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