Quilt, Read, Eat, Sleep.... What Else Is There? discussion

Hi, all! I'm an advance quilter who's been out of the quilting world for 4 years. Now I'm trying to get with it again and there are so many new authors and teachers I'm not familiar with. I've taken a few machine-quilting classes years ago, but never PRACTICED which is the important part, I know. ;-D Anyway, I'd like to get a book on free-motion quilting and wondered what you would suggest. I tried the local Borders bookstore today but they didn't have anything. I look forward to hearing your recommendations. TIA

hmmm....

I can't recommnend any books, but I hear that Quilting in Your Pajamas DVDs are good.

I also like the free stuff. I also like this blog. Her video tutorials are great.

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

and Oh, Fransson

http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson...

Thanks so much for the suggestions, Shannon. Both websites are great. Can't wait to spend more time with them. The first one leads to http://www.daystyledesigns.com/index.htm where Leah Day invents a different free-motion design EVERY day. Wow! I want to be able to do that. ;-D

Gail, I have books about FMQ, but the best thing I ever bought were the DVDs by Patty Thompson. I think I got most of them Amazon, but some of them I bought from her web site.

Hi, Judy! Thanks for suggesting the Patty Thompson DVDs. I've seen her website, but I hesitated to buy anything with a unbiased opinion. Thanks!

I don't know about Patty's website because I haven't spent much time there, but I think here DVDs are really easy to follow. The only kind of FMQ I ever did before I got them was a meander/stippling. Now I can also do leaves with a vine connecting them! :-)

I have a quilt to quilt this week! I am going to try out some of the tips and methods from Leah Day's site that I mentioned

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

Bought 3 quilting related books that came today. From Daisy to Paisley by Leah Day and Doodle Quilting by Cheryl malkowski both deal with free motion quilting. The third book, the one I'm most excited about, is 101 Fabulous Small Quilts published by That Patchwork Place. Any of the little quilts can be adapted for a bedsize quilt. Some lovely, lovely patterns given! I can't wait to begin more new quilts.

Most quilt shops have a selection of free motion quilting books. I have several and use them all for different purposes. I've never used on line info so will be checking out the suggestions above. Also quilting magazines such as "American Patchwork and Quilting" and "McCall's Quilting" usually have excellent suggestions, pictures and techniques. I'm very intrigued with the person who invents a new design every day. What talent! I'm ready to branch out more with my own free motion work and am excited to check out some new ideas.

Went to the quilt shop today and bought Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting by Natalia Bonner. This book has recommendations for thread sizes matched with needle sizes, and how-to directions and hints, which the other two books I bought lack, being pattern-only books. I'm now ready to learn FMQ by practicing on the machine.

Kimberly wrote: "Went to the quilt shop today and bought Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting by Natalia Bonner. This book has recommendations for thread sizes matched with needle sizes, and how-to directions ..."

Hope you have a good time playing with free motion quilting!

How are you doing with your Machine Quilting? if you are still interested in improving your skills take a look at Leah Day's blog where she is hosting the Free Motion Quilting Project http://www.freemotionquilting.blogspo...

Also, SewCalGal has a great blog on Machine Quilting, too. Last year they had a Machine Quilting Challenge and each month a quilter would give a lesson on machine quilting. Not sure if those videos are still available on their website but they were excellent resources for FMQ.

My favorite book is a little hand-book like format by Diane Gaudinski called Quilt Savvy.

If you are interested in some hands on training, look at Craftsy classes.

Good luck. Mary

I completed my table runner using free motion quilting and had a blast. I followed your recommendations, Cheryl, and was impressed with how well my practice piece turned out. The quilters' gloves were invaluable. I don't think I could have done FMQ without them. I can see that FMQ is something that improves with practice, but I'm tickled with my first-ever machine quilted quilt.

Mary, I will check out your recommendations. Thank you!

Kimberly wrote: "I completed my table runner using free motion quilting and had a blast. I followed your recommendations, Cheryl, and was impressed with how well my practice piece turned out. The quilters' gloves..."

I'm so glad all went well!! I love machine quilting, especially small pieces that are easy to move around. For me the gloves really help take the strain off the arms and shoulders which allows me to work for a longer period of time.

I've used the gloves with straight-seam piecing and they've worked well there, too. They are well worth their price.

Photos of my table runner, my first-ever attempt at free-motion quilting, have been posted to Quilting Adventure's blog at http://www.quiltingadventures.com/qab...