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

I’m so excited. I’m hopping with my friend, the hexie queen herself,  Julia Wood, today.  I met Julia in the green room at Quilting Arts TV back in 2013. Since then we’ve met up several times. We were roomies at the AQS show in Chattanooga in 2014. Julia brought along the best bunch of bananas you can imagine, AND I’m going to stay with her in April when I visit the Cotton Boll Quilters in Auburn, Alabama.

Here she is on the set of QATV with Susan Brubaker Knapp during a recent taping.

Unknown-1Julia is the author of not one, but two, best selling hexie books. She is the editor and owner of the on-line magazine, Hexie Love. She started making her hexagons from circles… no paper involved but has constantly evolved and refined her techniques to include all sorts of other techniques. She designed a brand new speciality ruler for her latest curved pieced hexagons and she’s offering two as prizes this week, one here and one on her own blog…

We all know I do love me a nice English Paper Pieced hexagon. I like to baste and stitch the hexagons together by hand before appliquéing them to a background… by hand. But then I machine quilt!

Here’s a little quilt I took to the DVD taping. I used a full mini charm pack of Moda Christmas fabrics for the hexagons.

IMG_2912 (1)Here’s a closeup of the quilting. This time I made the grid with the walking foot and then filed in the alternate shapes with a zigzag. IMG_2914 (1)

A wool batt makes the negative space really stand out!

The zigzag is a variation of the WE quilting design shown on today’s place mat.

IMG_4909 I used my straight line meander motif in the white space. I find the straight lines quite difficult to keep straight… curves are so much easier for me, but it makes a nice complement to the WE stitches.

I hope you signed up on Kim’s blog yesterday for a chance to win some Aurifil thread. The placemats are stitched with #2021 (natural white). It blends well with all the white and cream shades that I like to use for my backgrounds.

Here is the blog list again. Make sure you have a good look around whenever you visit a new blog. Check out Julia’s magazine… Click a few buttons. You never know what you might discover!

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!

I’ll be drawing 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 back here tomorrow!

 

95 Comments

  1. Donna Koenig said:

    Good morning! More beautiful quilting designs. Love them!

    January 12, 2016
  2. Toni said:

    My goodness – day 6 already and more beautiful quilting to inspire…

    January 12, 2016
  3. Cathy said:

    Amazing work! Thanks for your tips to help me quilt better!

    January 12, 2016
  4. Tresha Cottrill said:

    Hope I win!

    January 12, 2016
  5. Joan said:

    Thanks for another great blog and another great guest.

    January 12, 2016
  6. Carol Koehn said:

    So pretty!

    January 12, 2016
  7. tootsie661 said:

    Lovely technique and I could really use some rulers to help with quilting.

    January 12, 2016
  8. Ashley said:

    Love hexagons but so intimidated by all the handwork required!

    January 12, 2016
  9. Sandi said:

    I am so excited with each day’s blog post. This DVD sounds like the greatest tutorial. Thank you for offering it.

    January 12, 2016
  10. Kim Behm said:

    Oh how I would love to win…really want to make something special! Hexagons !!!

    January 12, 2016
  11. Dana Robbins said:

    I am really enjoying the Blog Hop and meeting some new designers that I have not
    known about.

    January 12, 2016
  12. Susan Earl said:

    Found you and Julia thru last years hop. Still loving my hexies.

    January 12, 2016
  13. Marianne said:

    It’s been interesting to read about people in the industry who I am not familiar with. I think I might try a hex project this year.

    January 12, 2016
  14. Karen Miller said:

    Getting to know some new bloggers and enjoying each one. Would love to be the winner of your DVD. Love the things you are doing with the placemats.

    January 12, 2016
  15. Nice to see your quilting. I meet Julia at QATV also.

    January 12, 2016
  16. Chris said:

    I am a new quilter and have the opinion that I can’t actually claim to be a quilter if I only piece and let someone else do all the fancy stitching. I’m hoping by having your DVD I’ll actually be able to claim, “I am a quilter!” and it will be entirely accurate.

    January 12, 2016
  17. Deborah said:

    Thank you for sharing another placemat with us. It is quite inspiring to see how creative you have been with the placemats, they will certainly add interest to the table setting. I would love to be the winner of your DVD…if not, I will certainly purchase it as I am sure I would learn a lot by watching it.

    January 12, 2016
  18. Kris Friederick said:

    Fun mini-quilt with big quilting ideas!

    January 12, 2016
  19. Patty said:

    I just keep trying to win your new DVD. Would love to have it to watch over and over again and try some projects with you. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

    January 12, 2016
  20. hydrangia said:

    Love your Hexie quilt. Glad I’m not the only one who has trouble with straight line quilting!! LOL
    Can’t wait to see if I’m a winner….hope so! Thanks so much. Betsy

    January 12, 2016
  21. Donna said:

    What a wonderful mini quilt, now I want to make hexi’s.
    Yup I am inspired.

    January 12, 2016
  22. Kimberly said:

    Really love the updated hexies! Thanks for the chance to win!

    January 12, 2016
  23. Deb McClanahan said:

    Like the graduation of color to white in the snowflake on the Christmas quilt. The grid quilting shows off well

    January 12, 2016
  24. Kathy Cummings said:

    I love paper-pieced hexies….the curves seem intriguing . Your quilting is awesome!

    January 12, 2016
  25. Carol Ann Markham said:

    Have read today’s hexie blog and realised that’s a new dimension for me to expand into – this quilting malarkey is never ending – I’ll have to give up work, housework and friends to fit it all in!!! Count me in for the prizes X

    January 12, 2016
  26. I love the idea of practicing on small items like placemats. I need to practice more.
    Love the quilting.

    January 12, 2016
  27. Rebecca Seamon said:

    Very cool designs! I’m just learning paper piecing, and this gives me some great ideas!

    January 12, 2016
  28. Rebecca H said:

    Your quilting is wonderful to look at. But if you have a machine like me that you have to try and regulate the speed while trying to quilt it becomes very frustrating and I end up with kind of a mess. So you really need a good quilting machine to achieve this look.

    January 12, 2016
    • catherineredford said:

      Rebecca, It certainly can be frustrating when you start to learn FMQ. My machine is completely unregulated. The speed is dependent on how hard I press the foot pedal. It took me a LOT of practice to maintain an even stitch!! Enjoy the practice 🙂

      January 12, 2016
  29. Jen Beatty said:

    Great ideas, thank you!

    January 12, 2016
  30. Bev Gunn said:

    One of these days I will finish my hexi quilt-before it is an antique!

    January 12, 2016
  31. Cecilia said:

    I am intrigued with Julia’s technique and would love to try her ruler. I like doing EPP hexies too. Thanks for another great design.

    January 12, 2016
  32. Laura G. said:

    Love your Walking Foot DVD and am excited to get this one as well! Thanks for the chance to win!

    January 12, 2016
  33. Jean Hope said:

    I love the looks of hexies and the many ways they can be put together.

    January 12, 2016
  34. Carolyn said:

    Wow!

    January 12, 2016
  35. Cindy said:

    Another day of wonderful information. Thanks for sharing with us.

    January 12, 2016
  36. Mary said:

    Using a circle to make hexies would be interesting.

    January 12, 2016
  37. butrfly2200 said:

    Wow, great designs. would love to win. thanks for the chance.

    January 12, 2016
  38. Barbara said:

    Thanks for the chance to win your DVD.

    January 12, 2016
  39. Linda E in AZ said:

    This is such a great time of year to be reminded of all the [better? fancier?] quilting we should strive for. Thanks!

    January 12, 2016
  40. Tamie said:

    Another fun stop today.

    January 12, 2016
  41. Sharon Coleman said:

    I love the portability of English paper piecing. My first was Tula Pink’s Hex on the Beach. I’m working on a Christmas hexi quilt. It will probably take me a couple of years to complete! I love the quilting you do on your quilts, such an inspiration!

    January 12, 2016
  42. Alice Mattern said:

    It would be so great to win your DVD. I’m looking forward to your visit to our Education Conference this fall.

    January 12, 2016
  43. Sandy F said:

    Feeling so inspired. Hope to WIN your DVD so I can buy more fabric.

    January 12, 2016
  44. Ann D said:

    It’s great that you have colleagues who appreciate what you present on your DVD. Thanks for the chance to win.

    January 12, 2016
  45. Sheila said:

    I’m new to your blog and LOVE your work! Hoping to learnmore machine quilting!

    January 12, 2016
  46. Frans said:

    I love heroes. I will have to check out Julia. Now I’m off to my daily practice session of machine quilting.

    January 12, 2016
  47. Frans said:

    I love hexies not heroes. I do not like computers that think they know what I am trying to say.

    January 12, 2016
  48. Priyanka said:

    I find straight lines easier than curves.. Love ur designs.. Would love to learn more from ur DVD 🙂

    January 12, 2016
  49. Lori Morton said:

    Love the quilting at top of this post! How fun!!! 🙂 Love Hexie’s too….would love to have this ruler. Thank you for chance to win your Awesome Give-a-way too! 🙂

    January 12, 2016
  50. Donna W said:

    Love your hexie quilt.

    January 12, 2016
  51. Penny said:

    Love hexies. Your hexie quilt is beautiful.

    January 12, 2016
  52. Wendy Bain said:

    Each day, I want that DVD more. Hope I win!

    January 12, 2016
  53. MoeWest said:

    My mini charm packs often end up as hexies or part of small quilts.

    January 12, 2016
  54. Jayne Willis said:

    I am getting so many ideas! Thank you!!

    January 12, 2016
  55. Gail said:

    Great blog post and enjoying the quilting.

    January 12, 2016
  56. Cindy Dahlgren said:

    Loving all the posts. Cdahlgren at live dot Com

    January 12, 2016
  57. Linda said:

    I love Hexie Love and am looking forward to checking out the rest of the Blogs

    January 12, 2016
  58. Robbie Payne said:

    So when did I miss you doing hexies!!! Who knew! not me!!!

    January 12, 2016
  59. Sandy A in St. Louis said:

    I found the Hexie Love blog by accident one day and it is now one of my favorites to read!

    January 12, 2016
  60. Mary Chevalier said:

    It looks very interesting .Would love to own a DVD. on Free Motion Quilting.Thanks for a chance to win.

    January 12, 2016
  61. Julie Robbins said:

    I’m really enjoying your blog, and the introduction to other blogs. So much talent!

    January 12, 2016
  62. Juls in FL said:

    Love, love, love the quilting on the hexie quilt. The texture it creates is just perfect!

    January 12, 2016
  63. Marcy said:

    Wi am enjoying seeing your choices of quilting designs on your pieces. Such talent

    January 12, 2016
  64. Robby said:

    I feel like by the end of this blog hop my whole 2016 is going to be filled with new things I just have to make! What fun.

    January 12, 2016
  65. Jo N. said:

    I have been following every day

    Jo N.

    January 12, 2016
  66. Karen said:

    Catherine, I am just amazed at your quilting! Those WEs and straight line meanders would just make my eyes cross 🙂

    January 12, 2016
  67. Candy said:

    Straight line meandering is cool, but It does look more intimidating to me than curvy meandering. Will have to try it out!

    January 12, 2016
  68. Edwina parsons said:

    Love the hedge quilt, and I would love a chance to win the give a way.

    January 12, 2016
  69. Rita S. said:

    This DVD sounds like a great tutorial. Thanks for the chance to win!!

    January 13, 2016
  70. Heather J said:

    Would love to add to my FMQ repertoire. Thanks for the chance.

    January 13, 2016
  71. Beverly said:

    Such patience to complete your elegant Machine Quilting pieces. This is MY year to improve my skills with your continued help!

    January 13, 2016
  72. Debbie Shope said:

    This is exactly the type of motifs I like!

    January 13, 2016
  73. I get more and more excited each day as I read your blog. You have definitely caught my interest!

    January 13, 2016
  74. Charlene said:

    I am new to hexies and have been making loads of them.. I am really excited about them now that I have seen what you have done. I know now that I can just go crazy with them..Smiles
    Thank you

    January 13, 2016
  75. Joanne B said:

    I enjoy watching you on Quilting Arts & would love to own your new DVD, thanks for the chance to win!

    January 13, 2016
  76. After having just purchased the straight line digital today and watched it, I found your blog hop on Facebook. So glad I did.

    January 13, 2016
  77. I’ve never tried wool batting since I live in a warmer climate but I always like how it looks with the quilting.

    January 14, 2016
  78. Teri said:

    Thank you for sharing your techniques and introducing us to other great blogs.

    January 14, 2016
  79. Joanne Donovan said:

    I am really looking forward to getting your FM DVD!! Whether I win it or buy it, I’m going to have it!! Thanks, again, for a chance to win!!

    January 14, 2016
  80. Angela said:

    Would love to win.

    January 14, 2016
  81. Fred Erique said:

    More beautiful designs! Love them 😉

    January 14, 2016
  82. Colleen said:

    This is just what I have been looking for. I love your designs.

    January 14, 2016
  83. Carol Sc said:

    I’ve tried the straight line machine quilting — I’m going to take your advice and try some slightly curving lines — I like the way they look.

    January 14, 2016
  84. Lisa Boles said:

    I love hexies. It was great to view these examples. I think I’ll try wavy lines next time I try machine quilting.

    January 15, 2016
  85. Jill B said:

    I could really use some help making straight(-ish?) lines!

    January 15, 2016
  86. Kim said:

    Your blog posts are really inspiring me to branch out with my machine quilting… I’m fairly new to it and really have only been meandering!

    January 15, 2016
  87. Jessica T said:

    I love how you combine free motion work and walking foot work together in the same quilt. It really adds a whole new dimension to the quilting you achieve.

    January 15, 2016
  88. LJ said:

    Hexies are so darn cute! I love how you did the quilting on your mini quilt. I wonder if I’ll ever become proficient enough to be able to ‘quilt as desired’ and have the wonderfully creative ideas you have.

    January 15, 2016
  89. Jane said:

    Interesting design when you go back to fill in a space, thanks for the amazing ideas!

    January 15, 2016
  90. Mary Rogers said:

    What a wonderfully, useful giveaway. Thank you.

    January 16, 2016
  91. Wendy Bain said:

    I just could not get this comment accepted yesterday, so I’m posting again here: Catherine, I’ve enjoyed “meeting” all your friends and their posts. Would love to win your DVD!

    January 16, 2016
  92. Debbie P said:

    Love your designs and all of your helpful tips!! Thanks for detailing it all on your DVD 🙂 I know it will be on my ‘must have list’ and I will practice first on paper and then with fabric!!

    January 16, 2016
  93. Renata said:

    Thank you for your helpful tips

    January 16, 2016

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