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.