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
Susan L.
I don’t like to break any quilting rules. :-/
Sara Beth
I have only completed one quilt (a newbie!) and just put the recipient’s name on it. I’m working on a Christmas panel right now for my apartment building door. Since it’ll be hanging inside my building, I’m thinking of putting my initials and my husband’s initials on one of the present’s tags just as a fun, personal touch. 🙂
Linda Hulen
I do not always think to label my quilts. I am sure I break other rules, but I don’t have the Official Rule Book For Quilters, so I am not sure what the rules are!
Becci lund
I hardly ever label my quilts. Only. When I enter into a show!
Pat Knight
I break rules all the time! I figure this is my quilt and I am not making it to be judged. So I cross lines, do loops, etc. This is supposed to be fun, right?
Sue LD
I am new to quilting so I don’t think I have broken any rules yet.
Judy Buzby
Hi Lori… I break them all with glee!
Julie E. Lyon
I’m just starting my quilting adventure and I honestly don’t know what the rules are! But I am learning a lot and wish I could go back and redo the first quilts I made, but I won’t I will just move forward!
Terry
Love your finish Lori – of course, your quilting is amazing! Thank you for inspiring me… I’m generally a rule follower so try to make my quilts according to directions but, as they’re usually family gifts (and no-one else in my family sews) then it doesn’t matter if I break some rules along the way….
Mary Kay
I am still learning the rules so I know what to break.
Darrell
Hello, two rules that I try not to break (but am not always successful) is cutting off star points because my slant 1/4 inch seem is not perfect and not labeling my quilts right away. But I am working on this.
dquilterguy48329 (at) prodigy (dot) net
quiltedpixel
Thw quilt police could never find me in my sewinf room. They would be buried under an avalanche of wip’s, scraps, patterns, etc.
Melody Cerra
I have never been able to do true meandering so a quilting friend show me how to loop d loop which solved my problem but is against the rules.
WordPress.com Support
No!! That’s not against the rules!! And I can’t meander either!!
LINDA
HI, I seldom mark 1/4″ seaming+still have very accurate piecing (probably done it so so much!) Thanks for Your Blog+this neat giveaway!
Rebecca Kettler
I sometimes mark fabric for cutting with a regular pencil and sometimes even a ball point pen! I’m not sure just how egregious that is, since I figure you won’t see those raw edges anyway…and I have yet to have it bleed onto the fabric that you can see.
Jean Kahr
I’ve been quilting for about 18 months. I can’t think of any rules I break, but I try the multiple ways almost anything in quilting can be done “right” and figure out what works best for me.
ll13077
Hi!
The Quilt Police live in my head {along with my mother & others 😉 } so I couldn’t live with the guilt if I broke one of the rules!
Marsha
Lovely finish, Lori! I must admit mine isn’t started yet. Too many projects too finish for Christmas, so it will be a January project. I agree with Kristine T a pot costing over quilting lines. My quilts aren’t entered into contests and my family members don’t know the rule!
Terry
I must break all the rules, because I don’t know what they are. Sometimes my points aren’t as pointy as they should be or my different fabrics float and don’t touch exactly, but since they now have rulers you can buy to make your blocks wonkey and crooked so it looks like you can’t sew a straight line — I think the quilt police have lost their authority. At least they have at my house.
spierssusan
If the quilt calls for it, instead of adding a binding, I will sew a sandwich – right side together – leave an opening to turn inside out! Thank you, Susan
Kristine T
I was told to not cross over any other quilt stitching when quilting. That rule gets broken all the time!
Connie
I have never buried my threads. I just stitch in place or backstich and get to it. Having ripped some quilting stitches out , I realized that these stitches are not going anywhere, especially after the quilt has been washed! So I do not worry about the stitches not holding…and burying knots sounds like lots of work!
Donna W
When I first started FMQ I tried to follow the rules. But, have found the way that I like to FMQ, and I know it breaks some of the rules.
Shar
I can see by many entries that many of you break rules that save you time. Maybe we can say change rules. Honestly, the only quilt rule in my estimation is there must be 3 layers. Otherwise, it’s quilt art. If you like how it turns out by not following standard practice, keep on doing it. If you plan to enter shows and contests, it’s probably best to follow those rules. That’s my soapbox speech.
Esther G
I don’t always label my quilts! If I make something as a gift for someone then I do, but if I’m just making it for the fun of making it, I don’t even keep a record of the pattern name or when I made it.
Lydia
I ONLY machine stitch my bindings…I am a bit allergic to any hand sewing!
Suzette
I try to use my seam ripper as little as possible when quilting. It takes the fun out of the process to redo everything that is not perfect. I get better as I go, and when I finish the quilt, I can rarely find those wobbly lines that I thought should be redone.
Lucy
I don’t bury my threads either. I just back stitch a couple stitch and cut the thread. Also, if I’m in a hurry to finish a quilt I’ll machine stitch the binding on!!
Aileen Kline
Break the rules? Are there rules? I go with what is easiest on the project I am quilting. If it for a child, I sew the binding completely by machine. If it is a swap, I do my best work but may still machine sew binding.
Linda C in TN
I can not think of any quilt rules I break. I use Heatbond. I use only cotton thread. I bury my knots. I mark my quilt before quilting. I make bias binding. I can not bring my self to machine quilt something I have worked so hard on. 🙁 I do hate to pin when I sew.
Lana's Lark
I simply backstitch to start and stop my stitching. And sometimes I press seams open to reduce bulk and don’t always press toward the dark when pressing to the side for the same reason. I let the fabric tell me what it wants to do.
Susan
Rules were made to be broken. It is not to say the rules are bad, but progress doesn’t happen without breaking some rules. If everyone followed all the rules all the time, we would still be cutting out individual pieces, sewing all by hand, etc.
Kristin
Hi all! I have been quilting for a looonnnggg time, and recently have begun putting my binding on by machine. It is wider on the back , who cares! Doing so means more time to make quilts for others as I have TOO many! Even my sons and friends don’t need any more. Donations quilts to a good cause has been something I’ve done before, now it will be an almost full time occupation!!????
Willow
Creative rules were meant to be broken 😉 as I’m constantly attempting to stretch my boundaries. You have a wonderful finish on your I Love Home Quilt, thanks for sharing.
nettiecrain
I do not bury my threads either! Most of the time I take time and care to do things properly though…..Quilting is a learning process……and I am still learning!
Happy Holidays to you and yours. nettiecrain@live.com
Barbara Johnson
Actually, there is a lady in my quilt guild who I think IS the quilt police! She is always pointing out things that she feels are done ‘incorrectly’! I just smile and thank her, then do it the way that I want to!
Anne Godwin
Thanks for all the time you take to share your creative process. It’s amazing how much you have to PAY ATTENTION when you quilt. I made a small piece last week, trying to use a ruler. I left the booboo in, just to remind myself to pay attention.
Susan Stanton
I don’t always follow the rules, I just want to end up with a nice quilt top!
Deborah A Herold
I don’t know if this is a ” rule ” or not, but more stupidity than anything. I have a tendency when finishing any hand sewing, putting the needle with leftover thread in my shirt or pants. Then I find it later by scraping my arm or hand across it. I need to get a “needle nanny” and wear whenever I am doing hand sewing, but haven’t done that yet!
WordPress.com Support
Lol!!
sunnysewsit
Well, I hardly ever sew a binding on the back by hand (rule breaker #1), and I also press seams open most of the time (breaker #2). I’m sure I also break more, such as not burying my knots in the quilt — I just use very small stitches when I start and stop.
Sharon
I’m sure I break a few rules but the only one I can think of right now is that I don’t wear protective gloves when using my rotary cutter.
Rita Long
I don’t usually prewash my fabrics. I like the look when it washed after it is done. I think it looks vintage.
Lynne F Williams
When I make a mistake piecing or longarm quilting, I used to have to pick everything out to make it right. I quilt for my family and charity quilts so now I stop my work and really look at it. Is someone else’s eye going to see this or just me because I know where it is? If I leave it a few minutes and come back to it, it looks better and on I go, no unpicking about 2/3 of the time.
Robbie Carpenter
I don’t always do a warmup sample. If I’ve been quilting on something for a couple days I will just wade right in!! Doesn’t seem to make a difference!!
Kimberly Anne Brandt
Thanks for the chance to win :0) I just like to sew and make quilts and table runners, ornaments…..the heck with the rules everything comes out fine if not perfect! And I don’t prewash my fabrics…..shhhh don’t tell. Happy Sewing and thanks for the tutorials,
Jayne P
Mostly I press my seams open, not to one side, just depends on how much I need to reduce bulk
Marti Morgan
I usually break the rules – because I don’t know the rules – but I get the job done! And I am USUALLy happy with the results.
Pat Evans
I don’t bury my thread tails, either. But I’m not doing show quilts. I also don’t pre-wash my fabrics, but at least the jury is pretty evenly spilt on that one.
Glad to see you use a different method on Jacqueline’s designs. Not sure I could do any better using free motion quilting than applique, but it does give us an alternative.
Elaine B
I’m sure I break a few rules, but I am learning to enjoy free motion quilting more all the time.
Rita
I often break rules, sometimes even on purpose! My stippling does sometimes cross itself.
Comments are closed.