Round the Bend in Twelve Squares - part 1

As the title suggests, this project has 12 squares and a lot of bends to go around - in more ways than one!
This is another version of 'Learning Curves in 9 Squares'. All the quilting is done on white fabric but each square is framed by a border in the same colour as the thread.
So first task was to dye the border fabric and buy matching thread.

Intentions and outcomes don't always match up. The beautiful gradation from fuchsia, through purples to turquoise and slate blue ended up a clean break between pink/purple and blues. Of course, I could have started again, made a better job of the dyeing, re-ordered more matching thread ... but that would have required patience and perseverance - qualities that I believe I possess but obviously not in sufficient quantity in this instance!

My solution was to mix the colours up and let it be assumed that this was always the intention. You do assume that, don't you?!!

Each 12" square uses one motif - here Sticks and Stones. I deliberately made some of the 'bends' very narrow which results in a beautiful play of density and gives the impression of light and dark shades of colour...

although I have to say when I am trying to quilt that small there is a voice in my head saying 'you can not be serious!' I've put a pin in to give you an idea of size. I can see in this enlarged version that I have made a good mistake in the middle - but at original size in the whole piece I defy anyone to notice!!

The next square has the motif  'Fly Away Home',  named by Norma Schlager after the nursery rhyme Ladybird/Ladybug (depending which side of the Atlantic you are on).

Again, things got pretty tense - I mean dense here. Some of those circles are about the size of a pin head.

At some points the motif tapers down to a point. Obviously here I can't see what I'm doing - but then neither can you!! I just try to move the fabric in the idea of the pattern and even though I am almost stitching on the spot, there is a point where the sense of the pattern seems to emerge from the tangle.

Next 2 or 3 squares should be ready to post next week. Hope to see you then and thanks for stopping by..

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @  http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Lizzie Lenard @  http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk   

Sidetracked finished

Here is the completed Sidetracked - somewhat bleached by the sun I think.

I've shown you the background and the making of the tracks in my last two posts

I debated several fancy shapes for tracks, but in the end I decided to stick with the simplicity of the piece and just go for a straight line down one side.

When I made Fracture, I appliqued the quilted body directly onto the background with a machine blanket stitch. This works well, but does leave a raw edge of sorts. This time, I decided to face the quilted part and then hand stitch it to the background.

This is a lot of extra work but it gives a totally different finish; much neater - the stitches do not show on the front or back as I didn't go all the way through the backing. It is also raised up, sitting on the surface. I would be interested to hear what you think of this and which finish you prefer.

I had intended to tuck the end under, but didn't leave quite enough length to do that and I quite like the small overlap.

I also faced the edges of the background giving a similar finish to both.

One mistake I did make was to forget that in facing the tracks, I would lose some of the width. They are therefore I bit narrower than I had planned, which I think shows. I like this piece, but I'm not entirely happy with it. I think it is because the tracks are just that bit too narrow. Humm. What do you think?

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk

Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

Lizzie Lenard @ http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/

Sticks and Stones - the 8th Learning Curves in 9 Squares

After the excitement of my first ribbon, back to the next of the 'Learning Curves in 9 Squares' - Sticks and Stones.

I love this design. Quilted small the 'sticks' and 'stones' become the same size, creating a dense texture and making the colour seem darker at that point. Give it more space and the whole thing opens up and breaths. The spiral unwinds a little. The sticks protrude and acquire a cheeky curve at the base. It is excellent for going around curves, from the gentle meander to the absolute U turn, as demonstrated here. Despite the stitching being in a lovely deep buttery yellow, this colour suffers the same fate as the other pale ones, namely that it can not be seen from a distance. I'm sad about that because I love the freshness of the buttercup yellow on white.

Time too for another FMQ cameo.

Wimbledon - fmq Cameo 34

Wimbledon is a variation on a pebble stitch. but is actually easier because there is no travelling. After completing the circle at the top an S shape gets us to the bottom of the circle ready to start the next one - giving an impression of a tennis ball - hence the name. It is a great background stitch and when the size of the balls is varied, as here, it also gives a good textural variety.

And last but not least, I now have the judges comments on 'Square Spiral'. I unintentionally provoked quite a few comments about judges comments - and I've also meet other quilters deflated by the label 'satisfactory'. I've spent a lifetime in education and for me, the importance of feedback is not just to praise or criticise, but to encourage growth and signpost how to reach potential. But that takes a lot of effort and time - maybe more time than quilt judges have?

Square Spiral - detail

I'm pleased to say I got very positive comments this time: "Wonderful workmanship. A really lovely quilt thoughtfully executed." My grades have gone from 'satisfactory' to 'very good' and 'excellent'. What this really teaches me is the importance of design. I don't believe for a moment that my quilting has improved 3 levels in 6 months, or the execution of an identical binding was just 'satisfactory' on my first show quilt, yet 'very good' on the second. But what I can see is that the design and overall visual impact of the second show quilt was much better - and that obviously influences all the other categories in the eyes of the judges. Which also teaches me not to take it all too seriously. I do it because I love it - and in the doing, I continue to learn.

In the meantime, the next show quilts are underway and I will be blogging about them soon.

Quite a long post today - so if you are still with me you deserve a ribbon too - or a least a cup to tea/coffee!

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk
Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

...and not only late with this post. I have had the 14.4.14 (or if you are  U.S. side, 4.14.14) in my head for weeks as the day I need to send off my 'Spiral' quilt to the British Quilt & Stitch competition, giving a week's transport time.

Spiral - Detail

 I am really bad at finishing the boring bits like binding and hanging sleeve, but got it done this weekend - got all the cat hairs off - got it all safely packed and ready for the post and then...A quick glance at the entry form and my eye falls on the sentence

The quilts MUST arrive by Monday 14 April (their capitals!!)

So, there I am, on the morning of Monday 14 April, sitting on the floor (good place to be when you are feeling stupid and a bit desperate at the same time) with quilt that has not yet departed let alone arrived. I ring the exhibition HQ prepared to eat humble pie, beg, grovel, prostrate myself....The delightful Angela informs me that the system has been designed for people like me, no problem, I have in fact got another 10 days before the quilt has to be there.

Spiral - Detail 2

I am no longer sitting on the floor, quilt is on its way and I am breathing again! I haven't included a full picture of the quilt, but a few to give you an idea. The rules don't forbid it, but is somehow doesn't feel polite to do a full reveal until after the event. Or, go along to the exhibition on 25-27 April at Uttoxeter Racecourse to have a look yourself.

Spiral - Detail 3

Thank you so much to all of you who came up with names for the two designs I posted last week. It was so interesting to see what the patterns evoked for everybody, where you all agreed and where you saw quite different things. I've been a bit side-tracked by the drama above, but next week I will let you know which names I have picked (hopefully also done Cameos of the designs). I have now decided to call the complete piece 'Learning Curves in 9 Squares'.  You've seen 4 squares, numbers 5 and 6 will be in the next post.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk
Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

The next 'more learning curves' 2nd of 9

Here is the second of the 9 squares that will make up More Learning Curves. I might have to rethink that name. To be honest, I hadn't given this piece a name as I considered it a trial for a larger piece - for which I don't have a name either!! And talking of names I haven't got one for the above motif as it isn't really an original. So let's call it 'swirl'. It doesn't close to form a circle and requires a bit of travelling back along the tight scroll to form the next swirl. It is very easy to open up or sew tighter giving a good variety of density. It is a brighter green that last week's 'hour glass'. I was thinking loosely of autumn colours choosing greens, reds and golds.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

We did it Wednesday @ http://www.sewmuchado.com/

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk
Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

Arch intersection - free motion quilting Cameo 30

I missed out on a Cameo last week - sorry about that - so here we are back on track with number 30.

This is what I call a 'there-and-back' pattern, meaning it takes two passes to complete the pattern. I mentioned in the last post the idea of sewing backwards, and with these patterns I do just that - the first pass from top to bottom and then returning bottom to top. Getting the semi-circles to intersect at the right point is what makes the pattern. Just go for it on the down stitching, but coming back up you have to be careful to match the semi-circles at a half-drop. I don't get too fussy - marking this would be a nightmare. If it doesn't quite match, so be it. Watching the shapes that are being formed I find really helps.

I've put this in again on the horizontal, just to show a different aspect. I like the wide-open ribbon effect this one gives. You could stitch it without the gap in between to make an overall pattern, then you would have fun deciding whether you wanted to align the motif which would emphasize the circle, or do a half drop.

For more information about the 101 free motion quilting Cameos, please visit the 'fmq Cameos - so far' page.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence
Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

We did it Wednesday @ http://www.sewmuchado.com/

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk
Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

Learning Curves

When I posted a piece of black free motion quilting on white fabric, I got a lot of interest (thank you very much!). When I announced that I was going to cut it up, one or two visitors were shocked, but mostly, people were very curious to see what I would do with it. Well, me too, because I really wasn't sure what I was doing. So, here is my first trial.

Learning curves - trial 1

 I started with an old practice piece on which I had tried out some new designs. I edged each piece with a zig-zag stitch before attaching them to the quilted background with a button whole stitch. I think using black thread for this was a mistake.

So, on to the next piece. First the background - a piece of hand-dyed black fabric quilted with an all over pebble stitch.

I took this out in the garden on a sunny day. It is a bit darker than this in reality. I tried an experiment with this. I quilted the circles in undulating rows, which makes it look a bit like a crocodile skin I think. When quilting from top to bottom, this then raised the question of either stopping and starting again at the top (tedious) or turning the piece around so that the bottom becomes the top (not always possible if there is too much bulk) or quilting backwards, from bottom to top. Do you ever do this? It wasn't strictly necessary with the size of this piece, but I thought it would be good practice. Doing pebbles is good practice anyway. Touching the adjacent circle without going into it and travelling around the pebble to the start of the next requires quite a bit of precision. 

Fracture 1

So now here is the first piece that I made from the quilting that I have posted previously. And yes, it doesn't use any of the designs that I made from black and white paper. I haven't abandoned them, but I didn't have enough black dyed fabric for them - and I have run out of material and need to order more  - all of which was going to take time, so in the meantime... here is Fracture 1. Rather than zig-zag the edges here, I  bonderwebed the pieces to stop the cut stitching from unravelling. I then blanket stitched it using white thread.

Close up, this wasn't as neat as I had hoped. What do you think? Would you find this acceptable and any ideas what else I could do?

Here are a couple more shots taken from an angle - just because I think they are fun!

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence
Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Anything goes Mondays @ http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk/

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/

Fabric Tuesday @http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk/    

Sew cute Tuesday @ http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/ 

Show and tell Tuesday @ http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

We did it Wednesday @ http://www.sewmuchado.com/

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk
Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

Crossing over - free motion Cameo 28

The gentle meander becomes an increasingly sweeping curve with each echo. You can echo as many times as you want but keep the cross over at the same point. Just 3 can make an effective ribbon, or you can keep going until you have a broad band as here.

For more information about the free - motion quilted Cameos, go to the 'fmq Cameos so far' page.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence
Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Let’s Bee Social @ http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.co.uk

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca

We did it Wednesday @ http://www.sewmuchado.com/

I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays @ http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/

Needle and Thread Thursday @ http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.co.uk/

Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk

Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

Waving in the Wind - free motion quilting cameo 27

A bit of a break from the black and white theme for this post. It is time for another fmq cameo.

Waving in the Wind - free motion quilting cameo 27

This is one of my motifs that was born of putting pencil to paper and just watching and waiting to see what happens, going with what I like, dropping what I don't and constantly trying out the 'what ifs'. For me it evokes crops waving in a summer breeze. Although the line crosses it is a continuous line and has a nice swing to it. I think it looks better stitched all in the same direction, which is a bit of a pain because it means you have to stop at the end of each row and start on again for the next.

Thanks for dropping by..

Hilary Florence

P.S. I'm linking this post to:

WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/

WOW = WIPs on Wednesdays  @ http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.co.uk/  

WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @ http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca 

­­­­I Quilt Thursdays http://prettybobbins.com/

Really Random Thursdays http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/
Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ http://fortworthfabricstudio.blogspot.co.uk

Friday linky party @ http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.co.uk/
Do go and have a look at some of the other fantastic quilts there.

Trio of Leaves - free motion quilting cameo 26

Trio of Leaves - free motion quilting cameo 26

This is a spin off from the previous post 'Leaf Triplets'. The leaves have become more stylised and symmetrical. The curved stem has gone and the straight veins jet out at a 90 degree angle, each vein with an ending - triangles for the first leaf, circles for the second and kites for the third.

Thanks for stopping by...

Hilary Florence

Leaf Triplet - free motion quilting cameo 25

Leaf Triplet - free motion quilting cameo 25

The vase majority of my designs come from just sitting with pencil and paper and doodling. Sometimes I have an idea already in minds eye that need developing on paper, sometimes I have no idea and just wait to see where my hand takes me. That doesn't mean that I am blind to inspiration elsewhere.  The above leaf was inspired by wallpaper. The design was printed with a vast array of flora and fauna, but this one leaf immediately stood out as a potential fmq motif and I think it works well. It would be a bit fiddly to make, but it would also work well as a stamp. Although each leaf is a continuous line - up  one side and down the other, making the steam as you go along - each leaf requires a start and stop.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

P.S.   I've linked this post to   'Anything Goes Mondays' at  http://marelize-ries.blogspot.co.uk ,
 'Linky  Tuesday' at http://www.conniekresin.co.uk, 'Fabric Tuesdays at http://quiltstory.blogspot.co.uk, 'Sew Cute Tuesday' at http://www.blossomheartquilts.com  and last but not least 'Show and tell Tuesdays' at http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/.    Do go and have a look at some of the other fantstic quilts and quilters there.

Funky Spider Web - free motion quilting cameo 23

There is nothing original about parallel lines and spiral, but I'm rather fond of this funky spider web. I always like playing around with the dimensions of a motive - making it bigger or smaller. I find these 3 motifs work well together and giving the web nine arms lends a nice symmetry. I haven't yet tried the idea with other motifs - but I'm filing the idea. I have a quilt top of 6" squares that I made in my very early days of dyeing (idea was to see how many colours you could make using just 3 dyes). I have never got around to quilting it. This might must be the job. Watch this space!

Thanks for dropping by...
Hilary Florence

Hourglass - free motion quilted Cameo 22

Hourglass - free motion quilted Cameo 22

Rows of hourglasses flow across the page in gentle lines. Symmetry across the horizontal axis means this one looks the same quilted forward or backward. Depending on the space to be filled, the hourglass can be tall and skinny, or short and fat. It is interesting to see how that can quite alter its character. There is a good juxtaposition of angles, straight and curved lines - although some of the 'staight' lines can also be given a bit a curve if wished.

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Keyholes - free motion quilting Cameo 21

Keyholes - free motion quilting Cameo 21

OK, so this quilt a jumble of keyholes all tangles up together, but that is rather the fun of it! I wonder what secrets so many keyholes are hiding?

Like Thorny Point, Cameo 17, this design is a 'there and back' one. In other words, the first line creates just one side and you need to quilt back again to finish the design, so ending up at your starting point. You could be absolutely symmetrical and make keyholes left and right the same - but you know by now I rarely do symmetrical. Here I've taken asymmetry even a step further and made the central stem occasionally shift to the right or left.

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Wooded Hills - free motion quilted Cameo 20

Wooded Hills - free motion quilted Cameo 20

This is another cameo that was inspired by the work of another quilter, namely Freida Anderson. You can see her work at www.friestyle.com/

Frieda creates some wonderful fused and quilted collages, often featuring leaves. One showed leaves or trees arranged on hills. I have done a similar arrangement here, using a very simple stylised tree. The trees quilted on their own were not particularly interesting, but it is the rhythm of the background quilting, the close lines echoing the curve of the hills that makes the piece hang together.

At some point I will expand on this idea, perhaps using a different design of tree in each square.

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by

Hilary Florence

Tribal Sun - free motion quilting Cameo 19

Tribal Sun - free motion quilting Cameo 20

This cameo was inspired by the quilting on some cushions by Yoshiko Jinzenji. If you have never seen the work of the inspirational quilt artist Yoshiko Jinzenji, do visit her website at http://www.yoshikoquilt.com

The quilting created a variety of patterns using close parallel lines. It is quite a while since I made this cameo, and this is a technique I must return to. I find it very meditative and particularly enjoy creating the larger triangles. Any one of the 3 sides can be used as the starting point of the parallel lines, each side giving a very different result. You can chose whether to make the ends curved or straight.

Enjoy.

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Round Pegs and Square Holes - free motion quilting Cameo 18

Round Pegs and Square Holes - free motion quilting Cameo 19

I like the effect of this design. Perhaps it is the combination of right angles and circles, but it always makes me think of electric circuit boards and two pin plugs. I'm showing my age here and experience of a world that predates electric chips that fit onto a pin-head!

I think this one works best with a half-drop repeat. When combining lines of a continuous line quilting pattern to make an overall pattern, there is always the question of direction. Having reached the end of the line, the easiest thing to avoid stopping and starting again, is to turn the piece and go back. This means the next line will be upside down, which sometimes doesn't matter or is even desirable. The other alternative, which I used here, is to learn to quilt the design backwards. On larger pieces where turning is awkward, being able to quilt a pattern forward, backward and sideways is very  helpful. It is a skill worth practising.

enjoy

thanks for dropping by..

Hilary Florence

Thorny Point - free motion quilting Cameo 17

Thorny Point - free motion quilting Cameo 17

I don't think I can claim that this is an original design. Many quilters and artists have used images of thorns or barbed wire to great effect in their work. I find it a very powerful motif and of course, by its nature, every time you quilt it, it will be different.

I quilt down one side, creating thorns of different lengths and angles as I go, then go back up the other side and complete them. In general in my quilting, I pre-mark as little as possible, but here, if you want interlocking, but not crossing lines in a good rhythm, in can help just to mark the line in first.

It works well as a single line, or a collection of interlocking lines to create a texture. The line can be vertical, horizontal or even curved.

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Like Peas in a Pod - free motion quilting Cameo 16

Like Peas in a Pod - free motion quilting Cameo 16

Not like two peas in a pod, because these pods take a little more than two peas and as you know by now, I don't like my motifs to be that alike. Some individuality is good and 'consistently inconsistent' is a motto I live my quilting life by. First quilt the pod - which takes you back to your starting point at the top of the pod - then fill in the center with peas - which very conveniently takes you to the bottom of the pod, ready to start the next one. Make them as fat or as thin as you want and stuff in as many peas as you can - you won't have to shell them!

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence

Ee -bah-gum - free motion quilting Cameo 15

Ee -bah-gum - free motion quilting Cameo 15

Essential a 'e' in a box, this is a very satisfying one to do. In a simple straight border it is very elegant. As you can see here, the 'e's can be squashed up or stretched out to go around corners or fit into small or large spaces. The two halves of the 'e' can be symmetrical or not. The choice is yours!

Enjoy

Thanks for dropping by...

Hilary Florence