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
Helen Johnston
Practice, practice, practice, and a hoop work best for me. Love reading your blog, Lori!
Karen
I have loved every tutorial.and the opportunity to learn quilting techniques. I’m trying to doodle and it seems to get easier each time! I especially like messy spirals and wishbones and even used them on a quilt sashing! Confidence is growing but I’ve still got a LONG way to go. Thanks so much for your teaching and encouragement.
Jenny Garcia
I’m so much more confident now that I’ve had specific practice. Thanks for all the tips and encouragement, Lori!
sewwonderful
I fell in love with quilts when I was 5. I clearly remember sitting in the sun on a scrap quilt and looking for pieces of fabric from clothes my mom had made for us. The quilt was made by my grandmother and her church group. The quilt was thrown out when I 6. My mom had an unplanned home birth and the quilt was used during the delivery. Even though I learned to sew at an early age, I did not make my first quilt until I was pregnant with my first child at the age or 25.
sewwonderful
Oops, I hit send before I finished my comments: Now, after 40 plus years of making quilts, I am determined to learn FMQ. Lori’s class is helping me make this goal possible. Thank you for the wonderful free lessons and support in the Facebook community.
M teresa García alfranca
Me ha gustado mucho tu curso. Me he quitado el miedo a acolchar. Ahora práctico tus diseños. Gracias por el sorteo
Deborah King
I can do this! I have learned to stop critiquing my stitches. I am still struggling with designs for blocks but I am not afraid to anymore. ore.
Betsy
My “little victory” is finally trying FMQ and learning that with the help of you, these tutorials and the other members I CAN DO IT!
Debbie Thornton
Love, love, love your books and your emails I get everyday!!! You are quite an inspiration & I have learned a ton from you! Thank you so much!!!
Kathy Meunier
Enjoy your blog, it is terrific. I recently mastered the square flower, when I doodled it, it came together quite fast and even looked good on paper, to my surprise. I have now quilted it 3 times with great results. Thank your Lori for inventing and teaching us this design.
Susan Stanton
I’ve been working on my tension settings, one increment at a time. I was happy to find the one that is perfect for me and my machine! Now I have the quilt sample to refer to for future stitching. Thanks, Lori!
Patti Neavin
I’ve learned that it’s ok to not be perfect. Perfection stops you from starting.
Elaine Koehler
I have been enjoying doodling and stitching as many new motifs as I can. The sneak peek of next week’s lesson looks lucsious ! Thank you for your encouragement to keep trying.
Beverly Towne
Don’t know where to begin, I’ve learned so much. As a novice quilter the whole process seems overwhelming at times, but this part has been pure fun. Thank you Lori.
Nan Wilson
I a enjoying the tips. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference. Doodling!!
Terry Helms
Doodles really do help me. I’m trying to leave lots of paper in room where I watch TV so I can doodle during every commercial.
Shari Henry
I am having fun and learning so much about free motion quilting.
Yvonne Blush
I so enjoyed your tutorials as I had no idea how to go about fmq. I have tried many of your designs and love how they look. Thanks
Barbie D
You have so many good tips in your e-mails! The most important tip, so far, is to PRACTICE doodling! Thanks for sharing your talents!
EllenB
For me, I’m learning that perfection is overrated. I’ve been so pleased with my quilting on my piecing!
Patty Woods
I’m learning so much! Too much to write in a sentence. Love the messy spirals and discovering I am better going with some speed!
Jocelyn
I was a doodler in high school but quit during my busy mothering and teaching years. And now, I have given myself permission to doodle away!!
sondra ordway
My biggest victories are that 1) I can use different color bobbin and upper thread workout it coming through very often and 2) I no longer feel I have to hide my quilting (stitch length more even and stitches smoother). Both of these enormously expand the possibilities of what I can quilt.
Beth S.
I learnt that I don’t really like wearing gloves, but am able to move the quilt using a hoop. Funny thing, my hoop came with my extension table, and I never even tried it before these lessons.
Nancy HUGO
Lori, I so love your free motion quilting!
BoxySweaterGal
I love messy spirals but am learning not to “overfill” them because I like them better when I leave lots of empty space.
The second best thing I’ve learned so far is to slow it down a bit so my hands don’t get ahead of my brain. When I remember to do this, my stitches are more even and I have fewer Curve eyelashes on the back.
The best thing: doodle and have fun. When I’m doing both, my stitching goes much better.
Cathy Wilson
Spray starching the backs of my quilts has been a game changer! Your blog was one of the first I started reading when I began to quit and I’ve learned so much from you!
hhedrick3516
I have learned that i can doodle. I still don’t like it but i can see how it is helping me. Thank you for all your instruction!
Bonnie Larson
Wow. Amazing giveaway. I held a membership for a time years ago and then due to circumstances had to drop it. I do miss the magazine, so this would be an awesome prize. Thanks. I have been focused on finishing UFO’s during Covid, so have been practicing more FMQ and the consistency has really help build my confidence.
Donna W.
I just applied extra starch to the quilt backing I will be quilting next. I have a Supreme Slider also but haven’t used it much. Hope those two ideas will bring me better results.
Karen Fairbrother
I love AQS and American Quilter magazine; I’ve been a subscriber for many years and was delighted when they started using Lori’s tutorials! I usually start from the back of the magazine and check that feature out first! If you don’t win Lori’s give away, I would highly recommend subscribing to AQS, they have so much to offer at a very modest price; it is so worth it! The favorite thing that I gained from this quilt a long….. I purchased a “Boogie Board” to learn new designs… draw, repeat, erase, draw, repeat, erase…. so much fun!
Mary Kay
I am best at messy spirals. This class has helped me lose some of my fear of not having it just so and trying new things.
Debbi Russell
Making the Farmers Wife quilt top was the catalyst for learning to FMQ with Lori. I’ll need to be skilled in order to do the quilting on this top. This free online class has been not only easy to follow but fun. An enjoyable experience.
Linda Isfeld
I do like to doodle and keep the muscle memory going! Thank you..
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!
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.
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.
Janet Solarz
I love your book. Your motifs are so inspirational!
swakins
I have learned the value of practice, practice, practice!
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.
Becci Lund
Doodling. I need to do more!
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!
Cindie Barr
Ive been motivated by seeing the work of other quilters. I like the hand position tip.
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
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
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,
pattypooh222
I have learned that i need more time to quilt!
Nancy C Nuetzel
Your book is a joy. Love how you inspire everyone.
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
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!
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!
Comments are closed.