In January the modern quilt guild announced a BOM (block of the month), Every month a different member would design a block. They would make the block in pre chosen fabrics. At the end of the year, a quilt will be assembled and donated. Of course we are all encouraged to quilt along on our own.
I had bought and won some fat quarter bundles of Birch Organics. So I decided I would play along using this palate. This is very unusual for me, I never work with one line, I’m whats’ known as a scrappy quilter – I put together all kinds of fabrics as I please. So just working from a line of prints puts me out of my comfort zone.
Liz designed January’s block, you can see the fabric the guild chose for the project. I cut an assembled my first block.
I thought that each month I’d add a new block and end up with a sampler quilt. Problem was, I didn’t like some of the blocks that were presented. This block pattern took off like gangbusters, Liz sold it to non LAMQG members and people started posting their tops on Instagram. I changed course and decided to only use this block.
I also used solids for the rings and the prints for the background. Love how it came out.
Onto the quilting. I have noticed that there are piecers and quilters. Some people love to make tops, but not that interested in the actual quilting. Or they really like straight line quilting. Others love the quilting itself, they often will get into the business of quilting for others and they really develop their own unique quilting style.
I like to quilt my own quilts. I am trying to get better at FMQ (free motion quilting), the only way to get better is practice. What better way to practice then on a full size quilt. Doing the fancy quilitng on the print fabric hides all sins, while allowing me to really practice.
I’m working on circular feathers, as you can see from the back, my practice is paying off. This is one of the laters circles I quilted.
I really feel good about the feather on the border, I love when practice leads to better results. Hope to finish this soon and show you the completed quilt.
Linked at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday
Leah
Wow, your quilt AND quilting are beautiful! I tried FMQ once, and on my first quilt, but haven’t attempted it again. It is very difficult to do!
Funny, I was asked to speak about FMQ next week at the guild. The most important thing is practice! You’re never good on your first try, but if you keep it up, amazingly – you actually get better.
That looks lovely! And good job working on your FMQ; I keep doing straight line quilting because FMQ scares me…
Lol, I just gave a talk at my guild about FMQ – first practice on paper, second, just dive in and do it, it’s the only way to learn and get better.
Your quilting looks great and I love how that block looks when it is repeated. I am definitely turning into a “piecer” but am hoping to change that with some long-arm lessons. I think my aversion to quilting is basically just an aversion to pushing a quilt through my home machine.
If you have a long arm available, go for it! I don’t want to learn the long arm since then I hate to book time and go somewhere (my local shop does rent time on the long arm), I like to be able to just sit and quilt, even if it’s just for 15 minutes at a time – which isn’t really optimal.
That block is amazing – Liz really had her thinking cap on the day she came up with that! The quilt looks great and good for you for practicing your FMQ. How satisfying to see growth in just one quilt top!
Really gorgeous! The quilting is just perfect for this block. I especially love how the bright solids form the rings.
I’ve been seeing this block pop up lately and it’s absolutely gorgeous! And you did such a good job using this line of fabrics and making it into a beautiful quilt! Awesome job!! 🙂
Always love those circles! The background fabrics are FAB!