I love sharing and teaching and the biggest question I get is how to quilt a larger quilt on a regular sewing machine. The answer is simple: make a quilting plan and then divide and conquer the design! In my latest YouTube video, I show you how to do exactly that. Click the image below to watch:
In this week’s video, I’m sharing tips and tricks for making my Charming Chevrons quilt using 10″ squares of my Good Vibes fabric. You can get the fabric, or the optional kit, or you can just use what you have on hand, as long as there’s good contrast between light and dark.
In case you missed it, I previously shared the video tutorial showing how to make the smaller version of this quilt using Good Vibes 5″ squares (charm packs). It has a completely different quilting plan, and you can mix and match the designs! Click the image below to watch:
I sure hope you enjoy these videos. Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know if you’ve been able to incorporate my quilting tips and tricks into your own projects!
I’m putting the finishing touches on this week’s video tutorial where I’m going to show you how I made the larger version of Charming Chevrons from 10″ squares of my Good Vibes fabric.
I love including walking foot quilting + free motion quilting for a custom look. You can easily change the size of either quilt by simple making more blocks!
Now you can grab the kit in either size shown here. Or customize it with some of your favorite precut squares from your stash. Click here to view all of my current quilt kits and get started on a new project!
I had a fabulous time being a guest on Live with Annie Unrein – her weekly show that’s all about better bag making. Although I usually stick to sewing 2D items like quilts, it was fun to share tips and tricks for machine quilting fabric panels to make 3D items like totes, organizers, and other accessories. Click play below to watch my tips on layering & basting soft and stable and how to machine quilt it. The process is very similar to quilting a quilt!
This episode is a little longer than my usual weekly videos, but it’s worth the watch. I share an update about what’s going on around here, including more sneak peeks of my next fabric line coming soon! If you want to improve your machine quilting skills, be sure to grab one of my machine quilting books shown below. I’m happy to sign it for you and cheer you on every step of the way!
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be sharing a quilting demonstration and offering tips and tricks on how you can free-motion quilt with soft and stable to create prequilted panels for your bags and accessories. I don’t do much “3-D” sewing myself, but I loved getting to experiment and play so I could share my experience with you!
I had a ball teaching at QuiltCon earlier this year, and I was also pleased to be part of their virtual event last year when the live show couldn’t be held because of to the pandemic. Due to the overwhelming success of that first virtual event, The Modern Quilt Guild has decided to make it a regular thing.
The MQG Sessions event will happen online October 13-16, 2022. I’ll be giving an expanded version of my popular lecture, How do I Quilt It? based on material from my new book coming out later this year (more on that soon, I promise).
I *will* be attending QuiltCon 2023, but I’ll go as an attendee rather than an instructor. I just can’t get enough modern quilting in my life! Stay tuned for registration info for MQG sessions coming in June!!
In episode #4 of Christa’s Quilt Chat, I talk all about my fabric design process and a what it takes to become a fabric designer. I take a quick tour of all 7 of my fabric collections with Benartex, plus a sneak peek of #8 coming later this year!! Click play below to watch:
Below is an image of me at Quilt Market back in 2017 when I released my first ever fabric line, Modern Marks. What a thrill it was!! This line is now out of print, so if you have some in your stash, consider it a treasure!
My hair was so much shorter then, and soon will be again!!
Below was the last time I had gone to Quilt Market in person in the fall of 2019 while releasing my Gridwork fabric line (#5). I’m so excited to be heading there again (to Houston, Texas) this fall to debut fabric collection #8, so stay tuned!!
Have you subscribed to my YouTube channel yet? I’ve been posting weekly videos for a couple of months now and I’m so excited that I’ve almost reached 5K subscribers. Just a few more will get me to this next milestone! I’ve been wanting to share weekly videos for YEARS and I finally got my ducks in a row to be able to do so. In case you’ve missed it, here are the a few of the most recent videos I’ve been sharing the last few weeks:
Next, check out How to Make my Blooming Wallflowers Quilt from start to finish. This is a longer video in my “do it yourself quilting” series. Ironically it’s been viewed less than my shorter videos. This tells me that folks like to watch shorter, easily digestible episodes rather than longer ones. But binge watching is great, too!
My tutorial showing how make the smaller version of my Charming Chevrons quilt is my most recent video, and also the one with the most views so far. That’s exciting to see because it means that my youtube channel is starting to gain more momentum as folks are watching and sharing.
You can grab my Good Vibes fabric (including including kits or precuts) to make this one exactly as shown. Coming up in a couple weeks, I’ll also share how to make the larger version, too!
This week, I’m working on my next Quilt Chat episode. I’ll share some behind the scenes of how I developed my most recent fabric line, Black, White & Bright. All of my videos are pre-recorded and edited ahead of times so that the video quality is consistent throughout. Be sure to tune in and ask any questions you have. I love replying to all of the comments I recieve.
Please let me know how you like the videos so far, and what else you’d like to see. Right now my format is to show the video tutorials every other week, alternating with the informal chats & behind the scenes trunk shows.
I’m having a blast and based on the numbers of views, new subscribers, and comments, it looks like you all are enjoying them, too!
Another fun video has just dropped over on my YouTube channel! This week I’m teaching how to avoid the dreaded puckers while machine quilting. The secret is to baste well, and divide and conquer. I also show how to combine walking foot and free-motion on my Charming Chevrons quilt for a custom result with lots of yummy texture. Click play below to watch:
Grab the Quilt Kit or Pattern
While my videos are always free to watch, I appreciate your support by purchasing the quilt pattern or optional kit. I have 2 sizes of Charming Chevrons quilt kits currently available. And here’s a spoiler alert: I’ll be showing how to make the larger size in a future video, so stay tuned!!
What do you like to listen to when you sew? Music? Audio books? TV? Me – I absolutely love listening to sewing podcasts. It’s like enjoying a quilty chat with friends, but I don’t have to talk back! Well, recently I was the one doing the talking when I was a guest on “Measure Twice, Cut Once” from Stitched by Susan.
We chatted all things quilting and I was able to share more about my quilty story and how I got into the biz. Susan has one of those really great radio voices, and I love listening to her podcast on a regular basis. You can find her podcast, and the others I recommending below on Itunes and all the usual podcast places.
Quilter on Fire Podcast with Brandy Maslowski
Speaking of Podcasts, I’m also excited to tell you I was recently interviewed for the Quilter on Fire podcast, too. Brandy and I chatted before we both attended QuiltCon earlier this year – and then we ended up being roommates for the show, which was super fun!! My episode with her drops on May 17, 2022 so be sure to subscribe now and listen in!
More Podcast Recommendations
Here’s a list of some of the current quilting podcasts I’m enjoying listening to right now:
She calls hers a “home-made” podcast and I love it because she’s quirky and fun. She also writes quilt-fiction and has a second podcast where she shares some of these fabulous stories.
I enjoy Kristin’s podcast because she talks about what she’s currently sewing or quilting. But she also includes other crafts, reading recommendations and home making tips, too. It’s really delightful to listen to while I sew!
I’ve actually been a guest on Stephanie’s podcast a few times and she has such a silky smooth voice, perfect for radio!! She also discusses what she’s making along with sewing tips and guest interviews. It’s a really nice mix of content to listen to.
This one features casual conversations with guests in the sewing/quilting community. I enjoy listening to stories from creative people on what excites them, what inspires their work and how they grow and connect with their communities.
I love this one because of all the quilty biz chat. Elizabeth has interesting guests who share their stories along with tips on how to grow your creative business. It’s been very educational & inspiring to listen to.
I started listening to Behind the Seams when several of my friends who had written books with them were interviewed and I really like the format of this podcast. They share stories about the makers they feature in their books and it’s a real joy to listen to.
(Spoiler alert! My next book will be with C&T so I assume they’ll have me on to talk about it sometime, so that should be fun!!)
This one is from the editors of Quilting Daily and I love the peppy flow and the conversation among the hosts. Add it to your list if you haven’t done so already!
What are some of YOUR recommendations?
Over the years, this list has grown or shrunk, depending on my interests, and who’s still currently putting out content. There are lots of podcasts out there but some of my earlier hosts have “pod-faded” meaning they are no longer producing new episodes.
But I’m always on the lookout for more fun recommendations, so please tell me some of your faves in the comments and I’ll be sure to check them out!
Well now I’m back with the rest of the story, explaining how I wrote my next book with the amazing Angela Walters. Although this book is now out of print, you can purchase an ebook copy of The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting directly from the publisher (and yes, we each still get a royalty when you do – so thanks!!)
Click below to watch and be inspired!
Writing books sure has been an amazing journey and it’s allowed me to meet and make so many amazing quilty friends. Plus, I’ve been able to travel the country and even teach internationally, too. I’ve mentioned this before, but I feel called to share what I know and it gives me such joy when others learn to love machine quilting as much as I do.
In case you missed it, you can watch the previous episode by clicking play below.
Christa Quilts 