Though We've Never Met...

Diane Gaudinski may just be my new BFF.  Her feather tutorial is amazing.

It's important to know I only tried this in the last 24 hours. 

I'd done feathers just once before - and they were disastrous. 

Thanks to Diane, I'm no longer feather-phobic!

Initially, I had great difficulty just drawing them, let alone stitching them.  But her suggestions are great - draw the spine first, and trace coins if you can't draw a good circle.  With practice I was able to just sketch this much and stitch from there.

Even if you have NO interest in the FMQ Challenge, click on my widget to go to Sew Cal Gal's site.  Then click on her link for the Feb. Challenge (on the right hand side).  Read Diane Gaudinski's instructions a few times.  She has many good pointers - that are applicable to ALL FMQ, not just feathers.  Then give it a whirl.  You won't be sorry!

Things I learned with this exercise:

1.  A Supreme Slider is fantastic.  This helped me do FMQ more smoothly.  I had no problems with it lifting up or moving while working on small projects. (Have not yet used it on a large quilt.)

2.  The instructions for the Supreme Slider said to set your stitch speed to 1/2, then begin your FMQ - and put the pedal all the way down.  I never heard this before and it was tremendously helpful. 

3.  When spritzed with water, blue ink pen disappears much faster than purple.

4.  Use the same good quality thread in your bobbin as on top.  On a previous project I just left in a disposable white bobbin.  I'll never do that again.  It created drag and messed up the tension.  Throw aways are fine for chain piecing, but not for FMQ.

5.  To make a feather in one continuous line, stitch up the left side of the spine, make your Q-tip at the top, and stitch down the right side.  Make the bottom of the spine and then branch left to make your feathers, working up to the top.  Echo back down the left side, echo the stem and start up the right side.  Touch the stem and stitch the feathers on the right.  Work your way to the top and echo back down, ending when you touch the stem for the last time.  Amazing, huh?

6.  I can actually enjoy doing FMQ without having heart palpitations - Hooray!