Welcome Back! We are moving right along and now ready to quilt Month 7. I'm teaching you how to make an easy funky flower this month. We'll learn a full flower, plus a partial flower that you can easily adapt to different shapes.
Looking for previous months? Check out the main quilt along page for links to all the blocks and instructions.
2023 Quilt Along - Quilt as You Go
Preparing the Block
Before we can quilt, we need to prepare the block. If you want to see this, head to Month 1, we show you how in that video. Grab one of your 19" background squares and 1 - 19" batting square. If you want to spray baste them, spray the backing square and carefully lay the batting on top of it. If you are pin basting, you don't need to worry about this.
Next, fold the backing and batting in half on the diagonal and press it. This will help us line up the quilt block in the middle. Press it again on the opposite diagonal and press again.
Now that you have an X across your block, spray (if using spray) the back of your quilt block, then gently lay it down, lining up all the corners on your X. I find that folding it in half makes this easier so it's not sticking to everything.
If you are pin basting, after lining up your block, go ahead and put a few pins in. You might not need as many as a full sized quilt, but it's good to keep everything in place.
If you have a specific layout, quilt the blocks following the order below. We'll be trimming outside edges differently when joining the blocks to allow us to add the borders.
The Quilting Plan
We are going to start our quilting plan in the center block and work our way out. This keeps everything in place and if things shift, they are shifting out and not creating extra backing fabric we have to deal with. Remember, don't do anything with the extra backing and batting yet, that will be used to join the blocks.
If you want to print out the quilting plan, click on the photo below and it will pull up a bigger version.
If you want to create your own quilting plan, click on the blank photo and you can print out the block and sketch your own designs.
If you are new to free motion quilting, I recommend printing out the blank block and practice drawing the designs, moving as if you were quilting the block. This is great practice, creates muscle memory, and helps you figure out how to move around without the stress of ruining the quilt block.
Setting up your Sewing Machine for Free Motion Quilting
Now we need to set up our sewing machines. A couple of general tips:
- Put on your free motion quilting foot. This will let us move around the quilt block in any direction.
- Lower your feed dogs. If you can't lower your feed dogs, try setting your stitch length to zero. That way they won't move.
- Create as much flat space as possible. If you have an extension table or can set it level in your sewing table, this helps.
- Put your needle to stop in the down position.
If you have quilting gloves and want to use them, grab them! They can really help with moving your quilt around the machine.
Quilting the Block
Now we are ready to start quilting. We'll complete the plan as follows:
- Put your needle in the center, but not the exact center, about an inch or away from it. Start spiraling around a few times until you have a nice circle shape for the center of the flower.
- Now, working along the edge of the seam, create a flower petal, going through the center square and the white square. Then create a second flower petal next to it. Keep going around the center, quilting three flower petals per side.
- Break thread and move it to the outer triangles (on one of the points around the center squares).
- Quilt a small bump along each triangle edge around the center square.
- When you get back to where you started, quilt the small bumps around the rest of the seams on the triangles moving along the outside and inside seams as needed to move around all the triangles without backtracking.
- Sew along the seam of the last triangle to move to the white outer triangle. Quilt straight lines in this triangle, about 1/2" apart.
- In the first corner, quilt along the seam to the connecting bar. Fill this will a swirly vine motif. Then quilt along the top edge of the bar to the small triangle. Quilt three evenly space lines radiating from the point of the triangle, then quilt along the opposite seam of the connecting bar and use the seams back to the edge.
- Quilt close to the edge to the corner. Put in a 1/4 flower, starting with the center swirls and using 3 petals. Make sure to keep the flower inside the 1/4" seam along the edge of the block.
- Repeat steps 6-8 to complete all the edge triangles and corner units.
When quilting, remember to stop at the edge of the quilt block. Don't stitch into the extra batting and backing, we'll need these free for when we join the blocks.
Free Motion Quilting Tips
If you are new to free motion quilting, there are a couple tips that might help.
- If you are having trouble moving the block around, try stitching a little faster. This will also help smooth out curves. It seems crazy, but works. I promise.
- Doodle the design first. If you are comfortable doodling the pattern, you'll feel more comfortable stitching it.
- Sit up straight. Try not to hunch over your machine. You'll just end up causing unnecessary muscle strain and pain.
- Try different hand positions and holds till you find one that feels comfortable for you.
- Practice, practice, practice. Just like anything, you can't get better if you don't quilt! Be gracious with yourself and allow the opportunity to improve. No one looks at your quilting as closely as you do, so don't judge too harshly!
- Have fun! If it's not fun, why are we doing it?
If you have any questions, please let us know!
Happy Quilting
Kimie and Missy
