New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop – Sign up by April 30

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I love the online quilting community and one of the best ways I got to know people online was by participating in the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop several years ago. My friends Yvonne of Quilting Jet Girl, Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie of Late Night Quilter are teaming up again to bring you this fun event. New bloggers can sign up to be on the hop, while more experienced bloggers can join in the fun and find some great new blogs to follow!

New Bloggers Blog Hop

2016 New Quilt Bloggers Participation Criteria

The technical criteria to participate in the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop is as follows:

  1. If you have been blogging mainly about modern quilting (modern quilting to you is modern quilting to us.),
  2. for less than 2 years,
  3. writing at least 4 posts a month,
  4. are willing to agree to be actively involved in the blog hop through visiting and commenting on the other blogger’s hop posts,
  5. and have or are willing to open a Facebook account to participate in the group discussions.

Please indicate your interest in joining by filling out the registration form.

The goal of the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop is to provide advice, tech help, and introduce new modern quilters to the online community. Registration is open April 4th through April 30th or until 100 bloggers have registered.

General Timeline:

May: Getting to know the group via Facebook group, Critiques, Editing and improving your blog to get ready for the hop
June and July: New Quilt Bloggers Hop

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting – Swirling Butterflies Quilt

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Each week I’m sharing a different quilt design from my new book The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. Now, although I really prefer modern designs, sometimes it’s fun to mix it up and try something different. This week, meet Swirling Butterflies, a totally doable wholecloth quilt.

Note: all photography credit goes to Brent Kane and Martingale.

Swirling Butterflies Wholecloth Quilt

My version of Swirling Butterflies – just divide and conquer to get the job done!

Although the design looks very complex, it’s easier once you break it down. I only marked the medallion and border. The rest of the background was filled in with what I like to call “improv machine quilting.” For this quilt, I did something I rarely do: used a contrasting Aurifil thread. I tell you, it was scary while I was quilting it, but I’m pleased with the end result.

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Detail of free-motion quilting on Swirling Butterflies

I chose to make a black wholecloth version with highly contrasting thread while Angela made her beautiful version more traditional on white fabric with more of a blending thread. Look closely for a few other differences in the details.

Swirling Butterflies Angela Walters

Angela Walters’ version of Swirling Butterflies – isn’t it just stunning?

Click here to purchase an autographed copy of Machine Quilting with Style, signed by us both.

Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting

Simple Strips Quilt Along Over at We All Sew

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Want to make a quick and easy Jelly Roll quilt? Then be sure to join me for my Simple Strips Quilt Along which just launched over on the BERNINA blog at We All Sew.

Super Simple Strips Quilt Along

This quilt along will work a little differently than my previous quilt alongs, since I’m sharing it over at BERNINA, but it will be just as fun! I will be sharing 5 weeks of step-by-step tutorials showing you how to make a complete quilt from start to finish. I am proud to be a BERNINA ambassador and I do all of my piecing and quilting on my B770 QE.

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Super Simple Strips – Piecing in Progress on the BERNINA 770 Quilter’s Edition

But of course, you can use your favorite machine to make this quilt! I’m going to show you how to do some very easy decorative machine quilting, plus we’ll even finish it by machine. 🙂

To get started pick up a jelly roll of your favorite fabric. Either choose a Jelly Roll that has half light/half dark strips; or grab a smaller bundle in a nice solid background color to go with your regular sized roll (you need a total of 40 strips for the quilt).

Super-Simple-Strips-Jelly-Rolls

I chose to go with half a Jelly Roll of Valley by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda, plus a Jelly Roll Junior of Bella Solids in Ivory.

The complete supply list and quilt along schedule are posted at We All Sew – so please follow along each week, then share your progress in my Facebook group Quilt with Christa, or on instagram, #simplestripsqal.

 

The Hallmarks of Modern Machine Quilting Free Creative Webinar April 14

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Be sure to join me for my upcoming creative webinar, The Hallmarks of Modern Machine Quilting. Registration is free to all Modern Quilt Guild Members, and the webinar will go live on Thursday, April 14, 2016 from 6-7:30 PM Pacific Time. There will be a Q&A after.

Modern Machine Quilting

In the webinar, I’ll explain how the modern aesthetic applies to the machine quilting process, using examples of many of the quilts from QuiltCon 2016. If you are not yet an MQG member, be sure to join The MQG here!

I can’t wait – it should be super fun and informative!

Fractured Puzzle Wins 2nd Place at MQX New England 2016

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Fractured Puzzle was a totally experimental quilt design, pushing the boundaries of “What if…”

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It’s my modern/artistic take on a more traditional/contemporary design that I offer as a free PDF download for newsletter subscribers, called Puzzle Box:

Puzzle Box Pattern

Imagine my surprise when I found out it took 2nd place in the Modern Category at MQX Quilt Festival New England this week! After all, it was originally made for the Michael Miller Modern Quilt Guild fabric challenge and was a proud QuiltCon reject.

It just goes to show that’s it’s so worth it to enter more than one show. You just never know which judges/juries it will appeal to!

Fractured Puzzle Ribbon

I love the pink ribbon – it is so cute!! Thanks to Jolene on Instagram for getting these pics!!

Fractured Puzzle Pieced Back

They hung the quilt so everyone can see the backside, too – clever!!

Here’s more detail of the quilting. I pieced and quilted it entirely on my BERNINA 770 QE. I matchstick quilted each of the fractured sections in a different direction using my favorite Aurifil 50 weight  #2615 Aluminium.

fractured-puzzle-detail

Then I quilted the red sashing in a fun geometric free-motion design with Aurifil #2250 Red.

Free Motion Quilting

This meant I had about a bazillion knots to tie off in each section, but I found it very relaxing to do while watching TV!!

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I love entering quilt shows, especially those with modern categories and am always shocked, yet humbled when I get a ribbon. Sharing them in public is so fun; getting an award is like icing on the cake!

Here’s what I had to say about Fractured Puzzle:

Artist Statement

I was so happy when  Gotham Quilts on Instagram snapped a photo with the ribbon on it. Yippee!!

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Click this link for more about the making of Fractured puzzle.

It’s Release Day for The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting!

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The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting ships today and I am so excited!!! When you purchase it from me or Angela Walters you will get an autographed copy with both of our signatures!

Ultimate_Guide_Cover

All book photography beautifully taken by Brent Kane for Martingale/That Patchwork Place.

I thought it would be fun to share each of the 10 projects from the book, once a week over the next 10 weeks. The concept is simple: Angela and I each made our own versions of the same quilt, with our own choice of fabrics and quilting designs.

I counted, and there are over 50 different machine quilting motifs for you to choose from! Whether you quilt on a sit-down or a domestic, a stand-up long arm, or even if you quilt by check, our book is packed full of machine quilting ideas, plus 10 complete pieced patterns!

Choosing Colors by Christa Watson

My version of Choosing Colors – I love the rainbow colors and textural quilting.

It’s kind of funny, but I was reading through some reviews of my first book recently and one reader said this after going on about how much she loved it, “my only complaint is – I want more patterns and more designs!” Well, that lucky reader’s wish has now been granted with publication of The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting!!

Choosing Colors made by Angela Walters

Angela’s version – she used her whole “quilting toolbox” of motifs and added a scrappy binding!

I enjoyed every step of making each of the quilts in the book, and I hope you will, too. Maybe you’ll take an idea from one project and combine it with another to make it your own. As you work through the projects in this book, or even if you apply the quilting motifs to completely different patterns, I’d love to see them! Be sure to share your progress with me in my Facebook group: Quilt with Christa or on instagram @christaquilts and #quiltwithchrista

Stay tuned next week when I share the next pair of quilts from the book, or you can skip the wait, and pick up your signed copy of The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting right now!

Christa Watson and Angela Walters

Angela and I first met at QuiltCon in 2013. We instantly bonded over Machine Quilting.

Angela and I thank you for your patronage from the bottom of our hearts. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of friends like you!!

Binding Class – Next Saturday at The Christmas Goose in Las Vegas

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If you will be in or near the Las Vegas area, next Saturday, April 9th, from 2-5 PM, I will be teaching Binding A to Z at The Christmas Goose Quilt Shop, located at 2988 South Durango, Las Vegas, NV. The cost is only $25 and you will be binding on a real quilt! Call (702) 877-1158 to register, and I hope to see you there!

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Learn to bind on an actual quilt! You supply the quilt, I’ll teach you how!

The Christmas Goose is owned by mother-daughter team Jeanette and Andrea, and they’ve been in business for over 20 years – almost as long as I’ve been quilting!! It’s been fun getting to know them over the years and they have always been supportive of my work.

Mother and Daughter at The Christmas Goose

In fact, if you come to my class on April 9th, you’ll be able to pick up a copy of either of my books at the store, and I’ll be glad to sign them for you, on the spot!

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The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting and Machine Quilting with Style are both available for purchase from The Christmas Goose.

If you can’t make it to this weekend’s class, you can keep up with my teaching schedule here. Jut think – I may be coming to a city near you!!

binding

Facets Quilt Along Winners – And Quilt Alongs Galore!!

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Today’s the day I get to announce winners from those that participated in Facets Quilt Along!! If you are just joining us, you are welcome to go back to the beginning and get the Facets Introduction and Quilt Along schedule.

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For those that are still quilting along, please keep up at your own pace, and don’t forget to share your progress in my Facebook group: Quilt with Christa. Although prizes are being awarded today, I still want to cheer you on and give you a virtual high-5!!

Here’s how the prizes were awarded – each week for 8 weeks, participants worked and shared their progress. For each step they shared, they got an entry into the drawing. At the end, I put all of the names into a bowl, and pulled out 3 random names (low tech, I know, but it works!). Each of these grand prize winners gets a signed copy of one of my books, a jelly roll of their choice and a spool of Aurifil thread from The Precut Store.

Quilt Along Prize Entries

Then I did another bonus drawing from those who had completed all 8 steps of the quilt along! Those two winners won a jelly roll of their choice from The Precut Store. Then, because I couldn’t help myself, I had do do another bonus for two more to win one of my Kona Designer charm packs.

Without further ado – here are the winners, totally chosen at random, with my eyes closed!!

Facets-QAL-Prize-Winners

And finally, because I want everyone to be a winner, everyone who shared their progress with me gets a free PDF pattern of their choice from my Craftsy Pattern Store!

All of the winners need to contact me at christa@christaquilts.com with their shipping address, choice of prizes, and email for PDF pattern download.

FacetsQALbig

Thanks for quilting along with me. Now I have two special announcements to share:
(1) If you would love to try making another complete quilt from start to finish, be sure to check out my 9 Previous Quilt Alongs Here!!

(2) Stay tuned next week as I reveal details for my next Quilt Along!! Here’s just a snippet to get you excited – it’s super simple, super fast, and tons of fun!! Be sure to bookmark BERNINA’s blog We All Sew as that’s where the tutorials will be shared – I can’t wait!

New Quilt Along

My next quilt along will be coming up soon so stay tuned!!

 

Catch Me on Video! My TQS interview and Quilt-It Demo

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I’m a little reluctant to admit that it’s weird seeing myself on camera, but I’m trying to get used to performing on video. I’m really comfortable teaching and speaking in front of a live audience, but when the camera rolls, there’s that fraction of a second of “deer-in-the-headlights feeling”. However, I’m glad that I’m getting a wee bit of practice because I would like to do some video tutorials/classes in the future. 🙂

While I was at QuiltCon I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by the legendary Alex Anderson of The Quilt Show. We recently met last year at the BERNINA ambassador reunion, and it was so fun to catch up with her again. The interview is only about 5 minutes long but if you’ve never heard me speak before – here’s your chance to see how fast I talk! 🙂

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The second video I’m sharing is a 50 minute episode of Quilt It The Longarm Show that is available for purchase from QNNtv. Last summer, I was invited to share tips and tricks on how I machine quilt on a sit-down long arm. (Thanks goodness – otherwise, this could have turned into a comedy show for sure. Nobody wants to see me flounder around on a stand-up long-arm machine, LOL!!)

Click here to watch a 50 second preview of the Quilt It Episode. You can either purchase the episode for $5.99 or enroll in a monthly subscription and get access to their entire line-up of shows!

qnntv
Yes, I like to match my nails to my quilting – don’t you?? 🙂

Facets Quilt Along Week 8 – Binding

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If you’ve been following along each step of the Facets Quilt Along, it’s now time to bind your quilt! If you are just now finding my blog, you can still make one from the beginning – all of the blog posts are here.

FacetsQALbig

Although there are a million different ways to bind your quilt, I pretty much stick with one main method for binding and then finish either by hand or machine. To help you out, here are a couple of binding tutorials for you to reference:

My tutorial on basic quilt binding.
Binding by machine. (This one is older but still relevant.)

Prizes to be awarded next week!

As mentioned previously, everyone who participates in the Quilt Along and shares at least one picture of their progress on my Facebook group is eligible to win. You have from now until next Thursday, March 31st to share your pics. I’ll pick the winners on Friday morning and announce them here and the blog and on Facebook. Here’s a recap of the prizes:

  1. Everyone who shares a pic wins a free PDF pattern of their choice from my Craftsy shop.CQ-Patterns

2. Three random Grand Prize winners will each win a signed copy of my book (you choose which one),  a charm pack of my Kona solids, and an Aurifil thread spool of your choice from The Precut Store. Random winners will be chosen from all of the entries – the more times you entered (up to once per week), the more chances you have. Max entries is 8 per person (one for each step of the quilt along).

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3. One bonus prize entry for those who complete their quilt by March 31. One winner will receive a jelly roll of their choice from The Precut Store.

Even if you are just getting started, be sure to share your progress over on Facebook at Quilt with Christa! And yes, if you cram and get more than one step done per week, you can still share and enter!