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 
I know I tend to be distracted by details, but ‘Stomach Lining’?
Yeah! And doesn’t it sorta look like tripe too? 😉
–Rhonda
Looks great Rhonda – I would love to have a look through that one day …and maybe draw some 🙂
Any time, Joan. You know where I live 😉
Awesome! You’re the first person to have stitched through so many of the designs. Congratulations!
Leah Day
Hi Leah!
Thanks for stopping by — and thanks for sharing your knowledge, techniques and giving me confidence that I can do this.
I can’t believe that I’m the first person to stitch so many of your designs — maybe I’m just the first person to blog about doing so 😉
–Rhonda
[…] Because the challenge was monochromatic, all the threads in this quilt are also in pink tones. Most were rayon threads, which added an extra sheen. All stitching in all blocks is done free motion — no rulers, no patterns, no drawn designs, just stitching where my hands and brain took me. Drawing zentangles on the plane to and from the US and at the conference really helped! As did the confidence I gained from working through all the Leah Day designs (see also My personal Leah Day project). […]
[…] been following Leah’s Free Motion Quilting Project (365 designs) for some time and have my own library of her designs that I’ve stitched; it’s not complete, but […]
[…] I found the Leah Day 365 days of FMQ website (http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365project.htm) and decided to make samples of all her designs (I did most of them on my domestic machine, with the last ones done on my Sweet Sixteen: https://sandgroper14.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/my-leah-day-project/). […]
I just bought my sweet sixteen, should be here next week (can’t wait!), and plan to start practicing the Leah Day designs as well–have the quilt sandwiches all ready to go.
[…] I found the Leah Day 365 days of FMQ website (http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365project.htm) and decided to make samples of all her designs (I did most of them on my domestic machine, with the last ones done on my Sweet Sixteen: https://rhondabracey.com/2011/08/01/my-leah-day-project/). […]
Great idea! I have one of Leah’s early books, but I’ve only actually stitched a few of the designs in it. Will have to add “stitch samples of them all” to my To Do list.