Garden Window - Nearing the end

For the past two weeks I have been plugging away at FMQ my Garden Window. It is a massive king size quilt that I have been FMQ on my Janome 6600. I love having my sewing machine sunk into the table it really helps with the FMQ and stops the drag on the quilt. I must say that it is difficult to FMQ a very large quilt on your normal sewing machine but I always manage to get it done. I love this creative part of quilting and deciding on what to put where and what will enhance the quilt top etc. I also love the challenge of FMQ and to try new things. I have only been quilting for approx a year and a half so am still really new to FMQ so to speak, though I think I would probably call myself a beginner or still learning even after 10 years of doing this as there is still so much to learn. I am enjoying the learning process.

Centre of the Quilt - The flower panel

I have FMQ using some metallic thread though the photo's are not really picking up the thread very well. Mind you metallic thread is not the easiest thread to FMQ with or sew with really, but I accepted the challenge and managed to tame the wicked metallic.

First border beside panel

 Here I used my pounce pad & stencil for the first border and kept in a flower theme, you can still see the chalk powder on the material & I just noticed a dog hair from Buddy.

Third border on sides

 There are three red squared on each side which I used my Westerlee Rulers with. I also used some more metallic thread here however the metallic thread was thicker than the center ones used and was believe it or not more painful to sew with than the normal metallic though I think it might have been my needle. I used a metallic needle size 80 as that was all I had and even tried a 90 universal needle but the thread kept shredding on a regular basis. So when I get the chance will investigate different needles for using metallics with. In the end I got the job done after a lot of sighing, swearing & cursing & of course walking away before I do something rash, but it was completed and I am very happy with the result.

Third border on the sides

These strips are with the red squares and I used the Westerlee rulers again also with metallic thread and it actually looks like a mermaid's tail, so a cool effect I created. 

Applique border

 I am currently sewing the applique border. I just started with a variegated green cotton to mark the leaves and do the swirls of new growth. I am loving doing the swirls which you can probably tell as I think I have gone overboard with them but it looks so nice.

applique border

applique border

 I still have to do the yellow center's and then stipple in black in the back ground I will probably go with a largish stipple for the background.

When the metallic thread became to much I went back to work on my Diamond Hill BOM and have been turning edges and glue basting to my corner and have completed one corner. Sorry I forgot to take a photo of it on my design wall, hopefully soon I will have all four corners to show. I now have the freezer paper pieces to iron to the material to create a second border and repeat the process all over again.

I have been extremely busy lately and can't wait for my life to quieten down so I can get more sewing done. Till next time.