Put on your Learning Hat.

It was while basting this quilt, hunched over the floor in my tiny living room, wondering whether it even enough, smooth enough, pinned enough, that I  made the decision to approach it as a learner, not a maker/seller. It was my first time making a single bed size quilt, and I wanted to free-motion quilt it, another first for me. So I set up some rules: No unpicking, no saying, "I should have known", ask the question, "what have I learned?"
I can tell you, it made for a very fun making experience! I felt like a child, making without knowing about 'shoulds' or techniques. I know it can be fun to perfect techniques and skill, but for a quilt of firsts, I just wanted to play. And because we were keeping this one for us, I felt like I could make mistakes and learn from them, rather than try to avoid them.
So on went my Learning Hat and out came the free motion quilting foot! 

Here's what I learned:

• Free motion quilting is FUN and very forgiving! I made lines upon lines of little daisies, going back and forth (which I thought would be easier this time round than a random track). It took me about three or four lines to get flowers I was really happy with. But interestingly, this had more to do with foot control and having a heavy quilt get caught on the sides of the table, than making the actual flowers themselves. When all those factors were easy, the 'drawing' itself came quite naturally. 

• It was much easier to pull the quilt towards me, than push it away (I'm guessing because the weight was on the table, rather than on my lap) so every second line of daisies is MUCH neater! I didn't buy any extras for this quilting experience, because I wanted to see what my style was like first. I think I'll be getting some grippy gloves because I was much more comfortable with flat hands than holding the quilt. And I'd be interested to see if one of those stickers that cover the feed dogs makes a difference too.

• I LOVE my throat space and auto-thread tension! And I used Leah Day's recommendations for set up rather than my manual (feed dogs up, stitch length on zero) and that worked well too.

• It's much more important to let Evie have a turn (sock hands and all!) than get it done right or quickly, at least for her own quilt. :) She never once seemed interested in the colours or design of this quilt (not enough tutus or pink!) but did want to help me baste it (so I used pins instead of spray), and quilt it. Trying to make flowers while she leant on the quilt was pretty hilarious, and at times, frustrating, but I'm hoping, over time, it will lead naturally to her making things herself (and feeling like she can just play also!). 

• I am not a 'measure twice, cut once' type of gal. More like a measure nonce, cut 3 or 4 times. And look how it paid off with my binding. Score! I'm learning to embrace the way I work creatively, and be ok when I have to cut extra, or have made too much, rather than chastise myself for jumping in. Because I do measure when precision important to me. But when motivation is dependant on starting now, I enjoy starting at the machine early. And that's ok.

• Machine binding is FAST but mine needs a little practice. And more precision is needed in first sewing the binding on, rather than the final finish, to ultimately make it neater. I think next time I'll try Rachel's zig-zag binding finish. I've thought in the past that it wouldn't fit my hand-quilting style, but I think it would totally suit the crinkly nature of free motion quilting. 

• I was a little worried about all the fabric needed for the back, until my friend gave me a whole lot of second hand girls' double bed sheet sets! And the one I used for the back just happened to have the lovely 'orange peel' or cathedral print on it. A perfect match, I thought, for a quilt with a Stitchy theme. And I have matching pillow cases! It was just the kind of provision I was hoping for when I embarked on my fabric fast.

• And finally, even though toys and outings seem more desireable to my kids, I'm always amazed at how much something handmade means to them. Evie played with, and in, this quilt for over an hour after I finished it! And it's since been used for forts, hide and seek, and extra long and dangerous super hero capes! Oh, and for now, bed time is very easy!

(and how cute is this pillow Tim's mum bought to match!)