Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Trilogy: Free Motion Stitching, WIP Wednesdays and The Hexamaniac.

If you've been following me, you might know that I have been participating in the Craftsy Block of the Month (BOM). I posted about making Hexagons for April. Well, I finally finished the second block.
The one on the bottom was the second block. I used a starry night for the sky and a dark green leafy pattern (from my curtains) for the grass.

I had never appliqued before, so I decided to just wing it. I took my shapes (some of which were sewn together already in strips) and sprayed the backs with 505 adhesive sewing spray. Then, I positioned them on the background. I decided to do a straight stitch with white thread right up next to the edges:



At first I was doing this with a foot attached and the feed dogs going. But, it was a ton of stop and go, so I remembered Leah Day at the Free Motion Quilting Project having us stitch in lines or follow a pattern using free motion. I decided to try this and let me tell you, it was so much easier and faster! They stitched on rather nicely and in no time! It just sew happens that the Quilt Along Wednesdays last week was a review of stippling and these techniques. I'm happy that I thought of something I learned and applied it to this block!

Now, to the last part of my story. Once I started sewing all those Hexies (by hand) on Craftsy I realized that I could do this anywhere. I don't even have to be home. So, I took my zippy pouch that I won and loaded it with fabric squares and all the necessary accoutrement and took it on the train with me to work. It became addictive. Then, during my lunch break (after eating) I went outside in this lovely weather here in NYC (Battery Park) and paper pieced some hexies :) I just picked out some fabric. I have no idea what these will be for. But, I knew I had just started another work in progress!
I also want to mention that I have linked up at the New Bloggers linky party. Go there and visit some of the newer bloggers and comment on their posts and follow them too! They need them! When they reach milestones, they usually have giveaways!!!

Anyway, until next time,

Mike.

I am linking up at WIP Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced and the Free Motion Quilting Project.

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WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced        Free Motion Quilting Project

16 comments:

Danih03 said...

I love the night time version! I agree, I like the portability of the hexies! But I also agree with your first post. VERY time consuming. So my feelings are mixed because they are quite fun to make! I'll be posting mine soon. almost done. here's a hint. overkill :/

Celtic Thistle said...

Your BOM blocks look great, especially like the night sky one. I haven't even started mine yet, so will need to crack on with them soon.

Mike Pearson said...

Can't wait to see the overkill!

Mike Pearson said...

Looking forward to seeing them!

KrisR said...

Quilting outside.....it doesn't get much better than that! And Battery Park......brings back happy memories - we spent a week in NY last year - first time - LOVED it!

Sew Gramy Sew said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Your solution to the applique part works just great - good job. I like those hexies but I don't have the patience I fear. ;D

Mike Pearson said...

It's nice to visit. Living here is an acquired taste :) Oh, and it was a lot cooler the last two days :(

Mike Pearson said...

Yeah, re: patience, when you are on a 1 hour train ride, each way, like I do, you don't mind hand sewing :) basically I just thread baste them together... I'm trying to decide what to do with them! I don't think whip stitching them on the train will be practical once the piecing gets large, so I am thinking I will applique them on some blocks to make a quilt. .... hmmmm.... my creative juices are flowing right now!

The Slow Quilter said...

Well Hello: I am also doing the BOM with Craftsy. I enjoyed to this English piecing. I have finished the first block, put not the second. Hope to get it done by the weekend. I am enjoing the New Blogger link to meet other bloggers that you might not have know. Oh yah, love your block.

Danih03 said...

Hi Mike, I awarded you with the Liebster Blog Award! Go to my blog and check it out!! Congrats!!

SeeingStars said...

Neat idea with your hexagons. Congrats on the Liebster Award too!

Mike Pearson said...

Thank you! I can't believe I got an award for doing something I really like anyway ;P and did not try too hard to get the award!

Kati from Kati's Quilting said...

Hey Mike,
I just read in Danielle's blog that you got the Liebster Award! Congratulations! :) Your hexies look awesome with the sun look, I love it! Battery Park is awesome this time of the year! We were in the City to see the Auto Show just a week ago :)

Ginny said...

Looks great Mike!

Mike Pearson said...

Cool! thanks for reading :)