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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Ideas for FMQ Sampler Quilts

Block of the month quilts are popular for those that tackle pieced block challenges and applique' challenges.  Why not have a quilt to show off your free motion quilting samples in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge?

Everyone is invited to join the 2012 FMQ Challenge and you are encouraged to utilize Practice Quilt Sandwiches for every FMQ design, to help you learn.  But for those that would like the ability to create a sampler quilt,  of the 12 FMQ designs that our FMQ Experts will share in this challenge, this post is for you.  I've used EQ7 to create two different design layouts that are easy to make.  These designs are also easily adapted to different size blocks.  You may want to use one of these designs, or create your own layout for a table topper, wall quilt, or lap quilt that utilizes the 12 FMQ designs to be shared in this challenge. 

FMQ Sampler Quilt #1 measures 42"x 42"


Fabric Requirements:
1 1/8 yard - border fabric
1 yard - center block fabric, or use a variety of different fabrics.

Cut border strips 5 1/2" x 44" (trim as you mitre corners)
Cut 5 - 8 1/2" x 16 1/2" squares
Cut 6 - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares

Assembly step one
Assembly step two
Assembly step three
Subsequent steps would be to add borders, sandwich, and, of course, use a FMQ design for one of the blocks.  In month 12, Patsy Thompson will share a tutorial design that will work in the border.

FMQ Sampler Quilt #2 measures 34"x 50"

Fabric Requirements:
1 1/2 yards - border fabric
1 yard - center block fabric, or use a variety of scraps.
Cut 2 border strips 5 1/2" x 52" (trim as you mitre corners)
Cut 2 border strips 5 1/2" x 36" (trim as you mitre corners)
Cut 4 - 8 1/2" x 16 1/2" squares
Cut 7 - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares



assembly step 1

assembly step 2

assembly step 3
assembly step 4
Subsequent steps would be to add borders, sandwich, and, of course, use a FMQ design for one of the blocks. In month 12, Patsy Thompson will share a tutorial design that will work in the border.


To clarify, FMQ Quilt Samplers are totally optional for those participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge.  You can make a FMQ Quilt Sampler anytime, on your own,  even after the 2012 FMQ Challenge is over.  But, as I'm making my FMQ sampler quilt now, to have ready for when I've finished practicing each FMQ design on my practice sandwiches.  I plan to use this FMQ Sampler Quilt  to show off all 12 FMQ designs from this challenge.  And,  I wanted to share these layouts with you. 

I also emphasize that you should play with each new design on your practice quilt sandwiches, before you attempt to use any new design on your Sampler Quilt, or other quilts.  After all, practice is key to learning every new design.


Update 1/5
There are eleven center blocks and a border.  Our December tutorial, by Patsy Thompson, will include a FMQ design that should be more appropriate for a border.

My approach to quilting this will be to do a stitch in the ditch, using invisible thread.  I will then use use one of the FMQ tutorials, for each block (or eventually the border), after I have finished my practice on one of my practice FMQ quilt sandwiches.  I will NOT be using an approach to quilt each block and then use a technique to hinge the blocks together, but that technique would work for these challenges using one of the quilt designs above, or your own.  There are no plans to provide a tutorial for this hinge technique, but I have heard that others may write such a tutorial.  If I hear of such a tutorial I will gladly share insights.  For me, I just feel I have my hands full this year coordinating this challenge and keeping up with my other goals for 2012, so I'm personally trying to keep this challenge focused on FMQ and not other techniques.  Thanks for understanding and your patience.


21 comments:

Rhonda said...

What a great idea. Thank you so much for the layouts. I am participating, but had no idea on how to lay them out yet. Thank you so much.

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to rise to meet this challenge. We can all try to take our FMQ to a new level. Thank you for organizing this opportunity. Christine

suemac said...

That is a great idea. Can't wait to get started. I have plenty of batting left over from my marathon quilting sessions between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

M and M plus 3 said...

Great idea. I was planning on using my practice pieces as place mats for the dinner table. I'm really excited to start. I ordered several different threads today, Sewfine, Bottom Line and silk. I need to grab my waste tub of batting to get my samples made now. Thanks for doing this once again.
Mandy

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for the idea...I think I am going to use layout 1 for my challenge.....only after I practice first....

Carole M said...

I think I would like to do the sampler quilt...looks like I need to get busy making some practice sandwiches and the sampler quilt...

Kittylet said...

Is the center of the sampler one piece of fabric? or is this a Quilt As You Go assembly. I'm a bit confused. Thanks, Kitty

Larissa said...

What a great idea!!! ...and that idea of placeats is fab too!! ... Thanks for the patterns for these two designs! I think i'll be going the square design, but I've got a few weeks to decide!

Linda E in NM said...

These look like good suggestions, but I'm curious as to why they have only 11 blocks in each one.

Cecelia said...

Thank you for doing these for us!

Carolyn said...

Thank you so much for organizing this Challenge. I can't wait to start. Am getting my fabric together to do the square design.
Carolyn.
South Africa.

Mary said...

What a great idea! Looking forward to the challenge and making a sampler quilt of my FMQ Blocks. Happy New Year!
Also love the pot holder and placemat (above comment)use for the practice samplers :)

Librarynan said...

Good, idea... making a "real" quilt to show off what we've learned. Donating the practice samplers (suitably finished and bound, of course) to your local animal shelter is a good use for them, too.
This is going to be FUN!

Patti said...

Linda E in AZ: She says that in Month 12, the expert will be showing a design that can be used in the borders. I think that's why there are only 11 blocks.

Also, you'd need to do this as Quilt as You Go if you use 11 individual blocks rather than a single center piece.

Joyce said...

I hope to use my orphan blocks to practice and then attach them in the quilt as you go hinge method that I have done very successfully and enjoy doing. These are great designs! Doing the blocks as pet mats or place mats also are great ideas.

Mare said...

Just found this article and hopefully will get good enough to make this FMQ quilt when I'm done the year's blocks. Thank you for all the designs, help and encouragement to just enjoy this challenge and have fun.
Marianne

Jackie said...

Great idea, I didn't know what to do with the squares when completed and having this layout will allow me to hang it and reference it when starting a new quilting project. Thanks for sharing.

Jackie said...

Great idea, I didn't know how I was going to put the blocks together and now I'll be able to hang them up and use them as a reference for further quilting projects. Thanks for sharing.

June D said...

I"m wondering this too!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for offering this! I found the link to your site on Leah Day's site, and I really appreciate all of you who offer your time and knowledge to help us learn fmq. It is something I have been trying to master, and it has been very frustrating, so I really look forward to all of this help!
Regards,
Kan

Unknown said...

Having used my home machine for years to do all of my quilting going back to it will be a challenge. I had to quit using it for quilting due to the stress and pain caused by the process, my UFO'S became a frustration I dealt with daily. Then my husband got me a long-arm which I've been using for the last year and a half. With the "Machingers gloves and the Supreme Slider" I can again use my home machine. The challenge is in the switching from moving the machine or moving the fabric. I need lots of practice to get back to where I was when all of my quilts were done putting the large quilt through a small area. My thanks goes to you Leah for sharing with us.
Jeani