Tag: machine quilting

Quilt As Desired Article 1: Modern Machine Quilting

4 Comments

Last week I shared an article that Jacquie Gering and I had written for the National Quilting Association which dissolved last year after 46 years as an organization. Now that a period of time has passed and the rights have reverted back to me, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share with you the series of articles I wrote for them about Machine Quilting. There’s a total of 5 articles (2 of which were never published) and I plan to share them with you approximately once a week. Hopefully you’ll pick up a tip or two. Happy reading friends!

Note: The following article was written as a sample of my writing style and helped me land the free-lance writing gig. NQA asked if I wanted to go ahead and use it for my first column, but I chose to write on a different topic which I’ll share next time. So this is the first time this article is being shared in public.

Modern Machine Quilting

 Whether you prefer to quilt by hand or machine, or send your quilts off to a professional for finishing, I’m here to share my expertise and offer advice on how to enhance your quilt’s overall appearance with appropriate quilting choices. This will be a regular feature in each issue of the Quilting Quarterly. We hope you enjoy it!

I love to make modern quilts and explore how to quilt them. Functional modern quilts are meant to be used and washed and they often include vast expanses of negative space. For bed quilts, the quilting should provide enough texture and interest to fit into a modern décor, without being so excessive that the quilt becomes scratchy, stiff and unusable.

I will illustrate an example of functional, modern machine quilting on a quilt I designed named Abacus. It’s made from circular blocks that are machine appliqued. It is sewn together in rows with increasing lengths of grey strips forming the background.

illustration_1_abacus_design

The first thing I do when considering how to quilt a quilt is take a picture of the actual quilt top or the quilt pattern, and print it off in color on a piece of 8 ½” x 11” paper. I will then sketch different quilting ideas until I come up with something I like.

The pen marks indicate the quilting lines, but not necessarily the color of the thread. I will quilt Abacus with a series of gently waving lines, using my walking foot on my home machine and slightly turning the quilt to form the waves as I stitch. This can also be accomplished by using a decorative stitch and maxing out the length and width. (Be sure try out different stitches to find one you like!)

illustration_2_abacus_sketch

Next, I will practice on a smaller sample piece with the same fabrics, thread, and batting I plan to use for the quilt. I think grey is a nice neutral thread choice, and I will use the seam lines between the rows to give me a relatively straight guideline to follow. Spending time on these steps now helps prevents disappointment down the road when a quilt doesn’t turn out like I envision it in my head.

illustration_3_abacus_quilting

Finally, I will quilt the real quilt, starting in the middle of the quilt and quilting the wavy lines from top to bottom, moving halfway across the quilt. When I get to the edge, I will turn the quilt around and quilt the other half.

machine_quilting_abacus

If you are using a long-arm machine to quilt this quilt, just load it from the side and quilt the wavy lines back and forth horizontally across the quilt, advancing the quilt as you go.

abacus_detail_sm

Click here to purchase a PDF version of my Abacus quilt pattern.

cwatson_abacus_full

Abacus 32″ x 32″, designed pieced and quilted by Christa Watson

My Local Teaching Schedule, Fall 2016

Leave a comment

I enjoy traveling around the country at various quilt shows, guilds and events to teach. But I can’t neglect my local friends and fans, so I’ve made sure to schedule a few classes around here, too. If you live nearby, or plan to drop by for a fun Vegas weekend, be sure to sign up for my machine quilting classes this fall, taught at three fabulous quilt shops in town:

Upcoming Machine Quilting Classes in Las Vegas:

Quatrefoil-Applique_Christa_detail

Sept 8, 5:30-8:30 PM at The Christmas Goose
Ultimate Free-Motion Fillers

Learn 12 fun fillers in just 3 hours! This class will walk you through a dozen of the free-motion motifs from The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. This will be a fast paced class, so students should be comfortable working with their machines and have a little bit of experience with machine quilting. Class size is limited to 10 students. Call the shop at 702-877-1158 to register, or stop by the shop at 2988 South Durango #109.

improv_machine_quilting_image

October 14, 2:30-5:30 PM at Quiltique
Improv Machine Qujilting

Liberate yourself from traditional quilting symmetry by combining your favorite machine quilting motifs in a seemingly random way. Add amazing texture to the negative spaces in your quilts and create your own unique combinations.

The class will cover basic free-motion filler designs such as pebbles, swirls, leaves, paisleys, triangles, and more. Learn how to improvisationally combine them for stunning results. Students should be comfortable with basic machine quilting techniques.

Stop by Quiltique’s class sign up day event in August to register, located at 213 N. Stephanie Street, Suite E, Henderson, NV 89074. Or call the shop after Sept. 1 at 702-563-8600.

spirals_swirls_classimage

October 15, 1-4 PM at Sew Yeah Quilting
Machine Quilting spirals and swirls

Learn how to quilt modern, geometric spirals and swirls using both walking foot and free-motion motifs. Students will learn how to quilt stunning designs from Machine Quilting with Style, such as large continuous spirals, geometric spirals, and several swirl variations. Spirals can be quilted in different areas of your quilts, or used as an allover design. Combine motifs for even more possibilities! Students should be comfortable with basic machine quilting techniques.

Click here to register online. You can also register in person at the shop, located at 3690 N Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89130, or call the shop at (702) 586 – 8687.

fmq_straight_line_alternatives

November 16, 6-9 PM at THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE
Free-Motion Alternatives to Straight Line Quilting

Go beyond the straight line and use your free-motion quilting skills to their fullest. In this workshop, students will learn how to turn basic shapes into linear free-motion quilting designs. Quilt them as allover designs across the surface of your quilt, or use them sporadically to create custom quilting motifs. Students should be comfortable with basic machine quilting techniques.

Class size is limited to 10 students. Call the shop at 702-877-1158 to register, or stop by the shop at 2988 South Durango #109.

My Traveling Schedule

If you live outside of the Las Vegas area, be sure to check out my traveling and teaching schedule here. My schedule is currently booked through the end of 2017 but I’m now accepting offers for 2018, so I may be visiting a place near you!

My Week at John C Campbell Folkschool 2016

6 Comments

I had the most fabulous time teaching a group of students how to make a modern quilt at the John C. Campbell Folkschool last week. We used my Charming Chevrons pattern and it was so fun to see all of the variations!

charming_chevrons_class

I had a wonderful group of 8 students who made 9 quilts in 5 days!!

The Folkschool has been around since 1925, offering classes on dozens of different arts and crafts disciplines. For a week long class, students arrive on Sunday and get settled in, then work for 5 days straight in 6 hours of classes per day, with breaks for yummy meals 3 times a day!

My students started cutting and sewing on Monday, and by the time of the student presentation on Friday afternoon, every single one of them had a finished quilt top, two had completely finished quilts, and most of the rest of them had their quilts basted and ready to finish at home.

Gerry_Basting

Gerry smooths out her quilt after it has been spray basted, while Fran is ironing one of two charity quilts she was able to complete during class. Check out those mountain views!!

I taught a similar class last year, using my Modern Logs pattern. This year I encouraged the students to work at their own pace, and several of them took advantage of open sewing time in the evening to get a little more done. We covered all aspects of making a quilt: cutting, piecing, basting, machine quilting and binding.

Pam_Modern_logs

Pam Howard is the resident Weaver at the Folkschool. She took my modern logs class last year and brought back her completed quilt! Her Charming Chevrons blocks are on the wall behind her.

It was so fun to see the students’ faces light up when they realized that yes, they can make an entire quilt on their home sewing machines!!

Susan_quilting

Susan was so excited to quilt her chevron quilt in class! Each student had their own table and design wall – plenty of space in which to work! That’s Barb’s top hanging on the wall.

Each students’ quilts were so unique. Whether it was their first quilt, or they had been quilting for decades, all had fun and created a beautiful work of art!

Lucy_quilting

First-time-quilter Lucy quilted an easy wavy plaid design with her walking foot. I brought along copies of my machine quilting books so students hand plenty of designs from which to choose!

While I was teaching quilting, my husband Jason took a photography class. In fact, he told me he hopes I teach there on a regular basis, so he can take a class each time I teach.

jason_folkschool

Jason poses beside the welcome sign on the first day of class.

The good news is, I’ll be back again in the summer of 2018. (My 2017 teaching calendar was already full.) We haven’t set an exact date yet, but I’m thinking sometime in June would be great.

jason_photography

One of the landscape pictures Jason took during his photography class. The folkschool is nestled in the mountains and the views are just spectacular!

Each Folkschool instructor has their own specialty, and I love that mine is teaching how to make a complete quilt from start to finish, while emphasizing the modern aesthetic.  I’ll repeat this format in 2018, albeit with a different pattern. Several of the students have already said they plan to come again, so it will be a fun reunion!!

Machine Quilting Tips in Modern Patchwork Magazine

4 Comments

I love that more and more people are jumping on the modern quilting bandwagon! I’m a huge fan of quilting magazines and I love that more and more of them are devoted to the modern aesthetic. I’ve been pleased to work with several of them (in between other sewing deadlines) so I’ll be sure and share updates with you whenever I’ve published something new.

cover

My quilting tips are found on page 38 in this issue of Modern Patchwork!

I was recently able to share some of my favorite domestic machine quilting tips in the summer issue of Modern Patchwork Magazine. I’ll share a little bit about how this came about, for those of you who are interested in what goes on “behind the scenes.”

The Modern Quilt Guild put out a call for submissions for QuiltCon magazine last year (for this year’s 2016 issue), so I submitted the idea originally for that magazine. When I heard back, they said they had already selected content for QuiltCon magazine, but would I be willing to write it up for Modern Patchwork, since they are owned by the same company? That was a quick and easy yes.

Then, quite by chance, the editor happened to be in one of my QuiltCon classes earlier this year. I love when stuff like this happens. It makes me feel like we are all friends and associates in this industry, connecting us together in more ways than one.

Christa Watson Books

My books – all about quilting on a domestic machine!!

I wrote up my top 10 tips for domestic machine quilting, then got permission from my publisher to share a few images from my books to go along with the article. That way, the photography would be of the highest quality, and help cross promote the books. Because I’m the type of person who likes to make sure I dot my i’s and cross my t’s (and because I want to make sure I never step on any toes) I always try to keep everyone in the loop of what I’m doing and make sure I never share the same the exact same content word for word.

tentips_image

Credit goes to Angela Walters, my co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting for her version of Swirling Butterflies, the white quilt shown in the title of the article.

Although I write and teach about the art of machine quilting on a regular basis, I always try to present my material in a somewhat different way between books, patterns, and workshops. Besides, it really helps to hear/read the same information in different ways to really let it sink in.

In addition to my article, the current issue of Modern Patchwork has loads of other interesting articles to read as well as a plethora of fabulous machine quilting designs. It’s a little on the pricey side for one issue, but it’s worth it because it has as much content as a book!

Click here to get your hands on a copy of Modern Patchwork, and be sure to let me know what other quilting magazines you enjoy, modern or not!

Check out 180 Doodle Quilting Designs – Free Motion Ideas for Blocks, Borders, and Beyond

7 Comments

I’m so excited to tell you about a brand new machine quilting book that I am privileged to be a part of. It’s called 180 Doodle Quilting Designs and it features a plethora of free motion quilting ideas for blocks, setting triangles, and borders. The book has been published by my friends at Martingale/That Patchwork Place (who published both of my machine quilting books.)

b1381_cover

This book is different from most machine quilting books out there, in that it is more of a reference book rather than a how-to book with patterns. This clever idea was the brainchild of acquisitions editor Karen Burns, and it features 60 different motifs from 9 talented designers. Each motif is shown how it would work 3 different ways, for a total of 180 possible designs. Check out fun free-motion quilting ideas from:

  • Yours truly – I’m so inspired by seeing my fellow contributors’ designs!
  • Vicki Ruebel – One of my super talented BQF’s (best quilting friends).
  • Karen Burns – Be on the lookout for more collaborations you are sure to love!
  • Melissa Corry – This girl can finish more quilts in a week than most can do in a month!
  • Lori Kennedy – Shh, don’t tell – I have a quilter’s crush on her!!
  • Maddie Kertay – Irreverent and awesome founder of the BAQS (you’ll need to google it… :-))
  • April Rosenthal – I want to be her when I grow up.
  • Sheila Sinclair Snyder – Amazing award winning quilter.
  • Angela Walters – Need I say anything more??

Here’s an example of how the information is laid out for each design:

2page_spread

Plus there’s some handy-dandy info at the front of the book with tips on how to use it, such as tracing over the motifs to get a feel for how each design will flow. I love adding books like this to my reference library. They are great to look through whenever I’m stumped for a machine quilting idea!

As of this writing, 180 Doodle Quilting Designs was ranked #1 new release on Amazon in quilting. To help it stay there, click here to purchase your copy and then be sure to leave an Amazon review. You’ll be glad you did. 🙂 Now I’m off to a do a little more doodle quilting of my own…..

Update – Video Tutorial

Check out this clever video that my friends at Martingale made, showing how to use the book. Simply trace, doodle and quilt! You’ll gain confidence in no time! (Press the play icon to view. )

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting: U-Turns

Leave a comment

Thanks for joining Angela Walters and I on our journey as we’ve shared our quilts from The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. Today we’ll show the last quilt, U-Turns, made in different fabrics with drastically different quilting, done either on a sit-down domestic (me) or a stand up long-arm (Angela).

U-Turns_Christa

In this quilt, I pay homage to Angela, by choosing one of her first fabric designs as the print in my version of U-Turns. I quilt all of my quilts exclusively on a BERNINA 770 Quilter’s Edition, which gives me lots of room to scrunch and smoosh my quilts under the machine.

U-Turns_Christa_detail

In my version, I’ve combined several of my favorite designs which are super easy to do on thin sashing and borders: wavy lines, double loops, and switchbacks.

U-Turns_Angela

Angela also shows how to do some super fun and easy designs and she includes several ideas for quilting around the corners on her long arm. It’s much easier than you think!

I had such a fabulous time writing this second book with Angela. She was a fantastic co-author, and this book gave me a chance to expand on some of the ideas I presented in my first book, Machine Quilting with Style.

Christa Watson Books

Where to Buy

Sharing is Caring

Be sure to share your progress on your projects from either book in my Facebook group: Quilt with Christa. You can also share your machine quilting progress, ask questions and get advice about future projects!

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting – Quatrefoil Applique

6 Comments

Quatrefoil Applique from The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting was by far the most fun quilt to quilt (even though I’m sure I say that about every quilt)! For my version, I really wanted it to be a showcase of tons of different quilting designs – sort of like a free-motion sampler.

Quatrefoil-Applique_Christa

I used a cheery fat quarter bundle of Kona Solids in pinks and oranges (called Blushing Bouquet) and quilted a dozen different motifs with lots of variations.

Quatrefoil-Applique_Christa_detail

Christa’s version – it’s a machine quilting sampler!

I quilted a different design in each petal and echo quilted around the edges, filling the background with dense pebbles, allowing the motifs to really pop!

Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting

All photography by Martingale/That Patchwork Place and Brent Kane

Angela and I really wanted to pack the book full of as many ideas as we could, so there are over 50 different quilting designs for you to try (along with 10 complete quilt patterns).

Quatrefoil-Applique_Angela

Angela’s version – very dramatic!

I think Angela’s version is just as beautiful! I love the pop of metallic she added to one petal of each block. Her plumb background is vary dramatic and allows lots of space to explore alternate background quilting.

Click here to see the rest of the quilts from the book.

Where to Buy

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting – Fractured Squares

1 Comment

The next quilt I get to share from The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting is called Fractured Squares. This one was designed by Angela Walters and we each had so much fun choosing fabric colors and quilting designs!

Fractured_Squares_Christa

Christa’s version – quilted with straight lines and decorative stitches.

This quilt is another example of what I call “Structued Improv” – starting out with a general plan of how the quilt will look, but not knowing exactly how you are going to get there. This simple to piece quilt consists of a center square surrounded by slightly improv pieced borders.

Fractured_Squares_Christa_detail

I quilted my version completely with my BERNINA integrated dual feed, which basically acts as a built in walking foot. I combined straight lines with decorative stitches to create some interesting textures. Then I used a ruler in the center (yes with the walking foot/IDF) to get those nice, straight lines. If you don’t have a ruler, you can totally mark them with a pen, or painter’s tape.

Fractured_Squares_Angela

Angelas version – so rich and striking!

I love how Angela combined bright pastels with a deep brown for her version. She used a mix of blending and contrasting threads that allowed her beautiful machine quilting to really pop!

Whether you enjoy quilting using a sit-down domestic machine, or a stand-up longarm, (or even if you prefer to “quilt by check”) we are so excited to share our passion of machine quilting with you in The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. With over 50 different quilting motifs to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect design for your next quilt!

Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting

Click here to purchase an autographed copy, signed by us both!

Click here to see all of the quilts from the book.
All photography courtesy of Brent Kane and Martingale.

Machine Quilting Tips and Tricks – Guest Posting at Diary of a Quilter

Leave a comment

Hi Friends! Today I am guest posting over at my friend Amy Smart’s blog – Diary of a Quilter.I’m sharing some encouragement to help get you started on the path towards quilting your own quilts. If you are popping over here from there, welcome!!

2015quiltstack

I love a nice stack of colorful quilts – don’t you?

Here’s a roundup of additional blog posts I’ve written over the last couple of years that will help you feel confident in diving into domestic machine quilting. Happy reading… and quilting!!

Amy’s Craftsy Class is on Sale!

When writing this post, I got a message from my friends at Craftsy letting me know that Amy’s new class Pre-Cut Shortcuts is on sale, along with ALL craftsy classes at 50% off through 6/13.

You can read my review of Amy’s class here.
Click here to save 50% on ALL Craftsy classes!

Quilt Finish – Easy Going in Quilts and More

19 Comments

I’m excited to share a quilt with you that I had been working on secretly a little bit earlier this year. Here’s a hint: if you follow me on instagram @christaquilts and search the hashtag #secretsewingchrista, you’ll see live updates as to all the secret stuff I’m working on now, for publication later! 😉

Introducing, Easy Going, in the latest issue of Quilts and More magazine, summer 2016.

Easy Going Quilt

Photography courtesy of Quilts and More Magazine, 2016 Meredith Corp. All rights reserved.

I’ve always been a big fan of Hoffman Batiks and am one of those people believes that you can indeed make modern quilts using batiks that incorporate simple striking geometry.

Easy going in Quilts and More

I made my version of Easy going in pretty greens and teals with just a pop of tan, cream and gray to make it sparkle. Seriously, this quilt is so easy you can make it in a weekend! I quilted it using my “boxes” motif from my first book. It’s a super forgiving free-motion design that is actually easier to do than stippling!

Boxes FMQ

Click the picture above to see a larger detailed image of the quilting.

I quilted Easy Going using Aurifil 50 weight in a pretty shade of green.

I love it when magazines test out my pattern in a different colorway. The version below was made by Jan Ragaller using Ombre by V and Co. for Moda. Isn’t it fabulous??

Easy Going alternate colorway

I was also super happy that they chose to include an extra page with some of my machine quilting tips. After all, when I make a quilt, I’m also thinking about the quilting, not just the piecing.

mq_tips

If you can’t find a copy of Quilts and More in your local quilt shop, you can pick it up online.

Quilts and More Summer 2016

 

If you end up making this quilt, or any quilt from any of my patterns, please share your progress in my Facebook group: Quilt with Christa. I love to see what you are making!