Monday, February 9, 2015

Through the Woods: A Layers of Charm Quilt


When Daniar from Fat Quarter Shop asked me if I would like to make one of their short cut quilts and blog about it, it took all of ten seconds for me to agree.  (I just had to double check the completion date because I was still doing my sneaky sewing.) Then I did the happy dance.  :)  I really like their short cut quilts, and have already made one using the Layer Cake Lemonade pattern.  I called mine. "Blueberry Juice."

This quilt uses one layer cake (with at least 36 ten inch squares) and one charm pack (with at least 36 squares) or yardage.  The video tutorial for Layers of Charm is very helpful.  The Fat Quarter Shop is even sponsoring a giveaway on my blog today.  So be sure to read to the very end.  ;)



I selected the line "Into the Woods" for my quilt, using yardage of Kona Snow instead of a charm pack.  The lap quilt uses only 36 layer cake squares.  I had fun arranging them on my design wall.  (I also had special plans for the bottom row, because I am not that fond of square cuddle quilts.)


It looked cute, but I was amazed at how much charm the charm squares added.  Plus I liked the look of the top and bottom border I added which was just cutting the extra layer cake squares in half. (My layer cake came with 42 squares.)


I fell even more in love with the pattern once the top was finished.


I wanted to emphasize those cute diamonds, so I planned special quilting for them.  I used circle templates to mark a cute flower.


I am so pleased with how those flowers turned out!


Because I was putting minky on the back (my first time doing free motion quilting with a minky backing), I kept the rest of the quilting simple with a loopy line.


I bound the quilt in the red polka dot from the line and added a corner label.


I am so glad I decided to add the pieced border.  I really like the way it turned out.


Quilt Stats #120
Quilt name:  Through the Woods
Pattern: Layers of Charm from Fat Quarter Shop with extra border
Fabric used: Into the Woods layer cake, and Kona Snow
Amount used:  7 yards
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20
Size: About 57 x 67 inches
Date Finished: December 2014
What I learned:

  • Simply adding a contrasting corner can make a big difference in the overall look of a quilt.
  • I can do free motion quilting with a minky backing



One thing I did when piecing the top was draw an extra line a half inch away from the diagonal with my Frixon pen.  (I use sandpaper to grip the fabric when I write on it.)


I sewed down both lines and used the scraps to make this cute little mini quilt.  It finishes at 21.5 inches square.  I trimmed the small HST down to 4 inches so they finish at 3.5 inches.


I showed a sneak peek of the back in December shortly after I finished the quilt.


My family really loves this quilt, and I love how simple it was to make while still being super cute!


I decided to name my quilt "Through the Woods," because the words, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go."  Kept repeating in my mind over and over while working on the quilt.  I may name the mini, "Over the River" once I get it finished.


I am sure I will be making more of the Short Cut Quilts from the Fat Quarter Shop because their instructions are very clear and the quilts so much fun to make!

Now, the Fat Quarter Shop will give a $25 gift certificate to one of my readers.  :D


  1. To be entered in the giveaway, please leave me a comment telling me what your favorite quilting design is.  It can be free motion or with the walking foot.  I'm always looking for ideas.
  2. My followers (new and old) can leave a second comment for a second entry telling me how they follow my blog.  

Good luck in the giveaway!  I will be contacting the winner through email.  So if Blogger doesn't recognize your email, please include it in your comment.  I will keep the giveaway open for one week, and announce the winner on Monday, February 16.  I will try to respond to all of your sweet comments, but may not be able to if many people enter the giveaway.  ;)

If you check out the Jolly Jabber, you can download the free pattern, see the video, as well as see what other bloggers have done.  Believe me, it is lots of fun checking out all the links.  (And making this quilt.)

XX,
Jasmine

P.S.  I will be linking up with Oh Scrap, Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get A Whoop Whoop, and Finish it Up Friday.  (Links on sidebar.)

P.P.S.  And thank you, Fat Quarter Shop, for your generosity and for asking me to participate.

119 comments:

  1. Love the colours you've chosen and your addition top and bottom!

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  2. My favorite quilting pattern that I hardly ever use is a basic stipple (I don't like the way mine look) and my favorite to use are FMQ meandering leaf vines.

    I really like the addition of the top and bottom border to your version, it looks great!

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  3. Basic stipple is my favorite. Love your little quilt-especially like how you used the extra triangles!

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  4. Great quilt Jasmine! Love your choice of fabrics. I love to quilt swirls!

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  5. Cute pattern. Right now I'm working on feathers and I'm enjoying them.

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  6. It looks lovely Jasmine. I like your bonus mini-quilt too. Gotta love corner triangle accents and the resulting bonus triangles!

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  7. I follow with the Blogger friends thing...the reading list thing on my blogger dashboard. Such highly technical terms...:)

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  8. Congrats on venturing into the realm of quilting with minky. I love what you did with the quilting in the charm squares. I hadn't thought to use a circle template that way. I noticed we both did a half square triangle project with the extra fabric. I like how yours is equally fun, and totally different. HSTs are so versatile.

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  9. Lovely! I ended up quilting mine almost exactly the same, just with slightly different medallions. I love geometric lines (like Kitty at Night Quilter used), but is just didn't seem enough for my blank charms to use on this.

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  10. As I have never mastered free motion, my best quilting is done with the walking foot.

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  11. My favorite quilting design is anything that incorporates pebbles. However, I can't do the pebbles myself just yet, so my favorite quilting that I can do is loops. They are so easy and always look good. I love how you have used them here!

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  12. I need to branch out, but I have enjoyed doing fruits like apples and strawberries. Just to break up all the loops and swirls.

    Your quilt is darling!

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  13. I have a couple of favorite quilting designs at the moment. First is the faux-bois/woodgrain look. I also have a quilt that I wanted to look bamboo-y and chose a thin leaf pattern that worked really well.

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  14. Beautiful job on this quilt. This pattern is turning out some awesome quilts! I love the walking foot quilting many turn out, but I don't have the patience! I like FMQ and tend to go with the paisley or swirl. I am getting better at the feather though! So there's hope. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  15. I just followed you through email. :-)

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  16. My favorite go to quilting design is meandering. I know - boring! But it is super easy and fast. I did start the feather class though and finding it challenging. I downloaded the app you mentioned and started using that to cut down on paper!

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  17. My favorite is feathering. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  18. I love how you used the two quilting designs on here. My favorite is probably the spiral. Fast easy and effective. Great job on this one.

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  19. I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  20. I use my BSR and do lots of swirls and random loose squiggles!
    Love your quilt!

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  21. I love your quilt!
    I usually do straight line quilting on my small domestic machine!

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  22. Great looking quilt! I love the mini too. I prefer a stipple, whether large or super small. I work on other designs but always return to the stipple.

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  23. I like how you split the last row to add some length. I also prefer a non-square quilt and used that technique last summer on my maple quilt!

    I guess my favorite quilting pattern would have to be stitch in the ditch or echo quilting. I used those methods the one time I used my walking foot. I really like circles and swirls too, but I only do those by hand!

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  24. I follow you using Blogger's reader.

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  25. Your quilt is wonderful!! I am gonna have to put this quilt on my 'list'.
    Free motion is my favorite type of quilting and I would have to say the hook swirl since it is so easy and forgiving.

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  26. My favorite FMQ design is a meander or stipple. They just seem to work with anything.

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  27. I am a big fan of wavy line quilting! (With a walking foot)

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  28. This is so fun! Your quilting is amazing and I really love the extra that you put into it for the bottom and top... who woulda thought!?!? You of course! I love a little extra length to my quilts, too!

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  29. Lovely colors! Your FMQ is superb, the back of your quilt is just as pretty as the front. Awesome! :-)

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  30. As far as quilting design goes, I prefer curvy lines in general than straight lines unless it's a stitch in the ditch .... It is more organic in my opinion, and more appealing to my eyes.
    Right now, I am loving swirls, geometric swirls, any kind of swirls.
    Following you with Bloglovin. :-)

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  31. I'm torn because I have so many free-motion favorites. Lately it's feathers, because I just watched Angela Walter's Craftsy class.

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  32. I really like doing curved lines with the walking foot, but I love the look of pebbles done with a free motion technique.

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  33. I tend to favor free motion as it is faster and I'm impatient

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  34. I really like a cinnamon roll pattern for an all over motif.

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  35. I really like a cinnamon roll pattern for an all over motif.

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  36. What a delightful quilt! The minky on the back must make it extra cuddly too. Thanks for sharing the tips on making it! My favorite quilting pattern is feathers, although I'm not very good at creating them yet. I'm continuing to practice though!

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  37. I'm following your inspiring blog via Bloglovin.

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  38. So cute Jasmine and the way you quilted it is wonderful! I love that fabric line. Very clever the way you named the two quilts!

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  39. Also - I follow you with Bloglovin'!

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  40. I really like wavy lines or matchstick quilting in small areas. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  41. I like free motion quilting best - my current favorite is a cross between a crocus leaf and a feather. Not exactly sure how to describe it.

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  42. I like stippling most. I really like what you did for the top and bottom of the quilt.

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  43. i'm new to quilting so i don't know what it's called but i keep doing a cross hatch with two lines about a half inch apart. It's simple but looks fancy.

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  44. I mostly do straight or wavy stitching with my walking foot. I really like FMQ loops and hope to try them sometime on a project.

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  45. Oh I really like how you added the leftovers to make the short strips! I wish I had been more inventive in using them; I just put mine in the scrap pile lol.

    I think my favourite quilting design is a stipple. It has a nice texture and is easy and quick to do!

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  46. I'm a newbie and haven't been brave enough to try quilting yet.

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  47. I love your quilt, especially the border. It really adds more depth to this simple pattern. I like echo quilting with either my walking foot or free motion. I am much better with my walking foot! :-) I get to excited with free motion sometimes and go too fast! K-

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  48. Love the quilt and the quilting. I aspire to be able to do something like that one day!

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  49. My favorite qulting method is using the walking foot.

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  50. Your quilt is wonderful! I love the flower quilting you did. It accentuated everything so well. Don't you love the look of the quilting on the minky??? I've been seriously throwing around the idea of trying to quilt a paisley design so I can sneak paisley into my daughters quilt. :)

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  51. I am more of a straight line quilter, I do have a free motion quilt, but I need more practice! Thanks for the chance to win!! jacklynnsteven at netzero dot com

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  52. I am a new follower with Bloglovin'. jacklynnsteven at netzero dot com

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  53. I absolutely love the colours in this version, Jasmine! How awesome is that to be approached by FQS AND to get free fabric to make this and blog about it. Good for you! Enjoy and appreciate the tips, too. And what ingenuity to use the extra layer cakes as the top and bottom border. It turned out superbly.

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  54. I usually just do meandering quilting, it goes super fast for me. Love your fabric choices and the quilting. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  55. I've tried several quilting technics, the most recent is just vertical lines with an additional line close to each, a space of about an inch, then two more lines.
    Debbie
    ollieami@aol.com

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  56. Love your quilt - and quilting! I pretty much stick to straight lines with my walking foot for larger quilts. I've done some free motion on small stuff (mug rugs) but I'm really still practicing! Thanks for sharing. And thanks to you and FQS for the chance to win! :)
    Debby E
    samtaylorcjsmimi (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  57. I'm a new follower on Bloglovin
    Thanks again for the chances to win
    Debby E
    samtaylorcjsmimi (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  58. I like how you lengthened the quilt with leftover pieces. Nothing worse than a lap quilt that is too short to cover the feet!!

    My favorite quilting design is an allover stipple - because that's all my longarm machine can do because of her roller system (antique Singer 31-15), and it's all I can do on my domestic machine, an old Bernina 830. I am quite content with it and don't feel a need to learn new at this point.

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  59. I am a new follower via Bloglovin'. I look forward to checking out your blog more fully in the days ahead.

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  60. I am pretty new to FMQ and have found I love to do pebbles! I tend to make the circles a little too small, but I love the look.

    I just printed off this pattern and can't wait to use up some of my stash of layer cakes and charm packs.

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  61. I'm fairly new, so I've only quilted in the ditch most of the time. I've been trying some straight lines a little but I've been a little scared I will mess it up. I'm working on getting better though! I love your quilt, I've been wanting to make a quilt with this fabric and yours is beautiful! Thanks for the giveaway!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  62. I'm a new follower by bloglovin! Thanks!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  63. I really love pebbling. I don't quilt, though...and when I send mine out, my favorite computerized panto is Flirtatious. Abby Latimer has it, not sure where she downloaded it from.

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  64. I am so impressed. You have come so far in the last year. So excited for you. My favorite quilting is free motion and I do a swirl with some little spikes in there. It's fun to do and looks pretty nice on just about anything.

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  65. I have been following you for a long time and I just check your blog whenever I am on the computer. Way to go.

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  66. Have not done FMQ yet...very simple stitch in the ditch...or lil bit of walking foot is all I have done..so far! Practicing on small pieces tho..that turn into potholders for me! lol

    LOOOOVE your Quilt! It is Awesome! & the addition of your top & bottom borders make it so cool!

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  67. Well, in each quilt I do both walking foot quilting, usually repeptitive but curvy and free motion. Sometimes I quilt with a specialty stitch too. That's why I couldn't use a sweet 16, only does free motion.
    LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  68. As to following you... I just remember your blog because I love it. Yours is one I come back to over and over as I like your take on quilting very much! LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  69. I tend to straight line quilt with my walking foot. If want FMQ...I send my quilt to a long armer as I don't have FMQ talent.

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  70. I like the idea of the scrappy border. It really adds to the quilt. I have done the straight line quilting, using my walking foot and was very happy with the result.

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  71. Your quilt looks stunning completed. I must admit my favourite quilting design is a loopy stipple.

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  72. Super easy and cute quilt. I love doing feathers. Allover, in borders, in blocks anywhere I can stick them.

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  73. I follow you thru bloglovin. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  74. My favorite quilting motif is feathers, all kinds, all shapes, big, small, etc! I've been doing them for 20 years this June. (My Gammill Classic Plus will be 20 yrs old then.And she still sews like a dream!)

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  75. I usually quilt with my walking foot. I've got a long zigzag stitch on my machine that I call wiggle quilting that is my current favorite. For hand quilting I like freeform baptist fans.

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  76. Follow on Instagram as janequiltsslowly

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  77. I like a design by Leah Day called spiral knots.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  78. Such a beautiful quilt! I love everything about it!

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  79. I love your flower quilting in the diamonds. I really enjoyed doing my giant triangular and rectangular spirals on my Stellar Wind project. Definitely check out Leah Day's 400+ quilting designs for ideas... she's my go to source.

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  80. Jasmine, the quilting on this one is fabulous! Don't you just love how quilting looks on minky?? :) I love how you put the borders on the top and bottom!

    My favorite design to quilt at the moment is ribbon candy. . . it seems to be making it into every quilt I make lately :)

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  81. Congratulations, Jasmine! How exciting! Love the quilting too! Go girl!

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  82. I get some of my quilting ideas from rubber stamp sets. Just found one on Pinterest today!

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  83. I am totally loving this pattern! Thanks for showing your quilting thoughts with it. I pretty much love all quilting...it's the quilt that decides what it wants. I've been really drawn to plain old straight line quilting lately, and I always love FMQ pebbles, despite never having done them myself.

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  84. I'm a "confident beginner" and haven't ventured beyond cross-hatching yet but am eager to try! Thanks for the chance! pls reply to basaran.family at rogers.com

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  85. Your quilt is beautiful. I admire, how you paid special attention to enhancing the diamonds. That you made another cute quilt (mini) from the scraps is like a cherry on top of the sundae.
    Ever since I took the Jacquie Gering class on Craftsy, I am in love with my walking foot and the enormous possibilities it offers. Gentle Curves using the walking foot is my favorite.
    Ahem, it may also be due to the fact that I have yet to learn FMQ.

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  86. Your version of this quilt turned out so cute! I liked the extra little border you did at the top as well. I am not much of a fmq gal, but I love doing wavy organic line quilting (that is something even I can make look good!!)

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  87. Your quilt is great, and love the added borders! I love quilting feathers!

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  88. I am quite new to quilting. I have actually only quilted on quilt so far. I just stitched in the ditch. I would love to be able to quilt like you though. I especially love the pattern you did on the white charm squares.

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  89. so pretty, I wonder what it will look like in 30s. I have been quilting lots and lots of Frozen quilts (I have 6 granddaughters). I used a cute snowflake pattern that I can do with my eyes closed by now, well almost!

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  90. I am a new quilter and haven't tried FMQ yet so for me its straight line with my walking foot. I love your quilt! Thank you!

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  91. My favorite quilting design is lowercase cursive Es. I wish I could do feathers like yours ... they're gorgeous. Jones50(at)Purdue(dot)edu

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  92. Thanks for the tip of adding the extra squares for additional length. Perfect. I am playing around with FMQ to build my skills and I use the walking foot. How was it working with the minky backing? It looks like you kept it very smooth.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  93. I follow on Bloglovin (and just squeaked in before the giveaway closes!).

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  94. Hmmm...it seems my first comment vanished into thin air. Your quilt is gorgeous, and I love how you extended it with the borders on the top and bottom. And your flower quilting is beautiful too!

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