free motion quilting or how to make a princess pillow!

I’ve been wanting to try free motion quilting for a while but was always too nervous and knew I wanted my new machine first. Since I have no more excuses, I got out my instruction manual, lowered the feed dogs, changed the foot to an open toe foot and off I went


I learnt along the way not to pull the fabric but move it with your hands slowly and gently. I went a little bit crazy in bits racing off to another area of the fabric causing my stitches to be huge ….but it was a practice run so thats ok!


So I cut a square of fabric and pinned it to some batting and off I went. When I was done I trimmed it to a neat square with my rotary cutter, got some cute backing fabric and turned it into a cushion or ‘princess pillow’ as keira likes to call it. To make a simple cushion back, I cut the fabric to the length of the cushion front but made it 1.5 times as wide as the cushion front. Cut the backing into two pieces vertically, fold back and press those edges you’ve just cut about 2 inches to the wrong side of the fabric. Zig zag stitch the folds in place about 1 inch in then pin the backs to the cushion front so that the zigzagged edges are placed over each other with their right sides facing the right side of the cushion front. Sew around the entire cushion, trim corners and turn out. Voila you have a cushion with no zips, buttons or velco but hides your cushion!


miss keira loves her new ‘princess pillow’, I got to practice free motion quilting and I think 2 more pilows for the twins are due and then I’ll be ready to hit the real thing….a quilt!

Comments

  1. A lovely pillow Corrie! Those envelope openings for pillows are the easiest, aren’t they. And very practical for kids’ pillows as it makes pulling them off to wash so much simpler!

    I’ve got a little practice mini quilt that I’ve been using to try all sorts of techniques, including free motion quilting. I had to learn to take it slowly too!

    Beautiful work!

  2. Lovely, lovely, lovely…clever you – mastering free motion quilting….love the pink on pink look in your daughters room, exactly my taste too.

  3. Isn’t free motion fun. Waiting to see your first quilt quilted very shortly!!!

  4. I did the Deb Louie domestic machine quilting class last year which was fantastic – she also teaches you heaps about your sewing machine too. But I haven’t practiced a whole lot and am now challenging myself with a smallish quilt (about a metre square) to get it right- I am so determined to perfect my free motion quilting. I just want to be able to whip up cute quilts for presents and stuff. I think the cushion is absolutely gorgeous and obviously so does madam!! Good luck with the new ‘toy’!!

  5. Looks great Corrie. I am about to attempt free motion quilting myself. See you Wednesday

  6. Oh yaaah, a new machine to play with, what fun! Looks like you are off to a great start with FMQ. The princess pillow is great, and I love the fabric choices. Have you tried the gloves with the grips to keep hold of the fabric? I love them, and think they really help when you are quilting a bigger project.

  7. You are so very clever! Loving the princess fabric.

  8. Gorgeous work as always Corrie!! We popped up to Sydney after Easter, i knew i didn’t have time to play with you, so will have to see you next time. My twins still talk about your twins, so cute, only 7 years apart!! It’s a Finn thing of course with my Fin!! i might have to have a good look at your new sewing machine, honey, you scored big time!! Love Posie

  9. Well done Corrie, that is something I would like to try also.

  10. your cushion looks lovely Corrie. I am afraid I am just hopeless at it! I did a course twice and still can’t seem to master it! It also gives me a really bad headache – I must tense up so much!

  11. I’m amazed at what you manage to achieve in a day with three littlies to care for too. The pillow is inspired – first project or not!

  12. What a great way to practice free-motion quilting and still have something to show for it.

    I know it has nothing to do with the pillow, but I like the fairy decals on the wall.

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