I am thrilled to take part in the blog hop celebrating the launch of Christa Watson’s new book ‘Piece and Quilt with Precuts’. Like many of you, I am self-taught and I learnt so much from the tips in this great book. It is packed with information on everything quilt related, from how to chose the right sewing machine to how to tie off threads neatly.
I loved the ‘mix and match’ potential of the projects in ‘Piece and Quilt with Precuts’. Any of the quilting designs can be applied to any of the pieced tops. The relatively simple pieced projects can also easily be adapted so you can personalise your quilt or change the size as you wish.
I loved Christa’s glamorous Starstruck quilt, though it’s beautiful free motion loops and stars struck fear into my quilting heart.
Free motion quilting is definitely my Achilles heel. When I finish my quilt tops and they lie there all trusting on the sewing machine bed, I inevitably retreat back into my comfort zone of walking foot quilting. But this time I was determined. With three kids to mind over the school holidays, I knew I was never going to get a full quilt made so I settled on a cushion.
And, dear Readers, if there was going to be a cushion, there was going to be free motion quilting upon that cushion.
Christa’s instructions are absolutely meticulous and the block was quickly assembled. I loved how the stars in the block were positioned off centre.
Now it was time for the border. If you follow this blog, you will know that scrappy is definitely my thing. I used the same border of squares that was in the original quilt but surrounded the star block on all sides. Conveniently, this meant that the finished cushion top was a handy 18″ square.
QUILTING
And now I had to quilt it. I practised loops and stars with pen and paper and on the leftover pieces of batting that I had around my studio. I didn’t really feel ready to tackle the cushion top but I’d run out of batting scraps and the clock was ticking so I began.
As I had practised only on small pieces I hadn’t discovered that you need to systematically move across the cushion top. I careered wildy around and then realised there were big spaces with no quilting. As a result, there are some awkward spots where I had to try to get back to fill up a space. I nobly used pink thread in the bobbin so I could show you my warts and all attempt. (A move I regretted when the cotton reel started to look sparse!)
This is the thread left on my reel after I’d finished free motion quilting – eek, a bit too close for comfort! One of the lessons I have learnt from this foray into free motion quilting is not to underestimate the amount of thread it uses.
Clearly, the quilting is far from perfect. Very far from perfect, but I’ve really been inspired by the many free motion designs in Christa’s book. I’m going to spend a few minutes every day practising my free motion quilting. This, I feel, will be good for my quilting soul. I’ll post my practice attempts over the coming weeks and any tips or tricks I pick up on my free motion journey.
How do you feel about free motion quilting? Or have you any tips you could share? I’d love to hear them!
See more of the designs in ‘Piece and Quilt with Precuts’ by visiting the other stops on the blog hop. See the full Blog Hop schedule here
Check out the other stunning versions of Christa’s Starstruck quilt on the blog hop today at Lovingly Lissa and Rebecca Mae Designs.
‘PIECE AND QUILT WITH PRECUTS’ GIVEAWAY
To win a FREE copy of Christa’s book, enter your comment below and one winner will be chosen at random, possibly by using The Little One as a random number generator! Please make sure you include your email address in your comment so I can notify you if you are the winner!
You can also purchase a signed copy of Christa’s book here.
If you wish to receive my blog posts or newsletter please sign up below, I’d love to have you along!
**************************************** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED ***********************************************************************
BEVERLY you were chosen at random! Congratulations! I will be in touch by email.
Love the fabrics in your pillow…. Christa is a great teacher for both free motion and straight line quilting….I practice both
Thanks for your comments, Dee! Practising definitely makes a big difference. I’m looking forward to getting time to get a bit more done.
Looks great to me!!! I’ve only attempted lines that are wavy for FMQ… I prefer hand quilting as I feel I have more control!
Thanks, Michele! I’m delighted you’ve signed up for my newsletter, it’s great to have you along! I’m on Instagram #sandrahealydesigns and FB too. I love the look of hand quilting but I’ve not done it enough to get quick at it. That’s another thing to practise!
Oh! I forgot to mention that I signed up for your newsletters too!!! Are you on IG? I’ll see if I can find you there!
Your FMQ looks very good to me-I too am still using my walking foot, as I still need to practice FMQ a LOT! A pillow looks like a good start! Thank you, Susan
oops! spierssusan52@gmail.com
Thanks for your kind comments, Susan! Given how I careered around the pillow I think it’s just as well it wasn’t a full size quilt!
Glad I’m not the only person that is afraid of free motion quilting. 🙂
Lol, Peggy, I feel a whole lot better having confessed it publicly.
I second the comment before me regarding free motion quilting! Your quilt is lovely! Thank you.
Thanks, Lee, for taking the time to comment.
I love your pillow and quilting!! I can do a pretty decent meandering stitch, but am practicing on of fmq designs. Anything with a star pattern calls me!! lewisnancy54@gmail.com
Thank you for your lovely comments. I think it’s the first time I have pieced a star, which seems hard to believe! There’s something very satisfying about all those little pointy points though, I’ve been smitten.
I have too many quilts that still need to be FMQ.
I hear you, Monica! That was the great thing for me about this blog hop, it gave me the big push I needed.
How do I feel about free motion quilting? Well, I want to do it, but I keep putting it off. I’m currently completely enamored with my walking foot on my new machine, but I really need to give the fmq on my new machine a go. Your quilting looks really good, Sandra! I’m proud of you for tackling it and making it work!
Thanks, Wendy, for your kind words. I don’t think I would ever have got round to it without this blog hop but I’ve genuinely really enjoyed it. Fingers crossed dramatic improvements will follow after all this practising!
Thanks so much for being transparent and letting us see your warts! It looks fantastic!
Glad you appreciate my warts, Shari! 😉
Very cool pillow! You did wonderful! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
Thanks, Angela, I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
I have tried free motion quilting a few times and I do not like it. I keep wanting to pull my quilt and then, of course, the thread is horrible. So I have stuck with my trusty walking foot. I purchased the book, “WALK” by Jacquie Gering and I am trying new designs with my walking foot. Maybe, down the road, I will try FMQ again. You are doing very well! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net
I think that’s what I found hardest too Danette. I would feel I had to stop and readjust the quilt and then there would be a big ugly swerve in the quilting and it would take me a while to get back into the rhythm of it again. I did enjoy it though and I just love the wonderful designs I’ve seen on other people’s quilts so I’m determined to persevere. Watch this space!
Your pillow is beautiful and your fmq looks great! I, too, hesitate when it comes to fmq and quilts tend to sit while I mull over how to deal with them.
Thanks, Allison, for your lovely words. I spend a lot of time drafting out quilt designs on a rough drawing of my pieced top before I start quilting. It’s so permanent once you’ve stitched it!
I was very nervous about trying free motion quilting, but once I started doing it and got more practice, I enjoy doing it. I also like the modern style of more straight lines using the walking foot.
However, I am not into quilting lines 1/4″ apart. I like a little more space between the lines. I like the loop and star pattern Christa recommends and the one you used in your block. Will have to try that one! The FMQ doesn’t have to be perfect. No one, except a quilt show judge, is going to get a magnifying glass and check out every stitch. So, just have fun doing your thing!
Thanks, Joanne, and I totally agree that it’s more important to enjoy the process than strive for perfection – which is just as well given my first attempt! Like you, I enjoyed it though and I’m looking forward to improving with a bit more practise!
I like my walking foot too but maybe I should be more adventurous!!! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
Once I’ve pieced my top, I find it’s very tempting to stick with the familiar rather than mucking the whole thing up with ambitious free motion quilting but I’m glad I took part in this blog hop as it forced me to begin and now I’m hooked!
I am still struggling with free motion quilting.
Hi Karen, I’ve been putting off tackling free motion quilting for years but I’m glad now that I have begun. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Beautiful. Your free-motion quilting looks fantastic!! I think you have a great handle on that 🙂
Thanks, Katie, you’re very kind! I made it for my daughter and she loves it! Kids aren’t too worried about the fine detail of free motion quilting!
I’m so proud of you for how it turned out. Practicing really helps and the pillow is beautiful!
Thanks, Christa, for your lovely words. Your Starstruck quilt was fabulous and I hope I’ve done it justice. It’s all down to your inspiring book that I’ve been set down this free motion path.
I actually love free motion quilting, but I used to be scared to do it. I keep a stack of small (10″x10″) quilt sandwiches next to my machine, and when I have a few spare minutes, I sit down and practice on one. It’s really helped my skill and confidence. Thanks for sharing your Star Struck pillow — it looks great!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Ninmah, I definitely think frequent practice is key. Once my three kids are back to school, I’m hoping to make it part of my daily routine. It’s reassuring to know that it does get easier!
I am new to free motion quilting too. I am motivated by your efforts. I think your project is grand.
Thanks for your kind words! I hope you’ll enjoy free motion quilting too.
I am not an experienced quilter but I love FMQ and practiced a lot before actually doing a quilt top. So far this is the only quilting I do ha ha ha ha
That’s great, Judi, you started the other way round! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
I do more quilting with my walking foot. I have ventured into FMQ but speed & hand movements remain a challenge. Practice and experience go a long way to perfecting this skill.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Rosalind, experience is definitely key I think.
Your block is so sweet! And your quilting is great…good job. Thanks for sharing the great giveaway.
Thanks, Nancy, I appreciate your lovely words. Best of luck with the giveaway!
I have to agree with all the previous comments. I love my walking foot for quilting and get very stressed when trying FMQ!
Ohioholman at all dot com
Isn’t it fortunate that walking foot quilting looks fabulous too? Thanks for taking the time to comment, Sue.
I haven’t tried fmq yet, it terrifies me! If I quilt my quilts, I do “grid” with the walking foot–pretty boring 🙁 One of these days…
Gladystan.dawn@gmail.com
Christa has a gorgeous grid quilted project in this book and as long as you enjoy it, it’s a great way to finish off your quilts.
Love the look and spectrum of free-motion quilting…but way too scared to try it on a quilt. I’m too stingy when it comes to fabric and supplies so I’m afraid to practice 🙁 Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and go for it!
Hi Tamara, my offspring provide me with a steady supply of bed sheets which are no longer usable for a variety of creative reasons. Like when they lost the hamster in my bedroom and it moved into my bed linen drawer and chewed lots of tiny holes in the sheets. Then there was the permanent marker incident and the fact that pink is now FAR too babyish and you get the idea! I cut up all the old sheets and pillow cases and make practice quilt sandwiches out of them. And then I feel very slightly smug about my great recycling!
Well I’m like you, I retreat. But then got to just try and practice! Still scares me but I keep trying!
That’s great, Tracy, it’s the only way to do it I think!
I have taken a class on fmq but am still nervous about trying it on project. Love this quilt pattern. Thank you for sharing your blemishes.
I think that’s what has always held me back, Teri. When you have worked hard on a quilt top you’re keen to do it justice with the quilting. Saying that though, although my starstruck cushion fmq was far from perfect, my daughter’s still delighted with it so I’m glad I attempted it.
I’ve never tried FMQ either. If I win Christa’s book I’ll take it as a sign that now is the time!
That would be an omen, Jenny! Good luck with the giveaway.
I love your loops and stars. Mine aren’t so great..
Thanks, Chris! I appreciate you taking the time to comment, good luck with the giveaway.
I too want to start FAM and love your pillow idea o practice on….or maybe a pillow sham?
Hi Patty, I agree small projects are definitely less intimidating to start on although if you took on a Queen size quilt you’d be an expert in stars and loops by the end of it! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I’m just getting the hang of free motion quilting and enjoy it. I tend to go a little slower than my quilting friends, but feel I have more control that way. I always do a practice swatch with the leftover fabric from my project – practice, practice, practice. I think the hardest part for me is choosing the right design for the quilt.
It’s great that you enjoy it, Terri. There are so many wonderful fmq designs out there, it can be tricky to choose. At the minute, my abilities limit my choice!
I like to do FMQ. I am not that good at it, but I do like to do it! Using a walking foot is nice to use as it gives you even stitches. Glad to have an alternative to FMQ. ndfromsd(at)gmail(dot)com
Glad you enjoy fmq, Janet. It is fun when you get over the fear! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
i do all my quilting! bewrjwatgmaildotcom
Good going, Barbara! Best of luck with the giveaway.
I’m in a similar place as you regarding FMQ … I revert back to walking foot but really do want to practice FMQ because I know that’s the only way to get better and more comfortable. I think your pillow looks great!
Thanks for your kind words, Diane. Good luck with the giveaway.
Great job! Pillows are definitely what I do to practice. There are usually leftover blocks or fabrics to make a cute pillow to coordinate with the quilt. Win win!
That’s a great way of using up orphan blocks, Julie! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I do a lot of free motion quilting. I recommend practicing a lot on baby quilts and donation quilts.
Definitely all down to practise. Thanks for your comments, Elaine!
Your pillow looks fabulous 😍Sounds like a great book.
Thanks Rhoda, the book really is super. Best of luck with the giveaway!
HI, love your pillow>the FMQing of the stars is so attractive! How neat stars would look on our Christmas projects! Thanks for sharing!
I’m scared to try free motion but I am going to start!
You can do it! Hope you come to love it too.
FMQ is not easy, my stitches are not even and tension is a problem. More practice for me. Thanks for sharing your story and giveaway.
djcutting2@(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Donna, thanks for taking the time to comment. Good luck with the giveaway.
Beautiful!
Your quilting on the pillow turned out *great!*
The thread left on the spindle was your reassurance… “You’ve got this!”
Pat T.
Thanks, Pat, for your lovely comments!
Your free motion quilting looks good…the pictures showed clearly how to quilt the star without having to go over any previous quilting lines
Thanks, Cheryl, I found practising drawing the stars first really helped when it came to the quilting.
I like your star pillow. The quilting looks just fine. I know that I get too picky about my end results, I need to remember that I quilt because I like to quilt. The fabrics, the colors, the piecing and the quilting are all part the whole. The end is the joy I feel when it is finished and added to my collection or given away.
Liza, I couldn’t agree with you more! It’s too easy to focus on the imperfections and lose sight of the finished beauty. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
The pillow looks fabulous – might be a great holiday gift idea! lutzcats (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks for your kind words, Melody! Christmas fabrics would work so well with this design, they would make a beautiful cushion.
I have done DNA but I love the walking foot more! Thank you! Your quilt is beautiful!!!
Thanks, Kathy, for your lovely words. Good luck with the giveaway.
I still consider myself an beginner- with experience. My ideas are still bigger than my ability do I love to see beauty in keeping it simpler and getting it done! Shirley sashingara@hotmail.com
There’s a lot to be said for just getting it done! Thanks for leaving your comments.
Love your fabrics in the pillow! I just went to a one day workshop with Christa in Houston! Wow! Lots of practicing and now I can tackle my UFO’s!!
That’s great you can tackle your UFOs now! I’m sure you learnt loads.
Your FMQ looks great!! I still need to get practice time in for sure. 🙂 and remember the best way to hide imperfect quilting is have it surrounded by other imperfect quilting. 🙂
Thanks, Sherry! Best of luck with the giveaway!
Love your quilting. It looks great. FMQ is hard for me so I often use walking foot.
Thanks for your kind words, Laura. We’re lucky that walking foot quilting looks so great too!
Cute pillow! I found that the best way for me to learn FMQ was to take as many classes as possible. After each class I learned something new and it kept getting easier. I now have a longarm and try to practice every week.
Wow, having a long arm must be super, Cecilia! I’m glad to know it does get easier with time. Good luck with the giveaway.
I like your pillow and the quilting looks great! I’m working on FMQ and using rulers but need lots more practice!
Thanks for your encouraging words, Cathy! I’m sure all the practice will pay off. Good luck with the giveaway.
I love FMQ when others do it. I have not tried it. FEAR
I think there are many, Carol, that feel that same fear! FMQ is not for everyone but I certainly enjoyed my first attempts. Good luck with the giveaway.
Your quilt piecing and fmq are lovely. I have been trying fmq and when they say practising and relaxing are key, I agree. This book will help me improve.
cndnlry@aim.com
Thanks for your kind comments, Cindy, best of luck with the giveaway!
Hi Sandra, good job being determined to go ahead with FMQ, your pillow looks awesome! I have been practicing stars too and I think doing straight lines with FMQ is difficult and you should be impressed with yours. I keep practicing and even though my stiching looks a bit of mess at times, I still I find FMQ exhilarating (does that sound nerdy?!😋)
Hi Abbie, if it’s nerdy then I’m right there with you in the nerdsome-ness (I may have made up that word!). I know what you mean about straight lines – there’s a reason I didn’t post a close up of the stars!! Glad you’re enjoying the fmq experience too though. Good luck with the giveaway!
I love the pillow and your fabrics. I especially loved your story on making this project. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your encouraging comment, Vanessa. I’m gad you enjoyed this post.
Great job. Practicing will make you more confident and FMQ more fun.
Thanks, Maryellen, I’m determined to perfect my technique. Good luck with the giveaway.
I still mostly use my walking foot. I need to be more adventurous
Sure fmq is not for everyone, Kathie, as long as you love what you do, you’re doing it right!
Your pillow looks gorgeous! Stars and loops are my favorite FMQ pattern.
Thanks, Anita! I love the added dimension the stars and loops give to the design. Christa has used blacks, whites and greys in her original quilt and her loops and stars look stunning against the monochrome.
Your pillow is absolutely gorgeous! I am new to quilting 🙂 thank you for the tip! I to am going to spend 5 – 10 minutes each day if I get a spare moment to free style quilt …. it does look scary but I guess practice makes perfect!
Thanks for your lovely comments, Tammy! Good luck with the fmq, I hope you’ll enjoy the practice.
Love your pillow. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Tina, good luck with the giveaway!
Wonderful pillow and the scrappy border is great. Your quilting turned out quite well. I am still too intimidated to try FMQ. I don’t want to “waste” a practice piece and I don’t want to “wreck” a good project so have myself stuck, for the moment.
Hi KJ, I’ve been using old ruined bed linen cut up and made into quilt sandwiches to practice on. It’s working for me! Good luck with the giveaway, Christa’s book would inspire you!
Your pillow looks good to me. I often find some “less densely” quilted areas when I get carried away doing an all-over meander or filler. Sometimes, the longer I am sitting, the tighter it gets, so I have learned to schedule some breaks, setting a kitchen timer to go off.
That’s a good tip, Nancy! I think I need to methodically work my way around the quilt top rather than spin giddily about. Thanks for commenting.
The only way to know if you like FMQ is to give it a go. I love the FMQ on your pillow
Thanks for your kind words, Jayne. Good luck with the giveaway!
Love your pillow. Your free motion quilting looks really good.
Thank you, Kathy! I’m glad you liked it.
Love your version of Star Struck.
Thanks, Beverly, I’m glad you liked it! Good luck with the giveaway!
This book looks like a winner to me!
I really enjoyed the book. I hope it will inspire lots of other newbie fm quilters!
I love that you made a pillow and tried free motion quilting!!
Thanks, Jen! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Just can’t get the rythum of machine quilting. I need help & pratice, pratice, pratice!
You can do it, Tammi! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Great idea to start FMQ on a pillow which would be less intimating than an entire quilt.
Regina, I think I will be sticking with smaller projects for the foreseeable. Good luck with the giveaway.
Sandra, the quilting looks great! I always find those all over kind of patterns a bit tricky. So happy this blog hop helped you move out of your comfort zone. I am now at the point I can accomplish what I want with free motion and am pleased with that. I have 3 or 4 quilts to do in the next month or so; I’ll be practicing along with you. Take classes when you can – I did one of Leah Days on Craftsy and that was big help. I have probably taken 5 or 6 free motion classes – always learning is another way to improve your skills.
Thanks, Kathleen, for your lovely words. The blog hop was definitely the push I needed to begin but I’m really determined now to develop my skills. It must be great to have the confidence to tackle a full quilt. I’ll look out for classes now that the Autumn is here and the kids will soon be back at school.
Love this block! It makes up into a wonderful pillow. Beautiful fabrics!
Thanks, Jennifer! Christa’s original quilt was beautiful. I’d love to have the time to make the quilt to match the pillow, lol!
Beautiful pillow.
Thank you, Karen, good luck with the giveaway!
So cute! Great choice for the quilting.
jklmengland at windstream dot net
Thanks, Lisa Marie, I’m glad you like it.
I really really struggle with free motion quilting, but I want to get better. My goal is to be able to quilt up to lap quilt sized quilts myself. We’ll see!
You’ll get there, Becca! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Best of luck with the giveaway.
Your pillow looks good to me. Wish my few early attempts at FMQ looked as nice. I probably need to practice more than most people, so I revert to SID and grid work. I like the star and loop design, though, and may be willing to give it a try on this year’s holiday items.
swalker287(at)aol(dot)com
The stars would look fabulous on Christmas projects, Sandy. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I am astonished to see that you take the time to respond to each of your commenters. You are a real trooper (and maybe even a saint)!
Definitely not a saint, Sandy, possibly I just don’t get out enough at the weekend!
Love your pillow and your loops and stars!
enthous@hotmail.com
Thank you! Good luck with the giveaway!
Thanks for your lovely words, Linda! Good luck!
Love your free style quilting – so encouraging to know you can do this on your own machine….someday……
I hope you’ll give it a go someday, Deb, I’m so glad that I attempted it. Good luck with the giveaway.
Your quilting looks amazing. I would like to try that pattern. It seems ‘do-able’ to me.
Definitely do-able, Sherry! Thanks for commenting, best of luck with the giveaway.
Your quilting looks fabulous! I think I need to be braver!!!
Thanks, Gill! If I can do it, you surely can too!
Free motion quilting is something I keep saying I’m going to try. And one of these days i will. I promise….maybe. Lol. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for your kind words, Tia. I hope you will try fmq one day, you might just find you love it too!
I do meandering free motion quilting but would love to be able to make designs in my quilting. Like your pillow.
I like the stars free motion quilting and would need to practice some, but it doesn’t have to be perfect which is the best part of using it.
Hi Janet, thanks for taking the time to comment. I definitely agree with you – finished is better than perfect!
Your quilting looks wonderful! I’m pretty new to FMQ… and quilting for that matter! So I don’t know how much help I’d be!!! I have a notebook I put the designs I’d like to try to quilt. Before I quilt I go over the pattern with my finger a few times to get it stuck in my brain. I also keep the pattern out so I can look at it if I get tangled up! And practice, practice, practice!!! 😁
Thanks for your lovely words, Sheila and for sharing your experience of fmq. Good luck with the giveaway!
Hi Sandra, gorgeous cushion and your free motion is such fun, a great compliment to the star. I am always surprised at how much thread free motion uses and I have learnt my lesson and always buy 2 spools even if I only use one!
Thanks for your lovely comments, Fi! That’s a great tip about doubling up the spools, I’ll be doing that from now on!