Good morning, Quilters! It’s Tuesday and that can mean only ONE thing–it’s time for another Free Motion Quilt Tutorial! Here in Minnesota, the forecast today is 55 F and cloudy, but…if this temperature keeps up for a few more days…all of the snow will melt and it will feel like Spring! I can’t wait to plant my garden…so, let’s get started with The Windowsill Garden Free Motion Quilt (FMQ) tutorial!
THE WINDOWSILL GARDEN TUTORIAL
Begin by drawing two lines four inches apart. Draw another line 1-1/2 inches above the bottom line. These drawn lines or “rails” help keep our quilting straight and will be erased when we are finished. (I usually use a light chalk mark which disappears with a little brushing.)
Begin stitching ON the bottom rail. Stitch over a several stitches and begin stitching “the Pot” by angling up and slightly to the left. Before reaching the second “rail” jog out a few stitches, up two or three stitches and then stitch ON the middle rail to create the top of the pot.
Next, stitch the right side of the pot by sewing the mirror image of the left side–down a few stitches , jog in a few stitches, then down and angle inward to the bottom rail. Stitch the bottom of the pot by stitching ON the bottom rail. Stitch close to, but do not touch the left side of the pot. Stop here.
Now we are going to give the pot a few decorative lines. Stitch up and down…
Stitch three (or more) lines in your pot.
Next, stitch up– between the right side of the pot and your third set of decorative lines. Then stitch across the top of the pot.
Stitch across the top of the pot and then back to the center. From the center point, stitch straight up to create the stem of the flower.
Stitch a spiral.
Spiral out again…
Next, stitch petals around the spiral.
Complete the petals, then drop down to stitch the left leaf.
Add an inner leaf if you like, then cross the stem to stitch the right leaf.
Complete the right leaf, then stitch down and echo stitch the right side of the pot.
Stitch to the bottom line and end here or continue on the rail to begin your second flower.
Instant Windowsill Garden! Lovely!
If you’d like more variety–try different flowers, different petals, or longer stems and more leaves (see second image above.)
This pattern would look adorable on the border of any quilt. You could use this motif in a rectangular block by making the stem longer. To use it in a square block, stitch each plant radiating out from the center into the corners…
OR…see what I made with this pattern…coming WEDNESDAY!
NOTE-Today’s tutorial was stitched on my Bernina 820 with extra wide harp space and a huge bobbin–in other words, a Domestic Sewing Machine (DSM). I used Sulky Rayon thread (40 wt) on top and Aurifil cotton (50 wt) in the bobbin using a Schmetz 90 Topstitch needle. I did not use a BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator)
YOU, too CAN stitch this pattern. FFMQ with LCK-(Fearless Free Motion Quilting with Lori “Cookie” Crawley-Kennedy) is our new motto! So go plant your windowsill!
I’d love to see it!
Signed,
Lady Crawley, Duchess of Doodling
PS–All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lady Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to Pin or re-blog with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For any other purpose please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Good Day!
37 comments
Karen
I finished my quilt and would love to share photos of your flowers that I used in the border..if you could tell me how I should that, I will forward them to you. They made the quilt. Thanks again for the design!
Karen
I follow you on Pinterest and love your creativity. Do you use a longarm or a domestic machine for you FMQ?
Lori Kennedy
Hi Karen, I use a domestic sewing machine–I use a Bernina 150 and a Bernina 820 which has extra harp space.
Ness
Oh forgot to add you can stop talking like Julia now…heehee!
Ness
Dear Duchess (read in something like Julia Childe’s voice) (heehee) Thank you for graciously teaching us a very lovely new flower pattern. It has brought us so much joy. Your humble follower (bahhaha snort!) the Stable girl. !
ps: I really do love it! And also can’t wait to go play in the dirt! I’m having to go to PT for my back/leg…had to get a shot today so sitting on ice. Want to go play on the sewing machine so bad!!!
Lori Kennedy
Oh Ness, Sorry to hear about your back and leg! (Did I ever mention that I’m a physical therapist in real life–not really a Duchess, that is!) Do you have sciatica? Not digging or sitting at a sewing machine for you, my dear. Can you stand and do your woodworking? Get well soon!
Karen
Thanks..I’m on my last border and I didn’t know what to put on this baby quilt that I’ve been quilting..it has 3 big flowers with 2 bumble bees and these flowers look just like them. I’ve altered your design and just used the flowers as the center are in a garden. Thanks for the stepping stone. I can now get this off my list!
Lori Kennedy
Sounds adorable–do send photos or link to Flickr!
laceyirish
Thank you for your so helpful tutorials, and for including the info on threads, thread weights plus needle you are using. I’m quilting on a sit down HQ Sweet Sixteen and trying to reproduce what I see here (minus the topstitch needle, of course). I love my HQSS sitdown machine but still can’t get the perfectly balanced stitches I see here 🙁 Keep up the great work you post; it is much appreciated!!
Lori Kennedy
It’s the great challenge of any sewing machine…getting the tension…Hmmm…I think I should do a post on “Tension Headaches”!
Jane
Lori, I have a question for you. Do you use many of your free motion tutorial patterns on pieced quilts? It’s wonderful and easy to see your FM design on solid fabric. If you do use these designs on a pieced quilt could you show us some examples? I’m always trying to learn more from you. Many thanks.
Lori Kennedy
That has been a recurrent question from readers lately. I’m going to do some examples…I use solids for the tutorials because they show up better…
quiddityrox
again, lori, this is so wonderful. you are gifted, indeed.
Lori Kennedy
Thanks–too kind, but could you repeat that loud enough for my kids to hear…
Barbara Williams
I am also a flower lover! I just love all your motifs and hope that I will one day be able to do them too.
Lori Kennedy
I have a better green thumb when I’m sewing than when I’m in the garden…I hate to weed!
Marianne
At first glance I thought this adorable motif would be impossible, but after reading the tutorial I must admit it seems surprisingly doable. You are masterful at making domestic machine quilting possible for anyone with a machine. Thanks very much!
Lori Kennedy
The tutorial seemed a bit long, I know, but I think the step-by-step is pretty easy. Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Terri Tresise
Thank you, Lori, for making this so do-able! I’ve got to try this soon.
Lori Kennedy
Can’t wait to see!
Sue
So cute! I’m gonna try this as soon as I get home from our escape to Florida. Love your designs so much.
Lori Kennedy
I had a little escape to Florida, too…very rejuvenating!
sillyandrea
“Duchess of Doodling” Love it. 😉
Pryor
Neat! I am new to your blog. Quick question…is there a certain stitch number ( maybe #6) that you use on the Bernina 830 to lock the beginning send ending stitches?
Lori Kennedy
Welcome! So glad you finally found us! I don’t use the lock stitch. Here’s a link to a post about how I knot https://lorikennedyquilts.com/2014/03/20/fmq-knots-the-lck-way-the-flourish-knot/
Hope that helps!
Carol Ashford
You are so clever Lori. I too am an avid gardener and will definitely give this one a try! Love it!
Lori Kennedy
I’m not a good gardener, but I am an enthusiastic gardener – especially when the weather’s good! I may tap you for gardening questions!
Barb E
I look forward to trying this one, thanks
Judy
So springy!! Lawns are beginning to green…early flowers poking their heads through the soil…maybe spring is actually here!!
Wanda
I agree with Susan. And to top it off, you have a wonderful sense of humor:)
Lori Kennedy
Thank you, Wanda! Not everyone thinks so…
Susan
You are so talented! Not only are you creative, you do an excellent tutorials! Thanks so much for sharing!
Lori Kennedy
Thank you and you’re welcome!
Hazel
Love the design…I’ll be trying this!
Judy @ newenglandgardenandthread
As a Master Gardener I love this design. As a novice quilter, I am ‘always’ in awe of your free motion quilting talent.
Lori Kennedy
So great to have a Master Gardener I can tap for questions. I consider the Master Gardener program–but couldn’t devote the time to it. It’s a huge commitment isn’t it?
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