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Sunday, January 05, 2020

Slow Stitching and Free Motion Quilting

I love being able to create something using techniques that aren't usually put together - such as slow stitching and free motion quilting (FMQ). It's not that they don't go together, but rather that it's not usually done.

Slow Stitching and FMQ in Exit Strategy 1

In September I introduced my Exit Strategy...and got caught up with all kinds of projects and distractions. Then, while writing my 2020 Planning post, I realised that creating art quilts had become daunting and that my expectations were too high and too serious. So enough of that! It's time to just do it for fun, and if it turns out well, all the better. If not, then I'm bound to have learned something.😊

So this weekend, I took out the batik fabric bought for the sashing and put my first piece together. I did some stitch-in-the-ditch around the sashing and border and then started to play. It felt really good to be having fun making art again.
Exit Strategy 1 is slowly emerging.
I just did enough FMQ to see what it might look like among the hand stitching. I worked on the top two panels.

In the three triangles panel, I wanted to see how I could highlight the triangle with quilting. I think that there's a lot of potential there.
FMQ around one of the triangles.
In the next panel, I FMQ around some of the stitching and then on some of the lines that I hadn't embroidered.
FMQ around the couching and following the lines of the fabric
I'm really looking forward to experimenting on these panels. I'll keep FMQ but I also want to add more stitching and embroidery. My objective is to link the four panels together so that they become a cohesive whole.

What I learned
  • I didn't really plan the sashing and border - so the top and the bottom panels are not finished in the same way. To camouflage this, I FMQ where there should have been seams. I think that this will make the differences less obvious. 
  • Although I've got some embroidery and couching in each panel, I want this to extend beyond the sashing. Even with the batting and backing, I want to embroider some of it only on the top layer. I'll experiment with this and let you know the results.
  • I wanted to add a section in this post on how I created those fun triangles but I would rather spend more time on this in a separate post. I'll be doing this soon!
What's on this week
  • Sunday is the first day of Project Quilting. We'll find out what our first assignment is, and have until Sunday morning to post our finish. I really can't wait to start!
  • It's my turn to host the Free Motion Mavericks linking party. I hope you'll join me. You don't have to FMQ to link up!
  • Since it's a brand new year, I've been preparing a new quilting agenda. My January OMG is to FMQ a journal cover for it. I think that this is going to be a VERY busy month!
  • Finally, please join me on January 21 for the Winter Blues Blog Hop. I've got an idea and found the instructions for part of my piece. Now I need to find the fabric and MAKE IT!
Related links
Linking parties
I will be linking up with Muv for Free Motion Mavericks since her link up from last week is open for another two days. I'm also linking up to Elm Street Quilts' OMG January link up. Off the Wall Friday, Oh Scrap!, Slow Sunday Stitching, 15 Minutes to Stitch 2020, Design Wall Monday, Monday Making, What I Made Monday, Midweek Makers, Colour and Inspiration Tuesday, Put your foot down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Finished or Not Finished Friday, Friday Foto Fun, Peacock Party, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, To-Do Tuesday,


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26 comments:

  1. Quilter Kathy5 January 2020 at 11:44

    So much going on in your sewing room! ENjoy your slow stitching today!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert5 January 2020 at 11:50

      Thanks Kathy. There is definitely too much happening. I will really need the slow stitching today :-)

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  2. Kim5 January 2020 at 15:22

    It sounds as if you are having too much fun...and a little learning happening as well. Your Exit Strategy 1 is looking fabulous.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert7 January 2020 at 13:15

      Thanks so much Kim. I'm glad that I'm at it again and that it's still fun!

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  3. Sarah5 January 2020 at 16:57

    It's liberating when you finally let go! Great job so far, it looks like a lot of fun!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert7 January 2020 at 13:18

      Thanks Sarah, I'm still struggling with the letting go but that's a life lesson that's not learned easily. I will however make sure that it keeps being fun. :-)

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  4. Lisa J.5 January 2020 at 19:12

    I'm glad you decided to let go of your expectations and just go for fun. The work will likely be just as good. I love what you are doing here.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert7 January 2020 at 13:19

      Thanks so much Lisa. You're right, expectations often just lead to stress which is not necessarily good for creativity.

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  5. Kate8 January 2020 at 07:08

    A very colorful and fun project. It is so easy to get caught up in big expectations. Enjoy your stitching time this year.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert10 January 2020 at 22:09

      Thanks Kate. So far I've enjoyed the FMQ. As soon as I finish my Winter Blues project, I'm jumping back into it!

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  6. Patty 8 January 2020 at 16:22

    Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert10 January 2020 at 22:10

      Thanks Patty. I'm hoping to make a few of the journal covers - they are so useful and great for gifts. Have a great month and thanks for hosting a great party!

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  7. Susan9 January 2020 at 09:32

    Looks like you were certainly having fun!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert10 January 2020 at 22:12

      Thanks Susan. Making it up as I go along is the best fun I can have!

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  8. Elizabeth V Kelbaugh11 January 2020 at 06:55

    Beautiful blend of techniques! Sometimes we just need to play with our material.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:35

      Thanks Elizabeth - we really do need to take the time to play and experiment!

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  9. Home Sewn By Us11 January 2020 at 10:47

    Hi again Andree! I love how you added the FMQ to the triangles. It really does enhance the piece, yet it doesn't take away at all from the hand stitching. A great combination. I really NEED to link up to your FMQ linky party. I just finished a Olaf baby quilt and FMQ it - but the pictures are so bad you can't even tell it's Olaf on the backing. Good luck with your OMG and the Winter Blues project, and thanks so much for linking up on To-Do Tuesday. I hope you come again. ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:38

      Thank you so much Roseanne. I'm going to try to include my to-do's in my posts so that I can link up to yours too. I haven't started my OMG but the Winter Blues project is almost finished...and I present Tuesday, so I'd better keep working on it!

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  10. Becca // Pretty Piney Quilts11 January 2020 at 14:27

    I look forward to your post about how you made the triangles! It's going to be interesting to see how your four panels come together, too. Thanks for linking up to What I Made Monday.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:39

      Thanks for the reminder Becca - with everything that's going on, I keep forgetting to do that. It's now in my quilting agenda...which still doesn't have a cover!

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  11. For the love of geese14 January 2020 at 16:37

    I love these blocks. Looking forward to seeing your finish for the hop next week. Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down.

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:41

      Thanks Denise. I'm looking forward to seeing my finish on the hop too! I just have to bind it somehow....??? It's a bit of a challenge!

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  12. Alycia~Quiltygirl15 January 2020 at 10:31

    I like putting the fun back in to creating! Have fun with it!

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:43

      Thanks so much Alycia - I think that "have fun" will be my quilting mantra this year!

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  13. Muv19 January 2020 at 15:09

    Hello Andrée,
    Slow stitching... yes, it's that time of year, where you just have to slow down and take it easy.
    All those colours and textures look great together. Exit Strategy will be such a unique and personal work when it all comes together.
    Love, Muv

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    1. Andree G. Faubert19 January 2020 at 19:44

      Hi Muv, yes I wish that I could actually hibernate and just do some slow stitching right now! It is helping me stay grounded in all this January craziness. Take care,Andrée

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