2019 Free Motion QAL: Final Call for Giveaway Entries

Greetings fellow quilters - We did it!  

We've completed the 2019 Free Motion Quilt Along -- Congratulations!

Now it's all about getting your entries emailed to me or Wendy so can award the prizes!

I'd like to apologize for neglecting to share the new deadline date of May 3rd with you last week.

Thankfully my quilty partner, Wendy,  shared the new date on her blog.

If you were worried you missed the deadline rest assured you still have 48 hours to wrap up and email Wendy or I at least 2 pictures of your quilted panel.  

If you're not quite done -- it's ok -- submit what you have - we'll call it close enough.

So again, email an image of your quilt to redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com.

-OR-

If you have Wendy's address you're welcome to email her as well.

We'll compile a hat full of entries and draw some winners over the weekend.

When you email your entry be sure to indicate if it's OK to share a picture of your quilt in an upcoming blog post or on Facebook.   I'd love to share your creations with others. 

The entries I've seen to-date are fabulous!

Congratulations everyone!

Quilt Along Recap:

Jan 7:  Announcement Post  ✅

Jan 21:  Setup, Planning, Basting ✅

Jan 28:  Stabilization Quilting or Catch Up ✅

Feb 4:  Inside Center Panel ✅

Feb 11: Progress Pics ✅

Feb 25:  Top and Bottom Rectangles ✅

March 4: Top & Bottom Squares  ✅

March 11: Left & Right Panels  ✅
March 18: Narrow Sashing Swirls ✅
April 1: Fast Feather Border ✅
April 8: Binding, Sleeve & Label  ✅

That's a wrap...

We look forward to seeing your results.

Be sure to email redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com by end of day May 3rd to be eligible for the Giveaway drawings.

***

Have you visited our sponsors ?

Be sure to jump out to
Facebook or Instagram
and give them a "Like" or a Follow.

World of Susybee Facebook

Aurifil Facebook or Instagram

Quilters Dream Batting Facebook or Instagram

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We wouldn't have great products or giveaways without our Sponsors! 

You can checkout the Giveaway Post

here ==> QAL Giveaway

If you have any questions, please leave them below -- I'll respond as soon as I can.

Happy Stitching!

Karen

*************

Learn more about how to use various thread weights in these Facebook Live Sessions

hosted by Aurifil at International Quilt Market: 

Redbird Quilt Co Mini Trunk Show

Redbird Quilt Co Fast Feather Demonstration

***

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Join my FMQ Frenzy Community Group on Facebook.

See my other Moda Bake Shop Recipes

Click here to see my upcoming events.

*

***  Guilds, Groups and Shops ***

I'm booking Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops
for 2020 and beyond!

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Free Motion Quilting on Home Machines
Basics ~ A Quilters Doodles ~ McTavishing
A Full Day of Feathers
*
Aurifilosophy
*
Wool & Needle turn Applique
Technique or Project Oriented Workshops available.

Click here to see my upcoming events.
*

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

Note:  The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website.  I may be compensated for purchases made using the links.  Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself.  Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

A Bit of Subtle and a Giveaway to Lift your Seasonal Blues

Welcome - welcome Quilty Friends!

I'm excited to guest post on the
Aurifil Blog today sharing
a free project & tutorial:

~ The Subtle Tree ~
an 11" x 13" mini quilt.

The Subtle Tree is an exercise in thread painting, machine applique, and free motion quilting on a home sewing machine using my debut Aurifil Designer thread collection,

The Subtle Sampler.

Summer Heat or Winter Blues
have you down ?

The Subtle Tree can be stitched in a weekend and will brighten most any decor.

The tutorial video (below) will take you through the steps necessary to
make YOUR OWN
Subtle Tree.

Be sure to click to the Aurifil Blog and
download the Supply List,
watch the video tutorial (below),
pickup The Subtle Sampler
at your favorite shop,
and get making your own
Subtle Tree.

YouTube Video Tutorial -- Click image below 

It was so much fun to create
The Subtle Tree
I think we should have
a Subtle Tree for Spring too!
Are you in ?

I'm giving away a Subtle Tree kit including:

1. V and Co's Mint Ombre by Moda

2. The Subtle Sampler thread collection
3. A slice of Dream Fusion by Quilters Dream
4. AND a bit of muslin.

*

To get in on the Kit Giveaway, leave a comment with your feedback on the project.

I've never done a video tutorial quite like this one.  

Did you like it ?   

How would you improve upon it ? 

Any other constructive comments appreciated... 

*

Be sure to leave an email address so I can reach you when you WIN!! 

For extra entries you can:

Like, Comment or Share any or all of the following:

*

The Subtle Tree announcement on my

Blog, Facebook or Instagram

*

The Subtle Tree announcement on

  Aurifil's Blog, Facebook or Instagram

*

or The Subtle Tree YouTube Video.

*

For each entry leave a comment on this post. 

Entries will close Monday, January 29th at Midnight EST

Good luck!

Thank YOU for joining in the fun.

Good luck and Happy Stitching!

*

Karen

PS -- Special thanks to sissy Janet for the photo-stop.... Her cottage is sweet! 

Handy Links for The Subtle Tree

Supply List ~  Video Tutorial ~ Aurifil Blog Announcement

The Subtle Sampler - Dreams Really Do Come True

...and I couldn't be more excited. 

I've been using and bragging about my love of Aurifil thread for nearly 5 YEARS!  

One project after another has been successfully pieced, appliqued, and machine quilted using this amazingly strong, colorful and versatile thread.

Remember these sweet little bird pillows? 

They were one of my earliest projects using Aurifil thread. (July, 2013)

On suggestion from my dear quilty mentor Wendy Sheppard, I used Aurifil 50wt to quilt the pillows on my home machine, McTavish style.   

That's all it took -- they turned out wonderfully and I was SOLD on Aurifil.

Learn more by clicking here.

Here we are 5 years and 40 or 50 Aurifil quilts later and I've been given the opportunity to curate my very own Aurifil thread collection!
Thank you Aurifil...

Meet
The Subtle Sampler
 by Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co.
for Aurifil

 The Subtle Sampler is comprised of 4 different weights of luscious Aurifil Mako Cotton thread (50, 40, 28, & 12), PLUS 2 spools of Nylon Monofilament thread.

Oh so YUMMY!

The collection provides a wide variety of color and weight choices for all your quilting pleasures.

The 50Wt thread is perfect for your bobbin; matter of fact, I choose color #2312 because it's a perfect neutral tone, and when used in the bobbin, will complement a number of different top thread colors.

50Wt #2312 is also great for a variety of hand applique techniques.  It blends perfectly with neutral backgrounds and melts right into earthen tone applique pieces.

Simply Spring Fleur by Karen L. Miller Redbird Quilt Co - Fabric by BariJ - Millie Fleur for Art Gallery Fabrics

My other 50Wt color choice was #2000 --- Oh to use this color and weight on muslin colored fabric is like heaven.  It's my go-to color for background quilting many of my wool pieces.

Wooly Wren by Karen L. Miller ~ Redbird Quilt Co

While we're talking about wool applique -- the 12Wt thread in the collection is PERFECT for wool applique and big stitch quilting.  Selecting subtle colors (#6722, #6723) allows them to be used in a variety of projects.   Stay tuned for some fun project shares with these colors.

On the image below I had fun making the flower embellishments by crocheting with Aurifil 12Wt thread:

Simply Spring Fleur by Karen L. Miller Redbird Quilt Co - Fabric by BariJ - Millie Fleur for Art Gallery Fabrics

The remaining colors in 40 and 28Wt threads are fun and I think you'll find them quite versatile!  Several of the colors were used in the whimsical World of Susybee panels that I quilt.  

Zoe the Giraffe uses 40Wt Color #5017 and #5006.
It also uses 28Wt Color #2130 and #2880.

The 40Wt and 28Wt threads are perfect when you want the thread to take center stage.  They're heavy enough machine quilt with them - and soft and pliable so that hand work is fun too!

I couldn't be more excited about this collection.

Stay tuned as I share more information, inspiration and tutorials using The Subtle Sampler.

Below you'll find a helpful reference sheet for The Subtle Sampler.
I've outlined a variety of uses for each weight of thread, needle sizes, bobbin weights and tension adjustments.
I hope you find it handy to have in your Quilty toolkit.
You can download and print the PDF from here.

Would you like to purchase The Subtle Sampler?  

Look for it in your local quilt shop -- ask for it by name, and I'm sure they'll order it for you. 

In the meantime I too can sell the collection.  If you can't find it locally, feel free to email me for more information.

Lastly -- The Giveaway!!

We're giving away The Subtle Sampler Collection and A Quilter's Doodles Coloring/Inspiration book!

To enter:

Leave a comment on this blog post telling me what weights of Aurifil you've used in past projects. 
* 

Entries will be accepted now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Saturday, November 4! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Monday, November 6. Good luck!

Also -- be sure to jump over to the Official Aurifil Announcement Post to get in on their giveaway of The Subtle Sampler!

Thank you all so much for the visit and I wish you best of luck in the giveaways!

Happy Quilting!

Karen

Learn more about how to use various thread weights in these Facebook Live Sessions

hosted by Aurifil at International Quilt Market: 

Redbird Quilt Co Mini Trunk Show

Redbird Quilt Co Fast Feather Demonstration

***

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Facebook my FMQ Frenzy Community Group

See my other Moda Bake Shop Recipes

Click here to see my upcoming events.
*

***  Guilds, Groups and Shops ***

I'm booking Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops
for the 2nd half of 2018 & all of 2019

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Free Motion Quilting on Home Machines
Basics ~ A Quilters Doodles ~ McTavishing
A Full Day of Feathers
Ruler & Template Work
*
Wool & Needle turn Applique
Technique or Project Oriented Workshops available.

Click here to see my upcoming events.
*

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

Note:  The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website.  I may be compensated for purchases made using the links.  Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself.  Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

Watch it Live!! A Quilter's Doodles

Hey everyone -- I'm here in St. Louis, Missouri at International Quilt Market -- I hope you're tuning into the amazing quilts and creations I've been sharing on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

Today I'm going to be chatting with the Aurifil team on Facebook Live -- we'll discuss and I'll demo A Quilter's Doodles -- free motion creations stitched on a home machine using Aurifil 28Wt thread.

Watch the video here:  A Quilter's Doodles Quilt -- Details!

This sweet piece was prepared on Moda Grunge fabric with a layer each of Dream Wool and Dream Blend (Thank you Moda Fabrics and Quilters Dream Batting).    I also used my favorite needle, the Superior Top Stitch needle.

Be sure to tune into the Aurifil Facebook page at 11:30am Central to ask questions or just get a quick laugh as I work my way through the experience.

Watch the video here:  A Quilter's Doodles Quilt -- Details!

Happy Quilting!

Karen

Let's Quilt It - A Valentine and Giveaway For You!

Greetings quilty friends...

I'm excited to share a Free Motion Quilting
recipe on the Moda Bake Shop today.
*
We start with a little
💕 Moda Grunge & French General fabric...💕
layer with Dream Wool batting
add in my favorite Aurifil thread
and walk through the steps necessary
to free motion quilt
pebbles, echos, feathers & matchsticks

using a HOME machine!!

*

So... if you need a quick gift for a friend...

Or to dress-up a table display,

Be sure to visit the Moda Bake Shop and
learn how to create and quilt
this sweet 11" mini.

*

It will get YOUR creative stitches hopping!

Ready to improve your

Free Motion Quilting Skills?

Join my Newsletter for a free FMQ Pumpkin Template.

Join the Redbird Quilt Co. Newsletter.

_______________________________________________

The design and quilting is very versatile so you might consider the following
finishing options:

1.  Forget the applique and prepare a mini whole-cloth.

Quilted on Moda Muslin with Aurifil 40Wt thread - Dream Wool batting

In the sample above I used my QP Edge Template by my dear friend Linda Hrcka ~ The Quilted Pineapple and added a double-line cross hatch in the center.
Sew FUN!!!

2. Make it larger by duplicating the design for a 4 patch!!

Image via PhotoBooth for Instagram 

The hearts look fabulous oriented in either direction.

Image via PhotoBooth for Instagram 

3.  Consider adding sashing to the middle of a 4 patch... so pretty!

Image via PhotoBooth for Instagram 

 4. Or surround the blocks with setting triangles...

Image via PhotoBooth for Instagram 

Just a few of the things you can do to turn the mini into a real quilt.

Be sure to jump to the Moda Bake Shop post for the quilting details
and return here to enter:

A Kit Giveaway!
Giveaway CLOSED

That's right!!
I've packaged up
Moda Grunge & French General fabric
and my dear friends at

tossed in the exact colors of Aurifil 40Wt and 50Wt thread that I used to make the sample.
💖
Moda Fabric +
4 Large Spools of Aurifil
Oh MY!!!

You will LOVE working with this fabric and thread...

To get in on the giveaway
I need a little feedback....

Leave a comment below or on the
Moda Bake Shop tutorial...
describing what you like best about it.
Is it the images, the advice, the project, learning a new Free Motion motif ?

For an extra (optional) entry -- share this blog post or the Moda Bake Shop tutorial with your friends on social media and leave a comment letting me know you did.

Need one more (optional) chance to win ?
If you're on Facebook -- be sure to "Like" Redbird Quilt Co,  Moda Bake Shop and Aurifil Thread for another optional entry.  Leave another comment here letting me know you did.

Giveaway Entries Open through Midnight EST Feb 27th
 💕  Sister Janet's Birthday!!  💕

Updated 27-Feb-2017
I've uploaded 2 YouTube videos for "Let's Quilt It... A Valentine for You!"
Click the images below for Part 1 and Part 2 respectively.

Also -- stay tuned as I've recorded a YouTube video of my stitching the sampler.
As soon as it's uploaded I'll include the direct link here.

Comedy and quilting go hand-in-hand

Updated 5-Mar-2017
Click the image below to download the Heart Template from Google Drive:

Thanks for your continued support!

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Facebook my FMQ Frenzy Community Group

See my other Tutorials

***  Guilds, Groups and Shops ***

I'm booking Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops for 2018 & 2019

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Free Motion Quilting on Home Machines
Basics ~ A Quilters Doodles ~ McTavishing
A Full Day of Feathers
Ruler & Template Work
*
Wool & Needle turn Applique
Technique or Project Oriented Workshops available.

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

Note:  The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website.  I may be compensated for purchases made using the links.  Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself.  Many thanks for your support of my very small business.

Winners and More Winter Bliss Details

Many thanks to all that participated in the first ever Redbird Quilt Co Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale and Thank You for your continued support and encouragement.    

*

I'm excited to announce 3 winners (Blog, Instagram and Facebook) of the Really Mini Redbird and Berries Wool Quilt Kits

*

....Before I share the quilt kit winners I thought I'd share a few "process" pics and information about my recent "Winter Bliss" finish.   

My Version of Winter Bliss -- Original Design by Pat Sloan

Winter Bliss is a pattern by Pat Sloan and can be found in Pat's latest book
"Teach Me To Machine Quilt"

*

a comprehensive and wonderfully detailed book focused on making new quilters comfortable with the process of quilting through 3 layers of fabric.

*

You can read my
Book Tour Review in this post.
and 40 other Book Tour posts using this index page.

*

Winter Bliss finishes appx 25" x 28" and is a wonderful addition to any winter decor.

Created with Blackbird Designs Autumn Lily cotton fabric (for Moda) on the borders and

Primitive Gatherings Muslin Flannel for the background.

I used wool from my stash including Primitive Gatherings wool and a variety of others I've collected over the years.

*

I followed Pat's pattern to prepare the quilt top after hand stitching the snowman to the background fabric.

Also following the pattern, I cut all of the applique pieces from wool and hand stitched them to the quilt background using my favorite Aurifil 12Wt thread

On the snowman and the holly leaves I used a blanket stitch.

*

On the berries, birds, poinsettia leaves and stems I used an overhand or whip stitch.

This stitch moves along much faster than a blanket stitch and still looks beautiful.

I added a few fancy stitches to top off the poinsettia center -- that was fun!

Once the applique was stitched down I layered the quilt top with Quilters Dream - Dream Orient batting and pin basted.

*

Again following Pat's amazingly detailed and thorough book, I put a new needed in my Janome 7700 and got busy quilting.

You can see my quilting setup in this post.

*

I stitched around the wool applique with my trusty FMQ Echo Foot and using Aurifil 40Wt thread in the top and 50 wt in the bobbin.

This foot is so handy when stitching around wool.  

Because the foot is slightly curved it gently rides up over the edge of the wool applique, allowing you to stitch just outside of the edge. 

An open toed foot would catch on the stitches and other rounded feet would keep you from getting close to the applique.

*

This foot is perfect.

*

Once I outlined all the applique (per Pat's suggestion in Teach Me To Machine Quilt) I decided to top stitch border 1 using Aurifil 12 Wt thread and a walking foot. 

*

I always love how that looks:

Now back to quilting... time to get the background and the snowman quilted:

 I used Aurifil 40Wt thread for most of the quilting.  It gives such beautiful texture.

Around the outside border I quilted a simple teardrop / paisley with loops.
The fabric is too busy to see much of the quilting.
When you're quilting busy fabrics though, take the opportunity to be creative with your practice as mistakes will go unseen ;)
*

When I got to the corner blocks I tried out Free Motion Straight Line quilting per Pat's Book.

Simple, fun, effective...

*
Done quilting, I squared up the quilt top, cut a 2" binding on the bias and attached it to the quilt top with my favorite mitered finish tutorial by Lisa Bongean for the Fat Quarter Shop.
Thank you Lisa and Kimberly.

You can see my mitered, flanged, machine binding variation of this tutorial here.

*

Quilt Top Complete...

Sew much fun!

I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about the Winter Bliss prep and quilting.  It's a fun project that can be displayed for months during the winter.  I would love to see any project you create from Pat's new book -- Teach Me to Machine Quilt.

*

And now for the winners of the

Really Mini Redbird and Berries Wool Kits

complete with Background Grunge Fabric, Wool Pieces, Aurifil 12Wt thread and Layout Diagram

*

On Facebook the Winner is:

On Instagram the Winner is:

And on the Blog the Winner is:

 Congratulations everyone -- if you've not already sent me your addresses please do --- I can't wait to get your kits in the mail.

Many thanks again to all that participated in the Sale and Giveaway.

Happy Quilting!!

I'm booking Redbird Quilt Co. Lectures, Trunk Shows and Workshops for 2017 & 2018

If your Shop, Group or Guild is looking for programs or workshops I would love to hear from you.

Domestic Machine Quilting,  Wool & Needle turn Applique - Technique or Project oriented workshops are available.

Send email inquiries to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com

or redbirdquiltco at gmail dot com

*

Have a blessed week all and many thanks for your continued support!

YOU Make my World a Happy Place!

*

Follow me on social media:

Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube

Facebook my FMQ Frenzy Community Group

My other Moda Bake Shop Recipes

Note:  The FTC requires that I tell you.... I occasionally use affiliate links on my blog and website.  I may be compensated for purchases made using the links.  Rest assured I will only share sales and promotions for products I know and love myself.  Many thanks for your support of my very small business.