Today’s Topics: Pace Yourself and Start Doodling (Flower Power, Claire’s Peony, Faye’s Flower)
Good Morning, Quilters!
Welcome to Day 2 of the quilt-a-long, 25 Weeks to Better Machine Quilting based on my new book, 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting!
Whew! Yesterday was a lot of links.
It’s confusing, I know….
The book is 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting,
while the Quilt-a-Long is 25 Weeks to Better Machine Quilting.
Learning a New Skill Takes Time
Here on the blog, we will be reviewing one lesson (the same as one day in the book) per week.
This quilt-a-long is unusually long by design! You will be taking a comprehensive, online class in machine quilting– FREE!
Every lesson is important and provides the building blocks for later lessons. By taking one lesson per week, we have the opportunity to take a very comprehensive approach to machine quilting.
The best way to learn any skill is to follow the sequence:
-Learn
-Practice
-Receive Feedback
-Practice
Weekly Schedule
We will focus on one chapter (one building block) each week.
I hope to loosely follow this schedule:
Mondays-Discuss the new skill, technique or material.
Tuesdays-Doodle and set up the new project
Wednesday, Thursday-Stitch the project
Friday-Open line discussion
Choose YOUR Own Pace
Pace yourself as you learn machine quilting!
If you take one lesson per week, you’ll be an expert by the end of 2020! (Wouldn’t that be something good this year!?)
One lesson per week is a leisurely pace. It allows time to learn a new concept and let it “incubate” as well as time for practice and experimentation.
However, if you are more ambitious, follow the book and complete the lessons more quickly.
Better Quilting Through Doodling-Start Today!
We will cover the topic of doodling in greater depth in Week 4 of the quilt-a-long. However, I would like you to start doodling today! It is one of the most important developmental skills to better machine quilting.
This week, focus on YOUR doodles. Most people doodle something. Some of the most common doodles are arrows, circles, flowers and your name. Whatever YOUR doodle is–use it to create patterns. Combine YOUR doodle in rows, then try columns. Fill a square with YOUR doodle, then fill a circle, Make YOUR doodle really small, then really large. PLAY with YOUR doodle!
In addition, doodle my favorite motif, Flower Power. Flower Power is a building block motif.
Once you learn Flower Power, try two variations: Claire’s Peony and Faye’s Flower. To create Claire’s Peony, echo stitch every row of petals before beginning a new row. To doodle Faye’s Flower, echo stitch every petal twice before adding a new petal.
Combine the three motifs to create a gorgeous bouquet and a fabulous background fill design.
Share YOUR Doodles on Facebook and Instagram #quiltwithlori #lorikennedyquilts #martingaletpp
Quilt Whenever Inspiration Strikes!
If your doodling inspires you to quilt-by all means grab a quick quilt sandwich and start stitching!
Don’t worry about thread or needles or technique. Lower the feed dogs and see what happens!
Here’s one of my first FMQ attempts–inspired by a flower I had doodled. As you can see, my tension was off, I didn’t iron the quilt sandwich, and I didn’t know anything about thread at the time. Yet–I got the idea down on fabric and I learned a few things. (This remains in my FMQ “Baby Book”!)
What About YOU?
Have YOU made a stack of quick quilt sandwiches?
Did YOU find YOUR machine manual and mark the important pages?
What is YOUR favorite doodle?
Can YOU turn it into a quilting design?
Do YOU have YOUR quilting buddy?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Snappy (Turtle) Quilter,
Lori
Order 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting at LoriKennedyShop
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thank you!
