So the Pick Up Sticks Quilt is still my Main Crush. You can see from the picture below that I've got the sashing on and it's all pin basted. I've only shown a corner of the quilt as I want to keep the full reveal for when the quilt is all finished.
So far I've quilted a couple of rows in the ditch to try out the accufeed foot of my new sewing machine. I forgot about the pressure dial on the side of the machine and there is very slight ruffling on the back but not enough for me to worry about. I'll play around with it a bit later this week and work out how to adjust the dial to fix this. I get three introductory classes , one a month at the shop where I bought the machine. The first is on Friday. I'm looking forward to learning more about the features of the machine (I call her Jane). So far I'm loving her. She sews much more easily and accurately than my other machine.
Before working on this quilt I used the accufeed foot on this, project which I could describe as my next to main crush.
This is a muslin I prepared to work through the introductory free motion quilting class with Christina Camelli on Craftsy. Rather than stitch on smaller block sized samples I drew several copies of each of the blocks on a large lap sized muslin. I wanted to practise on this larger format because I find the shift from small samples to quilts is quite a leap.
I've sewn straight lines with the accufeed foot (essentially a walking foot) to outline each of the blocks and anchor the layers of the "quilt" together. I'll work on the free motion practice over the next couple of weeks. I really like Christina's teaching style and I'm pretty sure I'll purchase her more advanced class when I'm finished with this one.
How about do you have plans to work on new techniques?
Linking up for Main Crush Monday with Beth of Cooking Up Quilts, and I just heard about a new monthly link up, One Monthly Goal at Red Letter Quilts, so I'm linking up the pick up sticks quilt as my goal for January. Thanks to Heidi for picking up where a Lovely Year of Finishes left off.
12 comments:
Working with a muslin sandwich to practice quilting is a great idea, and the pick up sticks quilt is looking fantastic. :)
Love your pick up sticks! Hurry...I'm ready for the reveal already! I'm enrolled in Christina's class also, but have not completed any exercises yet, I need to return to it.
Good luck with your class and quilting this top.
It's smart to practice on a larger size quilt sandwich. It really allows you to get the feel for quilting a 'real' quilt. I've taken a few of Christina's classes and really like her teaching style. Her classes have helped my FMQ a lot. I'm looking forward to seeing the entire quilt - I love the glimpse you've given us. Thanks for sharing on MCM!
Looking thru your blog I know you won't have trouble with this. You will do just fine.
Kathleen Mary PS found your blog on OMG.
Good luck with your quilting !
I love Craftsy classes -- sometimes I want to watch one part over and over again. It's easy to do that. Now they have a huge variety of classes to view too. I think you are smart to practice on bigger "quilt" sized pieces. a 12" square is super easy to quilt. A 40 x 50" quilt... not as much. Good luck.
Pick Up Sticks looks so fun Lisa! It will be a great January goal.
You are so right about it being quite a bit different to practice quilting on something big and your idea of a larger muslin quilt is great! I love Christina's classes and need to get back to practicing my FMQ too.
I really like the blue background and your sticks are perfectly pieced - gorgeous!
Pick Up Sticks looks great. Sounds like you've got a good plan in place to practice and be ready to finish this project up by the end of the month.
Really really like your pick up sticks quilt Lisa . I love both the vibrancy and the geometric style of it
The photo caught my eye on OMG page, and here is it you again Lisa! Funny. Well the pick up sticks quilt is lovely. Will be fun to see how you are stitching it. And like your idea for using drawing the design on the fabric to practice the quilting. I hadn't heard of the teacher you mention, but will look her up! Best, (Stash Bee) June
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