Quilt Along with Leah Day - Week 29

Front Side of Adding Shapes 

Back Side of Adding Shapes
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ENLARGED.

When my children were in primary school (they are now 28 and 32 with children of their own) the school they attended taught in a way that was referred to as spiral learning. The concept is a subject begins at a basic level, and returns to the basic level time and time again, but each time it returns it is expanded upon. This helps cement early concepts while allowing for growth. That is exactly how Leah's assignments work.

Stippling with Heart Inserts

Our very first assignment was to try our hand at stippling. We have returned to stippling and four of its cousins, sharp stippling, zippling, circuit board and loopy multiple times over the course of 29 assignments. This time we were to incorporate a shape periodically while stippling, sharp stippling, zippling, creating circuit boards and going loopy. Leah recommended that we try adding hearts, but she also pointed out that other shapes could work just as well. Sounded like a challenge to me!

Sharp Stippling with Daisies

Triangles Become a Design Element in Circuit Board

The curved nine patch block I had been saving for a future Leah assignment was just right for this week. I decided to do stippling with hearts inserted into the design in the outer corners and center block. Sharp stippling suggested daisy petals to me, so thats what I did. I matched triangles with circuit board and an element I dubbed Greek Spirals with zippling. Finally, I inserted some leaves into my loopy block.

Zippling Gets Pizzaz with Greek Spirals

Loopy is Transformed to a Vine with Leaves

One of the great things about revisiting the basics of a subject, such as free motion quilting, is just how much more intuitive it becomes. I was able to do 100% of the assignment without ever quilting myself into a corner or needing to break thread. There isn't one hesitation bead or tension loop on the reverse side. Sure I could quibble or obsess about a heart that wasn't completely closed a straight line or angle that curved here or there, but I won't. I have confidence that these little bobbles will work themselves out too with practice.