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
chriscampos500
FMQ is something I have been working on for the past two years and I see improvement with each new design especially when I practice on paper first. Probably the only rule I “break”is not burying the stitches until I run out of Bobbin thread, I am usually too excited to get quilting.
Kay Rice
I don’t know what the rules actually are. Would like to learn them. Then I can break them.
Lane
I’m still new at this. So its definitely too soon to know which rules to break. Lol. X
Sharon Hopkins
I usually love the end result of making quilts. I am not sure I break any rules but I am willing!
Pat D
I usually just make my quilts my own way, not following strict rules/
Mary Green
I have a general idea where I want to go with the piecing and colors of my quilts, but I don’t have a firm blueprint. I do my own thing. Most of them have been successful, but there have been a few flops here and there. I’ve been piecing and quilting for 35-plus years.
Linda L.
Hi! I started out quilting on my own so I was well on my way before anybody told me there were rules to follow. Some of them have made sense but most of the time I just go my own way … which does result in having to re-do things sometimes 😉
Jean Balliro
I love using your fusible. It’s the best
Kathy Mullins-Engelhardt
I don’t want to quilt only in the empty spaces, I like some quilting motifs that go over the seam lines also.
Betty Mewszel
love quilting…sure I am breaking rules but I am happy with the end results
Darci Wolff
Would love to be more “free” with my quilting!
Elaine Seigal
I am one of those people who like to follow the rules. I spend way to much time burying the ends of the threads! I will have to try your new method.
Julie Little
I brrak the rule of never crossing over a stitch line. I have made some interesting pattrns by doing it.
Kari Jones
Hi! Just found your blog so I’m not sure what all the rules are yet. ????
Pat Knight
I am always crossing over lines. After all, it’s my quilt!
Laverne
I’m not sure what the rules are since I like to do what seems logical to me, of course, sometimes I learn it my seem logical, but does not always work, or I realize there must have been an easier way
Debby in Upstate New York
I don’t bury the knots all the time. I love to backstitch a few stitches then forward stitch right over the top so I can just cut my starting threads off! I am such a rebel.
Bev Gunn
I usually play by my own rules-make them up as I go along and then promptly forget them!
Kennedy Sherri
I break too many to list them all here.
Phyllis
I usually bury the knot but would like to branch out and try your method with the spiral.
Carol
Hi, as I am fairly new to quilting I really don’t know all the rules so probably break most of them lol.m
Sally Heilinger
I pretty much stick to the rules although I make up new ways to do things. Is that rule breaking?
Karen A
I don’t care much about rules, I just do what works for me.
Sandy Szucs
I am fairly new to quilting, not sure if I am breaking any rules.
Annette Moore
I rarely use pins, and I believe there are no quilt police. So I break all the rules
jeanette Tuttle-Hamer
Hi, I just started quilting so believe I need the rules until I’m more comfortable
Mary Lou Paoletti
Hi, love your quilting on this Quilt. Can’t say I’ve ever taken much stock in a belief in the Quilt police.
sewincolor
I break the rule about washing all your fabric. There are probably a few more I break!
LaRue
I’m sure I’m breaking many rules since I’ve never actually read the rule book on quilting. As long as it comes out and is a finished project, I don’t get too crazy with the rules.
Quilting in Maine
I use more than an 18 ” thread when hand quilting. Rule that was given to me years ago–no thread longer than 18 “.
Perri Ann Kaufman
I probably break the rules with thread……I use whatever I have that matches as long as it is not so old it breaks. I am a thrifty quilter and thread is expensive.
Helen Glover
I try to follow the rules that I know because they seem to make things work out better! Those I don’t know, don’t matter! lol! Thanks for the giveaway! I am signing up for your blog now too.
Kellie Campbell
I am sure I break some quilting rules but I’m not sure which ones because I’m a confident beginner and I’m on my own with no help except from all of these blogs and all of them have been life savers and quilt savers for me. Hi!!!! Thank y’all so much
Donna Hawley
I try to follow the sensible rules like 1/4′ seams, pressing, points etc but I’m sure there are many that I don’t even know about.
Barbara Massey
Break rules who does that? LOL. Have to know them to break them?
Melissa Meinhard
I try to follow all the rules, but I’m still learning and the quilt police bust me more than I’d like
tricia p
If you haven’t quilted anything yet, then I guess you haven’t broken any rules!
Edi
I don’t know the rules, therefore I’m sure I break them more often than anyone else. Your quilt is gorgeous!!!
Helen Dart
Quilting & sewing are my passion & the only rule I follow is to relax, enjoy & create treasures that I am happy with & love to give to Family & Friends. I do use a scant 1/4″ seam as it gives a beautiful finish to my projects.
Thank you for the chance to win.
Enjoy creating.
Bethni Lee
When I see a seam going the wrong way, and don’t feel like undoing it, I take small scissors and cut the seam up to just before the thread at the corner of the block where all the seams meet, and press the seam the correct way. That way the seam isn’t twisted, and lays flat, and I don’t have to use my seam ripper!!
Joyce Stratton
I don’t always wear my glove when cutting with my rotary cutter.
Regina T.
“Hi”
Rosemarie Klein
I want to get the quilt project done so I will not iron the seams after addding a row. I just keep adding the next row.
Kathy Launius
Try to follow what rules I know
Donna F
I break so many. As long as the top looks good on top, who knows how many rules I have broken. I like to add a bit of me to a BOM project. Plus I am left handed. Do I have to say anything more? Happy Creating
pat
the ironing
sewncreations
I am new to quilting so may be breaking lots of rules as I learn.
ADKKate
Not sure that I know what the rules are 🙂 so not certain if I am breaking any or not!
Donna Rogers
I try to follow the rules. But sometimes it is fun to run with the scissors. Just kidding, but it is fun not to follow rules.
Michele
Working on a baby quilt today. not quite enough batting, I sew pieces together so I have enough. Its a patch job..but it works for me..Am I breaking the rules??
Comments are closed.