Walking Foot Machine Quilting a Strip Quilt

 I have had this quilt basted onto Quilters Dream Select thickness Batting for a couple of weeks now, waiting for inspiration and some time.

I am lucky enough to have the computer software, Electric Quilt 7. This software allows me to draft blocks and quilts and their patterns. I am finding it useful for drawing up an approximation of a made quilt so that I can print it and sketch out some quilting design ideas

I think I am going to follow the diamond shape and highlight one section with straight lines using my walking foot. I intend to use Aurifil Thread in a soft natural white, quarter inch apart in the diamond and varied distances in the straight lined background. I have drawn in horizontal lines to the right but I think I will probably stick to vertical. I can decide once I start. I am looking forward to getting going on this and the quilting is a lot easier than free motion, you just need a good radio station! 

Serendipitous Design

My printer cartridge is running low and just look at the print out. I couldn't match the colours from camera to screen exactly but you can get the idea. Look at how the colour travels down the quilt - I love that effect, it would make a great modern quilt, maybe in Rowan's shot cottons as they have a good range of interesting colours, or Kona Cottons. Something to ponder.

Building Blocks Free Motion Quilt Along

I have almost finished these blocks - Hallelujah! I have really enjoyed this process and it has been the first quiltalong I have done which has been good at keeping me on task because I don't want to fall behind the others. But, my goodness will I be pleased to have this done! I only have 3 more identical blocks to make and quilt and then I have to sash it all together. But it will be quilted already so, I am very nearly there.

Here are the blocks I have worked away on over the last couple of weeks:

Basket blocks with wasteful fussy cut flowers!

2 of the four pieced houses

There was an awful lot of quilting in these blocks which gave a lot of opportunity to practice

Foundation pieced spinning square block

I like the fussy cut middle on this block, I quilted around the flower, I like the effect.

The last one of these, the outside border is only there to hold onto as you quilt and gets trimmed away.




There are 3 of these Sawtooth Stars, yet to be quilted, so I will be back with more!

Have a look at my page of Favourite Sewing Tools to see what little gadgets and threads I like to use for Free motion Machine Quilting!

In My Garden Applique Quilt

What a gloomy day! Here's a cheering picture, look at these lovely fabrics from The Fat Quarters online shop. They had a sale and so I picked these up for £1.70 a quarter. They have a loyalty scheme so you can earn points for online purchases.


I'm just here for a quick coffee and progress catch up on my needle turn epic of a quilt.

 This close up shows one of my favourite little blocks. I just love the birds - but they are tiny fiddlers to work on!

That's what I have got so far. This panel above needs two diamond blocks which I am working on and then I can piece that together and another panel will be complete. I have started to make changes, an apple tree to a cherry and these green beans I put in instead of another climbing tomato plant. I shall be sneaking in Charlie dog of course!  There are 3 panels for the middle section of the quilt and they look like the most fun to put together, with tall trees, a house, sunshine and more.  I'll put the pattern pictures up next time. I can't bare to think about how to quilt it!

Until next time, happy sewing x