worn it and I got lots of good feedback on it.

I left off the buttons because it didn't seem to need them.  Plus, I like both the fronts and

didn't want to cover one up.

The back View.  You can see a little of the lining- I added the red flower for fun.  The slice of orange sun is peeking through the trees.

I added little animals in my magical forest.  A cat and below is a snail.

A bird is in one of the trees.  When it came time to bind the vest, this bird was too close to the edge.

I didn't want to lose her tail, so I cut the binding at that point.

This shows the raw front edge meeting the bound edge.  The whole vest is free motion quilted.



Free Motion Quilting

Teri Lucas is the featured expert for SewCalGal's Free Motion Quilt Challenge.

First I practiced my doodling, then I stitched on silk- totally changing my design!

I tried out some different threads that had been haunting a back shelf.  Most worked fine, but the gold in the upper right hand corner stretched as I stitched and caused the fabric to pucker.

 



Feline Friday- Fabric Collage by Rosemary Eichorn

You have already heard me raving about the workshop I attended with Rosemary Eichorn, well here is a fabric collage by her, perfect for Feline Friday!

She has written a wonderful book The Art of Fabric Collage too.



Feline Friday- Fabric Collage

Last weekend I attended a wonderfully inspiring workshop by Rosemary Eichorn.  She taught us how to do fabric collage and now my mind is humming with the possibilites!

Here is my finished collage- I call it "Bird's Daydream (or Cat's Nightmare)".

It is all free motion stitched, raw edged.  It is roughly 21"x22". 

The name comes from the bird eyeing the much smaller cat.

Here is a close up.



Free Motion Quilting

Paula Reid is the expert for Sewcalgal's September free motion quilting challenge.

Here is my sample:

I'm pretty happy with it.  My machine is having a tension issue, it makes loops on top or bottom sometimes.  My printer has quit talking to my computer, so I couldn't print the design off.  Instead I put a piece of tracing paper over my computer screen and traced it with a marker- not real exact!  Aside from that though, I look forward to doing more!



Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

I was inspired by the free motion quilting challenge from SewCalGal.

I used the Jester's Hat pattern as a starting point to fill in the cat.

I stitched a quick sketch of Alice while she was lounging on my sewing table.

Another unfinished example.  I am going to make something from all these samples- maybe once school starts I'll get to it!

Free Motion Quilting Challenge

This month's free motion quilting expert is Wendy Sheppard.  She taught us the Jester's Hat pattern.

It is never too late to join, see what it is all about- sewcalgal's free motion quilt challenge





Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

This month's free motion quilting expert is Angela Walters.  I had a lot of fun learning to stitch what she calls tiles.  I also filled them with swirly things because I hadn't tried that before either!

What helped me the most (aside from relaxing and taking my time) was figuring out where I was going to exit each tile before I started.  This way I could get a game plan in my head.  Its not too late to join and there are prizes too! 

http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/07/july-fmq-challenge-by-angela-walters.html

And because this is Feline Friday- here is a merkitty that I free hand stitched.

I was inspired by the wave-like shapes of Angela's assignment!



Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

Little Kittie, out at sea.  Having fun practicing my free motion quilting.  The water and the fish are one continuous line of stitching.  I didn't draw any of it ahead of time, just started stitching.  I don't know if my background stitching shows up, but it is there.

How To: Insulin Pump Cover and Receiver Pocket

Here is how I made a receiver pouch and an insulin pump cover.  Before starting, you should check the dimensions of your particular items.  The receiver pouch mounts on a belt and could easily hold a camera or cell phone instead.  The pump cover is similar to a shower cap in that it has elastic and slips over the front.  You could use pre-quilted fabric.  I free motion quilted 2 layers of flannel together (with batting in between). 

First, the receiver pouch:

Cut a piece of fabric 12"x6", slightly rounding one end.  Bind or finish the edges.  Cut unquilted fabric 8"x2 1/2" for the belt loop.  Sew the short sides together, 1/4" seam allowance.

Press flat with the seam in the middle.

Sew the belt loop to the pouch as shown, turning under raw edges. 

Loop is 5 1/4" from the straight, bound edge.

Right sides together, fold up and sew, the straight edged end, 1/4" seam allowance.

Sew across the corners, as shown.  Turn under and top stitch the sides down.

Top stitch the sides down and add Velcro.

Finished front view.

Back view of the belt loop.

Now for the Insulin Pump Cover.

I used the same quilted fabric as before.  Cut a piece 5"x6 1/2".   Then cut each corner off, creating four 1 1/4"x1 1/4" squares.  In one corner, cut an additional notch out for the hose. 

* Make sure you cut the notch in the correct area for your hose!

Sew the 3 similar corners together, right sides together 1/4".  The notched corner will need finishing- I used a serger, you could bind or zigzag instead.

Sew on 7" of 1/4" elastic, extending into the notched area.

Sew on Velcro.

Here is the back finished view.

Here is the front finished view.

Your sizes might vary according to your needs.

Happy Sewing!



Free Motion Quilting with Cindy Needham

This month's expert for sewcalgal's free motion quilt challenge is Cindy Needham.

It was also a review of sorts, because I went back and practiced patterns I learned during other months.

I found it easier with the space divided up into smaller sections.  I still have to remember to sit up straight and breathe!  Cindy's information was very helpful. 

Book Review- Dancing With Thread by Ann Fahl

I am really excited about this new book I just bought!  It is Dancing with Thread  by Ann Fahl.  As you may know, I am working on improving my free motion quilting skills with sewcalgal's free motion quilt challenge (it is never too late to join!).  In March, the featured expert was Ann Fahl.  Here is my practice free motion quilting for that month.  The book has 94 pages of beautiful and inspiring photos and instructions.  Her quilts really speak to me and of course there are a few cats in there along with flowers and other animals as examples.  I can't wait to get started! 

Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

Good Feline Friday to you!  I stitched the kitty above without breaking my thread- one continuous line and totally free hand.  It was a fun warm up for this month's free motion quilting challenge on sewcalgal! You can still join in too.  I loved the exercise this month by Leah Day.

Spontaneous and wiggly!  Otherwise known as Double Stipple and Railroad Tracks.  I did not have any of the special tools she mentions, but was still able to do it.  I'll try the tools next time.



Free Motion Quilting

Here is my April Free Motion Quilting exercise from sewcalgal.  This month's expert is Don Linn.  He showed us how to make and transfer your own (or from a book) quilting design using net and a marker.  This was all new to me, but I feel like it turned out ok.



Free Motion Quilting

This month's expert is Ann Fahl.  One suggestion she had was doodle on paper first, then sew.  While I was stitching it felt like doodling too.  I had fun with it and I think I am improving.  I started in the middle (also her suggestion) with Loops and Twists.  Then I added hearts that became shamrocks (Happy St. Patrick's Day!).  I tried stars, swirls, flowers and spiky sun things.

I did a flamingo and a fish (standing on its nose), below.

Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

I sat down to practice my free motion quilting and this crawled out of my needle!  I used red thread mainly because that was what was in the machine (you do this too!).  All free hand, no drawing on the fabric first.  I like the surprise on the bottom cat's right ear- it looks like a bird to me!