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Cindy from Fluffy Sheep Quilting had the phenomenal idea of practicing FMQ techniques and sharing everyone's results on Friday. Thus FMQ Friday is born. Some of you may remember my FMQ run a few weeks ago with Hummingbirds & Hexagons? I received so many amazing tips and have been putting them to good use.
My number one tip? This is all about practice. I read somewhere that 10 minutes a day for a month and bam, all of a sudden your FMQ is worlds away from where it started. So when Lucy emailed me about FMQ Friday I thought - pssht - I am joining these ladies and jumping on this FMQ bandwagon!
When I saw this weeks challenge Shadow Waves sample I knew I had to draw it out to get my head wrapped around the going back and forth in waves...
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| My Quick Sketch |
Um, I love that Cindy considered this pattern Shadow Waves starting "at the super basics." HA! Man Cindy - you have some high hopes let me tell you!!! You obviously have not seen my FMQ before.
THIS IS MY RESULT.
Hahahahahhaaaahahahaaaa... Oh man, this is wiping tears from my eyes laughing/crying. I hope you all get a kick out of this because it is really me at a very new low. Dang! I was going to start again, have another go but I thought no no no...I have to be straight here and show you what I did... Oh geez.
Okay. Rallying. I am going to do this thing if it kills me. I am going to come back and sew Shadow Waves in, well let's be reasonable, 2 months. Let's see how it is THEN. Hmmph. So there Shadow Waves take That! [and yes, there was a Latina head-roll during that proclamation.]
Linking up to Fluffy Sheep Quilting's FMQ Friday!
- rebecca lynne
27 comments:
I think they look great and mine is my first try too! like the idea of sketching first! x
Doesn't look bad at all to me! After all you comments on the others, I was expecting something truly dismal :)
Not bad for your first ever go, dont give up.
You really made me laught. But I wasn't laughing at your quilting (to me it looks good - I dont believe you need 2 more months), they way you wrote everything made me crack up ;-)
I couldn't do that darn pattern to save my life! Maybe a glass of wine will help!? But I will be seriously laughing doing the next one!
Looks like you were already improving Rebecca in that one piece so keep at it and we will all get there together...wherever that is!
Almost fell off my chair at your proficiency and then I realised it was a sketch ;o) Seriously, it's a good start and I think it'll only take 4-5 weeks before you can kick this one into touch!!
Thank you so much for your honesty! I too thought the drawn version was your actual quilting, and I was all, "Holy ****!" I love the idea of trying it out for 10 minutes a day. Practice, practice, practice. I love your sense of humor! http://livinginred.wordpress.com
Let's do it Nicky! Wine is an excellent idea - although I shall hace to stick with white so as to not make a mess when I laugh!!!
I agree with Nicky! Wine makes anything easier. Just make it white so it doesn't leave a stain! I think we get too stiff cause we're so freaked out about it (having done it a whole two times now, I am what you might call an expert! Y^%%()_R%$E!! Sorry, it's hard to type when you're rolling around on the floor laughing at yourself!) However, I do agree that it helps to loosen yourself up!
Well at least yours has some shape to it!! And as Nicky says, by the right hand side, it was already looking good. It will be fun (or NOT) to have a before and after in a couple of months! x
Seriously? You mean you don't already guzzle wine when quilting? This has always worked for me, although the next day for some strange reason it doesn't look as beautiful as I thought initially. Maybe MORE wine is the answer?
I'm with Helen...I initially thought your sketch WAS the quilting! You are too funny Rebecca!
BWAHAHA, fantastic, ladies. Last time I drank wine and quilted I ended up sewing some blocks together all kinds of wonky! Proof: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klynq/6061456602/in/set-72157627193485216
Rebecca, no shame in trying! I'm glad you chose not to fake us out, LOL. If I had thought to photograph my first go at FMQ, you'd get a good laugh. I joined in on this too, so fun!
umm lady, you were the one just telling us practice makes perfect!. it's a pretty darn good effort i'd say.
It looks great.
I've opended a bottle of red tonight, I just might try this. At least you were honest enough to show us the first attempt.
I struggle with FMQ on a DSM - I just can't wrap my head around the "moving the paper instead of the pen" concept. I admit, I love my Little Gracie frame. It takes up a whole lot of space, but it means no basting AND I get to move the pen (machine). When I see the incredible things that people can accomplish on a DSM, I'm humbled. Your first effort looks pretty darn good!
Oh, I never thought of sketching out the design first! I think I'll try that for next Friday. I also think it would be neat to have a week a month or so from now where we re-attempt the first couple of weeks and see how far we've come! Or just do a contest where we see who comes up with the craziest designs after a few glasses of wine! It can't get any worse, right?!
You are too hard on yourself! It doesn't look so bad.. Maybe I will join in next week, so you can see what BAD really looks like. ;)
You did make ne giggle reading your post but I think you are being pretty hard on yourself! Have a good look at your piece - the first few lines are shakey but the 2nd half is great! I have yet to try mine (crap week) and after seeing everyone's, can't wait!
I think you've done great. You've got the thick to thin going really well. I practice with a sketch first, but I'm not very good at drawing in the first place!
I think it's funny that the middle one looks so perfect!! Apparently when sketching you hold the pen still and move the paper around, I'm NOT sharing my attempts at doing that, it's worse than my fmq!! ;)
I had to have a little laugh- because yours looks so much like mine!
I am so glad to be at the same level as so many of us, and not left feeling inadequate for once.. Keep it going for me!
Thanks so much for posting this! I didn't know FMQ Friday existed and I'm working on my first quilt using FMQ, a curlicue pattern, and I feel like I'm doing a TERRIBLE job at it! I like the idea of practicing a new technique every Friday. Good luck with it--I'm sure we will both improve! :)
Let's be honest....I had 5-6 little practice squares and took a photo of my "best" (ahem...still not so great) stitching. Don't worry! We're all learning. Make what ever design works for you. The point is to get used to your machine, figure out how to use your petal when moving the fabric, etc. You're doing a great job! Keep practicing and we'll all be a little better next week :)
I used your Sunday Sewing Stats in todays post! http://www.sleepless-dreamer.com/2011/10/alice-quilted-and-dannies-storyboek.html
Where are your stats? ;P
Ah, did I not comment on this post?? Sorry, I read it a while ago! Your attempt isn't THAT bad. Go easy on yourself! I'm happy to say that I'll be joining FMQ Friday soon because.... I BOUGHT A NEW MACHINE WOO! :D Soon, you can laugh at me too!
Now post your stats, woman!
I am too ashamed to even post my 1st piece of FMQ! I had tension issues...well the machine and I both did really. I'm a firm believer that wine helps too but I'd hate to see the state of me and a full quilt at the end on it!
I love that you're doing this. I just considered joining in, but I don't feel sufficiently motivated now. Even still, I'm really interested in watching it happen here!
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