Thread Talk from my Sewing Machine #11

Most quilters probably have a quilt panel or two languishing in their stash. Quilt panels make wonderful free-motion quilting projects because of the minimal effort involved in constructing the quilt top for quilting. An example is my Baby Circus quilt. I started with this panel:

Then, I added some prairie points to some of the triangles printed on the panel to give for a bit of interest:

Then, I did trapunto on the animal heads to give the circus heads some extra POP, and quilting free-motion around and on the animals:

See the other fun motifs I quilted around the clown? Fun motifs like that don’t require precision, so it’s a great way to get yourself in the groove if you are just now giving free-motion quilting a try. Even if you are a seasoned free-motion quilter, it’s nice to just quilt fun motifs sometimes and see if there are other aspects of your quilting that needs improvement.

More fun quilting here:

Can you see I have quilted the word “Circus” underneath the horsie?

For embellishment, I added buttons, yoyos, very simple borderie perse circle applique, and pompom trim.

FUN! FUN! FUN! So, go and dig through your stash and see if there’s a panel somewhere you could just layer and start quilting! Or, if you like my Baby Circus quilt, the panel is part of a new collection called “Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baily – Baby Circus” by Quilting Treasures. Check with your local quilt shops for availability. You may also download the free pattern project sheets for this very Baby Circus quilt from Quilting Treasures’ website.

20 thoughts on “Thread Talk from my Sewing Machine #11”

This is just a darling quilt. Any wee person would love it. I am a grown up and I love it!!!!!!!! Another beauty, Wendy.

Looks amazing, you never surprise me with your talent. Love this.

Your quilting always leaves me in awe.

Thank you for this! I am a panel junkie and then I never know what to do with them!

That is too darling, I love everything you’ve quilting into it!

One of my favorites!

Gorgeous :) I’m still not sure where to start with free motion sewing!! Happy crafting, Jenny

Brilliant! So creative. I will take a new look at my stash, ufo’s and everything sitting around neglected. Thanks for sharing.

I love what you did with your panel. I like to take panels, cut them up and put them back together. I find it a great design exercise, figuring out what to put between the cut up pieces. I hadn’t thought of embellishing. I’ll try that on my next one! Thanks for the tips. Your quilting is gorgeous!

Lovely, lovely, lovely! Cute panel, wonderful free motions! Every mother’s dream baby quilt. Györgyi

Very cute! I did some of that kind of thing years ago but not with free motion. I imagine that would make it a lot faster and more versatile.

Using a panel looks like a great way to practice machine quilting.

Very cute and great idea for beginnner FMQs like me. Clamoring for a Wendy FMQ DVD !

That is such an adorable quilt…I love all of the embellishments!
Micki

thank you so much wendy…i’m trying to learn free motion quilting

This is exactly the suggestion I always give anyone who asks me how to get comfortable doing free motion. Panels can provide so much inspiration and opportunity to try different shapes, etc.