Modern Machine Quilting: Free Motion DVD Blog Hop. Day Seven

Day seven… we’ve been doing this for a whole week now! You might think I would run out of things to say, but then you wouldn’t know me very well…

I do have so much fun making the DVDs and… I just keep talking!!

Both DVDs were taped on the set of Quilting Arts TV at KS Productions In Solon, just outside of Cleveland OH. Everyone there is so good at what they do. That just helps everyone who takes part in any of their tapings be their very best selves.

I drove the 400 miles to make my DVD but there were lots of other quilters there too, taping season 1700 of QATV with super host extroadinaire, Susan Brubaker Knapp and Susan is our guest today.

One of the funnest things about the tapings is spending time with the others. You can see Susan third from the left at dinner, just after I’d finished my day’s work.
IMG_3013I was so tired that evening!! And no, I took the picture. You can stop looking for me, I’m not in it.

Susan is best known for her beautiful whole cloth painted and heavily stitched quilts. I’m  looking forward to catching up with her again in just a week when we will both be teaching at Road to California. I hope she enjoyed the video although I don’t know if she learnt anything new… We’ll see?

 

Today’s placemat shows a combination of clamshells, flames and my puzzle piece motif, all great all over cover stitches on the right project.

IMG_4905 I have the flames going top to bottom on my placemat and that’s usually the easiest way to stitch them but if you had them going side to side across your quilt they become waves. Add a swirl if you’re feeling ready for a new challenge.

When I started out to learn how to free motion quilt I tried stitching on some pre-printed panels to make little quilts for my guild’s philanthropy program. The problem with some panels is that if you start stitching around the motifs you’ll end up with too much stitching in some areas and a whole ocean of open space in others. A jigsaw puzzle gave me inspiration for a new way of getting the job done.

This…IMG_4930

becomes this!IMG_4906An all over design that doesn’t detract from the picture and is excellent practice for keeping your stitches even and your line smooth!

I hope you’ll try it sometime.

For today’s featured image I’ve chosen a little piece I stitched using a purchased stencil for the birds. It shows the wavy line, pebbles and stipples. Looks snowy to me, sort of suitable for today. We got a couple of inches Monday night. January in Illinois!

Here is the blog list again. You can see Susan’s link down there on the 13th. That’s today! She has a giveaway on her site… TWO DVDs… go and see, and don’t miss another chance to be a winner!

Thursday January 7th Me!
Friday January 8th  Faith Jones
Saturday January 9th Bonnie Hunter
Sunday January 10th Svetlana Sotak
Monday January 11th Kim Niedzwiecki (Aurifil)
Tuesday January 12th Julia Wood
Wednesday January 13th Susan Brubaker Knapp
Thursday January 14th Jenny Lyon
Friday January 15th  Kathy Matthews 
Saturday January 16th Me again!

Remember to come back here and leave me a comment. You can leave one a day if you want, for more chances to be a winner. I’ll be drawing at least three winners from all your comments on the 17th.

 

And if you’re not lucky, or you just know you can’t wait? The DVD or digital download is available at the Interweave store by clicking on the widget at the right hand side of the page.

See you again soon!

108 Comments

  1. Cindy said:

    Another day, another great blog. Absolutely love the puzzle pieces for quilting. Can’t wait to see what you have for us tomorrow. Your video will be a valuable addition to anyone’s quilting library. Books, TV quilting programs and videos are my source of learning as I’m disabled and unable to attend classes. The digital age has certainly opened the doors to so many opportunities that I (or others) would not have had access to in the past. It’s a great time to be a quilter.

    January 13, 2016
  2. Rita S. said:

    Love the puzzle pieces…would be great for a kid’s quilt.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

    January 13, 2016
  3. Heather J said:

    Would love to add to my FMQ skills. The puzzle motif looks interesting. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    January 13, 2016
  4. Jennifer Ley said:

    Loved the puzzle quilting – will use on a future project.

    January 13, 2016
  5. Toni said:

    Love the featured image – a quilt in it’sown right. The jigsaw is such a wonderful idea and actually looks do-able (by me!) – thanks

    January 13, 2016
  6. Lynne Stucke said:

    Oh, I wish I’d seen puzzle pieces before I finished quilting one of my Christmas gifts . . . it would have been perfect! Thank you!

    January 13, 2016
  7. Karen Miller said:

    Once again you have shown us a really unique form of FMQ. Love what you do and hope to gaIn Some ability in this area. I imagine that winning the DVD and seeing how you do it will bring a lot of inspiration to the winner. Hope it’s me!

    January 13, 2016
  8. Sandi said:

    The puzzle pieces look so much easier using your technique. Love the birds at the top of the blog! Thanks for offering the opportunity to win your DVD.

    January 13, 2016
  9. Cathy said:

    Love the feature image! Love the puzzle pieces, I’m going to have to try that! Thanks!

    January 13, 2016
  10. Marianne said:

    Ha! I used to live near Solon, Ohio. That puzzle piece stitching is quite clever.

    January 13, 2016
  11. Cindy Hayes said:

    I absolutely adore your creativity! You are the kind of fiber artist I aspire to be! I learned to embellish my own work with your beaded edge technique from Quilting Arts with Susan Brubaker Knapp. Your felted applique is just divine! I would consider myself fortunate, educated, and on a grand adventure to win your DVD. Happy stitching, Catherine!

    January 13, 2016
  12. Betsy said:

    Another day, another great blog. Love your approach to machine quilting. I know that I will learn so much from your DVD Catherine. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be a possible winner. Betsy

    January 13, 2016
  13. Gail said:

    Another great design to learn! This is so much fun and adds a little excitement to my day. I love birds in any technique and this one is so nice. Thanks again!

    January 13, 2016
  14. Liz F said:

    Love the puzzle piecing idea. Time to practice!

    January 13, 2016
  15. Donna Koenig said:

    Beautiful! Love the birds!!

    January 13, 2016
  16. Beverly said:

    Today I have been practicing your puzzle pieces…it takes MORE muscle memory for me to learn this. Thank you for all of your creative ideas!

    January 13, 2016
  17. Garen said:

    Ready to learn more!

    January 13, 2016
  18. Lu said:

    You are such an artist. Love, love your creativity.

    January 13, 2016
  19. Heidi said:

    Love the jigsaw puzzle quilting, a pattern that has been staring at us since childhood!

    January 13, 2016
  20. Tresha Cottrill said:

    I like the puzzle pieces motif, I haven’t seen that one before. I can’t wait to win!

    January 13, 2016
  21. Donna said:

    Puzzle pieces is an awesome quilting design, but how did you get it so exact? Mine would be all sorts of crocked.

    January 13, 2016
  22. Wow, each day’s designs get more and more interesting to me. I am really ‘getting the bug’ to work at improving my skills!

    January 13, 2016
  23. Cindy Dahlgren said:

    Another great post today! Cdahlgren at live dot Com

    January 13, 2016
  24. churcae said:

    Love the puzzle piece quilting!!!! churcae(at)auburn(dot)edu

    January 13, 2016
  25. Jean Hope said:

    Love the image today. Ready to try it.

    January 13, 2016
  26. So much fun! I feel myself getting braver by the minute!

    January 13, 2016
  27. MoeWest said:

    I like the puzzle piece motif! I’ve never seen anyone do this before.

    January 13, 2016
  28. Carol Koehn said:

    I really like that jigsaw quilting. Would like to learn how to do it!

    January 13, 2016
  29. Kim Behm said:

    Love the puzzle quilt!!!

    January 13, 2016
  30. Deborah said:

    Thank you, again, for sharing your thoughts about free motion quilting. It has been interesting reading everyone’s blog each day. I liked how you combined several different quilting techniques in the placemat…I had not considered doing something like that.

    January 13, 2016
  31. Edwina parsons said:

    Love the clamshells and the flames quilting design, thanks for a chance to win the DVD and the wonderful lamp.

    January 13, 2016
  32. Kathleen Pallardy said:

    I am new to your blog and look forward to learning from you!

    January 13, 2016
  33. Jayne Willis said:

    Love the swirls! Yikes! I am so inspired by these designs!

    January 13, 2016
  34. Phyllis Y said:

    I first saw you on QATV and enjoyed your segment so much. Your work is inspiring! (I really like the birds at the top of this blog post–what a fabulous idea!) Would love to win the DVD!

    January 13, 2016
  35. H K said:

    Love it!

    January 13, 2016
  36. Rebecca Seamon said:

    This blog hop is so much fun! I’m a brand new quilter and am learning a lot. I’ve never seen a puzzle quilting pattern before. I love it! Would love to have the DVD to learn some of these skills. Thanks for doing the blog hop and the giveaway. 🙂

    January 13, 2016
  37. Jo N. said:

    I am going to give the puzzle pieces stitching a try.

    Jo N.

    January 13, 2016
  38. Charlene said:

    I am very interested in your quilting…I am always at a loss as which way to go when finishing a quilt. This gives me so many new ideas. Thank you.

    January 13, 2016
  39. teeter965 said:

    I would love to try all your ideas that are on this DVD.

    January 13, 2016
  40. Joanne said:

    Good Morning from Canada.. I tried free motion and gave up due to just thinking this is not my type of quilting. Frustrated complicated books I had take out from library. But Catherine I have been inspired and motivated to want to tackle this again. Your d.v.d sounds very practical and do-able with the creativity and inspiration of an Artist. Pick me I would use your dvd well not to just collect dust on my shelf. I’m a minimalist.

    January 13, 2016
  41. Carolyn Armstrong said:

    I am determined to learn and improve my free motion quilting skills this year – very daunting for me but I am so inspired by what I have seen and read on this blog hop so far.

    January 13, 2016
  42. Donna W said:

    These puzzle pieces look fun. I will have to give them a try.

    January 13, 2016
  43. Love the puzzle quilted piece.

    January 13, 2016
  44. Tammi Daubenspeck said:

    Thanks for the great blog hop, love all the information. Also, thanks for a chance to win your DVD, it sounds awesome.

    January 13, 2016
  45. Darcy Thursby said:

    Love the unique patterns.

    January 13, 2016
  46. Barbara said:

    Thank you for the chance to win the DVD.

    January 13, 2016
  47. Ann D said:

    I like your placemat concept in learning the different techniques. It would be fun to learn and then it’s a conversation starter at the dinner table. 🙂

    January 13, 2016
  48. Priyanka said:

    Love the puzzle stitching.. Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

    January 13, 2016
  49. Tamie said:

    Love those birds! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the puzzle pieces and for showing an example.

    January 13, 2016
  50. Lori Morton said:

    Am loving this Hop! so many great Projects & lots of Encouragement for us new to FMQ folks! thanks for chance to win this great Give-a-way too! 🙂 I love the Puzzle quilting too…such a fun one! great for Kiddo’s quilts for sure! ( I live about 2 hrs from Cleveland…)

    January 13, 2016
  51. Joanne B said:

    I so want to perfect that puzzle, it’s a great look!

    January 13, 2016
  52. Jen Beatty said:

    I like hearing about the behind the scene happenings and the great new ideas, Thanks!

    January 13, 2016
  53. I love to free-motion quilt and am always looking for tips and new ideas! Your quilting looks great!

    January 13, 2016
  54. Pick Me…pick me…thanks for the chance.

    January 13, 2016
  55. Julie Robbins said:

    Puzzle pieces, why didn’t I think of that? I will need to keep my eyes open for quilting inspiration. Thank you for sharing.

    January 13, 2016
  56. Fran said:

    I have never seen jigsaw puzzle quilting before. What a genius idea! More practice!

    January 13, 2016
  57. Sandy F said:

    Love the little birds. I hope you show something similar on the DVD.

    January 13, 2016
  58. Pauline Sawatsky said:

    I love puzzles and trying it in a small space is a great idea for me. Thanks

    January 13, 2016
  59. Susan Earl said:

    Imagine the possibilities

    January 13, 2016
  60. Sharon said:

    So glad to have found your blog, can’t wait to try these new free motion ideas!

    January 13, 2016
  61. buntyw said:

    I like the jigsaw pieces – I’d love to try this one!!

    January 13, 2016
  62. quilter44 said:

    I love all the information you share. As someone who has too many tops unquilted and has the desire to do them on my own, there is no such thing as too much information. Thank you for sharing.

    January 13, 2016
  63. Sharon Coleman said:

    I just love the feature image quilting. The birds are so pretty! I’m having such fun exploring your guests’ blogs. Thanks so much for the introductions.

    January 13, 2016
  64. Cecilia said:

    I love the puzzle quilting! It makes the panel look great! The birds are great, too! Thanks for more designs.

    January 13, 2016
  65. The jigsaw puzzle quilting is mesmerizing, a real show-stopper, and definitely will refine one’s abilities. Thanks for posting and thanks for winning chance!

    January 13, 2016
  66. Leanne said:

    I would love a chance to win the DVD. I am always looking for new ways to free motion!

    January 13, 2016
  67. Rita Rilene said:

    The jigsaw puzzle design is so cute!

    January 13, 2016
  68. Alice said:

    I would love to win this DVD. I’m experimenting with FMQ and you have great ideas on your blog.

    January 13, 2016
  69. Sandy A in St. Louis said:

    I love coming here every day to see the featured piece. LOVE the birds. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. 🙂

    January 13, 2016
  70. Kara said:

    I cannot leave this page without a comment!! How absolutely gorgeous ~ ~ your birds and the sky and sun, and all ~ ~ completely captivating. and the puzzle idea is brilliant. Very nicely done, Catherine.

    January 13, 2016
  71. Jennifer said:

    You are offering up so many great ideas for FMQ! No doubt your DVD is packed!

    January 13, 2016
  72. Bertha Goggin said:

    Thanks for a great teaching tool

    January 13, 2016
  73. Sharon Rexroad said:

    I’m so glad I got to meet you in December at Aurora. Such a talent!

    January 13, 2016
  74. Candy said:

    Quilted puzzle pieces … very clever! I’ll be looking at everyday shapes around me in a whole new light! Thanks!

    January 13, 2016
  75. Angele said:

    That DVD sounds just like what I need. This will definitively be on my list.

    January 13, 2016
  76. Robby said:

    Love those puzzle pieces. Dad has asked me a couple of times about a tessalation quilt and they would be a fun way to quilt it.

    January 13, 2016
  77. Linda Hiatt said:

    Nice blog post (again!) and I learn every time I read one of your post. Lovely work.

    January 13, 2016
  78. quilterpt said:

    What beautiful quilting on your whole cloth piece on your header…and love the puzzle pieces. Your DVD sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing the giveaway!

    January 14, 2016
  79. Oh my goodness, your puzzle pieces are amazing! Such a clever design. Thanks for all the great ideas.

    January 14, 2016
  80. Jackie said:

    Love the puzzle design, now that I will definitely have to practice that one for awhile.

    January 14, 2016
  81. Kathy Cummings said:

    The puzzle is ingenious ! Who knew?! I can try that.
    Thank you.

    January 14, 2016
  82. Teri said:

    Love the puzzle idea. Will have to try it. Thank you for sharing all these ideas.

    January 14, 2016
  83. Joanne Donovan said:

    Love the puzzle pieces, but did you have to do each one completely to know which one to do next to it? Looks mind-boggling to me!! Thanks, again, for the chance to win cool stuff!!!

    January 14, 2016
  84. Pat Kyser said:

    what a gifted quilter you are! I think I could learn a lot from you, would like to start following your blog.

    January 14, 2016
  85. Angela said:

    I do like real puzzles.But it sems to be as much fun to have them stitched.

    January 14, 2016
  86. Fred Erique said:

    Cute puzzle design!

    January 14, 2016
  87. Shasta said:

    I really like the puzzle design, and also the birds at the top of the page.

    January 14, 2016
  88. Carol Sc said:

    I’ve enjoyed reading your thought process on deciding what machine quilting pattern to use — the puzzle pattern looks ideal for not being a distraction to the piecing.

    January 14, 2016
  89. Ashley said:

    Puzzle pieces! I would have never thought of that!

    January 14, 2016
  90. Nancy said:

    Bonnie Hunter sent me. I find many new ideas for quilting. Thanks

    January 14, 2016
  91. Lisa Boles said:

    Wow! That’s it. Just wow.

    January 15, 2016
  92. Luci said:

    Each design you post is more amazing than the next. Such talent! Best of luck with your DVD!

    January 15, 2016
  93. Jill B said:

    What wonderful filler ideas! I can’t wait to see more!

    January 15, 2016
  94. Kim said:

    I LOVE the puzzle pieces quilting… I have never seen that before!

    January 15, 2016
  95. Jessica T said:

    Love, love, love, the birds! Will definitely have to try the jigsaw puzzle.

    January 15, 2016
  96. LJ said:

    I understand ‘tired’! I just returned from caring for 2 granddaughters while Mom was having baby brother. I took along some hexies to EPP but was so tired by evening that I just went to bed! I, too, have a panel to use to practice my FMQ on. I love your idea of the puzzle pieces and know I’ll use that idea on it; thank you.

    January 15, 2016
  97. Jane said:

    I tried using a puzzle quilting design while hand quilting and what a bugger. Only did the horizontal lines and thought each year when I pull it out I’d do a vertical line or two. Your technique would be the cat’s meow to get it done. Just lovely!

    I also appreciate the negative spaces you are teasing us with. Great concepts!

    January 15, 2016
  98. Lynne said:

    I really like the flames!

    January 16, 2016
  99. Gweneth said:

    Great Idea with the puzzle, Thanks

    January 16, 2016
  100. Wendy Bain said:

    Didn’t get to read each blog entry on the proper day. Hope I can still add this comment even tho it’s not that day! I want to win that DVD!

    January 16, 2016
  101. Kathy Freels said:

    I would love this! Thanks.

    January 16, 2016
  102. Karen said:

    I enjoy following your posts almost as much as I enjoyed your class on African embroidery. You are a true delight!

    January 16, 2016
  103. Mary Over said:

    Really like you’re quilting samples and would like to learn more, Have lots of quilts to finish and you have terrific ideas!!

    January 16, 2016
  104. Debbie P said:

    Your creative stitches are so inspiring for me to try something different!! Love the puzzle and clam shells – now I have to practice to boost my confidence!

    January 16, 2016
  105. Renata said:

    I need to try the puzzle stitch.

    January 16, 2016
  106. Donna Phillips said:

    oh today is the day, hope I’m not to late. 😀

    January 17, 2016

Comments are closed.