Tuesday, December 3, 2013

WIP Wednesday: Circle Quilting

This week I'm quilting an awful lot :). I wrote this tutorial for quilting overlapping circles earlier this year, and I've been using it a bit. This first project is a tiny, selfish one, fullfilling a SERIOUS NEED to play with my mini charms of Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander and the Violet Craft bird print from Waterfront Park. Sighhhhh. <3 Janet B., if you are reading this - thank you dearly for the Botanics!



For this project, I quilted a combination of the overlapping circles with my walking foot and spiral circles with my FMQ foot. I find that the walking foot works flawlessly for small projects, but maneuvering it in this way on a large quilt is torturous and literally painful (after a while).

 

As a result, for this second project (which I cannot explain more about at the moment), I used my FMQ foot. Last night I got frustrated and just went to bed - not because my circle was a bit wobbly (which it was) but because the tension on the back of the quilt wasn't consistent. I don't want the stitches to come apart - I think I was just going too fast. Today I ripped it all out (thanks seam ripper - best friends are always there when you need them) and forced myself to go slower. Something about that was therapeutic for me. I'm still debating back and forth how to quilt the rest, but I'm trusting my gut and just letting it happen... gotta just "let it go," am I right (I'm fangirling over this movie, btw!)?


Also, I really need to work on my bee blocks for the CJMQG meeting next week - I've been such a slacker lately. Now I know how everyone feels when they say they've been "catching up on bee blocks...." :) Also, did I mention I'm taking over as President for next year? I can't wait, and I have a bunch of ideas! Oh, and my queen bee month is fast approaching (February). I have some ideas for that too, but I'm still narrowing it down. I love how this hobby lifestyle provides so many opportunities for my brain to go in a million directions. :)



13 comments:

  1. I seem to remember my machine having tension issues during spirals too...I think a thorough cleaning helped.

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  2. I love that circular quilting, it's so effective!

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  3. I would fan girl too!! Love Frozen and wish my daughter was here already and about 5 so she could have enjoyed it too...ah well daddy will have to get it for her;) My son just heard it now and was like we have to get that movie;)

    Love your circle quilting!!

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  4. I've never tried fmq spirals before, but I think I might have to try it!

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  5. FMQ free motion circles seem challenging! You mention CJMQG... Are you the Jessica that I sent my MidAtlantic Mod check to?

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  6. Love your circular quilting, have to give that a try one day :)

    -Soma

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  7. I just checked out your circle tutorial; I'm going to have to try it ASAP and I have the perfect thing to try it out on! :D

    I can't wait to see Frozen but it's not out until after Christmas here :( it looks like one of the best Disney movies for a couple of years.

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  8. your circle quilting is so pretty, and gives such a neat effect!

    Thank you so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  9. What are you making with the Botanics? The concentric circles look great!

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  10. HI Jess -- isn't it true that we are our own worst critics ? Your circle quilting looks great! Funny thing... I've not met a Domestic Machine quilter that is excited to circle quilt their 2nd or 3rd quilt. I guess it's a bunch of work -- even when FMQ. Can't wait to see the finished product though! Thanks for sharing. Karen

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