Good Morning, Quilters!
Today, we are going to learn how to machine quilt a turkey pattern and discuss a few tips for creating better quilting stitches.
Be sure to read to the end to see how YOU can receive FREE Tom the Turkey stationery!
Tom the Turkey
This tutorial was created for BERNINA’s We All Sew blog
Tom the Turkey tutorial includes a short video on BERNINA’s Facebook page HERE
Listen to the Speed for Even Stitches!
I’m stitching Mr. Tom on my beautiful BERNINA Q20 in manual mode-without the stitch regulator.
Note that I am not a fast quilter, but I try to keep a very even speed as I stitch.
When I get to Tom’s eye, I slow down for more careful stitching.
When you are learning to quilt even stitches, listen to your machine.
Keep the tempo even, then adjust your hands to the machine speed.
Slow down to stitch small details.
Thread Weight
When stitching Tom, be sure to use heavy weight thread on top, but don’t use heavy weight thread in the bobbin! 50 wt thread is perfect in the bobbin.
This follows a general rule: to create a focus motifs-use heavy weight thread.
Use 50 wt thread in the bobbin. (I usually use Aurifil, 50 wt cotton).
When using heavy weight thread on top, you do NOT need to match thread weight in the bobbin. Medium weight thread lasts longer in the bobbin than a heavy weight. In addition, most machines stitch well with 50 wt thread in the bobbin because manufacturers calibrate the bobbins with 50 wt thread.
Read all about thread weight and see my handy Thread Weight Reference Chart HERE
Hostess Gifts Anyone?
Tom the Turkey is perfect for quilting your Thanksgiving decorations. Consider adding a row of turkeys to the border of a table runner. Or use stabilizer and a rafter of turkeys to a kitchen towels.
(see my Mushroom towels HERE)
Wouldn’t a set of hand made towels make a perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving?
Do YOU know what else makes perfect gifts? Quilting Books!
Even better with quilt motif inspired cards!
FREE Block Print Cards with TWO Book Purchase!
For a limited time only…(Until November 18, 2019) ….Receive four block print cards when you purchase any two books from my Etsy shop!
You will receive two (3-1/2 by 5 inch) Tom the Turkey cards, one Spool of Thread and one Vintage Scissor card as well as four envelopes when you purchase two books!
Buy one for YOU and one for a friend!!!
Four books? Eight cards!!
Four Books in my Etsy Shop
My quilting books include chapters with Skillbuilding, Doodling, Design as well as 60 motifs each!
Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 (THE Original Fun Filled Book–Leaves, Flowers, Patterns and More)
More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 (Seasonal Motifs, Holiday patterns, and several sewing-inspired motifs like the scissor and spool of thread!)
Books edited by Karen Burns and Amelia Johnson which each include four of my designs!
180 Doodle Designs: Free Motion Ideas for Blocks, Borders and Beyond
The Countdown Begins!
The holidays are just weeks away!
Are YOU making any quilted gifts?
Do YOU host or travel for Thanksgiving?
Would YOU rather quilt or cook?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Gobble, Gobble!
(I’d rather stitch a turkey than roast one!)
Lori Hen-nedy!
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 Lori Kennedy Quilts. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!
8 comments
Amy N.
Piece and quilt of course! I do cook–especially in batches so that I can quilt for days without cooking. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to batch cook! I consider it prep for a sew-fest!
Sandy
Yes, I would rather quilt than cook!
Suzanne
Well, I’m only making a few quilted gifts this year. I started planning in August, but time has gone by so fast!! I’ve been making a pretty blue, white & silver star-shaped table topper for my sister-in-law, and I’m really trying to finish the t-shirt quilt my daughter has been waiting for since I can’t remember. I’m working on a dress to wear at my grandson’s wedding this month, I have at least 3 UFO’s waiting to be quilted, my quilting buddies and I have been making lots of cute stuff to sell at our bi-annual Christmas sale at church, there’s a pair of my husband’s pants still waiting to be taken in and shortened and one of my neighbors wants to learn how to sew, so I’ve been teaching her once a week. It’s gonna be a busy month!
I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year and it will be a quiet one. We’ve lost a few family members in recent years. From one standpoint it’s a little sad, but it’s also lovely in that we’ll have time and space to give each other some one-on-one attention, and dinner won’t be overwhelming to prepare. Plus, the 26th is my daughter’s birthday so Thanksgiving is always a double celebration and we enjoy it.
And would I prefer to quilt or cook? Do you need to ask, why QUILT of course!!
Your turkey is adorable!
Rena Christensen
I’d rather quilt than cook anything anymore. Love your books. I have 2 of them. I will be adding Tom the Turkey to the holiday motifs. Thank you for such wonderful inspiration!
Susan
I don’t mind cooking a turkey–I love the leftovers and I am better at that than I am at quilting. Sometimes we travel and sometimes we host. I am hoping to make gifts for the holidays,.
Marta
These two turkeys are so cute! I love that their eyes are not alike… very expressive. Going to Nevada to visit our son for Thanksgiving…be gone two weeks. My husband says I cannot take my sewing machine on the airplane.. : ( He should know how much sewing I could get done in 2 weeks while son is at work. : ( Maybe I can find a quilt shop to hang out in !!
Nancy Mathisrud
See if the local quilt shop has a machine you could rent. My husband plans most of the trips, my job is to find the quilt stores. He knows he needs to plan for stops.
Marta
Aha ! Great idea… thank you! I think I will start a search online..
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