It's been such a long time....

Good morning all!

I am back! Blogging took a backseat during our vacation. I had good intentions and even had free wi-fi so I have no excuse!

We took a trip to Hershey PA this year - my husband and two boys love rollercoasters. Notice that I do not include myself in that group. I am the holder of everything not allowed on the coaster - hats, cameras, backpacks, etc. I am happy to be the holder! The picture on your right is "Fahrenheit", a rollercoaster with a 97 degree drop (not kidding)! Wouldn't you want to be the holder? Please note: I did enjoy Chocolate World!

I did go to Quilt Odyssey which was being held in Hershey. What a nice show! I had a great time admiring all of the beautiful quilts. I am showing just a section of Arabesque by Karen Kay Buckley, of Carlisle, PA. This is a stunning quilt in person. You can view this awardwinning quilt here.

Quilt shows are so inspirational - I really missed my sewing machine after attending that show!

Keep quilting! -Kris

(P.S. In case you are wondering, the post title does refer to a song by Boston!)

Day 21 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

You made it! Twenty one days! Here is your last exercise:

This one is fun - write, then echo! Have fun with this last exercise and keep in mind that you are better at free motion than you were 21 days ago (OK give or take a few days!!).

I will continue to post fun free motion exercises for you - please send me links or pics of your successes! I'd love to post them!

Have a great weekend and happy quilting! -Kris

Day 20 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

There may be a song in there, but I can't find it! I wanted to demonstrate my practice piece. I started with a staff and added notes, I didn't like that. So I changed to a heavier thread - again I wasn't comfortable with the result. How about adding loops and words, without the staff? OK - that looks better but I still feel its not quite there! Time to walk away and let the idea simmer. If you want to, make some music and email me a pic!

Take it easy and keep quilting! -Kris

Day 19 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters! This morning we have a very practical exercise for you. Can you believe it is Day 19? Remember our loop-de-loops that we did on day 6? We are going to expand on that idea. This is a great stipple that I saw in Dawn Ramirez’s Pajama Quilter Workbook. She has many ideas and I particularly love that she uses a white board to draw out her designs first – genius! You may want to check out her DVD!

So – let’s get to it! Start with a small loop and don’t stop there! Go around once more and add another larger loop! Have fun and hope you are feeling loopy!

-Kris

Day 18 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters!

Wow - is it really Day 18 of this exercise? This morning we are deep sea diving and creating a seascape with shells, stars and swirls. This takes some control, but you have it! I think it would be a good idea to draw this one out on a piece of paper first. For the shell – I created the outline of the shell first, then came back and added the ridges. For the star, I created the outer then the inner star. Wouldn’t this be great on a summer placemat?

Happy Quilting-

-Kris

Day 16 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, Quilters!
I’d like to take a walk with you down the street with your sewing machine. You are going to take it slow making (approximately 1”) houses and trees. There is no perfect house or tree. You are smiling, enjoying the sunshine, and walking along at an even pace. Also remember, this is not a race – this is a perfect lazy summer day free motion exercise – keep it even and consistent. Are you getting the hang of this now? (Go easy on yourself - this is fun!)
Email me a pic of your houses!

Happy Quilting-

-Kris

Day 15 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning Quilters!

Here in the Granite State, we have rocks. So we have many rock walls. This is ours!(OK - an old pic!)

Today, let's make them on our machines! We are practicing circles today. This exercise forces you to slow down and take control of your quilting. You will start with one "rock" and carefully fit other rocks around it - you may want to fill in row by row or more randomly. I find that I sometimes have to go around the rocks more than once to achieve the shape that I want - go ahead and have fun with this!

Keep practicing!

-Kris

Day 14 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good afternoon Quilters! I apologize for yesterday's absence - rainy days are getting me down! Here we are again with our quilt sandwiches and I needed sunshine and flowers on this July 2nd! So here we go! I decided on a flower. I came "in "on the left hand side and made the center, giving myself room to come "out" between the previous stitching lines. I added petals around the final flower center. You can go on and add more petals.

I'd like to share this morning's experience with you regarding quilting - I did not have the correct needle/thread combination in my machine this morning and started skipping stitches. I changed things - first tension, then needle, then finally thread and once I changed to a different spool of thread, I fixed the problem. Try to remember to systematically change things and test your changes one at a time, so that you know what the problem is. Needless to say, I threw away the thread!

Happy Quilting! -Kris

Day 13 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning, quilters! It's a dreary day here in NH (again) - I'll definitely need some sewing to get through this!

To add to your repertoire and instill more confidence, we will work today on a common shape - the 5 pointed star! Like the last exercise, I combined it with loops - but it would also look nice with hearts. This is a good meander for a child's quilt, by the way. You may want to draw the 5 pointed star first. This should be a large meander.
For fun - attend this on-line quilt show! http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/paducah/2009/contests/quilt_winners.php

Keep Quilting! -Kris

Day 12 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Doodle!

Good afternoon wherever you are! You've probably already come to this conclusion, but it really helps to draw out your designs before you quilt them. Here is my doodle I and the resulting quilting. Try the hearts and loops - I think you'll have fun!

Happy Quilting! -Kris

Day 11 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning Quilters! Summer is a great time to attend quilt shows - they are an invaluable resource of inspiration and ideas! Research what is coming up at your vacation destination - this year we are taking the kids to Hershey/Gettysburgh area. I am taking one day to attend Quilt Oddyssey 2009 (gee....hubby and kids don't want to go)!

Our exercise today is easy and fun - we are going to make clamshells. Start with a small "hill" and build on it by increasing size and changing directions until you have a mollusk of some sort. You can build colonies of these shells by adding "hills" as you go. As you can see, they don't have to be perfect - it's just practice!

Have fun and keep quilting! -Kris

Day 10 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Tonight's exercise is easy! This reminds me of Laverne and Shirley ("Schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated!") - just start with a capital L and keep going. Fill up a section of your sandwich and you've practiced for the day (You're about halfway there!)!

Keep quilting! -Kris

Day 9 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning all! My sincerest apologies for not posting yesterday! My husband and I ran the 5th grade cookout yesterday, as well as attended my oldest's 8th grade promotion! When it rains, it pours!


Let's get back to free motion quilting! Before we start on a new exercise, here's a tip that I have found extremely helpful: When you need to take a break, stop with your your needle down. When you start again, stitch in the same place and then keep going. In the past, I tried to move right away from my stopping point, but that would result in long uneven stitches at that point. But now, I take a few stitches in place and then get going again and this seems to have eliminated the problem. Try it!


Today we'll work on a shape that is so versatile: leaves! We'll be sewing these along in row, but they are easy to do in a meanering fashion also. So, let's get started!

Do this vertically to start.

Make one leaf shape, going up one side and down the other.

Add one vein in the middle.

Travel down from here and add a leaf out to the right and add a vein, then repeat to the alternating left and right.

You have a leafy vine! I find this is a nice border treatment. You can expand this by using more intricate shapes for your leaves and adding more veins. The choices are endless!

Happy quilting! -Kris

Day 8 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

I think the moon is in the 7th house.....today we are taking an easy shape (peace sign, dudes) and incorporating it into a stipple. I think this would be groovy scattered (sparsely) on a teen quilt!

Tip: If you are going to put identical shapes into a stipple (ex: stars, snowflakes, hearts...), practice on a throw away sandwich and determine a repetitive process. For the peace signs, I made a circle perpendicular to where I was in the stipple, from the top, I came straight down, added 2 bird legs, then up and out the top. I did this for every one.

Peace out quilters! Have a great weekend and day 9 begins on Monday! -Kris

Day 7 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning! Today's exercise is quick and easy - let's try "weaving". Start with a few vertical "hills" then add horizontal "hills", repeat until you have a row of a size you like, then maneuver to the next row. Your hills should be of a somewhat consistent size to achieve the basketweave.

Tip: Try this on paper before you quilt. Have fun! Smile! Keep quilting! -Kris

Day 6 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Good morning - Hope you are ready to get sewing!

We are going to get loopy again today. Stipple as you did yesterday, but intermittently add loops. If you add loops consistently, it'll look great. This is a good fill in baby quilts. Make an entier loopy sample sandwich and let me know if you like this stipple. You can also add hearts instead of loops, if you dare!!

Just a word on starts and stops. I like to keep my needle in the same position and first pull my thread to the top, then gradually increase stitch length for my starts and reverse that for my stops. I don't like to try to reverse, as I think it creates a "bobble" at these points. See what you like for starting and stopping.

Check this out: Here is a general website for quilting - check out Diane's tips -- she's one of the great machine quilters!

Have a quilty day! -Kris

Day 5 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

By now, you must be thinking "Let's just stipple already!!". I'd like you to start today with a fresh quilt sandwich (8" square is fine). As you can see from the grainy photos, I'd like you to get a feel for making lumpy stipply (is that a word?) shapes. So, instead of trying to make the familiar puzzle shape pieces, let's start with smooth round "hills" randomly placed around each other. So:

• Look at the photo top left and start with making hills in the middle of your sandwich.


• Without rotating your sandwich, follow around your "hills", with more "hills"(top right)


• Continue around and around your sandwich with these "hills" until it is completely filled (bottom right then bottom left).
  

Your sample may look like a frilly flower. Again, don't worry too much right now about spacing between hills but instead, try for smooth, consistent motion. Also take a look at what you've done to determine if you need to slow down or speed up your hands (see Day 4).

Tip: I hold my hands about 6" apart and they act as a frame to my work. I complete the work "inside" my hands, stop (needle down), reposition, and start again.

Here is a list of my all-time favorite Machine Quilting Books (they may be at your library):

• Machine Quilting: A Primer of Techniques by Sue Nickels (pub by American Quilters Society)


• Guide to Machine Quilting by Diane Gaudynski (pub by American Quilters Society)


• Easy Machine Quilting edited by Jane Townswick (pub by Rodale Press)

Enjoy the process!! Keep Quilting!

-Kris

Day 4 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

I'm baaaaack! Let's try something a little more challenging today! Today, we'll make some waves. Start on the left, go smoothly up and over the wave, then come back and scoop under. Let's make a multitude of waves, some rows to the right, then switch to rows going to the left (I started on the right for these rows). I am right-handed - I felt more control when traveling to the right.

This time, try to look for consistent stitch length - adjust your speed as you go along. If you find your stitch length is too long, you may need to run your machine faster. If you find that your stitches are too small, move your hands faster. Consistent stitch length takes time to achieve - practice and you'll be rewarded!!

Don't forget to:

• Drop your feed dogs.
• Reduce top tension slightly to start.
• Thread your machine with good quality thread.
• Install a new needle (let's use a Universal 80/12 needle to start).
• With your practice quilt sandwich under the presser foot, lower the needle and raise it to bring bobbin thread to the top of the sandwich. As you start sewing, hold onto both threads to start.

Smile and keep quilting!

-Kris

Day 2 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Stitch Quality.... Let's talk tension!


When you are free motion quilting, you may find that your stitch tension is not what it should be. You may see that your top thread appears to be "laying" on top of the fabric , and you may see loops of bobbin thread on the top . This indicates that your top tension needs to be decreased. Decrease the tension one number at a time and continue to sew.


What if the back side of the quilting is loopy? Try increasing the top tension to eliminate those loops. You'll find a setting that works for you if you work at it. This is also a good time to check your manual for tips to help you balance your tension.

Now - your assignment for today is: Write your name in free motion. This exercise is to be done in cursive. Here is what I did:
Because you have written your signature so many times, this will be an easy exercise to familiarize your hands with moving in all directions. This is fun - use your quilt sandwich and the "get started list" from yesterday. You may want to try quilting gloves also!

Keep quilting!

-Kris Poor

Day 1 - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success!

Join us as we embark on an adventure that I've named "21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success"!

Anyone can free motion quilt - it does takes practice - that's what we will be doing for the next 21 days! I have put together 21 exercises that will start you on your way to stippling and other fun free motion options! You can follow along and do each exercise on the day that it's posted, or you may want to practice at your own pace. You will find these lessons (titled Day # - 21 Days to Free Motion Quilting Success) under "Topics" on the left sidebar of this blog under Free Motion.

Let's get started:

1. Prepare a 12" x 12" quilt sandwich (front, batting, backing secured with either basting spray or safety pins.
2. Put your free motion foot on your sewing machine (consult your manual if you aren't sure which foot you should use).
3. Drop your feed dogs.
4. Reduce top tension slightly to start.
5. Thread your machine with good quality thread.
6. Install a new needle (let's use a Universal 80/12 needle to start).
7. With your practice quilt sandwich under the presser foot, lower the needle and raise it to bring bobbin thread to the top of the sandwich. As you start sewing, hold onto both threads to start.

Here is your first assignment: Make rows of small (approximately 1/2" high) "hills and valleys" as shown on the right. The sample does not have to be beautiful (see my sample - definitely not perfect!). This exercise puts you in control of the machine and allows you to experience the feeling of free motion! Allow yourself to fill in approximately 1/4 of your quilt sandwich. Leave the rest of your sanwich for tomorrow! Tomorrow we will start looking at stitch quality and consistency.

-Keep quilting!

-Kris Poor