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Thursday, August 23, 2018

Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop, showcasing Amanda Murphy's newly released line, Free Motion Fantasy. I was super-excited to be asked to participate in this hop; I love Amanda's style, her fabrics and her free-motion quilting prowess. Fabric that incorporates her beautiful FMQ? I'm in! Be sure to check out the link; betcha want 'em all! I know I did.
And just look at that fabric on the hop button.... Right?!!

I decided to sew up one of my designs I sketched while on an extended stay at my darling grandson Brady's house last summer. This fabric is perfection for this design, which I've made as a bed runner.
I originally designed the runner in two colours, pink and lime, but for the hop, it was a good idea to showcase more of the fabrics, so darn, I had to pick more than just two colours. What a problem to have right? Let's take a look at what I made!

While doing the photo shoot, I thought 'Hopscotch' would be a good name too!
However, 'A Roll of the Dice' works just fine! For fabrics, I chose these beauties. It was so hard to decide!
That was taken under my Ott-lite and really shows the colours well.

The runner is just four blocks, but with all the same background, the coloured fabrics appear to float on the entire background, a lovely effect!
Yes, there will be a pattern!
I've got the pattern written, just need to input graphics. That shot above really shows the incredible, my new favourite, low volume background fabric. Notice the variety of FMQ motifs on the coloured fabrics!

I'd originally thought to keep it simple (two hop posts in one week, foof!) with the quilting, as in straight lines and FMQ the patches in the block centres, let the fabrics shine, right? White Aurifil was used to piece, and it would be used for the quilting. Easy peasy. Fast. After all let's be honest, this bed runner will mostly be used for Bella, my cat! Well, maybe 10% decorative...
So I loaded it on Avril:

Ran a few straight lines 1/2" apart.

And I could not NOT use those ready-made beautiful FMQ swirly/McTavishy flying geese swoop-dee-swoops. This quilt, like my cat, is a diva, and she wanted to strut her stuff!
Uh ya!! Like I said....
btw she's never done that before! Guess I wasn't paying her highness enough attention.

Meanwhile, back to the runner, here in the shade:

I decided to both let the block backgrounds fade into each other, yet differentiate between the four blocks a little, but subtly. So blocks one and three got FMQ following Amanda's design, and blocks two and four got straight lines, vertically and horizontally respectively.
In the FMQ-ed 'one' block I did an angular design while in the straight-line quilted 'two' block, I followed the fabric motifs.

Angular designs in the 'three' block, and wavy lines with bead-filled pods in the 'four' block. My initials are in the centre pod of the last row!

If you want to practise FMQ, get a yard of this fabric, any colour (it comes in white, green, magenta, and orange), and hop to it. It's fun, exhilarating, and meditative. I could see a whole-cloth cushion cover, or four, one of each colour, just in this pattern.

I used three Essential threads from Connecting Threads (affiliate link) for the coloured patches.  These are 100% cotton, and flow through Avril like silk. I used Aurifil cotton 40 weight in the bobbin throughout the entire runner, white Aurifil as mentioned, in the low volume background.
The sulky variegated rayon I used to topstitch the binding. That variegated 'Ocean' spool? Fabulous on the blues and the greens here.

One of the neighbours has this great fence I've been dying to use in a photo shoot:
Early morning sun, perfect!
Laid across, or draped over it:

I chose the magenta flying geese swirls as the binding, machine-stitching to the back and topstitching it to the front.
I stitched one of (oh NO!!! I just realized that AGAIN, I forgot to put my satin 'mmm! quilts' label in the binding on the back, DRAT! Oh well, won't be the first time I've undone the binding to insert it, sigh...) Anyhow, where was I? Oh yeah, I used one of my oh-so-cool fabric labels for the details of the quilt. Always important to apply it to the backing first and quilt on through it, much more difficult to remove that way.

Here is the entire back:
I plan to have this runner reversible. That feature fabric is to die for, no? Another design one could easily use to practice Amanda's motifs. Laura (link below) did on one of her projects! I had hoped to make a matching cushion cover, but it hasn't quite happened yet, but I will add it to this post hopefully later today, flimsy or finished.

So there you have it! I'll let you know once the pattern is available for purchase in my Craftsy shop (affiliate link), which should be very soon! This fabric is in your LQS now. If you'd like to get your hands on a bit of it for free, Benartex is very generously giving away four bundles of 8-10 prints in this line! Sadly, it's only to US addresses, due to high postage costs. You can enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. You have two chances within the widget. The giveaway will be open until early Sunday morning EST. I'll email the winner and announce it on my blog next week. Because of high volume of comments during a giveaway, I won't be responding to comments, but you bet I'll be reading every one of them!😁

Be sure to read the interview with Amanda on Sew in Love With Fabric, and visit these other bloggers in the hop:
Debby Kratovil of Debby Kratovil Quilts
Jayne at Twiggy and Opal
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts
Lisa at Love to Color My World

Good luck! Update: I will use Rafflecopter to choose a second winner from planet earth who will receive a PDF copy of this pattern once I release it. :-)

Quilt Stats
Pattern: A Roll of the Dice (original design)
Size: 18 X 72"
Fabric: Free Motion Fantasy by Amanda Murphy by Contempo for Benartex
Batting: Warm 'n white 100% cotton
Backing: Free Motion Fantasy
Quilted: on Avril, FMQ and ruler work
Threads:  pieced with 100% cotton Aurifil 40 wt on my Bernina; quilted with Aurifil 50 wt 100% cotton 40 wt, top and bobbin, and Essential threads in coloured patches

Update! Told ya! 90% of its use will be for Bella, aka Madam Cuteness as Wendy calls her. Think Wendy and Rose might be fighting over her...

Linking up
Sew Fresh Quilts
Quilt Fabrication
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
TGIFF at Alycia Quilts
My Quilt Infatuation
Busy Hands Quilts
Clever Chameleon




a Rafflecopter giveaway

105 comments:

  1. I mainly do meander and straight line FMQing. I have ventured off into loops also. You runner is fabulous with incredible FMQing featured. rozz01atcoxdotnet

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  2. Bella sure is living the life, isn't she? Gets her own runner and even gets it fancy! Your swirls are drool-worthy, Sandra, as is all of your work! I'm a want-to-be-FMQer, but my skills need practice. My best pattern is a simple meander, but that's not so great either. Sigh.

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  3. Sorry, but I have not learned FMQ yet. I did practice a little, but not enough, so I am using my walking foot with straight-line quilting. I would love to learn down the road, though. By the way, her highness kitty cat is just a cutie! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  4. That fabric is unbelievable. The swirls and feathers are my favorite FMQ motifs. You've used it very well in your runner. Love the contrast and the clean look. Your FMQ is superb as always.

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  5. I've done straight line quilting which I really like but I'd love to learn those little bubble circles!

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  6. Feathers are my favorite, although MY feathers do not look like feathers! lol Love your runner, and pretty Bella!

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  7. This fabric is gorgeous and I adore your quilting! I mostly meander and really like the clean lines of a geometric meander, I'd like to practice more with swirls.

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  8. I haven't been brave enough to try FMQ yet - so far just stuck in the ditch or straight line quilting. Perhaps this fabric is what I need to take the leap!
    basaran.family (at) rogers.com (In Canada but have a US mailing address)

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  9. I mostly tend to sew stipples or swirls. I keep practicing.

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  10. I guess my favorite designs for free motion are swirls and curls and loops! They are easy and quick, but I'm working on writing, and really, really, really want to learn to do pretty feathers! Sigh...one day!! Beautiful runner and quilting. Love this fabric! And Bella - such a sweetie. You really have to pay more attention to her! LOL

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  11. Nice runner and love the "Hopscotch" name. Fantastic quilting! I have never quilted on my machine.

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  12. My walking foot gets a workout for quilting. Vines and leaves are my go to for free motion.

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  13. I haven't done a lot of FMQ so I'm not very good at it yet. Seems like I run out of time and so I stick with my tried and true crosshatch or horizontal wavy lines like Lorna (Sew Fresh Quilts) because when I grow up I want to be just like her (quilt like her anyway). Karen of Tu-Na Quilts

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  14. I haven’t been brave enough to do any free motion quilting but would love to do hearts on a quilt for my sister.

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  15. Beautiful! I have not ventured into FMQ yet, but I would love to try the feather stitching! Thank you, Susan

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  16. Sandra, that is so pretty! I love the fabrics and the simplicity of your design. It really lets your beautiful quilting shine! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. Echo paisleys flow without thinking!

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  18. You made a bed runner for Bella! I love it! I'm swooning over the swirly quilting on those fabulous fabrics!

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  19. I love this - a fun and fast project but with such impact with that quilting. I do think a little practice with this would be encouraging.

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  20. I love doing freemotion leaves! Just adds a tremendous amount of motion to a quilt, and fun to do!

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  21. Forgot to say that your kitty is a cutie! And what size did the runner turn out to be?

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  22. Lovely quilting - you certainly had fun with this one!

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  23. I like a paisley design and I'm practicing it for my FMQ library!
    yoyopattycakes at hotmail dot com

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  24. Lovely runner! I love free motion quilting - I use an all over scribble but sometimes I do a free form feather!

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  25. I would like to try the McTavishing--so far have done meander and loop de loop.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  26. Love your quilting. Can't wait to get some of this fabric so I can practice my free motion skills.

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  27. Fun to see how you changed the quilting from block to block.

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  28. Wow! Beautiful job with the quilting on your piece. I like to do a hook and swirl design for FMQ. It works well for me for a good overall design. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. I had my first FMQ lesson a month ago, but haven't been able to practice since then. Strangely enough, I enjoyed writing words the most, but everything needs lots and lots of practice. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  30. You never cease to amaze me with your creativity! Stunning!!!

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  31. My best effort at FMQ is meandering loops or circles and for variety, some flowers and leaves when the pattern and fabric are compatible. Your runner and quilting are lovely!!

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  32. Love your runner. The fabric is delicious. I’m not letting my cats so this, they may want two, one for each 😂😂

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  33. I don't have a favorite style of MFQ yet. I am just learning and am very intimidated by it. But hopefully, some day. Love your table runner. It is stunning. sharonla77@hotmail.com

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  34. I am learning to FMQ so I don't yet have a favorite design. I love looking at feathers, though, and hope some day to be able to stitch them!

    Sandy A

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  35. I have only done Meandering style, but would love doing Loopa & Flowers. :) Practicing tho! Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way :)

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  36. I desperately want to learn to FMQ, but I’m hesitant as I have a paralyzed hand. Love the idea of using this fabric to practice!

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  37. I don't FMQ, I like a lot of the designs. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  38. I have done very little free motion on my domestic machine...use walking foot mostly.

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  39. I guess meander or waves would be my favorite stitch. Jmikebalou(at) aol (dot) com

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  40. I keep practicing different FMQ stitches. Getting better at pebbles. Water and air still need work. Would love to be able to McTavish like this fabric!!!

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  41. I like feathers,stippling, figure eights mostly.
    cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

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  42. Nice modern look to your bed runner. This fabric line is so versatile!

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  43. I'm a straight stitch kind of gal--but these fabrics are a grand idea! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  44. I love to freemotion swirls and spirals

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  45. I really like to do custom FMQ the most, but for an allover design, my favorite is the feathered flowers. Sandra, this is gorgeous! Congratulations on having it together enough to do two hops at almost the same time!

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  46. Love your runner and the quilting was fantasy. The colors are so rich looking. Hope I win some. Thanks for sharing.

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  47. still need to learn how to FMQ. As for favorite stitch, I like them all

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  48. What a pretty runner. Bella must be pleased. Thank you for taking us through the process.

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  49. I have tried meander FMQ and that is all. Working to perfect it.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  50. I love the look of feathers but I am not really proficient at it!

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  51. I've not really done FMQ. I tried once and it was a fail. I don't have a favorite. The quilting on your runner is beautiful.

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  52. I like to do wavy lines when FMQing. Amanda Murphy is a genius for creating these designs for FMQing. Sandra, your table runner is beautiful and I love the name you chose for it. Brought back some memories ... when I was a kid we used to play hop scotch all the time. Oh, and your cat is too cute!

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  53. The quilt is lovely, the quilting fantastic, but I'm sorry, I'm just too distracted by Madam Cuteness peeking over the quilting. She's a beauty! I want to cuddle her, just a bit!

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  54. I'm a feather lover, but I could get into those beautiful swirls!

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  55. What a cute idea for a runner! Thank you for the giveaway.
    I would love to learn how to free motion quilt. I have seen so many quilts with beautiful stitching, but I just don't have the patience to try it.

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  56. Would love to learn the pebble quilting and feathers. I have done, suppose to be, straight line quilting but looks rather crooked, ha but she is finished! Yea! Love how you used these lovely fabrics. Your project is very eye-catching.

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  57. I love feathers and echoed paisleys, but I may have to try the elongated swirls on my next quilt. ;)
    dragonfly(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  58. I am looking forward to getting some of this fabric to practice on. Hope my local quilt shop will have it.

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    1. I forgot to add that I love doing swirls and paisleys.

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  59. When I fmq, I usually do meandering, swirls and organic lines. I would love to learn feathers.

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  60. Hi Sandra! I just love this runner, and my most favorite part? The different quilting stitches just highlight the fabrics so perfectly. Since I'm quite new to FMQ, my favorite one is swirls. So very fun and even if you get yourself stuck you can just continue on and no one will even know! Happy Thursday to you! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  61. I love mctavishing! I just learned and I'm hooked!

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  62. I haven't attempted FMQ yet, but I do enjoy straightline quilting. You can be quite creative with that. And speaking of creative, love the hopscotch runner!

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  63. I would love to learn to do feather in free motion quilting.

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  64. Goodness gracious! You've been a lean, mean quilting machine lately! Another fab finish in these cool new fabrics. I can see why you couldn't say "no" to this hop :)

    My favorite FMQ motif these days is feathers! I never would have guessed that I'd learn to love them. Mine aren't particularly great, but I'm having lots of fun stitching them.

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  65. I've never done FMQ but really want to try it!

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  66. Love the quilting so much. Love your blog name too!

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  67. I haven't done much FMQ other than lines. I'd like to try feathers :-)

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  68. Cool looking and I
    don't quilt but love
    sewing bags.
    Carla from Utah

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  69. Great project! So in love with this fabric!

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  70. I really only meander at the moment but looking to get a bit more adventurous next time. Hope I can be entered into the giveaway as I do have a US postal address

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  71. I must be a control freak because all my quilting has involved feed dogs up--lol I love the look of feathers and swirls so it may be time let those dogs lay down.

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  72. I love seeing paisley shapes in FMQ and in fabric. Nice use of those bright fabrics. Janice.snell@gmail.com

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  73. Love it! Those swirls yum! I'm sure Bella is going to love her new bed quilt..

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  74. I would really like to try feathers.

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  75. I do love stitching free motion swirls. Your runner is beautiful, and I love the quilting!

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  76. I would love to learn how to do peebles consistently. These colors are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing for you tips. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

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  77. That is beautiful! AND!! you sent me off on a squirrel trail checking out those beautiful fabrics!! you have been a busy quilter!

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  78. I've been practicing swirls recently. so many ways to pla with it. Love your runner pattern!

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  79. I usually do a basic stipple, but I'm working on expanding my skills. Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  80. What awesome fabric! I'd love to learn to McTavish!!!

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  81. I recently realize that I like runners. This one will be on my list To DO. Thanks for sharing.

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  82. i would love to learn to do the swirls you did on this runner.

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  83. How many cats does it take to change the sheets on the bed? Two to supervise and one to inspect. Ask me how I know!

    Bella is just doing her job, keeping you on the straight and swirly.

    I really don't need to run off fabric shopping, but you are tempting me!

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  84. I love the rich colors of those fabrics. Your runner is beautiful!

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  85. Whoa, the quilting really sets it off! Love the bright fabrics.

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  86. I mostly straight line quilt or meander. I love your runner. Your quilting is beautiful.

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  87. I love to FMQ feathers of all shapes and varieties.

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  88. You know my fav is the hook swirl. Lovely bed runner and great quilting.

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  89. I'm eager to learn to FMQ - just need to make the freakin' time to do it! wrybbunz@gmail.com

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  90. I like how you changed up each part of the quilt when you quilted!

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  91. I'm learning--tentatively--how to make an orange peel pattern while I FMQ. Once I have mastered that I'll be thrilled.

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  92. I only ever use straight lines I’m too chicken to try any other FMQ love the runner

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  93. I am still learning FMQ but I like the cabbage rose alot! I mostly use wavy lines because straight tend not to turn out so straight for me ;)

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  94. It's a beautiful table runner. Brights and gray are such a great combination. I'd like to start FMQ by just mastering straight lines. I'm going to try quilt as you go next year so I can start small.

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  95. Lovely hopscotch runner. My swirls are wonky and this fabric would be a great way to practice.
    djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  96. I’d love to do more FMQ but I’ve only done some simple lasso-y line quilting. I have a x files quilt really aching for some aliens or spaceships.

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  97. Bella is such a funny princess. Love her to bits. Nearly as much as your fabrics and your insane quilting. Where do you get the time?! This is such a fun idea to have FMQ motif fabric - of course you had to follow the pattern, at least a little!

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  98. I love how you used two different and contrasting motifs for the background. It is always so much fun to see your projects on the Sew in Love With Fabric blog.

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