Work in Progress Wednesday–The Sunflower Sampler

September 18, 2013
Sunflower Quilt, FMQ

Quilt, Free Motion Quilting, Sunflower

I would like to welcome all the new quilters that found us this week!  Welcome to The Inbox Jaunt!  It seems we received a very nice recommendation from quilt-fiction author, Marie Bostwick.  You can find her on Facebook HERE or find her books HERE.  Thank you to Marie, and all her fans who have joined us!  Also, thank you to those of you who mentioned how you found us– I am always curious!

As the Minnesota temperatures begin to drop –(It was 96 F last week and is 65 F this week.) –autumn themes are swirling in my head…leaves, corn, pumpkins, sunflowers…

Sunflower Quilt, Free Motion Quilting

As I watched Sunday’s episode of Breaking Bad (any other fans out there?)  I was doodling.  Most of the doodles are uninspired,  but I thought I’d give this one a go.  I used Sulky on top and Aurifil on the bottom.  (I usually like the finer weight Sulky, but this matched better.)  I set my machine for a little free motion fun (See Seven Steps to Free Motion Quilting HERE.), put a Topstitch 80 in my Bernina 820  and I was off to the races!

Sunflower Quilt, Free Motion Quilting

Whenever possible, I like to use a fun backing fabric.  This was in my stash–perfect!

Sunflower Quilt, Free Motion Quilting

I stitched a “sampler” of stitches around the sunflower, alternating curvy and linear designs.  You may notice the Braided Wheat border. (see yesterday’s tutorial HERE)   I have not doodled a good corner treatment, so I stitched squares in the corners.  This is a great way to handle corners when you aren’t sure how to turn your border pattern.  I like the extra design elements in the corners.

Sunflower Quilt, Free Motion Quilting

The only problem with this quilt—I now have a stack of thirty mini quilts that require binding…

Sunflower Quilt, Free Motion Quilting

I think I’ll go weed…(Another of my dreaded favorite tasks!)

TIP:  The next time you’re doing a little stitching, try mixing it up with a “sampler” of stitches.  It adds interest and is a great way to practice all of those tutorials!

TIP 2:  Don’t fret when you don’t know how to turn a corner with your border pattern.  Use the corners as an opportunity to add a design element.  (No one will be the wiser—unless, like me, YOU tell them!

Happy stitching,

Lori

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39 comments

  • Carolina

    Why don’t you stitch all the mini quilts into a couple of big quilts that will already be quilted. Project done. Less time binding minis.

    • WordPress.com Support

      You make a great point!

  • My email address is suewilk3208@gmail.com. Thanks.

  • Lori,
    Just ran across this, see that this post was a few years back. Wondering if you sell your quilts or ever accept a project for pay. I absolutely love this quilt and would love to have one. Work full time and have a 97 year old mom, so chances of me learning to do this any time soon are not too good, lol. Anyway, let me know. It’s absolutely beautiful.

  • Incredible quilting!

  • Hi Lori, sorry I cannot find a private email address for you. I would like to ask permission to use one of your fmq designs on a fmq quilt-as-you-go design I am putting together for my local quilt shop. Maybe you could email me so I can ask you properly 🙂 Thank you, Raewyn Barge
    PS Love your work and your blog!!!

  • Lori
    It is beautiful! I am going to try some of your techniques on a small Halloween wall decoration I am working on.
    Evelyn,
    You are the only other person I know with a Tiara!

    Teri

  • Wow, Lori this is just gorgeous! Love the color and design of the sunflower.

  • Thanks for the warm welcome. This sampler is absolutely beautiful. And I hear you on the binding–not always my favorite part and I mess it up spectacularly quite often. But it’s so pretty when it is all bound and done.

  • Love it! What a way to have fun!

  • WOW is all I can say about your sunflower. It’s pretty fantastic!
    I’m originally from Hastings, so Hello, neighbor!

  • Stunning… absolutely stunning.

  • Your quilting is beautiful! Love the sunflower.

  • I love the centre of the sunflower, its so realistic.

  • The table mats idea is a great one for the tutorial practice pieces. I just read in a decorating magazine that entertaining is “more casual” now with the recommendation to use placemats instead of table cloths. I love the tutorials, thanks Lori.

    • A

      I guess I’m really casual–most the time I think of placemats as “more formal”! LOL!

  • Jeannette

    I love what you are doing here, for my practise samplers ie mini quilts I have made each of them into table mats for the dining room table, and I are up to number 16 now.

    • A

      It is a great idea to make the practice pieces something that you will use. That way you work harder and concentrate more on making the square not-just-a-practice-piece!

    • Laura

      That’s a terrific idea! I think I may need to try doing that.

  • caroline

    Can you join them all together? After all, they are already quilted…….

  • Wow – no words except it is beautiful.

  • I’m going to try doodling more often! I love your sunflower and the wonderful texture you added to it!

  • billiemick

    Your work is so gorgeous.

  • Susan

    I’m one of the ones that found you via Marie, love your ideas, now to only get up the nerve to try FMQ on my own.

  • The braided wheat paired with this awesome sunflower, LOVE IT!!!
    Have a great day.
    Always, Queenie

  • Theresa

    Beautiful! Captures fall perfectly…. Favorite season

  • Evelyn

    Beautiful, Lori! You have inspired me to experiment. I just bought a Babylock Tiara and LOVE it so now I have a new tip to use it some more! Thank you.

    • A

      It’s always fun to have new “toys” to play with, but it does take a bit longer to set tension, etc. Can’t wait to hear how you like your new Babylock!

  • Roxanna

    🙂 gorgeous

  • Your Sunflower sampler is gorgeous. Well done.

  • Barbara

    Lori, I have the large version of the latest Supreme Sliders, and love it. It sticks (aggressively!) to my Sew Steady table. Absolutely no tape required like the older version did.

  • Sharon Thagard

    How beautiful! Thank you.

  • Glad to help spread the word, Lori. Your site is SEW inspiring!

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