As you may know, I have been working on samples of FMQ designs. I am stitching out various patterns in smallish rectangles in the hope that these will become a sample book someday. I really love working on these samples as they are good practice and very functional in the future. I like running my fingers over them and admiring them from across the room.
These are the latest additions to the pile!
Echoes around spiky swirls. Not my favorite, done like this.
I like this one much much better! Less echoing and more space between the lines, therefore more poof!
I kind of like this design, but there is too much negative space. I need to get the shapes closer together.
This one is OK. Do not love it, do not hate it.
I used this pattern on the “Reetepetit“quilt. Absolutely love it!
Something new I saw in the book “Fill’er Up“. (I will do a post on my new FMQ books within two weeks time)
First try…
Second try! Much better!!! I love the 3D effect these arcs create.
This is last one of the batch from the book “Fill’er Up”.
This design I spied online, on the website of Candied Fabrics where I discovered the sample book I am recreating. I did find very similar “leaves” here and here.
I hope you are not to affected by all the nasty colds flying around. I have been feeling “under the weather” for about a week. The worst days seem to have passed and I am looking forward to the weekend when I will meet up with a friend for some “serious shopping”. No cold allowed than! 🙂
Have a wonderful time sewing!
Esther
(p.s. I am linking up with Pretty Bobbin for “I Quilt Linky Party” , “Finish it up Friday” at Crazy Mom Quilts , “Can I get a Whoop Whoop?” at Confessions of a Fabric Addict ”, “FMQ Friday” at Leah Day’s blog, and last but not least “NTT” at My Quilt Infatuation)
ipatchandquilt 
I should be doing something like this instead of random practice and design gazing! I espcially like column of arcs.
Yes, that one is really pretty! I randomly quilted some wavy lines. Than I echoed these one time each to get paralel lines. The bigger space between these paralel lines was filled up with arcs that have to really sharp otherwise you end up a “ladder” instead of the three dimensional effect! This pattern would be great for lots of little weird spaces in quilts!
Have a wonderful Friday!
Esther
That hidden leaf is AMAZING Esther. I will certainly be trying something like that. Thanks for sharing all your great patterns and beautiful quilting!
Hello Cynthia!
🙂 Yeah I am proud of that one too! I think I stopped a thousand times in this pattern to check what I was doing. I just could not get my head around it. Before I started the FMQ I did draw some lines to help with changing the directions in the design. Without those I would have gotten lost, really!
I hope you and your loved ones are alla well!
Esther
wow, these are really good. Your approach to FMQ really is the difference between success and not so good… Practice ! of course some artistic talent is good too !
Thanks for your response to my question regarding the closures on pillows – I do appreciate it when people say ” I don’t know”, nothing wrong with that. If you can get some oil of oregano, you will be able to beat that cold. It is a natural remedy that works for me.
Thanks for the tip on the Oregano! I will try to find that here or ask my friend N who know al lot about these things.
Working on the samplers is really addictive, I assure you! 😉 Yesterday I only wanted to work them for an hour, but it turned into a few hours very quickly, LOL! I made some feathers with dense quilting around them. They look wonderful, but they take up SOOOOO much time that I do not think I will ever ( please shoot me when I do!) use them on a large quilt. Way too much work!
I wish you a great sewing weekend!
Esther
So cool…your quilting is looking awesome. I hope I can emulate this but that would mean I need to spend more time practicing and less time ogling! Ogling is sooo much fun though.
Ha ha Ogling is the best way to start! Looking and analyzing is very important. Just do not fall into the trap that the first FMQ pieces you do will look like those pictures online. I did! You will not feel great about your work if it has to be perfect like it came from a computer! Like Treadlemusic commented on my last post: we are human! And a little bit of wonkyness puts warmth in a quilt!
Bye bye
Esther
Your FMQ is wonderful, Esther!!!! And your book is going to be a huge “plus” to have. I really do like them all……am fascinated with the ‘leaf’ one and, of course, the “feather fronds” (“Reetepetit”)! Great sewing, Girl!!!!! Hugs……..
Yay! 🙂 The “feather fronds” are my all time favorite right now! I love the way they flow and that I do not have to backtrack! So much easier than traditional feathers (=fabulous look, but a bit too time consuming for large projects for me now).
Have a fab weekend!
Esther
I do agree with that………and it’s the larger projects that take that motif so well!!!!!
Such gorgeous designs! I love that leaf one at the end – and the feathers!!
Hello Kristy!
Thank you very much! I love the poof in the feather design a lot. I keep running my fingers over it. LOL!
I hope you aer all well again!
Esthr
Your quilting is inspiring. I especially love the second echoing one shown. How large are these samples?
Goodmorning Jasmine!
The samples (the sewn rectangles) are about 6 x 8 inches large. Not that big! I decided on this measurement because I wanted to use up some scraps that I could cut up into this size. The pile of scraps has shrunk very quickly and I now have “attacked” my pile of squares meant for pillow backs.
Have a wonderful sunny day!
Esther
These are all so great! What a great way to have a nice FMQ resource of stitched designs!
Hello Christa!
I love the fact that I can now clearly see what the effect of a FMQ design is on a piece of fabric without a distracting pattern on the fabric itself. And I really like the fact that when someone else asks me to make something for them, I can let them touch these examples and pick and choose.
I hope you Friday is relaxing!
Esther
oh wow! Those samples look amazing. I like the ‘leaf’ one the best. Amazing texture. I sometimes just fondle or look at my quilting too.
Hello Jo!
Ha ha, we are not only quilters, but fondlers too… LOL! I love the feel of the fabric and the loft of the poof!
Esther
Hello Esther:
Your experimentation show a lot of progression. Love # 5 (reetepetit reference). It looks very organic (swirling leaves)and it has a cactus-like texture. I also liked # 9 very much with the clamshell reference; it’s symmetry reminded me of the decorations in the Alhambra.
Annie
Goodmorning Annie!
Thank you! #5 is my favorite too! Yes the clamshell look like the mosaics in Islamic Art! I think they would also work in a more “Art Deco” setting. Multifuncional!
Lots of hugs,
Esther
I love the pattern one the reetepetit quilt! Of course, I kind of love them all. 🙂 Such a cool project you’re working on. I need more time in the day so I can do what everyone else is doing!
I feel the same! It feels like I am “behind” all of you lot! 🙂 I have decided not to participate in bees and quilt-alongs for now as I hardly have time to do anything else. The samples are great to work on as I can work 30 minutes if I want to. Not a lot of clean-up or prepping! YAY!
Bye bye
Esther
I love, love, love your FMQ samples. These are so much nicer than computerized, digitized, factory style ones. I’m going to try more patterns too….you’ve inspired me. Thank you 🙂
🙂 Thank you!
I totally believe that FMQ design without panthographs or digited patterns create an extra interest in the quilt. It “flows” more natural!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Esther
I like your idea of stitching these samples to bind as a book.
Hello Suzanne!
Maybe there will be two books… I have got so many samples already. I also need to think about a quick and easy way to bind them. I will figure something out 🙂
Esther
Wow! These are great, it’s so nice to see what people can do with a blank piece of fabric, I shall definately be having a go at some of these, thanks.
Hello Jules,
An empty piece of fabric used to a bit boring to me at first, now I look at it as an artist canvas! LOL! The first “stroke” is always the hardest.
Esther
What a great idea making up free motion quilting samples! There are a couple that are my favorites but all are wonderful!
Thank you very much Joanie! It is great fun to do… now I can’t stop making them! Oops! 😉
Esther
Your free motion is amazing, Esther! I like the pattern used on the “Reetepetit“quilt best! But they are all wonderful. What an inspiration you are!
Hello Lorna!
Thank you very much! I so love doing the FMQ designs, and I never thought I would. Too fussy, too busy, too “something”.. now it is like “this needs more thread”, and “an extra feather does not hurt anyone”, ha ha!
Esther
these are amazing, Esther! I love the clamshell with the little leaves the best!
Thank you so much for linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
I love those too! I saw the design in a book on FMQ. Can’t remember which one, I have bought 4 this month! LOL! But I will write a review on them somewhere next week. I will link up to your blog than!
Bye bye
Esther
Whoa, you have done a fantastic job!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Well thank you very much Linda!
Happy to oblige, LOL!
Great samples – this is a perfect source not only for FMQ beginners!
Thanks for sharing
Thank you very much for your kind comment!
Esther
I’m pretty much obsessed with you leaf one, the last one! So awesome! I love FMQ, I need to get my butt in gear and practice, I’ve only ever actually done it on one quilt (out of 3)
Hello Michelle!
LOL! That happened to me too! Totally obsessed by a FMQ-leaf, ha ha! I hope to be able to try some more during the holidays.
All my first quilts (not so many) have simple straight line quilting on them. I did not know how to do the fancy FMQ I spied online. Once I had my grandmothers old Pfaff repaired I was inspired to do some FMQ. No turning back from that moment! I love it!
Esther
Hello Esther,
These are really interesting designs. I especially like the third one and rather like the fact that there are a few spaces – it means you can see the shapes better.
Love, Muv
That design looks like circular saw “gone crazy” to me. I would like to try that pattern again and get a more even distribution of the negative space. Some of the spikes are very close together and others are a bit further away.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Esther
These are pretty cool!
Thanks a lot Vera!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Esther
These look fantastic! I love the modified clamshell! Thanks for linking up xx