Today’s Topic: American Quilter Subscription Giveaway!
Welcome to Week Nine of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.
Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.
Sign up for emails of the class HERE.
Good Morning, Quilters!
Let’s celebrate! We are heading into our tenth week of quilting already!–We’ve come so far already–and most of the technical stuff is behind us. Now we can dive into the fun design aspects of machine quilting.
Speaking of good design…
American Quilter Magazine
For more that six years, I have written the “My Line” column in American Quilter Magazine. (Thank you to Ann Hammel, editor-in-chief who was an early follower of The Inbox Jaunt!)
American Quilter Magazine is one of the perks of being a member of the American Quilter Society. Membership also includes early access to shows and workshops and discounts on products and classes.
The magazine is chock full of great patterns, product reviews, award-winning quilt inspiration….It is a must-have in YOUR quilt library. (Not to mention an exciting prize in your mailbox!)
The Giveaway
To enter the American Quilter subscription giveaway please leave a comment today here at Lori Kennedy Quilts.
Please share a small quilting victory.
We would LOVE to hear about what you’ve learned over the past weeks. Perhaps you’ve discovered you work better with a hoop than with gloves. Or you’ve overcome your fear of adjusting tension. Maybe you’ve discovered the joy of doodling…
Everything you’ve learned is a small victory!
Have you finished quilt or project, or learned a new motif…Victory!
Sneak Preview
We will announce the winner (drawn at random) on Friday, August 21, 2020.
(Winners outside of the US will receive the digital subscription.)
The Lesson next week is on directional stitching and we will create the Sunny Day Quilt! It’s fast and easy and sure to add a little sunshine to YOUR week!
Note About Seamstresses in Fine Art
For the past five years, LKQ Saturdays have been dedicated to “Seamstresses in Fine Art”. While I’m sure I can find another five years worth of Seamstresses (they were a very popular subject) I would like to change things up a bit…For the next several months, I plan to highlight art by museum. In August and September, I will share highlights from the collection at The Art Institute of Chicago. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago so it was my introduction to fine art, and I suppose will always be my favorite museum. Last Saturday, we started with Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on LaGrande Jatte.
I hope you will continue to be inspired by and enjoy Fine Art Saturdays--one museum at a time!
What are YOUR Little Victories
What lesson has been most helpful to you?
Is there a small insight that has made quilting easier?
Have YOU tried the Fast/Slow Exercise?
Did YOU try the spray starch smooth glide experiment?
Have YOU created any of your own experiments?
What’s YOUR quilting super power?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Your Proud American Quilter,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thank you!
Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books! They are ALL bestsellers!
238 comments
Margy Holloway
I finally learned to get out of my comfort zone and take the plunge into FMQ. I’m still learning and enjoy the lessons! Ty
Mary Cortez
Doodling mindlessly gives me a good jumping off point for my quilting. It frees up my mind and gives me confidence that I CAN do it!
Barbara Blum
Everything you have taught us so far has helped me! Doodling, practicing, relaxing but the one thing that will help me finish my multitude of quilt tops is the plastic overlay. I have a difficult time deciding how to quilt my project and being able to try different motifs on the actual top without marking it is a game changer. Also, when I am practicing I talk to myself as if Lori is right behind me guiding my hands😀.
Cheri
Where to begin! I’ve been a quilter since 1986, but never felt comfortable quilting for myself. I really think quilting started for me when I saw your first book, gifted to me! I wallowed in negative thoughts about being unable to produce a piece as good as others. I’ve followed you for a long time, but this latest quilt along helped me achieve a comfortable level of quilting. I do think that the critique of others on this journey as well as your guidance has lifted me to being ok with my style and that to me is huge! Thank you so much for the time this endeavor took for you and members of your family!
Deb Erwin
I have learned how important doodling is. Your tips on solving tension problems have been very helpful. Thank you Lori.
Rebecca J
What I have gained most in these tutorials is CONFIDENCE! having you to guide me and gently show me the steps to improve my skills has been a huge help! I have gone from someone who says ‘I really don’t do this very well..’ to being someone who says, ‘I can do this! Let’s see what Lori Kennedy says about this!’
Mary Ann Fogleman
I discovered I could fmq better without my BSR! Who knew??
Linda
I have loved this “class”! I need the daily instructions and videos to help me dare to try what I didn’t think I could! I’m a visual learner so just “reading” a book about fmq wasn’t enough to help me try. I’m still doodling, although not much better than I was when I started, but I think that’s the piece that’s helped the most….getting the muscle memory for the design in my head before I start with the machine.
Patricia Stein
I have learned about the importance of doodling and warming up on a quilt sandwich before I dive in on the actually quilt. Because of this class, I have lots of quilt sandwiches prepped and ready to go for this purpose. It really helps!
P.S. I was born in Wilmette, IL and my parents grew up in Highland Park.
Heartland Honey
My small victory was investing in a Super Slider for my Bernina 830 that resides in an Emu cabinet. I always thought the clear insert and stainless steel bed was slick enough but after reading your article decided to try a Super Slider. My quilting is much smoother. I can’t believe a small item would improve my quilting so much!
barbmorgan24gmailcom
I didn’t ever like gloves either. I like to use secretarial finger tips on my thumb and middle finger. I have found that you need to have something for your hands. Thank you for so much for your inspiration throughout the years. If I am stuck for an idea I come here. I also break open your books.
Nancy Thone
I’ve learned that fmq is just like anything else I try to learn in life – practice, practice, practice! It’s also a good idea to tell myself it is just fabric and thread – it’s not as hard as I’ve told myself it is (tell yourself the truth!).
Joan Finn
I have learned to gain confidence and patience in my free motion quilting adventure!
susan jane konkel
Enjoy looking…praying for the day I will again have time to sew.
Mary Seurer
The importance of doodling first!
Rita Montgomery
I have learned many things but am really enjoying doodling.
featherweight48
For me the plastic overlay was a wonderful way to see a particular motif would work for what was in my head. Before that I would finish the top and was stuck on how I wanted to quilt. So I just put it away. I had the extra vinyl so made several. I also use it to go over my doodles a few times to make it clear in my head which direction I want to move. These classes are so much fun!!
Donna noble
I been following your posts for years and have learned so much. I went from I can’t free motion quilt to having the confidence to do it. While it still is not my favorite part of quilting I am getting better and as I get better I like it more.
Anne
I finally learned to get over my fear of doodling.
Karen McMahon
I have been doodling and really like doing it. I think I even see some improvement.
Elaine in North Texas
I have loved your new lessons this year. I have been a follower for several years. Now with staying home so much I am quilting quite a few of the tops that have been completed in the past few years. Your lessons have been great reminder of things I may have forgot about. Love your quilting designs. Thank you so much.
Janet
I’ve followed you for a very long time. You have shown me how to not be afraid to try new things and that doodling is helpful and fun. You’re blog has inspired me to finish many of my quilts with confidence. Thank You.
Jill McCormick
Love this FMQ tutorial. So much more comfortable with the whole idea. I am practicing up to take on a queen size quilt for my daughter and her soon to be husband, which I would have never considered before. Thank you!
So creative and it’s contagious.
Jill McCormick
Janette
Have followed for years now, but constantly learning. You have given me the knowledge to doodle ,FMQ,
constantly to improve. Have finished some quilts , that l am very proud of. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and creativity. God Bless!
Elizabeth Boyle
I’ve started! That’s big for me. I love your book. I had it spiral bound and it is open by my side as I doodle and practice. It’s like an encouraging friend!
Alice kish
Hand position and using your thumb and index finger to guide gives me so much more precision than I have had. It makes me concentrate to always be aware of hand position.
Cindy Clark
WOW! I don’t even know where to begin! Well, I guess I do…doodle, doodle, doodle! This has helped me immensely, as well as gentle reminders to use a fresh needle, clean out the lint, oil my machine, and adjust the speed (never realized I could) and tension. Practice, practice, practice…relax the shoulders! But, the best thing to come out of this pandemic quiltalong is all the great support, encouragement and ideas from my fellow class members and of course Lori’s sense of humor, which puts a smile on my face every day. Thank you everybody… you bring me JOY!
Cynthia J. Clark
Oh, and best of all, I have weaned myself of my BSR!
Jen D
Thank you so much for having this quilt along! I enjoy all three of your books and try incorporating your designs in my fmq🥰
Eva
Lori you gave me the inspiration to try FMQ. I’ve now completed many quilts and wall hangings. The more I quilt the better I get. My granddaughters quilt has “hidden” motifs throughout the whole quilt. Such fun to quilt! Thank you for the inspiration!
Ping
I’ve been so blessed by your generosity and gift of teaching over the years that I’ve followed your blog and bought your books. It has taken me a while but I’ve finally learnt to accept that the quirks and variations in my imperfect quilting are what makes it MY quilt and adds to its personality. I’m a bit OCD and used to be so frustrated that not each and every stitch was perfect or symmetrical, so this revelation has almost been life changing! Now, I can say I truly enjoy the process of quilting and relax knowing that I’m not going to be judged on how perfectly I can quilt. Thank you so much, Lori!
Vickie Bell
I am not overly confident yet doing FMQ… probably because I am intimidated by my guild members who do such an awesome job and have been doing it for years. However I have made some progress. Not enough time to practice and piece all the projects I want to do! Thank you for all the information.
Glenda Britten
This has been a wonderful journey. Every lesson has been so helpful. My confidence has grown tremendously. Thank you Lori for taking on such a large class of us.
Mary Honas
I am an instructor of basic quilting classes at my local quilt shop and have a long arm–hand guided. I love how you break all the steps down to its simplest components. The parts that I was good at I understand better and the other parts I’ve gotten better at doing. Everything feels so much easier.
Linda Gless
Thank you for all of your helpful emails. I’ve had a chance to read many, but no chance to put them into practice yet because my sewing room is packed up to move next week. I’ve saved every one of them though and will be sew happy to be settled in my new home and start to work on them!
Nina
Doodling has become a favorite pastime. It is a very creative experience and relaxing. ThU for encouraging this!
Now I always having a pastime if I have to wait, … also great when watching TV.
Also, I have a solution, hint ….. a bit unusual but it works.
I have a set of Encyclopedias, [ remember those?!] which I frequently use for pressing pieced blocks.
However, they also work if I need an addition at the level of my sewing desk. I use the books to raise a nearby coffee table to the same height as my sewing machine. It works great and it is very sturdy!
Claudia T
First off, what a nice gift and thanks for the opportunity to win a year’s subcription. Secondly, so very many tips and techniques that have been so helpful. I think the flower motif was a comforting light bulb moment! That motif is beautiful and it also when finished appears flawless as it covers many mistakes. But once I lost the fear and felt the rhythm of motion, it was like joy exploding. I loved it and felt free with it and the overall look is wonderful. Many thanks to you Lori for all your wonderful ideas and teaching. Claudia
Nancy C Nuetzel
Your book is a joy. Love how you inspire everyone.
pattypooh222
I have learned that i need more time to quilt!
Bette
My quilting victory is that I’ve returned to my sewing room to make quilts after months of struggling with a series of family and COVID related hardships. I had completely lost interest in my quilting passion, and it was frightening. I made many masks but it was a joyless process, done purely out of a sense of obligation. I’ve finally regained my balance and rediscovered the happiness quilting brings. Thanks Lori, for your always wonderful blog,
Rita
Doodling has become my pastime along with then applying it with starting practice and improving my free motion. I love the book and having it at my side and your online views.
Thank you,
Rita
Kathy Hansen
Working with the thread tension was very helpful for me. Poor tension will stop the entire free motion work until I can get it fixed. I appreciate the additional troubleshooting tips for getting the stitching at it’s best, along with forgiveness as long as the top stitching looks the best. thank you!
Kathy
Cindie Barr
Ive been motivated by seeing the work of other quilters. I like the hand position tip.
Lisa Smith
The most amazing quilt-changing lesson for me was your very first one about making a stack of quick quilt sandwiches! That simple suggestion has allowed me to sit down spontaneously and try out new ideas–machine settings, motifs, threads–that I confess I never would have done before. I am so grateful! My two cats are pretty happy also, since the completed sandwiches have become favorite napping spots. Thank you, from all of us!
Becci Lund
Doodling. I need to do more!
Madonna Robins
I have never quilted before. I machine embroidered. Being locked down with the pandemic I figured I would learn something new. Boy, have I enjoyed your sessions. At first I was totally overwhelmed…now… I can hardly wait every morning to check my email to see what I will discover today. I’ve started and almost completed my first composition book . Doodling was foreign to me.now it’s a part of my daily routine at the sewing machine. Through your direction I’ve discovered my sewing machine has capabilities I never realized before (Bernina 780E) and the idea of having quilt sandwiches ready has been a life savor. I’m now progressed from paper to fabric and loving it. have my first quilt on the machine now. The Supreme Slider is wonderful! Never looked at quilting magazines, so I’d enjoy being introduced to AQ. Thank you for your encouragement and your wonderful creativity! Im just amazed. you have opened up a new world to me.
swakins
I have learned the value of practice, practice, practice!
Janet Solarz
I love your book. Your motifs are so inspirational!
Lori Ptak
I have learned that you shouldn’t keep trying to FMQ if your foot pedal is not working consistently! And that my machine doesn’t like Coats and Clark Dual Duty polyester in the top thread.
Donna Mueller
I think the tip you gave regarding “listen to the sound of the motor” was pretty valuable to me. I was doing a “What am I grateful for “exercise and I thought about my eyesight and quilting And how dependent on sound I would need to become. Your tip was timely and somewhat comforting.
Grew up in the suburbs of Chicago too! Brookfield, Lagrange, Oak Brook, now Elmhurst.
Donna Gillespie
I wa so fortunate to take a Class with you in Maui January 2020. Have been following your blog since then. Love doodling! I’m enjoying your blog!
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