February Finishes

Batik Lap Quilt Top

Does this look familiar? I finished this quilt lap top on a retreat last May. I used 2 packages of North Country Trail Batiks Charm Pack by Holly Taylor for Moda as well as some 5" squares from my batik stash since I should have bought 3 charm packs!

This was my One Month Goal (OMG) for February with Elm Street Quilts. I also had a few other goals. Let's see how I did:

1. To FMQ this colourful batik lap quilt for my brother (the one who got me fabric in Paris) - this is my OMG! Finished
2. To finish embellishing Escape 2: English Garden; Finished
3. To finish the Northern Lights hexies art quilt. Almost Finished
4. To make the next block for the Growing Up QAL Finished March 2

Batik Lap Quilt 2

FMQ blocks using templates or patterns

I had a great time FMQ this lap quilt. There are 132 blocks in this quilt and I used all of them to practice my FMQ. I was trying to keep this quilt supple, even with a lot of FMQ. I followed the fabric pattern in many of the blocks. I did FMQ based on Angela Walters' patterns and also used stencils. I made two blocks based on Muv's (of Free Motion Mavericks) tutorials. Check out her oak leaf and rudbeckia designs in the Featured Links below.

Since my brother loves Paris and travels there as often as he can, I FMQ two Paris blocks. One is the Eiffel Tower and the other the Notre-Dame Cathedral. To make these (since I don't draw well), I enlarged a black and white photo and outlined the structure with a fine black Sharpie. Using the light box, I copied the image on freezer paper and cut the image out.

For the Eiffel Tower, I FMQ over the freezer paper. It worked out fine, except for the tiny pieces of paper stuck underneath the thread.

Eiffel Tower freezer paper template

Eiffel Tower FMQ on block

Notre-Dame Cathedral FMQ

For the Notre-Dame Cathedral, I used the same process but used a removable pen to draw the outline around the freezer paper. I then used the picture to fill in the inside lines. I did practice this on paper before FMQ it since it was quite intricate. I'm quite happy with the results.

Chevy posing in front of Batik Lap Quilt 2

Escape 2: English Garden Finished

Escape 2: English Garden was finished and the post written on February 19, 2017

Northern Lights hexies art quilt only needs a binding. I'm not going to spoil the surprise.

The next block for the Growing Up QAL has all of the pieces cut up and is ready to be sewn together. I have a couple more days to sew and post it! March 2: Here is my block

Growing Up QAL Block 2

Northern Lights is almost done!

What I learned:

• The lap quilt is a little stiffer than I would have preferred - there is a lot of FMQ, even if the blocks are not densely quilted. I think it's still fairly supple.
• Many of the FMQ is not easily seen - it'll be a little bit like a "Find Waldo". I hope my brother will have fun discovering the different blocks - including one with his name and another his cat's name.
• My block 2 in the Growing Up QAL is not quilt right. The HST are going in a different direction. The correct square looks much better - maybe I'll try again, or maybe not!
• I was very productive in the last couple of weeks. In part, it's because of the audio books I borrowed from the library - Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini. I read them years ago but have decided to listen to them so that I can read the last two books of the series. I just love being read to!

Featured Links:

Batik Lap Quilt 2

• Working in a Series (February 3, 2017)
• Quilting in the Bush (May 28, 2016)

• One Monthly Goal - Results for February
• One Monthly Goal - Goal Setting for February
• Muv's (of Free Motion Mavericks) tutorials: Oak Leaf Design and Rudbeckia Design
• Escape 2: English Garden art quilt - Second in the Series (February 19, 2017)
• Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Project Details
Batik Lap Quilt 2
50 ½ " x  47½"
Materials: cotton batiks - North Country Trail Batiks Charm Pack by Holly Taylor for Moda as well as other 5" squares
Techniques: FMQ - freehand as well as templates and stencils


Did you get lots of quilting done in February? Spring with its longer days and fresh air will wake me out of hibernation!

Linky Parties: I will be linking to the One Monthly Goal - February Finish Link-up as well as these other link-ups. Check out what everyone is up to! Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Moving it Forward Monday, Linky Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Growing Up Quilt-Along, Needle & Thread Thursday, Let's Bee Social, Free Motion Mavericks, Can I get a Whoop Whoop? Off the Wall Friday,

I am linking this post to Sarah Goer's Show Me Something With Squares.