If you’re like me when I first started, you may find yourself frustrated with having to keep track of so many things that you get overwhelmed with the process and ultimately scrap the FMQ idea. There’s a fine line between needing to pay more attention to what you’re doing, and paying so much attention to every stitch that you are overthinking it. I may receive commission for any purchases made through the links in this post.įree motion quilting can be a pain to learn. C&T Publishing has given Vicki, Jen, and I each a copy to giveaway.This post may contain affiliate links. You have three chances to win a copy of the book. If you are joining in on machine quilting practice let me know–and if you would like a copy of Free-Motion Meanders, there will be a giveaway next week! Just 15 minutes a day should do it! And I can always find 15 minutes, right? I’m a little nervous about these designs, so I need to be more diligent about carving out time to practice. Next week we will wrap this blog hop up with Flower Meander and some Improv Quilting. I also want to go back and practice my paislies in this more spaced-out way. I definitely need more practice, but this design is a lot of fun and builds quickly.
![meander quilting pattern meander quilting pattern](https://southerncharmquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Southern-charm-quilts-cinnamon-tea-3-scaled.jpg)
I eventually realized that I need to pause at the point of the leaf, or else they tend to round out. Sometimes getting that leaf shape is easy, and sometimes…not so much. I realized at one point that a bunch of mine looked like they were starting to lay on top of each other, so I made an effort to echo back and change direction. Like many meandering designs, you have to really pay attention that the leaves don’t all point the same way. I filled up my light blue swath of fabric with this meander, and was feeling like it was just starting to click, so I just kept on stitching. And I love a design that stitches out quickly. This turned out to be a lot easier, and frankly, it covers more territory quicker. This is fine, but can really cause a build-up of thread near the base.Īfter following along with Anglea’s drawings, I realized that she just echoed the design, keeping a consistent distance between the lines at all times. For both the paisley and the leafy designs, I was going back to the base of the design every time that I echoed it. It was then that I realized that I had been doing it, well, if not wrong, then…differently. So, I practiced a bit on paper first, and then checked back to Angela’s step-by-step drawings. I find this motif a bit harder, due to making sure that you get that little point at the top. Since I was pressed for time this week, I warmed up with it a bit, but I didn’t spend too much time, since I kind of worked it to death over the summer.Ī variation of the Paisley Meander is a pointier version called the Leafy Meander. This is a design that I love and I practiced it quite a lot over the summer. I really enjoyed this week’s designs: Paisley and Leafy Meanders Paisley Meander But even so, I am constantly surprised and delighted how much progress you can make with a little practice.
![meander quilting pattern meander quilting pattern](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fd/24/77/fd247795bc048be602705824dd8d6308.png)
I haven’t been able to practice as much as I would have liked to this week (who knew February was going to be so busy?).
![meander quilting pattern meander quilting pattern](https://www.modafabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Picture1.jpg)
I’m continuing to practice my free motion quilting skills by working my way through Angela Walters new book, Free-Motion Meandering. Welcome back to week 3 of the Free-Motion Meandering blog hop.