Isn't sewing a funny thing, one minute you can feel so pleased with your accomplishments and then the next it can turn into a disaster...
Let me explain...
I decided to do my Blogger's Block of the Month, this month the tutorial is by Vicki Welsh, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out:
My block last month wasn't looking too good, I wasn't happy with my fabric choices, but I think I'm starting to make it work now. A few more and it might even look good!!
I had to do a bit of unpicking with this months but overall I'm liking where this is going.
Since I finished a block (not a lot done, but it's something!!) I'm linking up to TGIFF. Laura at Quokka Quilts is hosting this week, go and check it out!
And now the disaster, the part where I start free motion quilting. I'm joining in the Free Motion Friday over at Fluffy Sheep Quilting and linking up, I need support! I stayed up last night to do it and after a bit of a battle with my machine (hence the mess in the middle) I got going. Man this is totally hideous. Completely shambolic (it reminds me of Mr Messy):
It doesn't look good from either side. Maybe it could be called useless stomach lining, or exploded stomach lining - whatever, it is not good :(
I got really fed up and another go wasn't even any better. I took these pictures late at night and they turned out really bad but I DON'T CARE - no amount of daylight will make this look good. After I thought I did well last week I was maybe expecting too much, and I knew that Leah jinxed me when she said it was easy in the video!! I can't do curves. Just can't do it. In the spirit of Free Motion Friday, I will persevere, I will not be free motion quitting. I intend to look at all your successes, read all your advice and try again for next week. Off to cry about it some more,
Let me explain...
I decided to do my Blogger's Block of the Month, this month the tutorial is by Vicki Welsh, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out:
My block last month wasn't looking too good, I wasn't happy with my fabric choices, but I think I'm starting to make it work now. A few more and it might even look good!!
I had to do a bit of unpicking with this months but overall I'm liking where this is going.
Since I finished a block (not a lot done, but it's something!!) I'm linking up to TGIFF. Laura at Quokka Quilts is hosting this week, go and check it out!
And now the disaster, the part where I start free motion quilting. I'm joining in the Free Motion Friday over at Fluffy Sheep Quilting and linking up, I need support! I stayed up last night to do it and after a bit of a battle with my machine (hence the mess in the middle) I got going. Man this is totally hideous. Completely shambolic (it reminds me of Mr Messy):
It doesn't look good from either side. Maybe it could be called useless stomach lining, or exploded stomach lining - whatever, it is not good :(
I got really fed up and another go wasn't even any better. I took these pictures late at night and they turned out really bad but I DON'T CARE - no amount of daylight will make this look good. After I thought I did well last week I was maybe expecting too much, and I knew that Leah jinxed me when she said it was easy in the video!! I can't do curves. Just can't do it. In the spirit of Free Motion Friday, I will persevere, I will not be free motion quitting. I intend to look at all your successes, read all your advice and try again for next week. Off to cry about it some more,
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I love your fabric choices in your BOM star. Beautiful. And I think you're right - a few more blocks and it'll all come together. I've been umming and ahhing about jumping on board... I should just get to it. Congrats on the... err... finish. ;)
I think you are being hard on yourself for FMQ! I don't think it looks that bad at all! I learned this week, I should not try to do these samples right before bedtime. I had a hard time focusing.
BTW, love your quilt block!
Yay for finishes! I agree with Pat - too hard on yourself. The secret is to quilt something using invisible thread then you can't see it AND you get practice!
Don't do yourself down. This is not bad at all. The curves are not quite as deep as Leah's curves, so it is just a gentler version.The stitches are pretty consistent, and it looks good!
Cup of tea and a biscuit, and look at it with a kinder eye!
I like your FMQ, even if it's not perfect. At least you're not chickening out! hehe I know last week you told me to go for it and I still haven't, so there!
Love the Mr. Messy reference though. We're big Mr. Men fans here. :)
Erin, your BBOM blocks are coming along nicely! Don't worry so much about the FMQ, you'll get more comfortable with it as you practice. I think you did a great job with it. I don't think stomach lining is an easy design.
Your FMQ is not that bad! You've got the right idea the curves just aren't quite as deep as Leah's. Yours is a lovely version all on its own - just a little softer :)
And the blocks look great! :)
You're definitely being too hard on yourself - it looks lovely, just more like a flower than stomach lining and I know which one I'd rather have on my quilt ;o)
Love those BOM blocks. Your FMQ looks very nice to me! I also would much rather have a flower than a stomach lining on my quilt ;)
I like how you started out with the Block of the Month decoy. Only kidding, your BOM blocks are very nice. It is hard for me to see the stitching on the FMQ, so I'm giving it an A, because I can't see anything wrong with it!
My free motion is always back and forth......one minute I like it the next I don't. Yours looks great! Good luck with your next try :-)
Oh Lucy! It really doesn't look bad at all! Honestly, I think miss Leah was on something when she called this a beginner's pattern. Mine looks awful, so go look at it then you will definitely feel better about Mr. Messy!
Funny. We have all been there. Just practice on a small sandwich a bit longer. Try to relax. It will happen.
Have you tried practicing on a solid fabric instead of the print? That way you can see your stitches better? I might "mod" my darning foot too because I have a hard time seeing where I'm stitching. Don't be hard on yourself! Rome wasn't built in a day! Or 5 weeks.. So keep at it! You'll get there! :D
I think it looks great
Lucy - you need glasses - nothing wrong with your FMQ - ok may not be the exact pattern but then embrace the new and lovely pattern you have created! Give yourself a chance!
I love your blocks - beautiful colour scheme. I can't see your fmq properly but I don't think you should worry about it. You've done lots of fab fmq before and no one wants a quilt with a pattern called 'stomach lining' LOL! I thought this week was definitely the hardest so far.
Lucy your free motion is not as bad as you think, maybe make it larger, you are doing so great
I think you're too hard on yourself - the curves are nice and smooth, your stitches are pretty, pert and even and you filled in the space beautifully! I think Leah's is just really dense quilting, which is where I'm having problems too. You did your own thing and its lovely :)
I draw a small circle in the middle with stomach lining,in chalk, to get me going.It really helps! I love this design on potholders. It looks like its where the heat should go.Hope this helps!
Love your BOM's btw!