Learning to Machine Quilt

Last saturday I attended a workshop to learn machine quilting and had a really great day.   The aim of the workshop was to create six blocks of fabric and quilt them all, before joining them together to create a large decorative tote to carry cutting mat(s) and rulers.

There were eight of us attending the workshop in all, here we are setting up our sewing machines ready to get going

 

Here's my lovely new Janome TXL 607 sewing machine - it's a dream to work with although I'm still learning what it can do.  I have so many new project ideas flying around my head using it, can't wait to get started on some of them !

 

 

We were asked to prepare for the workshop by stitching nine 5 inch squares of fabric into blocks

(known as nine-patch)  making 6 blocks in all

 

Taking each of the 6 nine-patch blocks, we cut them in half vertically and then horizontally, creating four new square blocks which were then sewn back together in a different order (hard to explain in words, so here's a pic of four of the squares being sewn back together....

....and the finished block of four - known as a 'disappearing nine-patch - you will note how the centre (red) squares get cut into four small squares and the four corner squares remain whole.

 

We were then ready to start the machine quilting - here's my first panel

 

 

first panel finished

 

second panel finished

 

 

 

I still have four more panels to quilt and after they're finished I'll join all six panels together to create the tote, adding binding strips and handles in matching fabrics.  Still a WiP for the moment, but it will be great practice to machine quilt all these panels and have a useful tote at the end of it.  I'll share more pix once my tote is completed.

 

Hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest sewing project.  I need to pack my sewing machine away for a while, I'm busy cardmaking again as I have a number of birthday, thank you,  anniversary and DT cards to make in the next couple of days - wish me luck !

 

Thanks for dropping by to my little bit of Blogland for a 'look see' .