April Free Motion Challenge

For this month's challenge, we completed a piece using a tracing technique presented by Don Linn. First, you trace a design onto a piece of tulle that is held taut in an embroidery hoop, using a sharpie or other fine-line marker. I used a pattern from a book that I had at home with continuous line designs in it instead of the sample presented in the challenge.

Then, you use a chalk pencil or another type of wash-away marker and trace over the design on the tulle onto the surface you want to quilt, transferring your design. All I could find was a rust-colored piece of tulle, so I used that. This is a picture of the chalk design after I had traced it on my fabric.

Almost all of my pictures were too dark that I took, but here is one of the back. I just used regular Coats & Clark thread in the top and bottom, which is thicker than the Aurifil I normally use, but it turned out ok for a practice piece.

What an easy method this was! I plan to use this pattern on a quilt top that I'm going to start soon, and had to idea how to transfer it to my piece--now I do.

Day after Easter--back to work

Just had to share this Easter picture my daughter emailed me yesterday--

Nothing new to show quilt-wise, but I have been sewing some little sundresses and rompers. I've also found a great new resource for all things sewing-related, a yahoo group called SewItsForSale. People sell all kinds of things there: fabric, thread, quilt kits, rulers & templates, sewing machines, sewing machine accessories, quilting books, magazines, etc. The prices are really reasonable, too.