yolajean

Good Morning! Board members. I've been quilting (heavily) for some 15 years. Many times I will send my quilts to a long armer to have them quilted. However, at age 80 I find that it is difficult to make large quilts so I am making lap quilts or twin sizes and FMQ on my domestic Brothers machine.

I'm working on the last of 3 quilts that I am making for a good friend's daughters. He died tragically in September and left behind a wife and a 3 year old, a 12 year old and a 22 year old. They are lovely girls. I'm just FMQ the last quilt.

I spent, at least, 3 days fretting over a pattern to FMQ on this last quilt. I am not a great FMQer and I'm not a fan of heavy quilting but realize that it is essential to cover as many seams as possible. (I have had to repair 2 of my gifted quilts.)

This quilt has a great deal of white in it and I was terrified to mark it.

So with fear and trepidation, I made a large "practice piece" and drew many designs and started my FMQ practice. Well, I am amazed at how much this has helped me set my pedal speed and hand movement speed. (Normally, I have just practiced on a small block-size piece.) The FMQ is going so much better.

I am using white thread and for the first time am using Magnifico (100% polyester) from Superior Threads. I am in love with this thread. It is #40 and it has a beautiful sheen to it. It makes my FMQ look so much better.

So my advice for the day is; Don't be a worrier (like me). Don't fret hours over your FMQ pattern (like me). I used the Dritz purple marker that disappears with time. So far, it is working on the white. The pattern I spent hours making so that it would fit a specific number of inches, has just become an "idea". By that I mean, once I started FMQing, I have marked the pattern as I go along and it invariably does not fit the size that I spent days making. I love looking at the back and seeing the patterns take shape and present themselves well.

St. Matthew said (and I paraphrase), Do not worry for worrying does not add one minute to your life (it takes it away). Such true words. Sometimes (many times) I forget and my worry stifles and cripples me.

Have a beautiful day! Today (here where we are), the sun is shining and for the first time this Spring, the standing puddles are not frozen. Yeah!!! It will warm up. I'm sure of it!