Dots and Daisies-a Fun Free Motion (or Long Arm) Quilt Tutorial

24 responses to “Dots and Daisies-a Fun Free Motion (or Long Arm) Quilt Tutorial”

1. Great pattern. It’s so cheerful.

2. Lori, try some zinnias for next year, they bloom for a long time and add a lot of color to a yard.
   Love the daisy design!

   1. Great idea! Are zinnias annuals or perennials?

      1. I love zinnias and have loads of them. They are annuals but just save the flower heads and you will have plenty of seeds for the following year. So cheerful and pretty. I haven’t figured out the right time to sow seeds outdoors. sometime I sow 2 or 3 times before they take..so I guess the later, the better. Mine have just stared to flower last week. Next year I will try starting them indoors in addition to outside.

      2. annuals.

3. I like this one for a baby quilt I’m just getting ready to layer and baste! I can’t tell from these photos, but did you mark lines with a pencil or Hera marker first? I will need to do that or else won’t have straight lines! Thank you! I agree with Monika-zinnias are wonderful. Some with larger flowers rival the dahlias I plant and last longer.

   1. Thanks for the zinnia tip. I think I sometimes confuse zinnias and dahlias when I buy the Farmer’s Market bouquets.

4. I have a hydrangea called “Pinky Winky”. It begins blooming in late July here in SW Michigan. It begins with very lacy cone shaped blooms that are white. As they mature, the blooms fill out with a little larger petals, and they begin to turn pink at the base of the cone. The color spreads towards the tip as the August passes. It becomes darker at the base and looks like ….it thinks it’s called “ombré” fabric, from dark to light. The blooms last into fall. It’s a no care perennial, that just needs pruning in early spring. They can get quite tall, so they are great in the background or as a light hedge. I love them! You can google them for more information.

   1. I will definitely look for “Pinky Winky”. I can’t resist the name and I love that it changes from white to pink! Thank you!

5. Zinnias, and any variety of ornamental sunflowers. I live a few hours north in Winnipeg and those work for me. That said, I’ve come to accept my garden doesn’t look great this time of year.

   1. I forgot about zinnias–my grandmother used to love them. I will have to look for the ornamental sunflowers–Do you have a favorite?

6. Chrysanthemums are nice and easy. Just cut back in the spring.

7. I also juggle gardening and sewing…. I also have Pinky winky, makes a nice dried flower, turns brownish. I buy annual Mums from HD, in the spring, they mature all summer as green round plants, then burst into colour. Pull them out in the spring, put daffs underneath, then plant over the daffs next season.
   Practicing more and more, nothing worse than sitting at the machine thinking… What where to go!

8. love the daisy design!! I agree too…pinky winky is too hard to resist! I’m going to look for one! I just planted an adorable little rose bush with old fashioned roses in hotpink. The deer loved it! (grrr!) It took them three days to find it though…not very observant deer I guess. Trying to convert my flowerbed into more bushy type perrenial and bushes. I hope the deer all got a poke or two.

9. Snapdragon put on a lovely display here in Winnipeg too. Zinnia are annuals and tho pretty late into the fall will succumb to any early frost.

10. Dear Lori,
    After reading your request for late flowering suggestions, I walked around my gardens to see what is blooming now. Phlox is a pretty tall border perennial that blooms after our Shasta Daisy borders are spent. About mid-way after our Cone Flowers atart blooming, Rubdeccia (Black-eyed Susan) brings her impressive gold petals with dark brown centers. And, our glorious shrub, the Rose of Sharon Hibiscus with a multitude of large white blossoms with bright burgundy centers is breathtaking. In the herb variety, the Greek Oregano and Lambs’ Ear delight the Honey Bees. My husband, who is from Minnesota, says these flowers should do well there.
    Thank you so much for your Craftsy Class. I may have been the first person to sign up for your class. I loved it. It has helped me immensely. I am now able to divide and conquer my FMQing motifs successfully. .
    Blessings,
    Jacqueline Lee Lambie
    aka Jackinka

11. love this one !! its really cute and I’ll definitely give it a try 🙂 sorry I can’t help with your garden as I live down under !!

12. This design readily adapts to Halloween spiders! Try wiggly lines down and add legs around the circles/ovals…..

    1. What a great idea! I might have to add a tutorial for Halloween!–Do you mind? I will give you credit!

13. Have you ever thought of Russian Sage. Mine is still blooming prolifically. Love the stitch pattern! Can’t wait to try it.

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16. hi its tutorial is really awesome i really like it

    1. Thank you! Daisies always add a happy touch!