A New Circle Quilt

As you know my love of circles is still going strong. While I was away I picked up even more fabric with dots and circles on it. I really need to start using it up=)

I spent the weekend making templates, auditioning fabric, playing in EQ7 and finally came up with this design.

In the wide open spaces on either side I am going to try and free motion stitch a phantom circle in there.  I am still trying to decide what colour to use.  I plan to stitch over all the circles with a multitude of colours but want the fmq circles to recede into the background a bit.   I am leaning towards a grey or a black. I think white may be a bit too stark.  Any ideas?

I am quilting in circles....

Okay, I have to confess.  I have never made a perfect quilt.   There is always something that didn't work out, or after it was completed I thought I should have done something different.   There have been times when I have taken a quilt down off the wall and added more quilting to it.

I thought this time, I may just have it licked.   The top had turned out gorgeous.   I laid it out, got my favourite batting, bamboo from Pellon, and pinned everything to my backing.  I decided to try quilting in a circle.   The quilt is blocks and I thought an off centre circle would be perfect.

As I am quilting, I am noticing that fabric is puckering on the top which I have never had happen before, and I am removing pins and having to smooth out as I go around.   Part way through I discover my problem.   When I laid out my batting, I didn't realize it was folded in half, so instead of a single layer, I have a double layer!   Thank goodness it is bamboo batting and is low loft.    It will be quite heavy thought.

I hope this is the only 'oops'.   I am about a third of the way done and am switching thread colours as I go.   You can see it in the pics if you look closely.

I am loving how different it is looking compared to when it was just a top.  The circular quilting gives it a completely different effect.   

My goal is to have it done by next week!   

Circles and Trying out this Modern Quilt Movement

Here is an update on my circle quilt.  I am really excited to turn this into a workshop.

I have had a number of comments on my 'circles' of free motion quilting.   All I can say is relax and practice.  

I am planning on using these for the binding.  

I am sure most of you have heard about the 'modern quilt movement' shaking the quilt world.   In Canada, the Canadian Quilters' Association has created a new Modern Quilt Category in their National Juried Show.   

I am thinking of entering a quilt in it, if I can come up with a design.  I was playing around today making a modern quilt block.   I came up with this, and was thinking I could make a little tutorial out of it for you, what do you think?