Just Messing Around

Two posts in one day!  Not likely to happen again until the next total solar eclipse but just had to share the fun!

The June tutorial for SewCalGal's Free-Motion Quilting Challenge is provided by Cindy Needham who creates stunning works of art incorporating vintage and antique linens and fine free-motion quilting.  Cindy has even joined our FMQ Challenge Facebook page, providing personal advice and encouragement as we begin to explore her tutorial - now, how wonderful is that!   Thank you Cindy!   (Links to both SeweCalGal's FMQ Challenge and Cindy's blog can be found on the right-hand side bar.)

Anyway, after a morning of tedious black-on-black FMQ outlining on my current project, an empty bobbin presented an opportunity to attempt to regain some hum-purr with my machine and try out a few of the tutorial designs.  I proceeded to mark a 3/4 inch grid on the last quarter of my big practice sandwich, then gridlock set in, literally, as I and my machine did not hum-purr through those little lined squares but promptly made a mess of them.  Not to worry though, permission granted to ignore the remaining grid lines and just go for it!  Playtime!  Can say that I don't think I've ever had this much FUN doing FMQ!  Now, the results you see below aren't art-worthy, though they may be kitty mat-worthy after binding, but that wasn't the point!  Hum-purr regained! 

Top, with the blue grid lines still showing, quilted on my 1942 Singer 15-91.  Some sort of polyfill batting that puffs rather nicely, Aurifil Mako 50 for both top and bobbin.

Another view of the top - little squares kind of drunken spider-webby.

 Reverse side.

Reverse close-up.

This month's challenge is going to be a blast!   Now, back to quilting ...