Good Morning, Quilters!
Have YOU been working on the I Love Home Block of the Month with us?
The project is adorable and the instructions are fabulous!
Jacquelynne Steves Art of Home blog is full of great ideas-be sure to check it out. This week Jacquelynne has a round up of Snowman projects -and I will add my Snowman Machine Quilting Tutorial HERE)
BORDER AND FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS
This month we add the borders and finish our quilts. Find the detailed instructions at The Art of Home HERE
MACHINE QUILTING TIPS
Quilt Density–Remember that the density of the quilting should be even across the quilt, but some areas of the quilt may be more densely quilted than others.
For example, I used a very large version of the Sweetheart Border (Tutorial HERE) around the edges to create contrast.
Repeat and Vary-Choose a few motifs and quilt them in different areas of the quilt to unify the quilting design. You only have to learn a few motifs and you will create a more cohesive looking quilt. For example, I repeated spirals, twist and hearts frequently within the quilt.
Choose a Theme-If you have a theme, like Hearts and Homes, use it to choose your motifs.
Add phrases or lettering-I love to add phrases to quilts. It helps to reinforce your theme and keeps the viewer looking.
Be willing to modify your plan -Even when you plan well and create samples, sometimes things don’t work out. In this quilt, I started with light blue thread to stitch the center blocks. After one block, I could see that there wasn’t enough contrast. I changed thread for the other three and will have to tear out the first one (something I rarely do!) It’s better to fix one block than forge ahead with a mistake and hate your quilt forever!
If you like these motifs and tips, be sure to check out my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 or any of my Craftsy Videos!
THERMOWEB GIVEAWAY
This month’s lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from Thermoweb!
Here at The Inbox Jaunt, we’ve been talking about the “Quilt Police” and breaking quilt rules, for instance, I wrote about the easy machine quilting knot I use.
To ENTER the contest, please leave a comment. Tell us about a quilt “rule” YOU break or one you would like to break! If you don’t break any rules–just say “Hi”
The contest closes on December 9th and please watch your email and check back here to see if you have won!
MORE THIS WEEK:
We have a busy week here at The Inbox Jaunt…invisible thread, quilt backings, holiday motifs, tree doodles and more!!!!
I can’t wait to see what YOU create!
Your Happy Housekeeper,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
PS. MORE CHANCES TO WIN
- The Crafty Quilter
- The Inbox Jaunt
- Designs by Sarah J
- Farmhouse Quilts
- Penguin and Fish
- Podunk Pretties
- The Quilting Nook
- The Sewing Loft
POST YOUR PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK
We would love to see your quilts! Join Jacquelynne’s Facebook group HERE
290 comments
Robin
I hate to use pins for the binding. Binding clips it is!
Celia McCollum
Rules…I don’t believe that’s a word in my vocabulary! LOL
Debra Ingle
well I think some rules were meant to be broken, so every once in a while (wink 😉 I do break a rule or two, not changing my needle, or rotary blade when needed, maybe not pressing every seam ect. but I get it done. and love doing it. would love to win. Thank you for the opportunity.
Linda Cathey
Rules! Ha ha ha!!
K
I am a ‘seat of the pants’ sewer & quilter: I tend to do what will give the results I want, regardless of ‘rules’ & more often than not, it works out ok. Occasional seam ripping or something of that nature required, but for the most part, ‘winging it’ works out for my projects!
Brenda
I am new to quilting so probably breaking a lot of rules but a wise quilter I know says better done than perfect! I love that!
Carol Nelms
I made a quilt last year that broke the rules, good thing no quilt police saw the end result, but I love it, it is on my bed. The fabrics were a reproduction for the background, and a batik and a print were the other 2 colors. Oops!
Deena Paine
I’m going to say Hi just in case I don’t break any rules of Quilting. I;m sure I do, but I don’t want to admit that I don’t know the rules, except you must iron everything and starch is wonderful also.
Sandy R.
Rules?? I haven’t conquered FMQ yet so I guess I don’t really have any rules to report! I just need to machine quilt a whole lot more before I’m happy with it..
Diane N
Not changing the needle on my machine and the blade on my rotary cutter are the two rules I know I break. I am too new to know many actual rules!
Kaye Hlavaty
Not changing my needle as often as suggested would be the rule that first comes to mind…..probably because I know it’s way past time to change it!
Elaine Morton
Nothing is perfect.
Linda Heckman
Haven’t made a quilt in several years, but am ready to attempt it again! Would love to win this package!
Pamela Reim
I have been known to sew over pins,,,
Debbie B.
Not sure of all the rules but perhaps one I break is failing to consistently iron my seams.
Beth
My quilt, my rules’ lol! Also, my rules change to accommodate what I do, hehe!
Della Fultz
Hi there I have not been quilting long enough to break any rules yet.
Sondra Hill
I try not to break the rules as I am a beginner, but I do. Ha ha ha ha ha. But I am having fun!!
Elaine Huntsinger
If I ignore the rules, then I don’t have to consider breaking them!!
Peggy Payne
I probably break them all….lol
Michele Stevenson
Hi, hope everyone is having a great day!
doni boyd
I was quick to break the rule of constructing quilts in rows. All those joins, one after another … I love to put my quilts together in “twosies/foursies” Sew all the blocks together in twosies, then combine them into foursies … keep going … there will be a time that you’ll have to do ‘threesies” or some other odd number. But you get the idea. Happy Holidays – doni @ Oregon coast
Sue
since I don’t know what the rules are, I don’t know if I break any.
Tanya
Hmm, if there are no rules, there’s nothing to break! I teach my grands the way I do it and let them know they are free to follow their heart and forge a new trail. Yes, there are mistakes made but it forces them to think through for a solution. What fun we have!
juliaetta
After I saw your “rule breaking” way to secure the beginning of a quilting line, I used it immediately on a darling baby quilt I designed. I love, love, LOVE the freedom it affords me! So much time and worrisome fidgeting this trick of yours saved me!
Bonnie L Thiem
Hi. The only thing I can think of is I rarely use pins except when absolutely necessary.
hands2hearts
Too many to list! After all “rules are meant to be broken”, hehe
Valerie Brooks
Hi…I enjoy all the tips and rules you send. I don’t know I am breaking a rule until I read the right way to do it. Keep the ideas coming.
Jody
My rules allow for flexibility! House rules are allowed-Right?!
Amy W
I follow the rules until I become more familiar with the technique. Then I tweak them a little bit.
Debra DeVerter
On some quilt patterns I press the seams open….
Annette Canonica
I’m not sure I know the “rules” but I try not to confine myself and just quilt what I like.
Love your blog!
Polly O'Laughin
I don’t always press to the dark side, press it flat as I can get it
Cheryl Buchanan
I try the rules but if they don’t work, I’ll do what’s easiest as long as my quilt looks good.
nancy seitz
Quilt police? It’s a good thing are none as I break rules. I need to practice, practice, practice.
Sally
I love the sweetheart quilting. The block of the month quilting projects are so much fun.
Kathy Kauth
Hi and Merry Christmas
Terri Salaski Laudenbach
Hi,…I don’t do much quilting so I just saying hi.
Patti Serenko
I just do what seems to make sense. You mean to tell me that there are rules? Yikes!
Marilyn Garcia
I use all types and textures in my quilts
Debbie
What rules? I really love suggestions on shortcuts when quilting
Janet Alford
Hi!
Jenni Roberts
Hi, I haven’t used Thermoweb before and when I first read about the giveaway I thought it said Thermomix ????
Brenda West
Hi there. I am a beginner quilter – so have probably broken most all rules – just don’t know what they were to break. Oh my. Will learn more as I go – so want to be as good as you. Thanks.
Judy Sanders
Hi
NancyinSTL
I always use a shortened stitch length, about 20/inch, when piecing my blocks to keep the seams from coming apart at the edges, because often my exchange blocks sit for a long time and get handled a lot before they are sewn into a quilt. Nope, I do not have a problem with my seam ripper on these seams.
Also, I don’t cut or sew my binding strips on the bias for my rectangular or square quilts, unless I want my stripes or plaid bindings on the diagonal.
Helma
I’m piecing and quilting by machine. For some peaople that means that I break rules 😉
Evelyne Carlen
Hi. I can’t think of any rules at the moment but am not really a rule breaking person. Thanks for the chance to win.
shoshana
i’m pretty much self taught, [although i’ve learned a TON from you and from nancy mcnally! on the computer], so i don’t really know what most of the rules are!!!!
Eleanor
I really try to follow the rules, and listen to what my teacher tells me. I don’t always “press” the seams enough, though (because I’m afraid of scorching the fabric). Thanks for this opportunity.
Jane Opp
I confess to generally being a rule follower, but do try to break out of the box from time to time!
Cy Swendsen
Hi! My rule breaking days are over, but I don’t let the “quilting Police” determine how I make MY quilts.
Comments are closed.