Leah Day, in the US, has been creating 365 free motion quilting (FMQ) designs and sharing them freely with the world via her Free Motion Quilting website. Some time back I decided that I needed to improve my FMQ techniques, so I set myself the challenge of making samples of ALL her FMQ designs. I also sent her a donation as her videos have really helped me improve my FMQ and given me confidence to try techniques I’d never considered before.
I set up my laptop computer next to my sewing machine (now next to my quilting machine), then watch one of her videos, and stitch the design immediately after. I label each sample with the name she used so that I can view the video again if I need to, and then I file the finished samples into one of several large lever arch files. I haven’t finished yet, but already I have more than 250 samples in my ‘Leah Day library’ (she’s up to design #303 at the moment). It’s a handy reference for when I need to decide on a filler or feature design for a quilting space — basic stippling just doesn’t cut it with me any more!
Here are some samples from my Leah Day library:
See also:
- Sewing morning: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/sewing-morning/ (showing set up of sewing machine and laptop when I started this project — before I got the quilting machine)
- My very own Bee: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/my-very-own-bee/ (my quilting machine and the first large piece I did in one of Leah day’s patterns)
- Challenge 2011 quilt: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2011/10/15/challenge-quilt-2011-the-finished-quilt/ (many of the designs in the different blocks were inspired by Leah’s designs)
Rhonda Bracey: At Random 