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Thursday, March 28, 2019

All About Strings Blog Hop and Free Motion Mavericks

Welcome to the All About Strings Blog Hop and the Free Motion Mavericks (Week 222) link-up.

All About Strings Blog Hop

I challenged myself to make this string quilt into an art quilt. Here is the journey and result.

I thought that I was making a spiderweb string quilt but the instructions I found on the Internet were not correct and by the time I figured it out, I decided to just keep going.
"Tries to play nice with others" 
The background is a Kona cotton solid. I used two layers of cotton batting for the first time. I really wanted the quilting to show and I figured that this was the perfect mini quilt to test it on.

My favourite part of making this piece was the free motion quilting (FMQ). It was such a great opportunity to find designs and keep practicing. I separated each triangle into 7 sections, leaving a 1" section empty between each FMQ section (sort of).

I searched my FMQ journal for ideas as well as a few of my go-to books. I then practiced some of the designs before starting to FMQ.

Drawing out various designs 
 Here are some of the sections:
FMQ flowers, wavy lines, circles and triangles
Trying out all kinds of FMQ variations

Had to include some feathers!
As I was quilting, I kept thinking of what to do for the "special block" that would illustrate "Tries to play nice with others".
All is quilted except for the "special block"
In the last year, I've fallen in love with hexies. I try to incorporate them into my pieces in all kinds of fun ways. 😊 The "special block" just had to include hexies!

Adding hexies whenever I can!
So, have you figured out why this piece is called "Tries to play nice with others"? It's about being the same, but different; about trying to fit in, without ever really being able to. It's also about celebrating what makes us unique or special!

What I learned
  • Not all quilting instructions one the web are correct!
  • Turns out that a bunch of 45 degree angles make a square!!! 
  • It didn't take me long to decide to go with the flow and create with what I had.
  • It was an piecing oops that determined the title and final look of the quilt. I just had to embrace the design opportunity!
  • Quilting with 2 cotton batting was terrific. I will certainly do that again.
Related links
  • Here is the link to the participants of the blog hop. I hope that you'll take the time to see the great work that everyone has done! 
Linking Parties


Project details
"Tries to play nice with others"


Tries to play nice with others
22½" x 22½"
Materials: Kona cotton and cotton scraps
Techniques: String piecing, free motion quilting, English Paper Piecing








Free Motion Mavericks
Welcome to my week to host Free Motion Mavericks (week 222). I hope that as you read this post as part of the All About Strings blog hop, that you'll take the time to link-up your strings project!

Thank you to everyone who linked up two weeks ago. A special thank you to Gail for linking up her gorgeous runner. Congrats on a great finish! If you didn't see it, you really should check it out!
Gail's lovely FMQ runner

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter
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45 comments:

  1. Anna brown28 March 2019 at 03:41

    Haha yep you really never know...But it turned out pretty cool....tyty for sharing g your talents with us...happyness04431@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:47

      Thanks Anna, I'm glad with the way it turned out. I just love those pretty spring colours!

      Delete
  2. Elizabeth Coughlin28 March 2019 at 07:15

    I think it turned out very nice...and very artistic!

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:48

      Thanks Elizabeth. I'm really glad with the way it turned out.

      Delete
  3. Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity28 March 2019 at 08:52

    What a terrifically fun looking project to go with! I love all the fun quilting on it!

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:54

      Thanks Anita. I love these simple pretty projects and any excuse to quilt on it!

      Delete
  4. Leah28 March 2019 at 09:32

    Turned out great. The quilting is awesome. What a neat idea to practice new quilting designs.

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:55

      Thanks Leah, I've learned to use every opportunity to play with my FMQ since I don't make many larger quilts.

      Delete
  5. Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio28 March 2019 at 09:38

    Very nice piece with all that great quilting!

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  6. Carol Swift28 March 2019 at 10:10

    Your quilting is incredible on this beautiful string piece! I love it!

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  7. Lisa England28 March 2019 at 10:24

    Your mini is very cool! What a great place to practice and showcase a bunch of FMQ designs. I like the name too.

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:50

      Thanks Lisa Marie. I take every opportunity to practice because the way I'm going, it sure won't be on large quilts!

      Delete
  8. Carla28 March 2019 at 10:55

    What a great piece of art. It was so fun to read about your process and your quilting is marvelous. I need to do more projects that I can practice my quilting. This looks so fun and freeing. Thank you for joining the All About Strings Blog Hop. Great quilting inspiration for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:51

      Thank you so much Carla for hosting this great blog hop. It was a real pleasure having an excuse for making this!

      Delete
  9. Lori Smanski28 March 2019 at 11:14

    WOW WELL DONE. You took something not quite what you wanted and made it into a super special piece. Well done. Your FMQ is fabulous. I love that you made that one space special and stand out. Thank you for sharing and for inspiring today. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 22:53

      Thank you so much Lori. I'm so happy with this quilt - it now has pride of place in our entrance.

      Delete
  10. Mary Ann28 March 2019 at 12:11

    I learned the same lesson you did about internet patterns! LOL You truly did make a work of art. It's lovely, thanks for sharing.

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  11. Moira28 March 2019 at 12:25

    You're quilting is great! And the mini was a great way to practice all of the different patterns.

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  12. Danice G28 March 2019 at 13:36

    I love the originality and fabrics. The quilt is unique and pretty.

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  13. tink's mom28 March 2019 at 13:38

    What a stunning piece. I love the story of its creation to finish. Thanks for hoppping with us and sharing this wonderful quilting.

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 23:03

      Thank you so much. I love these opportunities to participate in blog hops but often only finish reading all of the posts and comments weeks later - but better late than never!

      Delete
  14. Turid28 March 2019 at 14:33

    Super idea to practice FMQ, thanks.

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  15. ShirleyC28 March 2019 at 14:48

    Just beautiful and incredible work!

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  16. piecefulwendy28 March 2019 at 16:22

    Well, that sure upped the impact of that little quilt! I love it. Great title, too!

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    Replies
    1. Andree G. Faubert25 April 2019 at 23:09

      Thanks Wendy - nothing like fancy looking FMQ to add impact to a quilt! I'm glad that it was relatively small :-)

      Delete
  17. Farm Quilter28 March 2019 at 16:27

    As a longarm quilter, the first thing I notice about your quilt was the quilting!! Great use of so many different quilting designs!! I love to play like that too! Your quilting turned a cute quilt into a wow quilt!!!

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  18. Stitchin At Home28 March 2019 at 17:33

    What a great piece! I love the quilting!

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  19. BarefootThunder 28 March 2019 at 19:22

    I don't do FMQ sew... pieces like this always amaze me. I think it is wonderful, and love that you just carried on. turned out beautiful.

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  20. Carol29 March 2019 at 08:38

    Great project! It's neat that sometimes when things don't go as planned, we end up with something wonderful anyway. Your quilting is well done, and I really like the hexies on that square.

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  21. Unknown29 March 2019 at 10:13

    What a great project for practicing FMQ and using strings. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  22. Michelle30 March 2019 at 13:47

    Even though it wasn't the spider web block you thought you were making, I think it turned out better. I love the squares with the sweet hexies. The quilting is beautiful! Great job!

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  23. Janine @ Rainbow Hare30 March 2019 at 18:29

    This is beautiful. I especially love the way you've included the hexies and your quilting is brilliant :)

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  24. Sue D30 March 2019 at 21:47

    Very creative quilt.

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  25. Cynthia Brunz Designs31 March 2019 at 19:12

    Very fun project! I enjoyed seeing the variety of stitches you used.

    Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

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  26. Paulette31 March 2019 at 19:24

    Wonderful quilting on this!

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  27. quiltedfabricart1 April 2019 at 07:22

    this quilt drew me in with the quilting and then the name just put icing on the cake - I really love this quilt. I don't normally like string quilts but the wonky - ness of it and the name just pulls it all together. Your quilting choice is perfect! bravo!

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  28. Kim1 April 2019 at 18:46

    Why this quilt is lovely, Andree. It evokes a fabulous sense of fun. Your quilting is fantastic and as for those hexies....every quilt goes to an entirely another level when a hexie or two is added to the mix.

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  29. Sandra Walker4 April 2019 at 10:01

    Wow, I do love your piece! Isn't it cool (and genius of you) how you turned a blunder into a success? And good learning lesson: everything on the net (and I mean everything) is NOT correct or gospel!!

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  30. Soma @ inkTorrents.com5 April 2019 at 11:48

    It looks wonderful and a piece of art. There is an illusion effect. Beautiful quilting. I am glad you kept going and finished it :)

    Thank you so much for linking up on Wandering Camera.

    -Soma

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  31. Dione Gardner-Stephen5 April 2019 at 20:15

    Love the quilting practice and the incorporation of your hexies. They add a lot of interest to the piece and make it something special.

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  32. Muv6 April 2019 at 17:59

    Andrée, The strings quilt is so totally fab I want to make a huge quilt made up of panels just like it.
    Love, Muv

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