****WARNING --- COFFEE SNORT ALERT****

I know some of you like to sip your coffee at the computer while reading the board and occaisionally things have caused laughing and coffee snorting onto keyboards. Consider yourself warned.

I decided to try my hand at FMQ. Why you wonder since I can't even stitch in the ditch straight? Well, in my circular logic, if you can't drive straight, drive deliberately crooked.

The results are far from perfect but will serve their purpose just fine and I got lots of practice.

Here is the front of the pot holder with the apples on the back. Have you noticed I like Sue?

Your projects are truely
wonderful!! :D I think you have
done a great job with your
quilting!! I have noticed that
you love Sue's!! Good for you.
:D :D :D :D :D

Well, good for you!
I think you did really grand!
Are you telling me that you are free motion quilting without an embroidery/darning foot????
Not only are you avante garde, child, you are really BRAVE!
Given the handicaps you listed, I would say you have done VERY WELL!
As far as not mastering "stitch in the ditch" before doing free motion quilting ... I don't think you stepped out of line ... and I do like your circular thinking <g>
if you can't sew straight, sew crooked on purpose ...
who can argue with that outlook?
I repeat ... you did very well and have every right to keep doing what you are doing. I think your motif is very good, and you are correct - - you learned a lot, and that is the purpose of practice.
I can't tell you how many times I have seen more experienced quilters than I tell beginners to make hot pads to practice on ... there is a world of enjoyment and skill to be learned on something that may only be nine inches square.
How big is your potholder, by the way?

No snorting here! I think you did a wonderful job and gave me some new ideas too.

They turned out well - and you ended up with something useful.

Does the needle one is using make a difference?

Sometimes when I put a fresh needle in the machine it makes a big difference in how it behaves.

Lisa, I'm drinking a cup of hot tea; thanks to your warning I decided to be cautious and set it down before looking at your pics. However, it was completely unnecessary. I think you did a great job, especially considering you don't have a darning foot. I don't have a darning foot or walking foot yet so I've been afraid to try any quilting. You're much braver than me.

I'm not aware of any quilting law that says you have to master stitch in the ditch before learning free motion quilting. Having said that, I'll add that I think I read in Diane Gaudynski's first book that she did nothing but straight and diagonal lines on her quilts for three years after she began quilting, before she tried free motion. My thought when I read that was that I'm getting into quilting late in life and I don't have three years to wait. I want to free motion now...well, soon.

I like both potholders, but especially the Sunbonnet Sue with the apples on the back. I'm a Sunbonnet Sue fan, too, and I love the greens.

Great job with your FMQ. I use FMQ for the same reason! I love your projects!

Lisa! I think you have found your quilt calling, if these are your first attempts. Great job, Hon. Good thing my coffee wasn't hot. LOL!

They look great, you should have seen what my first attempt at FMQ looked like.

It looked like I was a crack head looking for the next fix, and I broke a handful of needles doing it. :lol:

Billy