2016 Free Motion Quilt Along - Enter the Giveaway

Greetings Fellow Quilters!
&
Welcome to the
Final Installment
of the

2016 Redbird Quilt Co.

Free Motion Quilt Along

using the whimsical 

Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart
by the World of Susybee

artist Susy Bleasby

It's time to enter an image of your Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart
(even if it's not completed)
to be eligible for the random drawings for Quilt Along Prizes!!

If you're just joining us be sure to checkout the previously published

Free Motion Quilt Along Posts:

Introduction => here

Sponsors =>  here

Supplies =>  here
Part I Pieced Borders =>  here
Part II Pin Basting ==>  here
How to Quilt That =>  here

Part III Tools, Setup + Practice => here
Part IV Let's FMQ => here
Part V More FMQ => here
Part VI Echo, Pebbles, Loops & Swirls Oh My! => here
Part VII Landscape & Background => here
Part VIII Borders ==> here
Part IX Finishing ==> here

Many thanks to our generous sponsors for providing the following prizes:

The great folks at Aurifil 

are sending Subtle Strings -- the beautiful new designer thread collection by my favorite FMQ mentor, Wendy Sheppard.  

Subtle Strings contains 12 spools of Aurifil 50Wt thread -- they're perfect for FMQ'ing most backgrounds and negative space.  

Checkout the beautiful quilting Wendy did with this collection in this blog post -- don't miss it!

Thanks so much Aurifil for this awesome product and giveaway!

Images courtesy: www.wendysheppard.net

Next up -- the generous team from Creekside Fabrics, Quilts and Yarns in Arcade, NY.

  Creekside Fabrics is a full-service shop and an Elite Dealer for Baby Lock Machines and Products.  

Fabrics, yarns, custom quilting, long arm rental -- you'll find it all at Creekside Fabrics, Quilts and Yarns.

Sandy is providing a $25.00 Shop Certificate for the QAL Giveaway - Sew exciting! 

Thank you Sandy & Creekside Fabrics.

Next up -- the great folks at Quilter's Dream Batting - my favorite batting/waddling. 

Quilter's Dream is a USA based company and sponsor of the annual Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS

I've been using Quilter's Dream 100% Wool batting (Dream Wool) for just over a year and absolutely LOVE it.  You can read about my first encounter and see the awesome quilting results using Aurifil thread and Dream Wool batting in this blog post.

Wool batting provides for great quilting texture, drape-ability, and warmth without adding excessive  weight and with little/no bearding.

Quilter's Dream wool really does Quilt like a Dream.

The great folks at Quilters Dream Batting are providing us two products for the QAL giveaway!

A package of each Dream Wool and Dream Cotton -- Oh So Fun!!!
Thank you Quilter's Dream!

Moving right along... our next sponsor is

Cindy at Sew It Is Quilt Shop

Sew It Is Quilt Shop is a family run business based out of Endicott, NY with amazing fabric prices and long arm service too!!

  Be sure to visit SewItIs online (or in person) the next time you can't find something at YOUR local shop.

Sew It Is Quilt Shop is donating another Susybee Quilt Kit for the QAL giveaway.  

  The quilt kit will consist of a Lewe's (or Lal) Play Mat and Susybee border fabric -- Oh you will LOVE quilting Lewe or Lal !!  

Thank you Sew It Is!!

Our final sponsor is Quilty Pleasures in Geneva, NY

Quilty Pleasures is another full service shop with beautiful fabrics, classes, and long arm quilting services.  Visit their store in person or online for more information.

Quilty Pleasures is providing a $20 Shop Certificate for the QAL!

Thanks so much Quilty Pleasures!

Last, but certainly not least...  The World of Susybee is joining in the sponsorship fun!

The fine folks at World of Susybee are offering up their latest character for the Free Motion QAL giveaway!

Meet Lal the Lamb -- isn't she adorable?  Lal is a 36" panel that can be used as a floor play mat, turned into a pillow or just quilted and hung in the nursery.   

Oh I can't wait to quilt Lal!

Thank you Susy and World of Susybee!

That concludes the QAL Sponsor overview. 

To be eligible for the giveaway drawings you must "link-up" an entry from your blog, a personal Facebook post or an Instagram post.   

If you don't utilize any of these social media sources you can email a picture of your entry to me and I will enter it for you.

You have until end of day Monday, May 23rd to enter an image of your completed (or work in progress) Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart to be eligible for one of the 7 awesome prizes available.

Winners being announced on/around May 25th.

Remember, I'll be out of town this week at Quilt Market -- if you have any trouble linking up your entry please send an email to karen at redbirdquiltco dot com and I'll return your email during the week.  We'll make sure you're entered before the deadline.

I'm excited for everyone -- thanks for participating!
The Linky Entry is below the line... good luck!






Karen

More Info:

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

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

*

Social Media:

*** Follow Me ***

Did you know you can visit me on

 Facebook ~ Redbird Quilt Co

and/or

Follow Redbird Quilt Co on Instagram

I post all sorts of fun things there!!
**

If you love to Free Motion Quilt consider joining my 

Facebook Community Group

 Free Motion Quilting Frenzy

*

Plus

I share quilting related

videos on my YouTube Channel
*
I'll soon be sharing live feed TV on my Periscope

*

I'm also on Pinterest and Twitter 

and I share other tutorials and patterns on
My Tutorials on my blog
*
I have a few patterns available in my Craftsy Store
Thanks again for stopping by...

2016 Free Motion Quilt Along - Part VII Landscape & Background FMQ

Greetings Fellow Quilters!
&
Welcome to Part VII of the

2016 Redbird Quilt Co.

Free Motion Quilt Along

using the whimsical 

Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart

by Susy Bleasby

for World of Susybee

We're in the home stretch and it's sew exciting!

If you're just joining us be sure to checkout the previously published

Free Motion Quilt Along Posts:

Introduction => here

Sponsors =>  here

Supplies =>  here
Part I Pieced Borders =>  here
Part II Pin Basting ==>  here
How to Quilt That =>  here

Part III Tools, Setup + Practice => here
Part IV Let's FMQ => here
Part V More FMQ => here
Part VI Echo, Pebbles, Loops & Swirls Oh My! => here

Also, do checkout our fabulous Sponsors and their generous Giveaways....
You can read all about it  ==> here

This week we're going to get busy quilting the Lewe's Balloons Landscape (at bottom of panel) and Background.

Lets start with the Landscape quilting.
There is 1 video and a few still images (below) to check out.

On the landscape quilting....
Yes I did -- I changed my mind on the thread color .
(Isn't that a quilters prerogative ?)

In our "How to Quilt That" session I thought we would go with the Aurifil 50Wt in Creme Brulee -- but at the last tossing of the colors on the quilt top, the Aurifil 50Wt Spring Green color won!

It just spoke to me.
Does that ever happen to you ?

Of course you should always do what speaks to YOU!
It's a personal choice.

Take a few minutes and watch the YouTube video by clicking the image below:

Here are a few close up images of the landscape quilting:

This one addresses the "Ghost" quilting that I mentioned in the video

 Of course I quilted both Susybee's the same as we had before. Pebbles on the flight path and a slight echo around everything.

The landscape Susybee was a bit of a challenge.
My stitches were a little small and the quilting area was TINY.

Feel free to make bigger pebbles here - you don't have to pebble every
flight path dot.

Remember though - no stressing - we're in learning mode.

 I also tried to follow the landscape lines in this area.  it worked out pretty well.
The Spring Green color was just right.

Next up:

Lets Talk Background motif ideas and a

ways to Test Drive the motif on your quilt top.

Click the image below to watch the video:

I used my nifty Dritz Longarm Transparent Quilting roll to "test drive" a motif.

I love being able to "test drive"
a motif on the quilt top.

Unfortunately, I could not longer find the product on the market.

In its absence though you could try one of these alternatives:
Clear Vinyl Sheets
Plexi Glass
Press-n-Seal
Other...
Be sure to use a dry erase marker so you can try a variety of designs.

If you decide to go with Windy Swirls on your Quilt top, use the images below for a guide in placing them.

NOTE:  Now that my quilting is complete -- I have a few "things to consider" before your quilt your "windy swirls"

It may be easier to quilt a nice looking "windy swirl" by making them short and keeping a nice curve along the way.

Also -- consider stitching your Windy Swirl echos further apart.

I made mine a little tight and, if I were to do it again, I would make the echos a little further apart to use up a bit more of the background fabric.

Does this make sense ?

The last video of this lesson shows you how I quilted the
"Windy Swirls"

See disclaimers above on length and echo width for your Windy Swirls.

Here are still images to help you consider placement for your Windy Swirls.

As I mention in the video, use an air or water soluble pen to mark a windy swirl guide line on the fabric.  No need to mark each line in a Windy Swirl - just one should do the trick.
Also -- it's only a guide, don't let it control you.

My positioning for the Bottom left panel area:

Middle right:

Top left:

Top right:

And finally -- I also used my FMQ foot and the Aurifil #4241 Very Dark Grey to stitch the growth chart lines up the left side of the panel.

And here's a view of the top of the panel:

I am just LOVING the way this panel is finishing.

I must admit though, it's hard for me to NOT quilt every open space.

I tend to quilt very dense on my home machine.  It's quite a hard habit to break.

For the purpose of our QAL and our Growth Chart though, there is no need to do dense quilting in the background.   

I hope you're enjoying our progress. 

I sure am!

Finally:

The next lesson will cover the two outside border fabrics.

I'll add in a short tutorial on the hanging sleeve and binding and we'll be all set.

Are you excited ? 

How is your quilting coming along ?

Be sure to leave me a comment on the blog,  any YouTube Video, or over on Facebook. 

I would love to see your progress and hear your woes (if you have them).

Happy Quilting!

Karen

More Info:

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

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

*

Social Media:

*** Follow Me ***

Did you know you can visit me on

 Facebook ~ Redbird Quilt Co

and/or

Follow Redbird Quilt Co on Instagram

I post all sorts of fun things there!!
**

If you love to Free Motion Quilt consider joining my 

Facebook Community Group

 Free Motion Quilting Frenzy

*

Plus

I share quilting related

videos on my YouTube Channel
*
I'll soon be sharing live feed TV on my Periscope

*

I'm also on Pinterest and Twitter 

and I share other tutorials and patterns on
My Tutorials on my blog
*
I have a few patterns available in my Craftsy Store
Thanks again for stopping by...

2016 Free Motion Quilt Along - Part VI Echo, Pebbles, Loops, Swirls Oh My!

Greetings Fellow Quilters!
&
Welcome to Part VI of the

2016 Redbird Quilt Co.

Free Motion Quilt Along

using the whimsical 

Lewe's Balloons Growth Chart

by Susy Bleasby

for World of Susybee

If you're just joining us be sure to checkout the previously published

Free Motion Quilt Along Posts:

Introduction => here

Sponsors =>  here

Supplies =>  here
Part I Pieced Borders =>  here
Part II Pin Basting ==>  here
How to Quilt That =>  here

Part III Tools, Setup + Practice => here
Part IV Let's FMQ => here
Part V More FMQ => here

It's getting exciting... !!
We're inching up on completing the projects and submitting pictures that will make you eligible for some awesome products giveaways!

Thanks so much Aurifil for sharing your fantastic thread from one of my favorite designers! 

Images courtesy: www.wendysheppard.net

Also thanks goes out to the sweet team at Creekside Fabrics, Quilts and Yarns in Arcade, NY.


Thank you Sandy for:

Next up -- many thanks to the great folks at Quilter's Dream Batting

my favorite batting/waddling are providing two packages of batting:

Let's not forget a special thank you to 

Cindy at Sew It Is Quilt Shop

for a Lewe Play Mat Quilt Kit!

And how about a warm thank you to the great ladies at Quilty Pleasures in Geneva, NY

Thanks Val and Roni for providing store credit!

Last, but certainly not least...  The World of Susybee is joining in the sponsorship fun!

Meet Lal the Lamb -- isn't she adorable?
Lal is a 36" panel that can be used as a floor play mat, turned into a pillow or just quilted and hung in the nursery.   

Oh I can't wait to quilt Lal!

Thank you Susy and World of Susybee!

See the original
Sponsor and Giveaway post  => here

OK -- Now lets move on to our lesson for this week.

We're quilting 3 more balloons using motifs that we've already learned.
Echo, Pebbles, Loops & Swirls - Oh My!

This week there is only 1 video lesson -- sort of a Recap of the motifs we've already learned.  You can watch the video by clicking the image below.

Note:  Be sure that you've watched the other videos before jumping into this one.
You can see the complete 2016 QAL Video Playlist at this link.

Here are a "few" still images from this weeks quilting:

Before the Star Balloon was quilted...

Before the Pebble Balloon was quilted...

Before the Ewe and the Polka Dot Balloon were quilted...

I started with quilting FMQ stars INSIDE 

the marked star -- Aurifil 50Wt thread

color #2024 White - Top and Bobbin

I utilized the "Jump" method to move from one star to the next.

We learned that method in an earlier lesson.

Once the 3 stars were quilted I was

positioned next to the Pebble Balloon... 

That's convenient!

*

Quilt around the perimeter of the balloon

before moving inside.

OK - now lets quilt some pebbles...  

We learned pebbles in this video

*

Just repeat what you already learned but vary the sizes of the pebbles

to give texture and dimension

*

When using Aurifil 50Wt thread you can backtrack or "sneak around"

 on a previously stitched line

without worrying about thread buildup.

Ahhh - isn't it a pretty sight!!
Lock off your stitches when you're done with the pebbles and
lets switch top and bobbin colors to
one of Aurifil #2140 Mustard
or Aurifil #4150 Creme Brule' Variegated

Stitch the perimeter of the Polka Dot balloon before jumping inside.

Now eyeball yourself a continuous

stitching path and quilt some pretty

loops inside the balloon all around those dots.

The video explains this much better! 

I used the Creme Brule Variegated thread -- you can see how the color changes through the balloon -- so pretty!!

Yay!! Our Balloons are Quilted!!  

Sew Fun!

 Moving on to the little Ewe

at the top of the panel....

I switched thread again-- 

back to Aurifil #2600 Dove

50Wt thread in the top and the bobbin

 It was sew fun to quilt the little wooly curls on this Ewe.

I stitched the perimeter, backtracked bunches and worked my way inside to quilt all those beautiful curls...

Again Aurifil 50Wt thread to the rescue, allowing us to backtrack

without buildup -- I love that !

Oh my goodness... don't you just love the texture?

More yummy texture!

We're making great progress...

How is your Growth Chart coming along?

*

Feel free to send me an email with a picture or share a picture on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter -- just use the #2016redbirdquiltcofmqal hashtag and I'll find YOU!

Questions, concerns ? 

Please share them with me.

Next lesson we'll be quilting the landscape at the bottom of the panel and doing a little quilting on the background fabric.

After that, the borders and we're done with our FMQ!

Woohoo!!

Stay tuned this week for another FMQ Project share that will have its own Giveaway!

We can't let National Quilting Day (March 19th) get by without it!

Be sure to follow me on Social Media so you don't miss out on upcoming shares, sales and celebrations... 

*

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

Twitter, YouTube, Periscope 

*

You can see my available patterns on Craftsy

and see a wealth of tutorials on My Tutorials

*

Also - be sure to join the Free Motion Quilting Frenzy group on Facebook 

amazing inspiration and technique is shared there! 

***

Happy Pi Day!

To celebrate take 50% off all "Pi" related Craftsy Classes.

Pies, Cupcakes, Gluten Free Baking & more...

Click here for more info

Cheers!

Karen