Cursive E and L

I tried free-motion quilting (FMQ) for the first time. After practicing until there was nothing left of a scrap 10x10 piece of fabric, I figured it was go time. I very quickly realized that it is so easy! And would be WAY easier if:

1. My machine's throat/harp space was more than 3 1/2 inches

2. My machine had an extension table or...

3. My machine was inset into a table

4. The edge of my machine to the needle was bigger than 4 inches

5. I had a Juki, or Bernina, or longarm, or shortarm, or....

But regardless, it was still pretty easy for the most part. It seriously only took maybe 4 hours, at most. Now mind you, I'm not a perfectionist. And Wyatt jumped on my back every chance he got, which you can clearly see in the stitching. But overall, I'm pretty happy with it.

The design I decided to go with may look like it's just loops, but really, it's my daughter's name in cursive. Which just happens to be my most favorite name to write in cursive. If you know me, you know that I write in all CAPS all the time. Unless it's her name, then it's lower case cursive. It's just so fun! And delicate. And beautiful. And...Elle. Try it. You'll be addicted. 

Now perhaps I shouldn't have used a solid backing for my first foray into FMQ, but when I basted this all together, I wasn't really planning on FMQ, I was planning on straight-line quilting (which is really one of my most favorite looks). However all that glorious space just cried for Elle's name to be written all over it. Which is exactly what it got. 

 It looks a lot wrinklier than it really is. I actually lays quite flat. 

This binding is probably my most favorite print in the universe! I have yards and yards of it! Thankfully, it wasn't a fortune at the time. I bought it at Joann's years ago. One of their vintage repro's.  And I got it for a little over a dollar a yard. I am hoarding it. 

I used Katie of Swim Bike Quilt's tutorial for the front of the quilt. I just couldn't bear to cut into these cute Baby Jane fabrics! And I'm such a sucker for stars! Do I feel bad that I didn't donate it to charity?? Yes, yes I do. Am I making one to donate to a little girl with cancer? Yes, yes I am. 

I usually go against protocol and wash all my quilts on hot. This time I just washed on warm, and added 3 color catchers. Clearly they did their job. I used Kona Red for the back. 

 I was a nice gray, rainy day, which made this quilt extra cuddly and warm. And it made the red pop a little more. 

 There's my little photobomber, making some sort of face.... He's so snugly! By the way, he's wearing a 36 year old polyester shirt that my mother-in-law kept for my husband to have his kids wear. Let me tell you, polyester lasts FOR.EV.ER. He's our 3rd boy to wear the 10 shirts that were handed down....

Stats:

60"x77"

Fabric-Baby Jane by Eric and Julie Comstock for Moda; Kona Red; Les Amis by Patty Sloniger Faux Bois in white and gray; a Sweet Broderie print in red by Rosalie Quinlan for Lecien (my most all time fav line they've ever put out)

Binding-vintage repro

Pieced-by me

FMQ-by me (yay!) in variegated yellow thread

That's all folks!

XO

Jenn