Have you made the plunge into Free-Motion Quilting yet? I was years into quilting before I did. Once you do you’ll wonder why you waited. Though I love the look of straight lines there is something very meditative about finding your ‘zone’ and making all these fun shapes.
(photo by my friend Allison Parrott Thompson)
I think for most of us it’s etching out the time to learn something new. For some it might be an equipment and/or space barrier, or maybe the desire for a little hand holding.
The classes I’ve taken myself on FMQ were very fun, but prescribed. I found they provided a nice launch pad for learning the basics, but lacked the practice time needed to explore my own spin-offs of the shapes I was most drawn to.
There’s no denying it, practice really is the best teacher when it comes to free-motion quilting.
Hmmmm, so how do you combine all these needs?
How about an Open Free-Motion Quilting Studio or a Free-Motion Quilted Nested Basket Workshop on quality Bernina machines at Drygoods Design to give you wings? It’s not too early to think about some gifts either.
Get your free-motion on with the studio’s Berninas, risk-free! Wine optional, but it might help!
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How funny! When I started quilting I never knew you could get someone else to do your quilting for you! I adore doing my own but I admit to secretly wanting to have someone with a pre-programmed machine to do it for me. Think of how much faster you can get them done!
By the way, your blog is so inspiring and I simply love the books I’ve purchased (including yours) fabric lines I didn’t know were out there and other bloggers for mod quilts. Thank you so much!
Stacy Hurt
This sounds like so much fun! Would you mind asking them to open an LQS near me, and then would you come teach here in DC?
I love to FMQ but haven’t taken a class in it yet. I agree practice, practice, practice.
i’m in Katie!! I would love to learn this with you!! I am also wondering if you are still doing privates. I would love to be in the same room with you again…soon!
thanks…
Jodi wes
Hi Jodi! Yes, still do privates and am about to purchase an extra machine for students to use. See you soon!
I find FMQ such a freeing experience. I think of it as quilt dancing or needle painting.
Katie, these are AWESOME! I have never quilted, but love following your projects. This makes me want to drop everything and learn to quilt! 🙂
Oh, how I wish I were close enough to take this class! I have stacks of things piled up because my free motion skills lag far behind my piecing and appliqué skills. Very few quilters in my very large quild quilt any of their things except for baby and small wall quilts. I really want to quilt my own, but find when I do that I’m so unhappy with the results that I quit again. Sigh.
keep practicing!
On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 6:49 AM, SEW KATIE DID
I just want to give you a big hug for promoting the art of FMQ. It’s my absolute favorite part of the quiltmaking process and I just love it when others share how easy and fun it is do to!
I’m not there yet, but wanna be! I have done patchwork for two years now. I have made about 20 quilts. With exception of stitching in the ditch on a couple of baby quilts I have hand tied all my larger quilts. I love how I’ve grown and matured and how my skills have improved. I have even signed up for a FMQ class thru Craftsy, but have yet to find the time to focus on it. I already have pieces to practice on, but am so busy working on Christmas gifts (crazy quilts etc;) that I’ve just not found time to focus on FMQ yet. I’ve even purchased a open toe quilting foot. It’s still in the package. I am a little scare to begin, I admit. What’s a girl to do?