Celebrate National Sewing Month and Align Your Free Motion Quilting Stars

Greeting fellow quilters
I'm thrilled you've stopped by!
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Let's Celebrate National Sewing Month!
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As part of the celebration, I'm excited to share a new recipe with you
on Moda Bake Shop

 - also -
we've got a great Giveaway &
some special Free Motion Quilting deals
at the end of this post.
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First... on Moda Bake Shop
you'll find my very own
Bake Shop Basics for
Free Motion Quilting
on a home machine.
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The Recipe is full of tips, tricks, and

troubleshooting ideas to help

YOU

Align Your Free Motion Quilting Stars!

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If you've attended any of my

Workshops or Trunk Shows 

some of the ideas may sound familiar.

I hope you find them helpful.

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Sharing is a great way to celebrate

National Sewing Month!!

Do hop on over and check it out...

I would love your feedback.

Later this month we'll meet again at Moda Bake Shop to quilt something together.  

Won't that be fun?

In the meantime, here are a few tidbits of information about one of the cute projects shown on the MBS post.
Let's call it "Pretty in Pink - Grunge"

Pretty in Pink - Grunge

I use this petite whole cloth quilt as a sample for teaching
free motion Feathers and
free motion Rulers and Templates
on domestic machines.
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It's really rewarding to play and create fun new samples!
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The Details...

Moda Grunge Fabric

(my favorite - isn't it beautiful!)

Aurifl 40Wt cotton thread on top

Aurifil 50Wt in the bobbin

Brand New 80/12 top stitch needle

Quilters Dream Wool (2 layers) 

The QP Curve Templates

The QP Edge Templates

(by Linda Hrcka of The Quilted Pineapple)

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Did someone mention a Giveaway?

The Process - An Overview

Showing The QP Curve Template & Janome Ruler Foot

Pretty in Pink - Grunge was created using acrylic templates to guide a special free motion quilting foot on my domestic machine.  

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If you've not tried quilting with templates or rulers, you're missing out on a great creative avenue.  

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Consider learning the basics of ruler work by taking a class at your local shop, viewing online *free* YouTube clips and/or jumping on-board with a Crafsty class or two (see suggestions below).  

In this piece I used Aurifil 40Wt thread to add a bit of jazz to the quilting stitches.

The curved crosshatching and diamond shape were quilted using

The QP Curve Templates

by Linda Hrcka of

The Quilted Pineapple.

Sew Fun!!

The outside swag was quilted using two sizes of QP Curve Templates

Oh! and I love the beadboard border.

It was stitched free motion using The QP Edge Templates -- there are 3 sizes of straight rulers.

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I adore the look of beadboard

(on a wall or a quilt).

The inside of the quilt is finished off with Fast Feathers... 

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I so enjoy stitching these lightly spaced feathers and tendrils inspired by Bethanne Nemesh -- a variation of "Nemeshing".

See Bethanne's amazing creations by clicking here.

Fast feathers are quick background fill that look really classy...   

and don't take all day to quilt out.   

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Do let me know if a quick tutorial on this would be helpful.

Now for some fun...

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My com padre and friend Linda Hrcka 

Karen & Linda at AQS Syracuse July 2016

graciously provided a full set of QP Edge Templates 

The QP Edge Set -- Oh you will LOVE THEM!

to give away to one lucky reader.

(A $75 dollar value).

To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment telling me which project you like best on the Moda Bake Shop Basics post.

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I shared several projects that were quilted on my home machine.

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For an extra entry, share my blog post on any social media platform.  

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After, be sure to return and leave a 2nd comment for a 2nd chance to win

The QP Edge Templates.

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I'll announce a winner on or around Sept 25th.

Also -- for National Sewing Month,

 I've handpicked 4 Craftsy Classes 

and acquired a 50% discount code

good through Sept 24th.

Quilting with Rulers - Great class for beginners. 

You can read my review here.

Creative Quilting with Rulers...

More ruler work -- OK!!

I'm taking this one now -- woohoo!

 Machine Quilting Negative Space

Oh I loved this class too!!  

Angela makes beautiful background fill.

 Wild Quilting

The creative energy that Christina shares will knock your socks off!!

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Be sure to use my affiliate link to get the 50% discount now through Sept 25th.

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Jump over, read the reviews, check out the trailers and get on-board with one of these great classes.

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Of course, if you have the opportunity to take a class in your local shop or at a show -- I ALWAYS recommend doing that first or in-addition-to an online course.   

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Being face-to-face with a skilled educator is a great way to learn ;) 

Time to run... But before I go

1. Checkout the Moda Bake Shop post

2.  Enter for the QP Edge Giveaway by leaving a comment below

3. Review my hand picked online classes to improve your FMQ Skills

I leave you with Pretty in Pink - Grunge on the dock of Keuka Lake.

We love living in the Finger Lakes Region of NY -- If you're ever in the area, do give me a shout.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Keep on Stitching! 

Karen

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

Learn FMQ Basics via text and video on my free 2016 Free Motion Quilt Along

Free Motion Feather Sampler and Aurifil Giveaway Winner

Hi fellow quilters...
thanks for stopping by!    

Before we announce the winner of the Aurifil thread (so exciting) I wanted to share a neat new Free Motion Feather sampler that I quilted on my domestic machine this week.
(Of course I used Aurifil thread ;)

The center motif was inspired by an Instagram post from Mary of Addicted to Fabric a few weeks ago.  

After a little doodling on paper and fabric we unearthed the appropriately named "Feather Galaxy" motif.  It's sew fun to stitch.

...Below is the back of one of my first attempts to actually stitch it out...   

Have I mentioned how much I love using Aurifil 50Wt Mako Cotton Thread for lint free - break free dense machine quilting ?   NO ?

You've gotta Love that thread!!

Happily, this sweet motif will be included in upcoming FMQ Feather Workshops being held at Quilter's Corner Ithaca, NY later this summer.  You can keep up on my class, lecture and workshop dates on my Facebook events page by clicking here. 

A Workshop Sampler was in order.

I started with a selection of the beautiful Grunge Fabric by BASICGREY for Moda.   

Oh how I LOVE Grunge - Those Colors!!
Just fabulous...  

If you haven't checked out Grunge you really should... I know you can find some online here.  Be careful - it's addicting!

  Oh! Don't forget to add the 12Wt and 50Wt Aurifil threads (Insert Happy Dance Here !)

 I pieced a little 23" x 25" sample, starting with a 10" x 12" center, adding a 2.5" sashing and a 5" border.  Very quick and simple (you know me and piecing - I would rather NOT ;)   

Add two layers of Quilter's Dream 100% Dream Wool and pin baste to prepare to quilt on a Janome Horizon.

To start I used a walking foot and Aurifil 50Wt #2805 thread to Stitch in the Ditch - it stabilizes for quilting.

After Stitching in Ditch, I used a 90/14 Needle, 12Wt Aurifil #5005 to top stitch a 1/4" around the seams.  Oh you've got to LOVE the texture and sheen the 12Wt thread adds to the piece...

I used 50Wt in the bobbin when top stitching with the 12Wt thread.  It's important to use that 90/14 needle though.

Next, the center panel was quilted using the "Feather Galaxy" motif (diagram below) and adding a neat swirl/feather vine in the sashing.   I kinda made it up -- but I love the way it stitched out.

Here's a finish / close-up of the feather vine and the lovely top stitching... Swoon!  After I finished quilting I decided to add that extra line of top stitching with 12Wt Aurifil in Color #1147    I really liked the way it framed the center.

On the outer border I did a gentle wave bump-back feather - it's always good to practice those feathers!!  They come out differently each time.   Next time I think a little Amish Swirl is in order!

If you're interested in quilting the "Feather Galaxy" motif, here is the step by step diagram I prepared to walk you through it:

Personally, I love to practice with pencil and paper before putting it on fabric.  When I do quilt,  I create small table runners or place-mats with my practice pieces.

If you need a good laugh  - checkout the quick YouTube video recorded right after the Facebook  Free Motion Quilting Frenzy group started stitching this motif.  My friend Doreen from TreadleMusic Blog was the first to stitch it once the diagram was out -- and me next.  Click the image below to watch on YouTube - don't laugh!!

Because I finished the binding while sitting in my car, I don't have an actual finished image (oops) -- but do have these two I took before leaving home:

In the image below the binding is only pinned - still love the way it came out.

I hope you enjoyed the FMQ Feathers Sampler and Feather Galaxy Motif.  If you're in the area I'll be sharing Feathers I and II at Quilters Corner in August -- do get signed up!  We'll have some fun!

Now onto our Aurifil Thread winner from the Sew We Stitch Blog Hop

This beautiful designer Thread Collection is being provided by Aurifil and includes 12 large spools of 12Wt Mako Cotton thread.  This weight works perfectly for machine top stitching (above) and for all sorts of hand work -- from wool applique, to cross stitch, to beautiful embellishments.

There were 258 entries on the Sew We Stitch - Meet and Greet post and Mr. Random.Org selected comment number 55!!  Lucky 55!

Congratulations go out to Kathryn -- what a coincidence that Kathryn went to college in Ithaca years back!!   Kathryn, I've sent you an email  - I look forward to hearing from you!

Many thanks again to Aurifil thread for their generosity.
What a wonderful bunch of individuals and a fantastic team at Aurifil.
On my bucket list at Spring Market is to finally meet the folks that create this awesome thread!

I leave you with an image of our granddaughter Angelina - just after finishing the piecing on her very first quilt.  She choose grunge for her main blocks and setting triangles - is that cool or what ?   This quilt will be showing locally next month at the Common Threads Guild Show in Endicott, NY.  Do stop by if you're in the area!   So proud of Angelina.

Oh, and if you're interested there is one open Giveaway on my blog through end of day April 4th -- you can see it here.

Have a blessed weekend all,
Karen