Here’s the scenario: after you take a free-motion class, you’ve got to practice.
One good way to practice your new skill is by quilting charity quilts. Charity quilts are also beautiful, heartfelt, useful and much appreciated! I’ve made numerous charity quilts for kids and animals and these quilt recipients don’t care if you’re a beginner at FMQ [free-motion quilting]. These quilts are perfect for practicing free-form designs, getting confident with free-motion quilting, and fine-tuning favorite quilting motifs. Charity quilts and free-motion quilting are a match made in (quilting) heaven!
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| Two free-motion quilted kitty quilts for charity. Finished sizes: 28” x 25.5” and 25” x 24” |
I brought these two scrappy quilt tops to my Into to Free-motion Quilting class at the Folk School to use for a demonstration on basting, using the Kwik Klip tool, and free-motion practice. Both tops were basted and one was quilted during the workshop. Upon returning home, I finished the quilting, added bindings (by machine), and these two kitty quilts were finished! It didn’t take long at all.
Finding a stack of Make-Do units
Remembering the calm and enjoyment I get from mindless, non-critical, free-motion quilting—like the quilting I do on charity quilts—I searched my stash for other quilt tops, basted projects, or orphan blocks awaiting assembly for a charity quilt.
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| Make-do units and improv patchwork: fodder for charity quilts. |
I found a stack of make-do units (miscellaneous half-square triangles [HSTs], and improv patchwork), 48 disappearing 9-patch blocks, 12 red-white-blue 8.5” scrappy blocks, and a stack of discontinued red-and-white fabric swatches.
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| Disappearing 9-patch blocks and scrappy patriotic blocks. |
Starting with the red-and-white swatches, it was easy and quick to piece these rectangles into rows and add a sashing between the rows. Relaxing… no intersections to line up… just straight stitching. This quilt top is ready to baste and quilt.
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| Red and white scrappy charity quilt top. 29” x 43” |
I’ve got another set of blocks on the design wall—4-patch blocks with alternating solids squares.
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| Potential charity quilt top on the design wall. |
But I might play around with the make-do units for another improv patchwork quilt… for the kitty charity. These little quilts (approximately 25” x 27”) are always fun to make. I get to play with color and fabric, and the patchwork assembly strategy for improv units offers just enough of a challenge to make it interesting.
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| Free-motion quilting on two charity kitty quilts (back view). |
Then I’ll “chill out” again and enjoy no-mark, stress-free, free-motion quilting.
