2016 Free Motion Quilt Along - Susybee Growth Chart

Welcome fellow quilters...
I'm sew excited you stopped by!

Are you anxious to Free Motion Quilt at home but aren't sure where to start ?

I've got just the Quilt Along for YOU!

Welcome to the first Redbird Quilt Co.
 Free Motion Quilt Along featuring the Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart panel by Susy Bleasby for The World of Susybee.

Over the next few weeks we're going to boost your FMQ confidence so you too can finish your quilts at home.

There are a few requirements:

***  A desire to learn!  ***
A machine with a straight stitch, the
Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart plus
some basic quilting notions,
and access to the internet

If you follow me you KNOW I encourage the use of fabric panels to learn or improve your FMQ skills -- well this Quilt Along is no exception.

Using fabric panels allows you to learn to quilt with minimal investment in time and $money$ -- and when you're gifting something to a small person, the accuracy of your stitches and motif have little meaning.

The important thing is that you learn the basics of FMQ and begin quilting.

You'll improve your FMQ skill with each new project.

Start with small projects... finish one, gain confidence, start another and soon you'll be hooked!!

 Practice, practice, practice - it makes a difference.

During this Free Motion Quilt along we'll work together to:


  • add simple borders to a growth chart panel
  • understand batting, thread, needles and other notions that help with FMQ (I'll share my favorites!)
  • tackle the "how to quilt that" dilemma and cover the importance of basting too!
  • learn basic quilting motifs and stitch them on the Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart  

To join in the fun:

You'll need access to my blog:
Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals
Subscribe via Email on the Sidebar !

I'll be sharing a few things on my YouTube channel too -- be sure to subscribe!

My Instagram feed might be fun to follow too!!

** Optional **
If you're a Facebook user (NOT required) there'll be inspiring posts
on my Redbird Quilt Co. Page
and in the
Free Motion Quilting Frenzy Group.


Prizes!!

Of course no Quilt Along is complete without sponsors, prizes, and giveaways!!

At the end of the Quilt Along you'll have an opportunity to "link-up" or share images of your quilted panel on social media (or via email if necessary).

This will make you eligible (via random drawings) for prizes offered by our generous Sponsors:

Thread, thread, thread -- My Favorite Thread!!

Woohoo!  A Shop Gift Certificate!
You'll want to purchase more Susybee fabric!

Dream Wool and Dream Cotton
Quilters Dream is my favorite batting!

Yippee!
  Win another Susybee panel for the next Quilt Along!

We'll be sharing something fun from Susybee!  
You'll love their creations! 

Oh Yeah!  A Shop Gift Certificate!
Maybe you'll buy another Susybee Panel?

Click here for more Sponsor and Giveaway details! 


What's Next?

Minimally you'll need:
 a Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart
(borders are optional) 
threads that complement the panel
(I've outlined Aurifil colors that work great!)
batting (Dream Wool is my favorite!) 
and backing fabric too!  

Visit the 2016 Free Motion Quilt Along Supplies page for details!

We'll start piecing this awesome panel later in January -- so get your supplies now!
1/23/16
Part I Piecing ~ See it => here 

1/31/2016
Part II Pin Basting ~ See it => here

2/4/2016
How to Quilt That ~ See it => here

2/13/2016
Part III Setup and Practice ~ See it => here

2/22/2016
Part IV Let's Get Quilting! ~ See it => here

2/27/2016
Part V More FMQ! ~ See it => here

3/14/2015
Part VI Balloon Quilting! ~ See it => here

3/31/2016
Part VII Landscape and Background ~ See it => here

4/10/2016
Part VIII Border Motif ~ See it => here

4/30/2016
Part IX Finishing ~ See it => here

Are you In ?

Joining in the Quilt Along?
Leave a comment below to get officially "Signed-Up"
Share with your friends!!

This Quilt Along is free -- and pretty informal -- so let's just have fun!!

Questions -- leave them below but be sure to include an email address or check back for a response.

Happy New Year!

Updated: May 13th 2016 11:10PM EST

89 comments:

  1. I am ready to learn!! This is my New Year's resolution: to finally conquer FMQ!! Thank you so much for this free class! Happy New Year!

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    1. Woohoo!! Happy New Year! I'm so happy that you're joining us Patti! I don't have an email address associated with your comment so I do hope you see this reponse. If you would like to give me your email address feel free to send me at redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com... Welcome !!

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  2. Thanks for the free FMQ class. Happy New Year. mahoney_56@hotmail.com

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  3. Im in just going to call around here tomorrow for that panel. Thanks for doing this for us

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    1. Deb -- fantastic! Let me know how you make out. If you can't find it locally you can checkout the Supplies page (link above) for a couple of shops that have it. So glad you're joining us. Also I don't have an email address associated with your comment so I do hope you see this response. If you would like to provide your email address feel free to send it to me at redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com... Welcome !!

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    1. Yippee! So glad you can join in Teri. We'll learn a little and stitch a lot!! BTW: I don't have an email address associated with your comment so I do hope you see this response. If you would like to provide your email address feel free to send it to me at redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com... Welcome !!

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    1. Yay! Sew exciting. I can't wait to get started. Melinda -- you too are missing an email address when I see your comment. I hope you can see my reply. Feel free to send your email along or we can communicate via comments. Thanks and Welcome!! redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

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  6. In! This is excellent timing for me! Looking forward to it !

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    1. Colleen -- that is fantastic. I'm so glad it works out for you. Welcome... BTW: See above comments, I can't see your email address either so I'm not sure if you're seeing my responses.
      :(

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  7. Count me in! I even need to do a Girl's Growth chart !!!

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    1. Yay Rhonda! That is fantastic news. Did you check out the other SusyBee Growth Charts.. there are several that are just darling for a girl. Welcome aboard -- we'll have a blast and learn lots... BTW: See above comments - I can't see your email address either so I'm hoping you get this response. Cheers!

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    1. Woohoo! That is fantastic Rebecca. I'm thrilled you can join in. Welcome.

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    1. Yippee... I'm glad you're joining in "Unknown". I'm sorry I can't see your email address either - I hope you get this response.

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  10. All of us at Creekside Fabrics are all ready to help out in any way we can! Have fun, Karen is the best!!! Enjoy your free motion quilting adventure. Great way to start 2016.

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    1. Thank you Sandy -- we're excited to get going and really appreciate your sponsorship!! Thank you again.

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  12. I do not need a growth chart but will be waiting for another session for your free motion quilting. I can't wait.

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    1. Ah darn Susie -- I do hope to do more sessions in the future, they are such fun. If you change your mind we'll be here quilting away. Thanks for your support!

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  13. Always ready to learn to improve my FMQ skills! I may use a panel that I have in my stash-will just try to adapt your lessons to my panel. Thank you for offering this series!

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    1. Thanks for joining in Jen -- we'll have fun and hopefully learn a tip or two ;) Darn, no email address for you either. See comments above.

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  14. I would like to join the FMO Quilt along with you.
    pwpatti@bellsouth.net

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    1. Oh I'm so excited. Thanks for joining in Patty - and also thanks for the email. Welcome!!!

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  15. I'm looking forward to learning more about fmq.

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    1. Nona -- that is fantastic. I'm so glad you can join us - Welcome! BTW: I don't see any email address associated with your account so I do hope you get this reply. If you would like to send me one feel free to email redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

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  16. I would love to learn how to do FMQ--never tried it before. I will not use the panel but will try following your instructions anyway. Thank you for the opportunity to learn this technique.

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    1. Yvonne -- you are very welcome. I look forward to you joining in. Welcome!!

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  17. I am ready to learn FMQ,this is an awesome opportunity to do it.I will not use a pannel,I have smalls blocks to play along.Thanks!!

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    1. Welcome Rose -- so glad you want to join in. Small blocks are fine -- anything you can do to practice and learn is great! Welcome.

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  18. Count me in! Sounds like fun and maybe this will be the year I actually learn how to do this!

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    1. Yippee!! I'm excited you can join us Fran. Stay tuned here to the blog for more information -- welcome aboard!!

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  19. I wanna play too!!! I been practicing what ya taught me already and got my 7700 humming Karen!!!

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    1. Woohoo! Thank you Tracie - I'm so excited you'll join us. Don't you just love to FMQ. Let's get a little more under our belts. We'll have fun!

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    1. Woohoo! THat is fantastic Michelle -- welcome aboard! In the post above there is a link to the "Supplies" page. If you can't find the panel locally then two of our sponsors have it available for purchase. Let me know how you make out. So exciting... Let's Quilt!

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    2. so excited, received my kit, do I put it together before the class starts or will we be piecing it during class?

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  21. I've done some FMQ, but I'm not very comfortable yet. Plan to join in on the fun!!

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  22. Count me in thank Karen. Looking forward to getting involved. I have ordered the panel - it has to make its way to Australia so hope it wont take toooo long. My email is jong2505@hotmail.com

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  23. I am so excited! I am going to join in too! Thanks, Karen

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  24. Sign me up! Misskrista23@gmail.com

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  25. I just order my panel. Sounds like fun!! judytheriot@hotmail.com

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  26. Please sign me up! Mindymfox@gmail.com

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  27. I will be following along, not sure if with a panel or with something else. Looking forward to learning something new.

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  28. I am excited to start this project & learn.

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  29. Yeah, got my kit in the mail today! Do I need to trim the panel and put e borders on, to be ready, or will we be doing that later?
    Jackie Brandt@ rrc2@aol.com

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  30. I'm so excited! I have a couple panels of this already and I started to quilt one using the walking foot (which is really hard! =D ), so I'm super excited to try with FMQ with other people!

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  31. I must have entered my comment elsewhere ?
    I'd like to be signed on for the Lewe's Quilt Along ��

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  32. I'm in! Just ordered my kit today. 7andersont@gmail.com

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  33. I am excited! And I have a baby shower coming in April.

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  35. I'm so excited. Dbrightwell1960@gmail.com

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  36. I am so excited to join the quilt along!
    marcybirch@gmail.com

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  37. I'm signing on to the quilt along. I've ordered my kit and hope it arrives fast. I've submitted to the blog and I'm a member of Free Motion Quilting Frenzy. I prefer not to post my email here. Thank you. Karen Connelly

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  38. I'm in! Def need to up my FMQ skills, and I have a large throat fast-stitch machine so no excuses. But I can't do the panel because 1) NY's resolution to reduce stash, and 2) no little ones to gift. But I have several panels on hand that will work well. Thank you! Brand new follower here arriving from a FB post by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.

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  39. Looking forward to learning more

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  40. I would like to follow along and learn more tips, have some UFO's under my needle now. Landed here from Quiltville, glad I did. Love your flange binding tutorial.gmiller46@msn.com

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  41. So excited to stumble across your site from pinterest. I'm going to start rounding up supplies right away. Thank you for the fun! nadinevining@yahoo.com

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  42. Granddaughter #4 was born 1/4/16, grandbaby #5 coming 2/9/16. Quilt panels are ready and so am I.....hopefully. :)

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  43. In! Going e-shopping now for my supplies!

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  44. What's one more project to start the year! Count me in!

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  45. Sign me up, please. A baby boy was added to our family tree. I'm anxious; FMQ always takes me the longest. How many sessions on this QAL? I've signed up for your newsletter. Thanks.

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  46. Count me in am anxious to learn more. Just learned how to free motion last summer and have enjoyed all that I learned. READY SET GO

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  48. I'm in! Working on my FMQ skills is one of my goals for the year, perfect timing. rabbitcreekquilter at hotmail dot com

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  49. I am really looking forward to this! I ordered my panel and can't wait to get started!

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  50. Hi, I joined, but did not leave a comment. My daughter said to leave a comment/ I would love to take your class also, It sounds like fun, I have take a class before but it has been awhile. snsnell@sbcglobal.net Norma

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  51. Let the learning begin!!!!
    debw@coolt56.com

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  52. DiDi and I are in. Waiting to hear about Jane before I get the supplies. When does this start?
    Jody

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  53. Karen I am joining even though you already started. I have the supplies coming and should easily get caught up. I am joining with Jody above. My email address is svuav@hotmail.com

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  54. Hi...Getting a late start but have ordered panel and coordinating fabric for borders and backing (I didn't see that you were using the lamb-allover print until today and I bought the same green dot as the large border)....and tracking says they'll be here today! Yippee....I'm always looking to improve my fmq skills. I have a longarm machine but am still more comfortable using my domestic sewing machine. I look forward to joining you and everyone else here.

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  55. Karen, is it too late to join the FMQ quilt-a-long?

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  56. I joined very late, but am having a great time. Had to search around for all the pieces and parts and was successful. I just watched the last post and will be able to finish with you. You are a great teacher Karen. Thank you.

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  57. I joined very late, but am having a great time. Had to search around for all the pieces and parts and was successful. I just watched the last post and will be able to finish with you. You are a great teacher Karen. Thank you.

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  58. I am entering very late also but excited to start this, as soon as I get the panel. Hoping the next one i will be onetime with everyone else.. thanks

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  59. I'm *super* late in finding this - but, I am just now learning about FMQing and looking around 'the net' for help. I ordered a panel and will proceed when it gets here... I never thought about using a panel, so, I'm excited to try this!

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  60. Hi looks like a lot of fun...I am from Canada and wondering where to purchase this panel? Thanks.

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