I finished hand stitching the binding down on the two pillows made from the leftover Granny's Hankie BOM. This is the first time I have made pillows with binding like a regular quilt and I really like the look (like a pipping or welt).
I also finished the quilting sampler I made as part of the FMQ Challenge (it is wet in the picture, laying flat to dry). I wanted to try using different coloured thread - it was really fun to make and I like the look. It is 12" x 21". I used two layers of wool batting - which I don't recommend because in spots the threads were loopy. It is all Aurifil thread using a #80 Microtex needle. I slowed down my machine for quilting too.
The bird design is a free design from Ivory Spring, but all the filling stitches are from this Diane Gaudynski book.
"Diane-shiko"I marked a ½" grid for this. Not too even but better than my last attempt.
"Headbands"I love doing this design, and I love the look of it.
"Bouncing Bananas" and a string of pearlsI should try BB more often (it is OK that it is evenly spaced!).
To make the string of pearls I started with a wave pattern for the bottom half, and then came back and completed the top half of the pearls.
Plus I added a top line and more echoing.
And lots more echoing.Echoing is a great way to get practice at FMQ. You really have to pay attention to where you are going, not where you are. DG always says to look at the space you are creating not at the needle.
Pictured in the sun before washing to show off the quilting.I hand stitched the binding to the back while I was talking on the phone to a friend - what a great way to get it done.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥