This is the current plan for my next quilt…

Each of the squares is 3 inches. The quilt is four identical blocks (see below). Each block is rotated 90 degrees from the previous block.

I spent a bit of time today scanning the fabric and using PC Quilt to see how it would all come together. I wouldn’t recommend this software - I seem to have all sorts of problems with it. This time my block was too big so I had to divide it into 4 smaller blocks.

Why have I called it a Modular 9 Quilt? Because I used the mod 9 addition table (see below - click to see a bigger version) to decide on fabric placement.

I allocated each fabric a number and then used the table to determine the placement. You don’t have to use 9 - I just had 9 fabrics. Also, you could use multiplication instead of arithmetic. You don’t even have to use squares. Check Modular Art for more information.

It’s finished!

The continuous binding worked well. It did take me three attempts to get the join right, but as soon as it worked I had a bit of an ‘aha’ moment so I think I should be able to do it easily next time.

I ironed the binding into place after I attached it to the front and that made mitering the corners easier.

My next quilt is going to involve squares and this fabric

I’ve cut the binding, the hanging sleeve and designed the label.

The black rectangles in the above image are where I removed my name.

I use a mixture of software to create my labels - Scansoft PC (Easy Layout) - this is janome software and very old and out of date - to create the words and then Embird to get the positioning and machine format I want.

I’ve been thinking about this quilt again - I still need to bind it. I have decided to use all of the fabric in the blocks to make the binding. I plan to do a continuous binding and I found a fabulous tutorial here.

It also needs a hanging sleeve and a label.

A bit more free motion practice.

I decided to try the fill stitching before stitching the outline.

As the bobbin thread ran out, I needed to fill a new one. I bought more of what I thought was the same type, but the new bobbin created all sorts of tension problems - see below

See the white bobbin thread coming through? And the outline stitching is a bit raised. However, all is not lost. I now know that I could use a slightly different shade (from the needle) in the bobbin, change the tension settings and the fill stitching would be mix of both shades. Plus it is easier to stitch the outline last.

I worked on my flower…

I have found the sewing machine speed that works for me and I am pleased with the results - it’s not perfect, but if I wanted perfect I would digitise a flower and use my embroidery machine.

As you can see in the below image, I’m still going outside the outline and I shall try stitching the outline last in the next flower.

I’ve been working on my free motion embroidery. This is my first attempt at fill stitches. I haven’t yet found the right machine speed so more experimentation is required. The density isn’t right and the stitches are a bit bitty.

Also some of my stitches go over the outline - I think I can fix this by stitching the outline last.

The embroidery threads I have at the moment aren’t close enough in colour - must buy more. Does anyone know of a good online source for Robinson Anton rayon?

I’ve been learning free motion embroidery from this book.

Above is my attempt at a leaf. I’m quite happy with the results. The key for me was to go really slowly - my machine is set at the lowest speed. Also, a spring tension hoop seems to work much better than any other kind plus it is much easier to rehoop when you need to move the hoop.