Trying out cathedral window………

After my hands on free motion quilting, next in my process of learning and adding one more feather on my cap, was to try the cathedral windows.   To start with I just made four windows, I  used machine to sew down the curves, which was quite quick, but the process of ironing  and making the squares  would become a bit boring when it comes to making a decent size wall hanging.
But I was quite happy that I could manage this small piece without much hassles.  Of course , there is so…. much room for improvement, but for the first attempt I was not looking for perfection, rather concentrating more on how to make it.  The next step would be to perfect it.
I finished  this small piece into a mug rug…..
                                                   

I learnt that the background squares  and the folds later should have perfect points, so as to get perfect curves, which is an area of opportunity for me.  I will try making it perfect in my next  cathedral window project.  Before I take leave few more pictures of my mug rug…..
                                                         
                                                            
The coming weeks are going to be hectic, with my kids exams  starting ,  I will have to spend some time with them  looking into their studies.  So my crafty pace will be a bit slow…..
Thank you for all your support, advice and comments on my crafty finishes.  I hope you all will continue encouraging me like this with all your lovely comments.  Till my next post , Bye and take care.

A baby quilt- a gift

As I told you all in my previous post, I have become a confident quilter now, and so, this time I decided to make a baby quilt  to gift one of my friend who was recently blessed with a baby boy.  If it was before, I would have bought something for the baby, but now with my new learnt  skill of free motion quilting, I thought nothing better than a warm personalized gift.

So here’s my finish which will be my blessing and warm wishes to the new born………….

                                                  

The center fabric is a polka dot pastel green and the borders are printed teddy bears.  I am sorry the picture is not clear. I have machine quilted the center …….

                             

For the back I have used the same printed fabric…..

                                                   

I am very happy that I managed a pretty decent gift,  I hope my friend likes it too.

Thank you for all your lovely and motivating comments. It helps me push myself beyond my limitations and do more crafty finishes and learn better.

Please continue giving me encouragement and inspirations  like this.  Till my next post…. Its Adieu from me……

Another Milestone achieved…….

Last one week I have been devotedly practicing and learning to make my hands perfect on free motion quilting.  I also wanted to try out raw edge applique’ and  last  week I was full of energy and eagerness  to do both.

My plan was to make a small wall hanging using raw edge applique’ and to try out free motion quilting on that.  Well, while browsing online I came across a wonderful tutorial from Kellie of  Don’t look now  for a beautiful cushion cover.  I made a wall hanging instead, using the same technique.  I also went through some of the tutorials online on using a fusible web for applique’ .

I started my project with high spirits , and  after deciding on my fabrics  set out to do the applique shapes.  I found using a fusible web to be very easy and was happy at the way things were progressing. Once  I  arranged all my shapes on to the background fabric the result was so nice that I became anxious to use my beginners skill of free motion on it, worried I might spoil the whole thing.

But they say …… take a leap with faith and I did just that and here’s the result of my faith and patience…….

                                       

Isn’t  it beautiful…………. Well I know its not perfect, but for my first proper project its pretty decent and I am very happy.

Click on the picture to see the detailing…..

                                        

Initially I thought to sew the raw edge using the normal foot, but when I tried sewing the raw edge using my free motion foot it was better, though the stitches were not perfect, it was ok. I used the same color thread as the flowers to cover any irregularities.

Finally I machine quilted the back ground which was the most challenging part of the whole thing. ( You all must have seen my previous post about free motion quilting.) With that experience, I was really dreading to do it around my beautiful flower applique.  But again faith, kept me going and it turned out to be beautiful…….  but I must say it was not a smooth sailing, my hands used to really get tired moving the fabric around with all that strain. ( Because of the inexperience)

But this has helped me evolve as a more confident free motion quilter!!  LOL ( Of course a Beginner quilter)

I have finished the wall hanging with a simple binding and loops with some buttons.

                                                  

One final picture of my wall hanging…………(Am  I showing off too much……???   Can’t resist !! Sorry…)

                                                

I MUST THANK KELLIE FOR HER WONDERFUL TUTORIALS…. I WILL BE TRYING OUT MORE OF HER TUTOIRALS FOR SURE.

Hope you all will surely send in your lovely comments and advices.  I eagerly wait for them.  Till my next post , Take care….