~ Lessons Learned ~

I am about finished with my Filmstrip quilt, only having the binding left to sew. I think I will actually meet my deadline. I hope to show it next week after delivering it.

While working on this quilt, I thought alot about how far I have come, and what I have learned over the last (almost) two years. Some of the lessons learned would be quite obvious to many quilters, but I'm kind of on the slow end of the learning curve. Like many quilters, I have attended not.one.quilting.class! So many things I have learned through trial and error and many, many calls to my sister.

Which leads to my first lesson...use your resources!!! My biggest resource, is of course, my sister.

We talk on the phone almost daily, mainly about quilting. She is so patient with my questions and my insecurities about my work. I have learned so much from her...I think that she actually appreciates my input about her quilting projects...how awesome is that?

Another lesson...if I'm going to ask for advice, I need to take it, particularly when coming from my youngest son (who is, I must admit, one of my biggest fans). He insisted strongly suggested that I use the Kona Pear for the binding of my quilt. When I received this fabric, I was somewhat taken aback by how, well, bright it was. But Kyle really felt that the color added to the colors in the quilt top, and I think he is right.

As usual, please forgive the quality of my photos...I find myself snapping pictures randomly as I quilt, never having THE perfect shot of anything ;-) And trust me...the photos for this post will only get worse!!

As far as quilting techniques go, I have learned a couple of things about straight line, grid, organic, etc. quilting.  My first few quilts were quilted with straight lines using painters tape. I spent SO much time measuring the distance between each line, making sure they were all equally spaced. Seriously???? Now, I like the lines a little more randomly placed...individualizing a quilt even when using basically the same quilting. Plus, it saves SO much time!

When using the painters tape, I tried, with my first few quilts, to line up the needle to the edge of the tape (again, seriously??). Now, I use the walking foot as my guide against the tape (duh!)!!

And if my lines are not perfectly straight,well...so what? Don't sweat the small stuff, right?

The most important lesson I have learned, especially while working on my current project, is that quilting organic lines takes a long, long time. Especially when the lines are spaced about 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart. Perhaps not the best choice of quilting when under a deadline. I have GOT to become more comfortable with FMQ! I think I spent more time taking breaks than I did quilting with this one, but had I not, I wouldn't have been able to include this sweet, sweet picture...

He is so sweet when sleeping :)

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog!
~ Michelle ~