Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Free Motion Fantasy Blog Hop! I'm sharing lots of pictures in this post, but be sure to stick around to the end - there's a giveaway!

When I saw the Free Motion Fantasy fabrics by Amanda Murphy, I was immediately in love! Amanda created the line specifically for using it for free motion quilting. Every print correlates to a free motion quilting design!

Since I'm 36 weeks pregnant with kiddo #3, I have baby on the brain! Right away, I knew I wanted to try making a quilted baby changing mat. Benartex generously sent me the fabrics for the changing mat, and a few extra too!

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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!

To start, I made a paper template of the shape I wanted for my changing mat. I based it off a store-bought one that we have used with our previous children. I had to change the size slightly though, as the Heat-N-Bond Iron-On Vinyl is only 17" wide.

I cut the fabrics for the inside and outside of the mat slightly wider and longer than the template. I applied the iron-on vinyl to the inside fabric - Flying Geese in White. This product is clear and turns the fabric into a water-resistant fabric! I pin basted the outside fabric - the Feature fabric in Aqua - with two layers of Warm & Natural batting but with no backing fabric (I didn't want to quilt through the vinyl fabric). I used tape to mark the approximate area that I would need to quilt based on my template.

I had planned to do all the quilting with my new longarm, but the fabric designs are a bit small for what I thought I could do accurately (Amanda Murphy does make some great fabric for longarm free motion practice though too!). I wanted to be able to be up close and personal with the fabric to be able to quilt some of the more intricate designs, so I decided to use my domestic machine (a Juki TL-2010Q) for all the sewing and quilting with these projects.

Then I free-motion quilted the feature fabric following the designs in the fabric. I used Aurifil 50wt Shining Green #5017. It's so great to be able to do so many free-motion designs, but have the help of a pattern to follow!

Once quilted, I used the template to cut both the quilted panel and the vinyl inside fabric to the right shape.

I used my walking foot to stitch around the outside edge to secure both pieces together.

I used a piece of the feature fabric to make two pockets. I just hemmed both ends of the fabric, and placed it where I wanted it.

I also used my walking foot to stitch a straight line through all layers (including the vinyl fabric this time) in each place I wanted the mat to fold.

Then I cut bias binding from the Flying Geese in Magenta fabric and sewed it to the mat using Aurifil 50wt Medium Lavender #2540.

I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! The double batting makes the quilting texture amazing (plus it will give extra cushion when baby is laying on it!).

I think I will add just a bit of Velcro to keep it closed, but don't have any on hand. (An excuse to go to the quilt shop!)

Once the changing mat was finished, I still had other fabric to play with! I decided to make a nursing cover - something I've made for each baby (but hadn't made for this baby yet!).

From just one yard of the Teal On a String fabric, I cut a 26"x38" rectangle and two 2 1/2" x 20" pieces for straps. I hemmed all four sides of the rectangle and sewed the strap pieces into tubes. After turning, I sewed the straps onto the main rectangle about 12" from each end. Then I just tied the straps into a bow, and it's ready to use!

I still had some of the iron-on vinyl left, so decided to try making a wet bag. A wet bag is a zippered pouch with a water-resistant lining. They can be used to hold wet swim suits after the pool, or dirty cloth diapers until laundry time. We use them a lot at our house!

I prepped the inside fabric (this time Bricks in Sky Blue) with the iron-on vinyl and cut the exterior pieces from On a String in Cobalt. I had a navy zipper that would work well, and Aurifil 50wt Bright Teal #1320. I also cut a strip from the Bricks fabric to use as a strap.

Loosely following the tutorial here, I made a wetbag that measures 13"x16" - perfect for throwing in the diaper bag on the go! I added a snap to the strap so it would be a loop for hanging on a door knob or snapping around a stroller handle. I want to make many more of these now!

But I still had fabric left! I really wanted to try making a quilted diaper bag, but I just couldn't find a pattern for one I loved. I decided to make something I would love making instead - a quilt!

I cut four of the fabrics (the Feature print in Blue, Bricks in Purple, Pebbles in Blue Pale, and On a String in Cobalt) into WOF strips and sewed them together for a quick quilt top. This time, I wanted the fabric and quilting to be the focus of the quilt - not the design of the quilt.

I pin basted the top with two layers of batting and a remnant of Hand Drawn Lines backing fabric that I bought from Connecting Threads.

Then I quilted the life into it.

I started by quilting the center feature fabric print with Aurifil 50wt Bright Teal #1320 on my domestic machine.

Next, I used my walking foot to quilt straight lines on the purple bricks with Aurifil 50wt Medium Lavender #2540.

Using Aurifil 50wt White #2024, I quilted the pebbles next.

Last, I switched back to the Aurifil 50wt Bright Teal #1320 to quilt the On a String fabric. (I cheated and only did the circles on every fourth row.)

I used the Pebbles in Pale Blue fabric for 2 1/4" binding (and machine stitched it on like usual).

The finished quilt has such an amazing weight and texture! I sure wish you could feel the texture from the pictures!

I really can't express how much I enjoyed quilting the Free Motion Fantasy fabrics! The fabric is beautiful - and also helps you free motion quilt!

I'm also excited to have several custom things ready for baby!

I still have a few scraps left over - and I am already looking forward to using them!

Be sure to visit the other stops on the blog hop so you can see what the other designers created too! (Plus there are more giveaways!)

Monday 8/20 - Blog Hop Introduction

Tuesday 8/21 - Debby at Debby Kratovil Quilts

Wednesday 8/22 - Jayne at Twiggy and Opal AND Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts (that's me!)

Thursday 8/23 - Sandra at MMM Quilts AND Lisa at Color My World

Friday 8/24 - Amanda Murphy's Virtual Trunk Show

Now for the giveaway! Giveaway closed.

Benartex is generously offering a fat quarter bundle of the Free Motion Fantasy fabrics to give away! Just leave a comment on this post telling me how you feel about free motion quilting. Are you a Nervous Nellie or Eager Beaver? (And PLEASE leave your email address in your comment if you are a no-reply commenter. Otherwise I won't be able to contact you if you win!) (Giveaway is US only and ends 8/26.)

Disclaimer: Giveaway is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Blogger. By entering, entrants confirm they are 18+ years of age, release Blogger of responsibility, and agree to Blogger's terms of use. No purchase necessary to win. Open to legal residents in the contiguous US only that are 18+ years of age. Giveaway starts at 12:00am CST August 22, 2018 and ends at 11:59pm CST on August 26, 2018. One winner will receive a fat quarter bundle of Free Motion Fantasy fabrics with a retail value of approximately $25. Odds of winning determined by number of eligible entries received. How to enter: leave a comment on this blog post. One comment per person. Duplicate comments will be deleted. Winner will be chosen by random.org on August 27, 2018 from all eligible entries and notified by email. If winner can not be reached via email or prize is unclaimed after three days, a new winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner is responsible for paying any taxes related to the prize. By entering this giveaway, you release Slice of Pi Quilts from any liability whatsoever. Void where prohibited by law.

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