Mid-March Updates

So far March has been chaotic to say the least. I haven't felt like doing anything serious or difficult, so here is an update of some ongoing projects.

Exit Strategy - more hand stitching

I added some interesting bits by hand to my Exit Strategy 1 piece.

I chose some variegated yarn but wanted to do more with it than just couching. What to do - I don't knit or crochet but I remembered that once upon a time, I could braid.

I quickly found a hair braiding video on YouTube and amazingly enough, once my fingers started, they knew exactly what to do! I was very impressed since I haven't braided anything in many years.

Making a braid of variegated yarn

Adding the braid around
the embroidered leaf

I didn't really like the FMQ that I had done around the leaf (it was a darker green), so I couched the braid over the stitch line. I like that better and will eventually FMQ in the negative space around it.

Couched yarn

At the bottom of this block is a very thin strip of fabric that got mostly chopped off. I wanted to add something over it, but after playing around, I found that I didn't have to hide it. I just added couched yarn for better visual interest and movement.

The piece of couched yarn is made of recycled silk saris. I love that it goes from one colour to another. The piece that I added starts with a grey blue that matches the whole piece while the orange part is the same as the one used in the bottom-right block. I'm deliberately trying to add some connections between each block. That's also why the yarn extends outside of the block. 

Exit Strategy 1 - so far

FMQ another journal cover

I started quilting a journal cover for a very special friend. Since Lise loves pink, I thought that this special piece of vintage Japanese fabric would be perfect for her. I started by matching my Kimono silk thread to the fabric.

Silk thread to quilt the flowers

Here is the first try. To practice my FMQ for tension etc. I started on the yellow flower in the corner since most of it will probably not show on the finished piece.

I used a brighter yellow for the outline and tips of the flower and then FMQ the base of the petals as well as the middle with a yellow-orange.

FMQ the yellow flower

First try at FMQ

I've now finished FMQ the Japanese vintage fabric. It's always difficult to figure out how to quilt the negative space. I decided to just echo the flowers and leaves.

Finished FMQ

What I learned

• From a learning point of view, I thought that it was fascinating that my fingers would still know how to braid after at least 15 years. The funny thing is that when I was thinking about it, I would get all mixed up. I really had to let me fingers do their thing!
• I was explaining what I was doing to my son, and he pointed out that I have an "isolated space" at the bottom of the top-right block with all of the FMQ. I'll have to think of something to make it connect with the rest of the piece.
• FMQ with silk thread is always a pleasure. This was no exception.
• I didn't have the energy to participate in Challenge 11.5 of Project Quilting but they just announced Challenge 11.6 which is "Vibrant and Vivacious", so I'm hoping to be up to the challenge.
• The Fibre Fling 2020 sale and show has been postponed from April to October. This will certainly give all of us more time to make art. It's also going to be more difficult to finish my Exit Strategy piece for March's OMG. 

Related links

• See the Exit Strategy page for a description of the project and links to all posts. 
• Journal covers posts
• I heart Project Quilting, February 9, 2020
• Free Motion Mavericks - A Production of quilted journal covers, February 6, 2020
• Project Quilting, Challenge 11.6 Vibrant and Vivacious

Linking parties
I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties, including Free Motion Mavericks with Muv. Don't forget to link up there this week. Slow Sunday Stitching, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, Off the Wall Friday, Finished or Not Finished Friday,