Day 200 – Microscopic World

WooHoo! We just hit Day 200 baby!

You now have 200 designs to choose from to add loads of texture and wonderful movement to your quilts.

And speaking of texture, I think we need a variation of Pebble Maze. That design was just too cool not to play with again!

free motion quilting design microscopic world

It’s official! I’ve finally found a book printing company that won’t charge us an arm, a leg, and my first born child to print my little books.

So off I’m running to start writing the first book! I’ve even got the title picked out already: “From Daisy to Paisley – 50 Beginner Level Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs.

Whoo Hoo!

Inspiration – Right after I stitched Pebble Maze, I looked at the design and thought “this could be easier”.

Whenever I have a thought like that, I try to figure out what is making the design so difficult. In that case it was the huge amounts of traveling to get back out of the wiggly spirals.

So in this design you just simply fill the open areas with microstippling. It’s much easier and has a very similar texture when viewed from far away.

Difficulty LevelAdvanced. I got a little email criticism this week about both being too personal on the blog and for saying advanced fillers are easy.

So yeah, this is a tough design, but I stand by the opinion that if you really want to, you can quilt anything from this project. It’s patience and practice that is the key!

Design Family – Foundational. This design is formed by first laying out your foundation of pebbles, then filling the little gap areas with microstippling.

You can change the texture of this design by changing what is inside it. What if we tried filling the pebbled areas with Paisley? I think I’m going to have to try it!

Directional Texture – No Direction. Because Pebbling and Stippling are both flat, directionless designs, this Microscopic world will be directionless as well.

Suggestions for Use – This is a highly textured design so definitely use it where you can stitch it tight and show off your threads. I think an artistic wall hanging would be perfect. Maybe a landscape???

Let’s go quilt,

Leah Day

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

12 Responses

  1. SteffiD says:

    I believe whoever sent you that email is silly. I think that this is YOUR blog, and you should run it how you want. If you add personal information, then so be it. I like hearing personal information about even 'informational' blogs, because it brings home the fact that you are indeed a PERSON not a robot.

    This looks like a fun filler, and I look forward to trying it in the future!

  2. Judy M says:

    Great design, Leah. This is totally doable with the lesser amount of traveling. In a way, this reminds me of one of my personal favs, Spiral Matrix, Day 176. I absolutely love the look of this, although haven't tried it because of the traveling. Can't wait to see additional variations of that one (maybe give us a secret exit ramp out of the spiral) 🙂

  3. Wendy says:

    You got criticism for being too personal?! … on YOUR BLOG?!?!
    Tell 'em where to shove it!!!

    ahem! I mean…

    Inform that person that it is ultimately YOUR blog,and therefore you will talk about whatever YOU wish to talk about!

    It
    is
    YOUR
    blog!
    We are just along for the ride.
    Besides, it's the personal stuff that helps us know that you're "just human after all"!
    (And what's "easy" for one person may be extremely difficult for the next. THAT is subjective!)
    =-)

  4. Lisa says:

    thinking that emailer needs to chill out alittle. It is your blog. You can be personal that's why it's your blog!!! GEEZ

  5. QuiltSwissy says:

    I am excited to hear the news! Can't wait for publication runs, I want to be the first to get one!

    glen

  6. Whitelily says:

    I just love your work and I can't wait to get a copy of your book! Congratulations! Donna

  7. Maybe your emailer would prefer to read something like IRS manuals-then he/she wouldn't have to wade thru anything personal. What is a blog for if it isn't personal!!!
    Keep up the good work & keep your personality shining thru!! Amen!

  8. I agree with the above. YOUR BLOG, YOUR posts. I mean, seriously, you're not putting up topless pictures of yourself on a quilting site, all the rest is fair game in my opinion.

    As for the difficulty level, I can't speak on that, but I think we always tend to feel things are easier than they are when we have experience.

  9. kathy says:

    I simply love your work and your blog. The personal parts are part of what make it interesting. We get to know you a little. And as one commenter said…..It is your blog and you can make it as personal or as impersonal as you want it. Keep going with the wonderful interesting work. I love this pattern by the way!!!

  10. Erilyn says:

    Leah, I agree with the other comments. You are so positive, full of energy and innovative. I'd MUCH rather be reading your blog than others that always seem to have a big rain shower of blah! or little niggles of negativity! Can't be bothered with them, there's too much put downs by so many people. Keep up the good work, you are sooo inspiring. Love you!

  11. Ann says:

    I just reviewed your video on the type of machine you have for your free motion quilting and you mentioned that the machine has a wider area from the needle to throat and while talking about it you mentioned that it would be nice to have a machine with a larger throat and so on. Well there is one available and it's wonderful. It's a HQ Sixteen sit down version. All the speed you need plus it's a sit down.

  12. Leah Day says:

    Ann – I agree about the HQ Sixteen and definitely considered it.

    The biggest problem is the price. Running at about $5000, that's a bit steep for my budget and I'd say most other quilters as well!

    Cheers,

    Leah

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