Saturday, October 06, 2012

book review: beginner's guide to free motion quilting = {a giveaway}

I was so happy that Natalia asked me to be a part of her blog book tour! (all photos courtesy C&T publishing)

If you have followed her blog at all then you know that she does some amazing work.  Between the quilt designs (many with amazing applique) and the actual quilting, she is one talented mama!
Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

Natalia has written her first book for the beginner home machine quilter!
Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

As Natalia said in her kick off post, quilting does seem to be a family affair! I learned to sew and quilt from my mother.  We didn't have formal lessons, I just learned as we worked on projects and as questions arose.  I love that at the beginning of the book she lays out simple instruction with photos of the different aspects of quilting: the type of feet you might need, thread selection, basics of basting, etc.  I love having all of that information so handy in one place!  I'm always learning something new!

Lately my littleslouwho are my reason for quilting.



I've made and am working on many quilts for them and me and the mrlouwho.  I wish I had Natalia's book when I free motion quilted my first quilt!  It's a good thing no one inspects each little stitch!!

The book has great step-by-step photo instructions to achieve many basic quilted patterns!
Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

There is also valuable information on achieving something more than just an all-over pattern of stipples or loop-de-loops.  Which as a beginner is mostly what I do these days!

I am finding that I really love doing the actual quilting part, but I need more practice.  I can't wait to dive a little deeper into the book and try out some of the techniques!  I have some more placemats to make, they are the perfect size on which to practice! I'll show you when I finish them.

Natalia, thanks for including me!  There will be a giveaway on each post during the tour and a grand prize on her blog at the end of the tour!! All winners will be announced 18 March!

Would you like to win a copy of Natalia's book?  Just leave me a comment here telling me who or what inspired you to start a current project you are working on!

233 crafty mcCrafters commented:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 233 of 233   Newer›   Newest»
Susie Johnson said...

I took a rotary cutting class and I finished the top so it's time to quilt!

laurareid said...

I'm making a baby girl quilt for my 3rd grand daughter who is due on Valentines day! She is my 8th grand. She is coming after a couple of miscarriages and I am so happy about her! This book looks aewsome! I'm so intimidated by free motion quilting. I need this book!

Kate Brown said...

My daughter is walking with my 7 year old grandson in the breast cancer walk this month and I am making a quilt for them to donate to the auction. This is my grandsons first walk and I am so proud of him!!

Annette Zautcke said...

My daughter left for college back in August. I needed to work on something to feel close to her so I'm working on a quilt for her room. She'll be home for Thanksgiving and I hope to have the piecing done by then.

Blogger said...

My current project is an apple core lap quilt I'm making for my little girl for her stroller :) I can't wait to start quilting it! Might try those loop-dee-loops!
Thanks for the giveaway!
-Erin
mummyquilts@gmail.com

Nancy said...

I found a really cute apron panel online, so that's my project!

Lis said...

I am working on a baby quilt for one of the firefighters that my husband works with, they are expecting their first baby.
Thanks for the chance to win.
lisamcgriff(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jeanne Gwin said...

I have finally decided to do some blog hops and learn paper piecing something I have avoided as long as possible. My instinct at this time is, I don't like it, but I will persevere and learn to like it enough to do a Mariners Compass quilt. Blame it all on Madame Samm
This book looks great and although I have a quilting machine, I would like to get better on the sewing machine for small projects. Thanks for the opportunity to win this great book.

Maria said...

Hi Amy, I love how you write your blogs...kind of quirky yet funny yet informative! Wish I had the talent of writing to keep people reading! Anyway, on to Natalia's book: Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting.... I've been quilting for 18 yrs now and basically a self-taught quilter. I began sewing when I was 16 yrs old when I took a Home-Ec class and it required us to make an outfit. Well I had watched my Mom make our clothes since we were little so I thought HEY I have this in the bag. Not to sound like I'm bragging, I received an A- on the project and from that moment on I decided the sewing machine (any sewing machine) was going to be my best friend one day. Sure enough, I got bored some years later, a marriage later and 2 children later and happened across a quilt shop. I had NO clue what a quilt shop was much less how beautiful the results could be. To make a long story short, I spent 3 hrs in the shop and spent right at $400 on tools, fabric, books, a class, etc. etc. The moment my rotary cutter made that first cut was all it took. Yes I finished the class but to this day the top still isn't quilted. Onward! After that class I taught myself new techniques, short cuts, and anything else I thought useful.... but the ONE thing I couldn't teach myself was free-motion quilting! Let me back track that last sentence, I did teach myself how to stipple, meander and quilting-in-the -ditch. But after so many quilts being quilted the same way got very boring very fast. I purchased books after books and all of them were way over my head! So they sit now on a bookshelf collecting dust. What caught my attention about Natalia's book is the photo of the nine patch with the feather motif centered around the middle square!! I am expecting my 2nd granddaughter on Feb 14, 2013 and the quilt top is 9 patches. Once the borders are on I will be appliqueing a few animals on it that her mom and dad both love and I'm also leaving a white on white 9 patch in the center of the quilt just incase Paislee (that's my granddaughters name) does grace us with her presence on the 14th of Feb. I will then applique a heart there with her name and stats. Anyway, I would love to learn from Natalia how to quilt different motifs etc on quilts and get out from under the same old routine I'm in. Sorry for all the babbling....I'm going to close for now. I hope I win but if not I'm sure the book will go to someone very deserving. Thank you for such a wonderful give away and a chance to win! Maria Carroll maria.carroll14@gmail.com

Merete said...

Im giving beginners classes and I thought I ought to make the runner they are making before starting... :o)

Carla G said...

My quilting has been put on hold... it's time to make Halloween costumes for my boys. I'm making a police uniform and a teabag costume. I'm sewing the costumes because I can't find what they want or don't want to spend a fortune on a outfit they wear once. :)

Mary said...

My kids. I've always wanted to make them a quilt. My son said he wanted a blanket tied out of fleece (like his baby blanket someone gave him and he's clung to for 9 years), but I said I can do better than that! So I'm secretly trying to complete 5 quilts by Christmas. I've got 2 quilt tops done! Yay! Secretly hoping I win the book...I could really use the help with machine quilting.

Mummy Quilts said...

My daughter inspired my most current project - a little lap quilt for her :)

Deb said...

I get most all my inspiration from quilting blogs...so encouraging to see a completed project and decide that I want to duplicate what i see! Thanks for the giveaway.

JD said...

I just finished a Halloween table runner. It's the holidays that inspire me.

Paula said...

This book looks amazing!

Linda said...

The book looks lovely. I have only done a little FMQ so would love to know how to do it well. Current project...if I can get the time....is to get a baby quilt done by the end of this month.

The Rx quilter said...

I found a tote with my Maison de Noel fabric and wreath pattern I have been hoarding and decided now is the time! Lisa in Texas

The Rx quilter said...

A box of hoarded Maison de Noel....decided to go for it and cut it up! Lisa in Texas

MugglePuggle said...

I'm working on one baby quilt right now and one toddler quilt. They are some really good friends little girls, and we will be meeting their new sweet baby on Thanksgiving! I'm always inspired by others to make quilts :)

Carmen Nuland said...

My little girl inspired my current project - as she seems to do with a lot of the crafts I've been doing lately

quiltinggrammy said...

My favourite niece will be 25 this year and I have completed a quilt top for her birthday that is yet to be quilted and to have binding applied. I'm hoping to get some quilting ideas from this book.

Melanie said...

Pinterest :). It is full of fun modern quilts!

Margaret said...

I'm sewing a little something for a guy. There are so many delightful quilts for ladies and girls, but I know the guys appreciate quilts too, so I am inspired to make something for my husband.

Lisa E said...

Right now I'm working on a Minnie Mouse Halloween costume. My daughter is the recipient, and she's giving me plenty of feedback on what she wants and likes. My next project is a quilt for my oldest daughter.

just-b-healthy said...

My mother is a fabulous quilter, sewer, and crafter. I may not be as creative as she is, but I sure enjoy the time I spend quilting; I hope to pass my love of fabric on to my own daughters. I am currently looking for a quilt pattern to make my newest baby's first quilt.

Anya said...

I am inspired to get the advent calendar done BEFORE Christmas!!

Anna said...

I am in the process of planning a quilt for a friend in the Navy, who has recently been deployed overseas. The plan is to have it done by the time she returns in April!

Jennifer said...

Retirement inspired me to start sewing again. Would love to learn FMQ.

Sara said...

Christmas inspired my current Christmas star runner I am working on!

Judy1522 said...

My current project is a quilt I am making for a Christmas gift. It was inspired by some charm squares I wanted to use and a pattern in a book I won from Moose on the Porch Quilts.

Cloudmom said...

My current project is from the 12 days of Christmas. I love it because who doesn't love Christmas quilts. The addition of blue and yellow fabric will be exciting with the traditional red and green.

Amy Eileen Koester said...

We painted my son's bedroom, which calls for a new quilt for his bed.

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 233 of 233   Newer› Newest»