FMQ practice

Still in holiday mode here. Actually, I'm just in the beginning stages of designing a BIG bed quilt (as in queen size, but with a very thick mattress to accommodate, so probably king size), so in the meantime, I'm finishing up a holiday quilt.

I think maybe I was going to hand quilt this when I first pieced it because it has Mountain Mist Cream Rose batting, which is my favorite for hand quilting. But I got to thinking this week that this is the perfect project to practice treadle FMQ. It's little, so easy to manipulate, and the bracts on the poinsettias provide a good place to practice sort of free form quilting. I am using a Chalkoner to mark a few lines here and there, but otherwise I'm winging it and not worrying about the pattern too much. FUN. And because this was a spur-of-the-moment decision, I'm also using regular sewing thread from the drawer. I didn't have any red or green machine quilting thread on hand. My stitches are oh-so-tiny--I think because I'm going pretty slowly--and the back's not always real neat, but it's a wall quilt and not a gift, so that doesn't matter to me. 

When this is done, I'll get back to designing that queen quilt for my son and daughter-in-law. I have a picture of a pillow that was their inspiration for it. They like it because the pattern is assymmetrical and crisp, and it has a color palette they like. So that's my assignment. 

I'm linking up today with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Be Social. 

Check back tomorrow, and I'll have a tiny Throwback Thursday quilt to share.