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.
I’m thrilled to announce that I will be teaching at Quilt Festival this fall in Houston, Texas. This is especially exciting because it will be my first time teaching and attending this show. I was slated to teach last fall, but then we had to deal with an unexpected family emergency, and I had to cancel last minute. (All is good now – so no worries!)
I love to teach – especially in person!!
Class registration will open soon and this show has a good chance of selling out. So I’d like to share my schedule with you so you can plan your trip now and be all set to register when the time comes:
How to Make a Quilting Plan Workshop Thursday, Nov 3, 2-5 PM
I originally taught this class at QuiltCon back in February and it was a hit! It sold out right away because we focused on breaking down the planning process into manageable steps that anyone can master.
How Do I Quilt It? Lecture Friday, Nov 4, 10-11 AM
This is my most popular lecture that inspired my newest book that comes out later this year. (More on that soon, I promise!!)
Quilting Between the Lines with Your Walking Foot Friday Nov 4, 2-5 PM
Learn to use your seam lines as a guide for no mark quilting and lots of fun!
Modern Machine Quilting: Walking Foot Wonders Friday Nov 4, 6-9 PM
More walking foot fun and different motifs than the other walking foot class. Sign up for 1 or both!
Modern Machine Quilting: Free Motion Favorites Saturday Nov 5, 9 AM – 12 PM
Learn to quilt perfectly imperfect quilting textures that are fun and forgiving to stitch!
Quilting Between the Lines using Free-Motion Motifs Saturday Nov 5, 2-5 PM
More free motion fun! All of my quilting classes can be taken separately or together; you’ll learn fun techniques in each of them!
I’ll be teaching material found in all of my current books (plus the new one) and it’s a great way to practice your skills. If you haven’t yet taken a class from me, I teach in an easy going style that’s approachable for all levels. It’s absolutely my favorite thing to do!
Stay tuned for more info on registration. I’ll include more details about each class coming soon!!
It’s my favorite time of the week again! It’s time to share my latest and greatest video tutorial with you, and you can subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss a thing. Click play below to learn how to make Color Weave, a fun modern quilt that’s much easier to make than it looks!
I love making these videos not only to help you successfully make the quilt I’m showcasing, but also to help you improve your machine quilting skills. Think of each of the quilting designs that I share as it’s own stand-alone pattern that you can apply to any quilt in your UFO (unfinished fabric object) pile!!
I’ll continue to keep the video content free, and then all I ask is for you to purchase a copy of my quilt patterns to follow along.
Where possible, I’ll also include links to the products I used to make these quilts, if the fabric is still available. When it’s not, I always suggest that you can get a similar look just by choosing similar (rainbow) colors from your stash, or my online shop.
My plan is to eventually create videos from all my current quilt patterns that I’ve already released. But of course I’m working behind the scenes on new fabrics and patterns, too.
For each weekly video I release, I’m hard at work editing and filming new tutorials as I make my way through my stash of secret sewing projects! This will keep me busy, but will also keep the content flowing on a consistent basis.
Here’s a little bit of what it looks like “behind the scenes” while I film. In the image below, I’ve hung the quilt I’m discussing on my design wall and started to set up the lighting. I’ll zoom in close so that all you see is me and a closeup of the quilt behind me. This is for the video segments where I’m talking directly to you, the audience.
I’m still working on getting the lighting right, but it’s all a fun work in progress!!
Below is the view from the other side of my sewing room. I’ve hung up some notes that I’ve printed in a large font and taped to my storage cabinets so I can see them from across the room. I go off script all the time of course, but at least this keep me on track of what important points I want to cover.
I also use a combination of different tripods to get overhead shots and closeup shots of the actual quilting process. I do all of my filming with my iphone and then edit everything in iMovie. Right now I just use one phone, but eventually I hope to use two so that I can film two angles at the same time. It’s all a work in progress and I’m learning so much with each new video I make!
My favorite tripod can adjust up or down, and has a bendable goose-neck so that I can get different angles when needed. It’s not perfect, but – just like quilting – that never stops me from trying!!
Now that I have a working format for my videos it’s pretty simple to film while I make the quilts. What works for me is to set up my camera phone on a simple tripod while I sew and not worry about any background noise. Then I take a bunch of those video snippets, edit out the sound and the record a voice over explaining what I’m doing while I’m doing it.
You’ll notice that for a lot of my earlier patterns, I don’t have much video of me actually cutting or sewing the quilt top, so I’ve been focusing more on the machine quilting and finishing techniques. But in my newer videos that I’m filming now, I’ll include more of the full quilt making process.
By alternating full quilting tutorial videos every other week with my informal “Quilt Chats” it keeps me busy, but not TOO busy!
Subscribe to Keep the Fun Content Coming!
So thanks for all the love and thanks for watching and subscribing to my YouTube channel. It’s growing my leaps and bounds and I couldn’t be more excited! To find my channel, you can search ChristaQuilts on YouTube OR you can type ChristaQuilts.TV into your web browser and it will redirect you.
Feel free to leave a comment letting me know what you’d love to see more of. I aim to please!!
Color Weave on display at quilt market while promoting my fabric collections with Benartex
Christa Quilts 