Quilting the Circle Game

Some of you may remember the Circle Game quilt I've been making for a year now - a BOM from Amitie Textiles in Melbourne.  The finished top looked like this.

Amitie BOM The Circle Game

Well I've taken my mate Trudi's advice and stay-quilted it with a few straight lines just to hold the whole thing in place.  Having done that, I've taken out the basting pins and bound the quilt with a scrappy binding before embarking on FMQing.  I prefer to quilt my quilts without the batting hanging out at the sides because it gets up my nose and makes me sneeze.


I normally can't afford designer fabrics for the backs of quilts but splurged on this quilt because so many hours and hours have gone into it.  So, instead of my default backing of an old sheet, this one is backed by the Michael Miller Going Coastal print, the bottle tops, which I am in love with.


So far I have FMQed three of the circles.  I've invested in a whole stack of Aurifil colours for this quilt and am just going to go crazy on it.  Anything goes.  No rules.  Using the Bosh Bash Bosh school of quilting where you just make it up as you go along.  For better or worse.

Amitie BOM the circle game - thinking about quilting

And here, in case you're interested, here are my FMQ rules and guidelines.

1.   Shoulders down, music on, smile, chillax, enjoy, however rubbish your quilting is looking.


2.   Do not unpick.  NEVER.  If it goes wrong, keep on smiling and keep on going, just pretend it never happened.  Once it's washed, you will never notice that little bit where your brain sent error messages to your arms.  Only unpick if you get major bird's nests on the back because your tension's gone haywire.


3.   Keep reminding yourself that this is not going into a quilting contest, will not enter a show and will never be judged by anyone who knows anything about quilting.   Unless you're a professional quilter in which case you won't be reading this drivel anyway.  Well you might be reading it but you won't be learning anything from it.  And also remember that anyone who knows anything about quilting will see it and be kind anyway because they know how hard FMQ is.

Comments

  1. From what I can see on the photo you are doing just marvellous! Enter in any quilting contest...that's what I say! (and stop putting yourself down, lol)

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  2. I love how this quilt has turned out - and I'm sure the FMQ will be great as well. Just remember, enjoy it!

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  3. You are so funny my dear, I think I may print your rules so I can refer to them frequently while I FMQ. I adore this quilt! Outstanding accomplishment and those fabrics are incredible!

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  4. Your rules sound good to me :) It's going to be absolutely spectacular when it's all finished. Be proud!! You've done an awesome job. x

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  5. I love your attitude about quilting! It may just inspire me to start practicing.

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  6. Love the rules! That batting stuff gets up my nose to, what a great idea to bind it first! The quilt is gorgeous! Your FMQ is looking good, can't wait to see it all finished!

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  7. Lynne this is ever so timely for me- did you see my post today? http://ellisonlane.blogspot.com/2011/10/back-away-from-sewing-machine-maam.html

    It's about my FMQ attempt yesterday that did not go so well. I am adopting your terms for sure!
    xo

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  8. Congratulations - it looks lovely!

    Yay for sensible advice!

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  9. Go Lynne Go! You are doing wonderfully and I can hardly wait to see the end result.

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  10. I like your philosophy of fmq. I'm good with small projects, not so good with big ones, and I have been known to rip out. lovely quilt and yummy threads!

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  11. LOVE that quilt! Loved the post--thanks for my morning smile! :-)

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  12. Thanks for the advice - -love it! I'm going to copy it & put it with my "Quilting Words of Wisdom"! And I love, love, love your quilt - great job!

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  13. I love your rules of quilting - I am going to adopt them forthwith!

    Great quilt and great quilting! I cannot see any problems nor will anyone else! It will be fantabulous!

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  14. Lyne, I LOVE your FMQ rules. Can you make a recording of yourself reading the rules so that I can play them over and over while I'm FMQing??? Your quilt is stunning!

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  15. Thank you fo the reminder on the rules of FMQ! I need to get started a two big quilts.

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  16. It's such a colorful and amzing quilt.
    I need to keep the rules in mind when I freak out while quilting my next quilt :)

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  17. I love your rules for FMQ and will tack them to the wall if I ever get the nerve to do it. So far, I have sent out large quilts and only straight line quilted and hand stitched some small quilts. As always, you are an inspiration with a wonderful outlook and sense of humor, a joy to read.
    xo

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  18. I haven't heard of stay stitching, is that like basting stitches or will you leave them . I like the idea of binding before quilting : ) I am assuming stay stitches will 'stay' but I wasn't sure.... Love your colors!

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  19. Love this. Love this. Love this! :) I love the fabrics. I love the patterns. I love the border. I love that you are doing a bunch of different colors for the FMQ. I love that you are not going to unpick any little 'foibles'. Just means it has personality, like we all do! Ha! Well done.

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  20. You should be so proud of your beautiful work! I have only machine quilted easy straight lines, so I admire your adventure into more complex stitching.

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  21. Hope the pre-basing in the seams has worked :) It's looking fantastic and yes you could enter it into any quilt show and be very proud! Keep smiling and carry on :)

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  22. Those are such great FMQ rules, Lynne! Hard to follow sometimes, but you're so right. Your quilting is looks great and I just adore that quilt!

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  23. All I can say is...WOW! Love the idea of using multiple colors of quilting thread for this one, it will make it even more beautiful! :)

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  24. Love your rules - they are the same ones I quilt by. This quilt is stunning, and your bosh bash bosh method of quilting it will be perfect!

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  25. ROFL, I love your FMQ philosophy, I think I shall adopt it :oD That quilt top is fab, BTW, well worth splurging on the amazing Michael Miller for the reverse

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  26. Thanks for the smile today..I often need to remember to relax! :)

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  27. Perfect timing on your reminders! At the moment I have one quilt I'm straight-line quilting and another that I'm doing stitch-in-the-ditch FMQ on - the top is large hexagons, and I thought it'd look cool to have the hexies repeated on the back. I'm really nervous about it, and really have no idea what I'm doing...but since the recipient is, um, four years old, I think it'll be okay! :D

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  28. Your quilt is beautiful. Love the backing to bits.

    Your "FMQ Rule" are fantastic....I think they might apply to a great chunk of my life.

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  29. Love your rules and the FMQ looks wonderful! Enjoy the quilting!

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  30. I love your quilt buti especially love your attitude! Thanks for sharing!

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  31. It's looking amazing, Lynne! This quilt is one of my all time favs - a real triumph. I know if I had signed up for something like this, I'd be staring at a stack of fabric packs on my sewing table instead of this stunning quilt a year later. Way to stick with it and get 'er done!

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  32. Great rules....I don't usually like rules, but these work for me. Beautiful quilt.

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  33. I believe your idea of cocking it up and mine are VERY different!!

    I love this quilt x

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  34. I love all those colors and polka dots! You can look at it for hours and always discover something new. Thanks for THE rules ;-) I will keep those in mind once I start serious quilting.

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  35. i love your rules. i LOVE this quilt! it is stunning lynne!

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  36. Love it! It's coming along beautifully.

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  37. I love the NEVER unpick rule, I am so with you on that one!! It's looking awesome!

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  38. You forgot to add that if someone who does know about FMQ does unkindly criticize you're allowed to bop them on the head for being horrid!
    Well maybe not boping, but at least give them the look of death.
    I LOVE the quilting you've done so far, it looks amazing, I can't wait to one day be as good as you :)

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  39. Dang! Them's good rules, girl!

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  40. Gorgeous quilt Lynne! I adore that backing too - for the first time I can say I want crabs!! Those are some great rules :)

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  41. Ohhhh, I just can't stop drooling over this quilt- I think it may be my favorite one I've ever seen :) Just so happy!! And all I do is FMQ- your rules are absolutely perfect!! LOVE THEM!!

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  42. And so say all of us!! You should be botled. (in a nice way of course)

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  43. you know lynne, it looks bloody awesome to me!? your rules are working.

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  44. Amazing quilt Lynne and I love your FMQ attitude. Thank you for the encouragement I needed to get started on my next one.

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  45. Love all the "rules" - so so true! Keep on having fun; it's looking completely fabulous so far.

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  46. Your quilt is amazing!! The backing is really special. Your rules are perfect.

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  47. I love your rules I think I will try them with my next quilt. What a beautiful quilt and I just love the colors. Blessings Sandra

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  48. I was going to write a post on free motion quilting soon too. lol. After my 15 bobbin quilting spree I had a few tips. The biggest one you left out is to have a stiff drink before quilting...it loosens you up. ;)

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  49. A gorgeous quilt and the FMQ looks awesome - you way undersold yourself :)

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  50. I don't ever unpick either. No bueno! In fact, I hardly unpick in blocks too.
    Do you ever have issues with the quilt moving and bunching on the sides? I've never heard of anyone binding before quilting before except in like a pillowcase like quilt.

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  51. Unpick, never - I wish I could say that - with my applique challenge quilt I've been a bit dense and quilted over a section where the seed stitching is meant to go - so it's out with the quick unpick
    Your quilting looks fantastic - and do put your quilt out there for folk to see what a great job you've done - don't put yourself down

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  52. I REALY like your tips/rules for quilting...I have always been wary of the machine or THE BEAST as it is refered to here!! May just have a go now....thank you Diane xx

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  53. I couldn't agree more: ANYTHING GOES!!
    Have fun and just go on.
    There's no Quilting Police looking over your shoulder.
    And SING with your music!
    That's when you're really chillaxing.
    And it looks GREAT by the way!!

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  54. Ahh, wisdom is just one of your many gifts. Great lesson.

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  55. Your rules are great! Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous, love it!

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  56. great FMQ advice! I am pleased I am not the only one who gets that birds nest thing going on the back - grrr!You are doing a wonderful job with this stunning quilt.

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  57. Fantastic. Love the tips. Wished I'd read them before I embarked on some unpicking of quilting on a recent quilt. I was the only one who thought there was anthing wrong with it!

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  58. That is an absolutely amazing quilt! I'll remember the tips when I finally get the courage to FMQ.

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  59. I love your quilt. It's gorgeous and your quilting is beautiful! I'm printing your rules for when I start doing my FMQ. hehe

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  60. Do you find you move your head and neck in sync with your quilting? or is it just me being weird? Oh and I have discovered that using the start stop button is a great way to pace your speed as long as you remember to "stop"in time!

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