Friday, March 20, 2015

FMQ challenge for March....

March's challenge at QuiltShopGal was by Patsy Thompson .... she does lovely work and has a variety of books and dvd's and lessons available...  best of all she loves feathers!!!!  I have been reading her blog for some time....

I chose to refer back to a tutorial she gave in 2012 for my cushion this month (Option 1)...

I have used some soft cotton lawn (to be honest this was a nightie that had been given to me but was far too small! - the fabric was so lovely even with a few stains...)

I made folds in it to base where I would be marking... that white patch underneath is wadding for the trapunto part in the middle....


I found a sweet little doily with bluebirds on which was just the right size....
(also preloved and with some rust stains)

(there are a lot of pictures but I wanted to show the process)


... the first part was attaching the doily ... I used a dissolvable thread (note to self... do not suck the thread to help with threading the needle... it dissolves quickly!!!)


.. once sewn I cut back the wadding behind the doily... this means only the doily area will have the double wadding.....


... then I started marking my borders (as you see I have very fancy equipment)


... the folds were helpful in keeping the square good....


... using the blue pen to mark the borders.....


.. once marked I layered my quilt sandwich....


... first part of quilting was going over all the borders and around my blue birds... this stabilised it all and I could remove the pins....


... the back.....


... I then marked my cross hatching for the doily ....
(this would have been better done earlier but I forgot!!!)


... a good spray with cold water and the marks and dissolvable thread were gone...

quilting... the cross hatching orange peel is done and I have started on the feathers around the doily....  as you can see these are not marked .... I find I run smoother going free form even if I lose on the consistency of shape....


.. feathers completed and the first border of circles on the go....


... more borders until completed all the quilting I wanted to do....

(I find smaller designs easier in a way but they take much longer)


...my cushion top and bases are joined (I used an overlocker which is stronger and easier for this part)

.. and found a fat quarter of a matching blue fabric



... to make a bias edging...

.. which borders it all nicely I think....


... I forgot to do progress pictures of the back but they are also quilted... the lines are the little pleats that were in the nightie ... I then just filled in heavily ... just an envelope type back to slip the cushion filler in....


... not stuffed quite enough but this was for a picture....


 ... so far 3 cushions made... all different and helping me to use my imagination a bit more.....



Thanks Darlene for another challenge..... these are definitely helping me to be a bit more creative in my quilting....

.. and thanks to Patsy for wonderful guidance and ideas...

.... adding to my skills... and adding to the giftie box!

Righto, Gotto Go.... there's still some March sewing to be done!!

34 comments:

Elyte said...

Wow Fiona, it is just gorgeous. Love the way that you have shown us step by step. It makes it seem doable for us novices.

Raewyn said...

Wonderful work Fiona! I love the way you used the doiley and nightie and very interesting to see your process. I'm extra excited to started my own cushion now!!

Dawn said...

Wow what a lovely process, thanks for all the pictures to show how you did it. It came up wonderfully and I just love your feathers and circles in the borders. Very clever lady.

WoolenSails said...

That is so beautiful, love how you used it in the pillow and the beautiful quilting around it.

Debbie

kiwikid said...

That is beautiful Fiona.....so good that you showed step by step for us..thank you for that...it has made a beautiful cushion.

marina said...

wow!! that is amazing!
well done Fiona x

Flickenstichlerin said...

Dear fiona,
it is a dream, wonderful idea and great quilting, so so pretty.
Greetings,
Sylvia

Michelle Ridgway said...

Amazing!!! You do fabulous work xx

Helen said...

Wow Fiona they are wonderful, it was very interesting to see the progress pictures too...... Thanks for taking us on that journey with you.

Jennifer said...

Well done! A good use for a pretty doiley......I have also used them as quilt labels. What machine do you have - does it have a wide throat?

Karen S said...

Wow! This is looking amazing. You are really taking on these challenges. The results are wonderful. Love the way you have used the doiley and the selection of quilting works so well.

Barb said...

That is amazing, your quilting is fabulous

Terry said...

WOW!! That's beautiful! :0)

Doreen said...

I see that you and I 'shop' at the same place for our marking tools!!!! LOL!!!! Beautiful stitching and I couldn't agree more with the free--form feather thought. Marking the feather results in a slightly "stiff" look for me. Your little blue birds are the most perfect compliment for this!!!! Inspiring me again! Along the thought line of what Cindy Needham does with her lovely linen finds!!!!

Jeanette said...

Fabulous Fiona. The cushion looks beautiful. Hugs,xx

Egléa Senna Bordados said...

Uau! É muito, muito, muito lindo! Parabéns!
Um abraço!

Wow! It's very, very, very beautiful! Congratulations!
Hugs!

KaHolly said...

Very impressive! I mean "Wow!"!

Yvonne W said...

All I can say is "WOW"!!! That is so beautiful.

Sisbabestitches said...

Oh my! I have no other words!

Katherine said...

Stunning! I love your quilting! and a wonderful use for such a gorgeous doily

Jane said...

Oh, I'm in love with that cushion cover. I really must get a new foot for my machine and get back to FMQ

Mary said...

Fun quilting on a Doily Pillow. Thanks for sharing your FMQ with us.

Chrissie said...

Absolutely beautiful, brilliant quilting wow xcx

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

what a sweet pillow....you did a fantastic job with your quilting too

Karin said...

Very pretty...love what you have done with the doily. Your quilting looks stunning.

Anthea said...

Wow Fiona, your skills are getting so good! Well done, your cushion looks amazing

Deb R said...

Such gorgeous quilting Fiona, your cushion is just lovely, well done my friend!

Lin said...

Stunning! Xx

quiltanna said...

Wow. your pillow is very beautiful. I love your quilting designe and the embroidery in the center. Great job!

quiltanna said...

Wow. your pillow is very beautiful. I love your quilting designe and the embroidery in the center. Great job!

Ray and Jeanne said...

This is so beautiful! Wonderful work. ~Jeanne

Patsy said...

Beautiful!!!!

Can't Stop Stitchin said...

Wow! Wonderful use of a linen in the center. Your work is beautiful!
mary

Can't Stop Stitchin said...

Had a laugh out loud chuckle when I read your tutorial about sucking the thread to put in needle... sounds like something I would have done :)
before tutorial!
mary

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