Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Natalia's Beginner's Guide to Free Motion Quilting - giveaway closed

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Hi!
Welcome to the next stop on Natalia's Beginner's Guide to Free Motion blog tour!

Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

I don't really remember when I first "met" Natalia, but she was one of my first bloggy friends.  Since that time, we have been in a couple bees together, added new babies to our brood (our kids are just a little bit apart in age, only she had her girl first!), and emailed back and forth about new projects, questions, ideas, and life in general.  She's definitely busy, but a real sweetheart.  I imagine many of you are probably familiar with Natalia from Piece and Quilt already, but have you seen her new book that was recently released?

Aptly titled the Beginner's Guide to Free Motion Quilting, this book includes photos, diagrams, pointers, and tips on how to use free motion quilting designs on your home quilting machine.  There are also some fun quilt patterns thrown in there.

Natalia's theme on her blog tour is "It's a Family Affair."  

My very, very first little quilt was when I was pregnant with this little dude, and in honor of him.  My first big quilt went to my husband.  My second to my niece.  My third went to my mom.  When I first started quilting, I didn't really understand that you could do the quilting yourself, other than hearing of this thing called "in the ditch" quilting.  "In the ditch" quilting didn't really appeal to me, and so I sent one of my early quilts, which was for Steiger, out to Natalia for her to long-arm quilt.  

Oh sweet boy!  You are too cute!

She free-motioned beautiful swirls all-over, and Steiger still loves this quilt to this day.  I remember wanting to do that kind of quilting, but still felt a bit intimidated.  I have since ventured in to all-over stippling, some loops, and even did a holly-leaf pattern on one quilt, but my free motion repertoire is severely lacking.  And I generally resort to straight-line quilting, but would like to try new things.  This book is going to help me do that!

So here's what I love about this book:  
  • Tons of basic free motion designs broken down in to their steps to show how they link and flow (Go click on the "Click to Look Inside" on amazon to see some more of what I'm talking about -- it doesn't show all the examples, but does show some of the all-over free motion ideas and how to make them).
  • Examples of how to incorporate designs to use all-over (like that one above), in borders or sashing, on a block, or in combination... I love this feature of the book.Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting
  • there are frilly/foofy (more feminine) designs, as well as more graphic/sharp (masculine) motifs
  • She has some really fun quilt patterns included that incorporate the quilting designs, thus making the concepts even more tangible
  • it is very approachable, and makes you want to grab some blocks and go for it!
  • It has given me an idea for how to quilt my next Linky Love Quilt I make. :)
"Amazed" quilt pattern from Natalia's book

See?  Natalia has a design in her book that is very similar to Linky Love  (though the construction of the blocks is a bit different), and I just love this quilting design!

I was hoping to have some new quilting to show you with this blog post, but alas, I just finished basting the quilt I want to use the new techniques on; nonetheless, I'm really excited to try out some new ideas from her book...come back to see my expanded free motion skills! ;)
Thank you for the inspiration Natalia!  I just wish I could sit with you in person to quilt it.  And maybe accidentally load the quilt on to your frame and then watch you work your magic. ;)


Here’s the rest of the “blogging family” Natalia has invited to help her celebrate the birth of her book! Check out their posts, too!
Amy Webb – October 6
Melissa Corry – October 7
Stash Books – October 9
Amy Ellis - October 10
Kimberly Jolly – October 11
Vicki Christensen – October 12
Candy Glendening – October 13
Angela Yosten - October 14
Generation Q Magazine – October 15
Here! – October 16
Vickie Eapen – October 17
And then Natalia wraps it up on Oct. 18 back at her blog, www.pieceandquilt.com,  with one final giveaway.

If you'd like to win a copy of Natalia's new book, Beginner's Guide to Free Motion Quilting, then please comment on a free motion design you really want to learn!  It might sound cliché, but I am hoping to learn feathers! :)
*International folks -- you'll win an "e-book"

Good luck, and thank you for stopping by!


114 comments:

Joan and Kevin said...

I also would like to learn how to machine quilt feathers! Thanks for
the giveaway!

HeatherK @ A Reformed Heath'n said...

I love the echo patterns, but I'm still so wobbly. I know it takes practice, I just need to sit down with some practice squares and work on it :)

Melinda said...

Right now, I'm trying to learn to stipple, but I'm dying to learn how to do the amazing, controlled stitching (like feathers) that isn't so forgiving!

Molly said...

I'm working on learning how to do double loops... circles seem to be tricky for me.

Thanks!!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

I'm incredibly intimidated by FMQ so am just trying to get started. Thank you for the giveaway~

Cheryl said...

I would love to learn swirls, I have not branched out off of simple meandering yet

aerialkabuki said...

I'll start with meandering.

Gill said...

I'll start with some squiggles!!

knottygnome said...

i've tried it a time or two but i'd really like to get better at orange peel. thanks for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

HELLO! LOVE YOUR BLOG!
I'M A BEGINNER AT FM+WANT TO LEARN MY TRAILING HEARTS FIRST AND THEN GO ON TO MORE DIFFICULT! THANKS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN NATALIE'S BOOK!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Lisa England said...

I need to learn any FMQ design that is more interesting than stippling! Not that stippling is bad, but I've just done too much of it. Feathers are high on my list, but I have to make myself take the time to practice.

Shar said...

I really want to learn to quilt feathers. I get really nervous thinking about them.

Jennifer said...

I'm still learning to stipple, but this looks like a great resource.
Thanks for the chance to win!

Samantha said...

I would like to learn how to any free motion at this point in time! But I would love to learn how to do a leaf pattern! Thanks for the chance :)

Poppyprint said...

I want to really get good at McTavishing, or another loopy/leafy filler so I can progress from stippling in filler spots! I actually flipped through this book at a shop the other day and thought the photos were excellent.

Sallie said...

I, too, would love to do feathers. Thanks for the giveaway!

Potpourri said...

I would really like to master the feathers.

Natalia from Piece N Quilt said...

Thanks again Tracey! You're awesome! :)

Elisabeth said...

I love that this makes complicated designs look manageable!!

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

That quilt that looks like your design looks amazing with the straight lines and loops.

I'd like to learn how to make flowers or hearts linked together. I am ready--I just got bobbin washers, a slider, and gloves. Now I just need to practice.

Mommarock said...

Well, ANY FMQ would be an improvement, but I love the feather quilting that I see, so that would probably be the first one that I would want to learn. I just really don't know how to do ANY at this point to beginner's guide would be perfection for me.

Lindsey said...

I am dying over the quilting on those links! DYING!
I don't know if I could achieve that myself or not, but it is so much better than what I had in mind.
Obviously I need to win this book (or finally just buy the dang thing).

Andrea said...

Still pretty new to FMQ and haven't really done more than stippling yet, but would love to learn flowers. Or swirls!

arbendlin(at)gmail(dot)dom

Colleen Lunt said...

I am hoping to learn the "8" design. I haven't tried it, but it looks do able.

Hany Von Gillern said...

I am a very beginning quilter. I am not familiar with any pattern of free motion quilting, all I know is just there is a technique called a free motion quilting. However, I am eager to learn it.
Anyway, thank you for the oportunity to win a copy of natalie's book.

Kelsey said...

I'd like to learn those figure eight loopies that she has on the cover!

Sandy D said...

I would like to try doing flowers and stars that are all uniform in size and shape across my quilt.Not look like it was me who did them more like it was Natalie that did them.

Lisa E said...

I would like to learn pebbling. I love the way that looks!

Jenniffier said...

I am hoping to learn anything other than stippling and loopdeeloos because that is all I seem to be able to do.

CJ said...

I'm right there with you, I'd love to learn feathers.

Michelle Jensen said...

I am wanting to learn... something new and unexpected. That would be great. I tend to copy the things I see which is awesome. But... I would love to come up with something on my own. Thanks for the giveaway :)

Paula said...

Feathers! They scare me

Lisa said...

I want to learn it ALL. I think the feathers are just awesome!
lisamcgriff (at) hotmail(dot) com

Shannon Wallace said...

How neat to be friends with Natalia! I only know her from her blog, but she's always gracious enough to take the time to email me back and answer my questions. :) To be completely honest, I just make to learn a very basic, loopy/swirly FMQ pattern. Anything that will get me away from stitching in the ditch! Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

I love the fancy, frilly designs - and anything that looks like a flower

Carrie P. said...

feathers is on my list. I would like to be able to little circles nicely too.
thanks for the giveaway.

Valerie said...

I'd like to learn how to do "pebbles". They look so beautiful but so difficult!

B Greene said...

I would like to learns swirls or Baptist Fans. Thanks for the chance to win!

tpott said...

I can't stipple, I'd love to learn. ;-> Toni Anne

✄ Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy ✄ said...

I would love to learn loop-de-loops - or how to make them look so nice, lol!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Erin

KaHolly said...

I need to learn the basics first! But what impresses me the most about Natalie's work is how she lets the quilt speak to her when she's deciding on the design. THAT's what I want to learn.

Sheryl said...

I want to learn to do flowers!!

barbara woods said...

i just wont to learn to do quilt all the way thanks

Sewgirl said...

Feathers are always a good choice. I am continually trying to perfect mine...sometimes they need some help!! My biggest challenge is just figuring out what design to use for each area of my quilts.

JD said...

I just would like to learn how to do an all over stipple. I am still perfecting a straight line.

Tracey Jacobsen said...

this comment is for Michelle@ilikeorange but I hate when my accounts get messed up. :)

paulette said...

Plain old meandering has me stumped! I keep getting boxed in! Help!! I so need this book! Thanks for the chance!
Paulette

Anne-Marie B. said...

I would love to learn how to make pebbles look good! Thanks for this giveaway!

Wandering Awry said...

Umm, how about everything!? I have lots to learn! I really would like to learn meandering to start with, and go from there!

jennyg said...

It isn't a cliche because I also want to learn feathers. I have tried it once on a quilt for myself but I wasn't very happy with the results . :-(

Liz G said...

I have never FMQed before, but I really want to learn how to do all over swirls. That seems like it should be pretty basic, but I'm still intimidated!

Jennie P. said...

I would like to learn feathers too, they look a little complicated. But I guess that's because I'm a beginner.

justacraftymother said...

I am going to give pebbling a try this weekend. I also want to learn, paisley and feathering.

ritainalaska said...

feathers, of course, is what i'd like to get good at ... i try, but even penciling llines in to ffollow, i have a hard time and they just don't look good.

Lyn said...

I'd like to learn how to stipple, and to do a leaf design.

kay said...

I'm dying to learn to quilt clamshells!

Steph Jacobson said...

I really want to try pebble quilting.

JuneBug said...

I don't know free motion designs well enough to cite a particular design, but that circular quilting style, I'd love to tackle. Big concentric circles, or small pebbles... both are appealing to me!

Judith said...

I really do not have a design. I went to my first ever demo from a lady at the Area Austin Guild Quilt show named Vicky West. What great tips she gave us. Fist on a sheet of paper. I am still on that sheet. Judith, Texas

Bailey said...

Not feathers, but I want to learn flowers

Denise said...

I want to learn a FMQ background filler like paisley or clam shells.

Cecilia said...

I want to learn a swirl pattern. I've been practicing on paper, but I'm still unsure how to travel from one to another. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Natalia's book.

Marcia W. said...

I love Angela's Spiral designs, plus want to learn how to do stippling. As have never FMQ, as a rank beginner I would like to win this book.

Anonymous said...

Any design would work for me. I have to start somewhere. =) soparkaveataoldotcom

just-b-healthy said...

I want to learn how to quilt anything besides the stipple that I am currently stuck with! Seriously though, some leaves and/or flowers would be so wonderful to be able to free motion.

Leslie said...

If I could master a large, meandering hearts and stars pattern, I would be a happy quilter.

Barb and Sharon said...

I've mastered the meander pattern but I'd really like to learn to do feathers consistently.
Barb@Witsend

Anya said...

I've been wanting to learn how to quilt swirls forever now but haven't gotten up the courage. Maybe this book would help me get there! Thanks for the chance!

Allison C said...

I would love to learn pebbles and orange peel

jenni said...

I want to learn it all! The only thing that I have tried is stippling!
jpshirley@ymail.com

Cori said...

I would love to be able to make feathers. Thank you for a chance to win

SewLindaAnn said...

I would love to learn to put more than one design in a space. Of course, it would help to learn how to do more than a straight stitch first.

giddy99 said...

I'm excited to learn ANY free-motion quilting pattern! I'm very new, and the Amazon "peek" indicates this book covers the basics. It's on my Wish List!

♥Duff said...

I'd like to learn more about the "motifs in plain blocks" area--I never know what to do!

Linda said...

I'd be happy to learn anything past meandering! Love the looks of the book and enjoyed looking over your blog. Thanks

Amanda said...

I'd like to learn feathers too. Or hearts.

Heidi Grohs said...

I already bought the book...but love your post Tracey! :D...and I saw that quilt and thought of your linky love too!!!!!

Jennifer said...

I just want to learn how to FMQ!

Melanie said...

I need to improve my stippling...boring I know :)

Katie B said...

I'd like to try pebbles!

Fran said...

I need to learn to free motion quilt, starting at the beginning. I have only tried variations on straight line quilting & am quite intimidated by FMQ. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Natalia's book.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

This looks like a great book. I'd really like to be better at feathers...I practice with pen and paper when I can which makes for very colourful newspapers :o) Please count me in :o)

Louise said...

I would like to learn feathers too...and what to put in the open spaces. Thanks for the chance to win Natalia's book. It looks like just what I need to get started!

Pam said...

Cliche or not, but I'm with you wanting to learn how to do feathers.

Unknown said...

I have to say that Ihope to learn feathers eventually also but I think I need to learn how to control everything, like all the fabric and the speed of the machine. I am very new to FMQ...

Elisabetta said...

I think bubbles or circles, I liked others quilts made using this tecnique, I think it's nice for kids

Sara said...

I'd like to learn paisleys. But mostly I'd like all my FMQ to look more professional.

Sara said...

So how do you do the lines like that and not lift your needle on a domestic sewing machine? I am clueless as to how to do it:(

I would love to win Natalia's book!!

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Such beautiful quilting! I'd love to learn the feathers as well. First though, I'd love to be great at just stippling.

Thank you for a great giveaway and a chance to win a super book.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Shar said...

I would love to learn how to do that feather circle. That is just amazing!

Nancy Page said...

I would just like to do free motion stipple quilting! It is not as easy as good quilters make it look. Thank you for the giveaway.

Have a super great sewing, stitching, and quilting day!

Kathy MacKie said...

I'm like a lot is the Feather design.

Karen said...

I need some block pattern ideas.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to learn any pattern that could be used to fill a space - I need help knowing what pattern to use, then how to sew that pattern.

Carla G said...

Any fmq would be fabulous to learn... but I'd really like to learn to stipple. I think it looks so cool and it's totally just meandering. Thanks for a chance to win! :)

Sherry VF said...

I'm so glad I found this blog tour. I'm always looking to improve my free motion quilting skills!

Laura V said...

I LOVE feathers, but am too terrified to attempt them!

Jocelyn said...

I just want to learn how to do feathers!! Everyone seems to have mastered feathers, but I just can't seem to be consistent with my stitches. Thanks for the giveaway.

Judy1522 said...

I would enjoy learning how to machine quilt feathers. I have always loved them in a quilt.

Jo said...

I have just about mastered a meandering pattern, so any new pattern would be a bonus! But I think I would like to learn pebbles, challenging but such lovely a effect.

Lexi said...

I would love to be able to quilt flowers, or just have help knowing what to quilt where! lexilucas@gmail.com

kt said...

I need to start with the basics, but I'd really like to learn to quilt flowers and feathers (especially a feathered wreath!). Thanks for the chance to win--looks like a great book!

Jodie said...

I would like to learn to do the double circles or swirls. So pretty!

Brenda said...

I make a lot of mini or doll quilts and I really, really want to learn how to free motion quilt them. I think this book would help me learn how to do that.
hulseybg@gmail.com

Texas JennyWren said...

I would love to learn how to free motion quilt my own quilts. thanks for a chance to win the book.

Maria said...

I would love to learn how to use fillers to quilt the negative space and how to quilt appliques that will make them look better. Thank you for a great chance to win!!

Blogger said...

I would love to learn circles!

Thanks for the opportunity to win :)

Erin
mrserindavis@gmail.com

DEAN FAMILY said...

I too would love to learn feathers even though they look so intimidating to me. Thanks.

rvquilter said...

I think I can do loops & stars, but would love to do more, like
simple flowers......feathers are a long way off!

poorfarm said...

well, since I'm a beginner at FMQ just about anything new learned would be good, but swirls are definitely one of the first I'd like to learn!

Phyllis said...

I would like to do stipple quilting as well as feathers. Thank you for the opportunity.

Kathy H said...

I want to learn medallion shapes, mostly with feathers. I love the book. it looks like it will be really helpful.

Judy said...

I can't wait to win a copy of this book so I can learn feathered wreaths.

Judy

Deb said...

I want to learn stars...

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