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Saturday, October 1, 2011

You Have to Start Somewhere....

And so I did.  Boy, I have no idea what I am doing here, but it was time to stick my toe in the pool and test the water.  I tried FMQ for the first time.  I used a dark fabric and light thread so I can see where I am going and what I am doing.  I am not sure that helped, but it was a nice idea.  Anyway, here is what I could do....

Please don't laugh at me.




I know this meandering is the normal route for many.  This is not my goal.  I really want to do little circles. 


I can't tell if this is a photo of the front or the back.  Speaks volumes for the quality, huh?

I am not there yet, but at least this is a start.  I am having flashbacks to my piano lesson days where my mom would force me to practice for 20 minutes a day with the kitchen timer.  I am suddenly 8 years old again.  Yes, Mom, I will practice again tomorrow.
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29 comments:

  1. Linda ColemanOctober 1, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    Cindy, it reminds me of pebbles

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  2. NickyOctober 1, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    I'm not laughing Cindy! Great baby steps - just keep doing it and you'll be great in no time - must try this myself! Shall we practice together? An FMQ practice-along?

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  3. Strawberry PatchOctober 1, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    I love Nicky's idea of a FMQ practice along! I tried pebble/bubble quilting for the first time recently and found it came quite naturally but boy did my arm ache after doing a quilt! BUT that said, there are SO many other things I cant do, even with lots of practice. I guess we all have our niche!

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  4. Rhonda the RamblerOctober 1, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    That is the only way to learn FMQ is to practice! I think you did a great job for just starting.

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  5. AnnabellaOctober 1, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Looks pretty good to me! Love your pebbles espesh. Practicealong sounds great fun!

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  6. CindyOctober 1, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Holy cow girlfriend! I can't believe this is your first time using your FMQ....this is great...just think how you'll be after 20 minutes of your daily practice! :o) You'll be my hero!

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  7. CatherineOctober 1, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    it is so hard when you first start - I have only tried it a few times! It looks great, so keep up the good work!

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  8. LauraOctober 1, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Practice makes perfect! And believe me, a glass of wine REALLY helps!

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  9. NatalieOctober 1, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    I would join a FMQ practice-along! I've gotten comfortable with stippling but that's it...I tried doing fun, airy, simple loop-de-loops a couple of weeks ago and it looked like my sewing machine went homicidal on my quilt. Keep up the pebbling practice, 'cause that'll look really awesome once you get it down!

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  10. Mrs Flying Blind...October 1, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Looks better than anything I could do, and the pebbles look great, apart from the rogue one on the right!

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  11. Barbara SindlingerOctober 1, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    What I always got told when I was learning, practice practice practice!

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  12. AlliOctober 1, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    I think those both look fantastic for your first attempts! Your stitches all look about the same lengths. :)

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  13. Katy CameronOctober 1, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    See, that looks great to me. I recently failed in my one and only FMQ attempt, I think it may be a few weeks before I get back to it (I have a cunning plan to help me prep for it in the meantime ;o) )

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  14. SarahOctober 1, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    Great pebbles! I'm sure it will get easier the more you do it, but if you're saying that could be the front or back then your back is obviously way way better than mine come out!!

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  15. mammafairyOctober 1, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    Looks a lot better than my first attempt, or second, or third, or, lets face it, umpteenth attempt!
    Keep at it, you are a natural!

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  16. Sarah @ FairyFace DesignsOctober 1, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    I think it's looking great! Practice is definitely the key! I would love a practicealong too it would be great fun!

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  17. Janine @ Rainbow HareOctober 1, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    Looks good to me. I've yet to attempt FMQ but it's high on my aspirations list!

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  18. tink's momOctober 2, 2011 at 1:36 AM

    Hi there, first I want to thank you for all your work regarding the Mug Rug swap that is wrapping up this week. I got both of my packages and couldn't be more pleased. You can see what I got on selinaquilts.blogspot.com
    Now on to your fmq. Great start i love the pebbles. I try FMW periodically but I never keep up the practice enough to get good at it. never thought to look at it in 20 minute increments. That might work.

    Thanks again, Selina

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  19. WendyOctober 2, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    I'm not laughing, you did a great job for a first time try.....pebble quilting is hard when you first start out, but the trick for me is to go a nice slow pace and it makes it so much easier! You should be proud of what you have accomplished......

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  20. pippablueOctober 2, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Well Cindy, that probably looks a lot like my fmq...lol! Sure, it can only get better!!!!

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  21. Archie The Wonder DogOctober 2, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    It looks great and the fact that it could be the front or the back suggests you've got your tension right! Have you seen the 365freemotionquilting blog? Some good tips and designs there but yes, practise little and (very!) often and you'll be a whizz before you know it!!

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  22. LynnOctober 2, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    Looks great to me, I'm practicing free motion too!

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  23. SusanOctober 2, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    Not laughing - I think you are awesome! I've got to take the plunge myself. :)

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  24. Janet BrydenOctober 2, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I love pebbles and think you've done really well as a first attempt. If you've got a machine where you can set the speed once you've found the pace to suit your rhythm, then that helps but practice is definitely the answer. Have you tried FMQ without moving your mouth in sync? :)

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  25. Lucy | Charm About YouOctober 2, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Archie the wonder dog sent me over here! I'm trying FMQ - I'm enjoying it and posted my first attempts, embarrassing yes but I agree we all have to start somewhere! You were much braver than me, I only did little bits! I remember my mum doing the same thing with the piano, I still can't really play ;)
    Lucy x
    http:charmaboutyou.blogspot.com

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  26. LynneOctober 5, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    I can relate so much! But practice does make perfect (so they tell me)! I tried quilting on a frame yesterday - great fun; and a lot easier than FMQ on a machine with the feed dogs down!

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  27. AlicaOctober 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    this is not so bad for first try - you should see mine -LOL! That was really scarry!

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  28. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2012 at 1:19 AM

    I found your blog from the link on Leah Day's blog about free motion quilting. I just looked at your 1st attempts at fmq, and I must say I wish my fmq looked half that good!! I have been quilting for a number of years, but only piecing by machine for the last year or 2, and attempting to try and fmq for the last few months...off and on. I can only say that fmq is just "eating my lunch!". I am determined to learn it, as I have several tops waiting to be quilted, and I keep reverting back to my old stand-by hand quilting. Now hq is fine, but I really want to learn fmq! So, just wanted to say thanks for your post, and I am off to explore the rest of your blog...
    Regards,
    K

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  29. Dianne NealeSeptember 12, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    We've all been there - I haven't moved on very far either! I think this is actually really good for a first time.

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