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
289 comments
Annette Moore
I rarely use pins, and I believe there are no quilt police. So I break all the rules
Sandy Szucs
I am fairly new to quilting, not sure if I am breaking any rules.
Karen A
I don’t care much about rules, I just do what works for me.
Sally Heilinger
I pretty much stick to the rules although I make up new ways to do things. Is that rule breaking?
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
Phyllis
I usually bury the knot but would like to branch out and try your method with the spiral.
Kennedy Sherri
I break too many to list them all here.
Bev Gunn
I usually play by my own rules-make them up as I go along and then promptly forget them!
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.
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
Pat Knight
I am always crossing over lines. After all, it’s my quilt!
Kari Jones
Hi! Just found your blog so I’m not sure what all the rules are yet. ????
Julie Little
I brrak the rule of never crossing over a stitch line. I have made some interesting pattrns by doing it.
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.
Darci Wolff
Would love to be more “free” with my quilting!
Betty Mewszel
love quilting…sure I am breaking rules but I am happy with the end results
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.
Jean Balliro
I love using your fusible. It’s the best
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 😉
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.
Pat D
I usually just make my quilts my own way, not following strict rules/
Sharon Hopkins
I usually love the end result of making quilts. I am not sure I break any rules but I am willing!
Lane
I’m still new at this. So its definitely too soon to know which rules to break. Lol. X
Kay Rice
I don’t know what the rules actually are. Would like to learn them. Then I can break them.
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.
Cy Swendsen
Hi! My rule breaking days are over, but I don’t let the “quilting Police” determine how I make MY quilts.
Jane Opp
I confess to generally being a rule follower, but do try to break out of the box from time to time!
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.
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!!!!
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.
Helma
I’m piecing and quilting by machine. For some peaople that means that I break rules 😉
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.
Judy Sanders
Hi
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.
Jenni Roberts
Hi, I haven’t used Thermoweb before and when I first read about the giveaway I thought it said Thermomix ????
Janet Alford
Hi!
Debbie
What rules? I really love suggestions on shortcuts when quilting
Marilyn Garcia
I use all types and textures in my quilts
Patti Serenko
I just do what seems to make sense. You mean to tell me that there are rules? Yikes!
Terri Salaski Laudenbach
Hi,…I don’t do much quilting so I just saying hi.
Kathy Kauth
Hi and Merry Christmas
Sally
I love the sweetheart quilting. The block of the month quilting projects are so much fun.
nancy seitz
Quilt police? It’s a good thing are none as I break rules. I need to practice, practice, practice.
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.
Polly O'Laughin
I don’t always press to the dark side, press it flat as I can get it
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!
Debra DeVerter
On some quilt patterns I press the seams open….
Amy W
I follow the rules until I become more familiar with the technique. Then I tweak them a little bit.
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?!
hands2hearts
Too many to list! After all “rules are meant to be broken”, hehe
Comments are closed.