This past weekend I had the great pleasure of meeting quilting diva Cindy Needham and taking a fabulous machine quilting class from her, on how to quilt heirloom feathers and backgrounds. All photographs were taken by me and shared with Cindy’s permission.
Cindy Needham and Christa Watson at DQN Guild Meeting
Cindy’s specialty is turning vintage heirloom linens into beautifully quilted masterpieces! She is my hero because she find joys in extensively quilting her quilts and encourages others to conquer their fear of free-motion quilting. I love this quote from Cindy, shared on the back of one of her beauties:
It reads, “Take the time to quilt something beautiful. Your work will speak to generations to come about your passion for quilting, and give your quilt a voice to speak to those who choose to listen…” Isn’t that lovely?
Click on each of the pictures shared below to enlarge and appreciate the details!
Heirloom quilting by Cindy Needham.
Although Cindy’s quilting style is beautifully vintage, with heirloom quality stitches machine quilted on a breathtakingly small scale, I was able to learn so much from her and contemplate how I might apply her techniques to my modern quilts.
Cindy’s quilt sample. Imagine what a beautiful, modern wholecloth this would make!
In fact, during class I kept laughing to myself whenever she would show samples of her “larger scale” designs. I mentioned that her large scale is my small scale. 🙂 I think that a good way to describe the differences in motif size could be called be “Heirloom Scale” and “Modern Scale” – both equally beautiful and appropriate for their quilting styles.
Cindy’s Feathers
Cindy reminded us that it was okay to be “consistently inconsistent” and that perfection in quilting is over-rated. Words to live by. The sample below is one of my favorites. I love her nod to asymmetry in this piece! I think it’s a touch modern, don’t you?
Quilting Sample by Cindy Needham
If you ever get a chance to take a class from Cindy, or listen to one of her lectures, I highly recommend it! She also has a couple of machine quilting classes on Craftsy, one of which I reviewed previously on my blog. Now I’m off to doodle… and dream sweet machine quilting dreams….
Christa Quilts 
Now I am going to do my breakfast, when having my breakfast coming again to read further news.
This is awesome that you got to meet her! I have been watching her Craftsy class. I still can’t wrap my brain around ESS. Christa, do you quilt ESS? I have been practicing on feathers. I want to love them, but I think they are ugly. Is there a You Tube video you recommend?
Ha ha! I mostly do ESS, more like SSS (Sew Some Seams!)
It took me years to get the hang of feathers so don’t stress too much. If you are not happy with them, I suggest trying some other simpler designs instead 🙂 Searching on You Tube is a great idea – though I don’t have any particular recommendations there (I hardly use it, LOL!)
I have been looking for a free motion quilting class to take! Thanks for the suggestion
The quilting is awesome. As a beginner I can only imagine the hours of dedication and practice it takes to reach that stage. I am in awe with both your quilting skills and therefore I follow your blog.
Oh!!! I am so jealous!. I would love to take a class in person. I have taken her Craftsy class and it was excellent. I found her when looking for a better thread, and my interest in FMQ took off from there.
If I could pick just 1 nationally known quilter to spend time with Cindy would be THE one!!! I’ve taken her classes on Craftsy and have used her upcycled linen quilting idea on several ’50’s tablecloths. You are so right……she is an awesome promoter of “you can do it” (FMQ on a DMS) as are you!!!!! I look forward to your future posts with results from her class in your stitching!!!! Uber hugs……………………..(and, yes, I am hugely jealous!!!!!!)
Wow. I’m just in awe. If ever I get the chance to take a class from her, I certainly will. Thanks for sharing.
Such beautiful and amazing work. So artistic and so inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you for shring this Christa. I have always admired Cindy’s work. They are breathtaking! Lucky you get a chance to meet and have a class with her! Have fun quilting!
Last year I went to a meeting here in New Zealand where Cindy was the guest speaker. She had a room full of quilters ogling at her magnificent quilts and the stories to accompany them. How lucky were you to actually take a class!
Wow, that is amazing quilting!! I can just imagine the quilting heaven you must have been in!
Amazing work! I am still drooling over that green-blue sample… How the pattern morphs into another! Sew clever!!! 🙂
Esther
Just before checking this email I went and checked out Cindy’s class on Craftsy! It is on my “to do” list.