Well, I have my blocks prepared. I considered what kind of quilting I want to do while I was cutting batting and backing pieces on Monday. Our little group meets on Tuesdays at the church and I got them all ready with the lines drawn on parchment paper and pinned them up.

Now I need some help from you. I had ALMOST picked a medium brown as the thread to use, but there is one block that has brown fabric and it would not show up so well. Do you think I should try for a look of a different thread for each block, or maybe go for a medium cream colored thread?

I love the design you're using for your blocks. I see you have traced the design onto parchment paper and pinned to the blocks. My question is how you will transfer this to your block...will you use a FMQ foot? I've never done this before and am very interested in learning how to do this.

I have only tried free motion once, and it would take a load of practice to get it to look good, so what I plan to do it just use the regular foot and slowly turn the block as I sew. I have done this before for a placemat exchance and they came out great! The little blocks are about 9 1/2 inches and even with the backing a bit larger, they will fit into the throat of the machine very easily. Thanks for asking.

Anne, you asked about thread color for your brown block... cream sounds like it would blend nicely. Are you using different color threads on your other blocks? Also, you mentioned you were going to use your regular foot for sewing instead of FMQ foot. Does that mean you are leaving your pattern paper on and stitching over the top of it? How will you keep the paper in place while you are sewing?

FMQ can be very intimidating. Most instructors will tell you that once you get everything ready and start to 'remember to breathe'. I thought that was funny but it is oh, so true. It mostly takes practise, practise, practise... I have not mastered it but I am more able to breathe now when I am FMQing. LOL

Yes, I will be stitching directly through the paper and taking it off after. I have re-thought the idea of a different color of thread for each one. That would be a lot of re-threading the machine. When I pinned the blocks I just put the paper on at the same time and everything is held together.

Here is a photo of some of my orphan blocks, do you see any possibilities? I have done several quilts with QAYG but they always look kind of messy on the back. Hope to see suggestions on how to finish the back.

I think the ladies and the stars might go together. If they are different sizes you could add-on a bit to any smaller ones. The back of the one I am working on will be a fall print for the blocks and also the sashing. I am hopeful that it will not show too much that they are all different pieces. Do you have enough of something that you could make it all the same?

I think any of your blocks would look good to practice on.

I use the tissue paper alot, myself...not real comfortable FMQ without. If you're not directly on the lines, it doesn't matter...once you take the paper off it looks good. So, go for it & use your FMQ foot, it's how you get the practice! Also, have you thought about using a varigated thread? Look closely at mine as few pages back...that's what I used. Varigated threads are great when you have lots of colors & don't want to change threads all the time, plus they tie the blocks together...especially if they're scrappy. Give yourself permission to try. :)