Happy Monday!
The start of a new week and time for day five of our blog hop. We’re half way through already and I hope you are enjoying meeting new friends and maybe picking up a few free motion tips and ideas along the way. Lots of you are leaving comments which I am loving reading. Keep it up and perhaps you’ll be the lucky one to go get one of those DVDs or maybe even the Stella lamp and Hexie Love ruler! There will definitely be a winner… no rollovers on this drawing…
Today we are welcoming Kim Niedzwiecki to the blog. I met Kim through a small Facebook group I have been a part of. We were making blocks for a block swap but unfortunately life got in the way and it’s been a while since anyone has posted.
Kim works for Aurifil, USA as the Social Media Content Coordinator and Quilt Guild Donation Coordinator so we have met IRL* at Quilt Market several times.
If you were to watch my DVD closely you would see that I have Aurifil on my machine for all my stitching demos. The 50wt. cotton is my go to thread for free motion quilting. It’s a 2 ply thread and adds all the texture I’m looking for and just enough color. And it’s great quality so it’s problem free with very little lint or breakage. Super!
BTW I have heard a rumor that there will be a thread giveaway over on Kim’s blog at Auribuzz today, as if you needed an incentive to get over there?
Moving on from loops and swirls today’s place mat is finished with chrysanthemums, flowers and what I refer to as snail trails… as I stitch into the center of my shape I’m thinking of a snail shell although I’m not making circular shapes. Suggestions for a new name for the motif on the blue stripe are welcome!
The chrysanthemum stitch adds almost the same texture as pebbles without quite so much effort. They are different as you can see in this next picture,
but if you just want an all over circle type texture you’d get it done in less than half the time with the chrysanthemums. Something to consider?
Did you notice the variegated thread in that picture? It just adds a subtle hint of color for extra interest! It’s color 4651 (Sunrise) if you’re interested. My most favorite Aurifil variegated thread is 4060 (Silver Moon). It is a tone on tone light grey to white which looks so good on a shades of white background. It’s what I used on the featured image at the top of the page.
Choosing the right thread to complement your quilt top makes so much difference to your finished quilt!
For your enjoyment here’s the list of bloggers again. If this is your first time here it’s worth checking out some of the previous posts so that you don’t miss anything.
Comments do win prizes… I’ll be drawing at least three names from all the comments left on my blog between the 7th and the 16th on Sunday 17th to win a DVD. The grand prize winner will also receive a brand new Hexie Love ruler AND a Stella task lamp from Stella lighting. Definitely worth trying for? I am reading all the comments. They are moderated so if it’s your first time commenting and you don’t see yours coming up straight away I will get to it as soon as I can…
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 tomorrow!
*In real life!!
thank you for the opportunity to sign on for the DVD training. It would be ever so wonderful.
Another beautiful design! This really has me hoping!
Love the flowers. Thanks for the chance to win!!
Your creativity excites me and makes me want to free motion quilt more. Thanks for the tips and incite on why you use different thread and how to achieve texture.
I so want to be able to machine quilt..thank you for sharing..new to quilting would love these prises
Beautiful Aurifil variegated thread! Very nice with your great designs
Wow is what I say, the variegated thread is so gorgeous. The chrysanthemum is stunning. I must try to doodle it. Your DVD would give me confidence to try to FMQ. Thanks so much for giveaway.
I have not tried Aurifil thread in my longarm, will have to put that on the list 😉
The stitching shown on the placemat is just cool! I would love to win the DVD to try this for myself. Tired of just doing meandering and stippling on my quilts because I’m too afraid to try anything else
So neat!
Great idea on the chrysanthemums! Pebbles are great texture but take SO long!
Your work is beautiful! And what a great idea to make placemats for practice pieces!
If your blog posts are any indication of what is on the DVD it has to be good! Thanks again for a chance to win!
So, I started this journey of reading your blog because of the opportunity to win the DVD but the tips I have picked up already after 4 blog posts tell me that if I don’t win I MUST purchase your DVD. I am still a beginner quilter, but your talk about thread has encouraged me to try something more than what I have been using… which is just run of the mill polyester thread.
Help too many comments Ned to change my settings..
This is just what I need, great examples!
Love the quilting! Thanks for the opportunity to win the DVD!
Thank you for the opportunity to win this great inspirational video. So glad I saw the post on Bonnie Hunter’s blog
I actually like the snail trail name and maybe I can actually fmq it since it wobbles like I do!! Thanks for the thread colors too. Looking forward to winning the DVD!
You are so talented. Got to check out that DVD.
Great tip on variegated thread!!
oooh! I will have to try that! Never thought of replacing pebbles with something so similar, yet MUCH simpler. Thank you!
i love how you did the different FMQ on the placements. thanks for the tips
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with newbies like me.
I cannot tell you how much inspiration I’m getting! Beautiful work!
Your quilting is amazing.
It is one of my goals to get better at FMQ. Having your DVD would help a great deal.
Such great designs!
Love variegated thread for quilting. A now out there best kept secret.
Machine quilting is a challenge for me but I keep practicing. Your work is beautiful!
It’s so nice to see a variety of stitching in one example. Thank you for that.
Seems like a really good DVD. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Would love to win your dvd!
Love this design, thanks for a chance to win a great video.
Thanks
Edwina parsons
I just started free motion quilting..it was not as fun or easy as I had hoped..I think your DVD is going on my wish list with a gaggle of aurifil.
I am new to all of this and having fun learning. Thanks for the chance to win this great DVD!
I love the look of varigated thread, too. Subtle but beautiful. When I looked at the design for which you need a name, I thought it looked like a maze to me so…’maze’ is the name I’d suggest. I’m having great fun on this hop.
So happy to have found you again. I had computer issue and lost a lot of sites. Enjoy your work so much.
Thanks for the chance to win your DVD. Your quilting is gorgeous!
Would love to win the DVD. Am enjoying the blog hop
Sounds like this DVD is just what I need as I am trying to learn FMQ at the moment.
Great designs
Beautiful stitching on that placemat! Thanks!
I can always use help with FMQ. It’s so nice to see what others do so that we can use their hints and suggestions to improve our technique. I’ll keep practicing, practicing, and practicing some more! Thanks for the variegated thread hint. I’ll have to try some.
Amazing stitches. I am overwhelmed by the different types of stitches that can be FMQd.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for the chance to win your DVD. It looks excellent.
It’s only Day 2 for me, but I’m still getting excited!! I love to free motion quilt all of my own quilts on my domestic machine. King size to boot!! Really hope I win the DVD, as I can always use more training!! Joanne in N. Charleston, SC
Your DVD looks fantastic and a must have!!
Thank you again for the chance to win your DVDs and for sharing your amazing quilting.
getting interested in machine quiltimg — this may be the last little oush I need to try it!
Thanks for the opportunity to win the dvd.
Love all the information I’m getting from your blog hop/giveaway. So much to take in.
Catherine beautiful chrysanthemums!
Been a fan of Aurifil thread for many years, will have to give the Silver Moon a try .
Oh, and the quilting in that strips reminds me of sticky buns. Yum!
I thought the meal time words were clever, and laughed out loud when Kim mentioned hobbit eating habits. At our house, that would be a certain feline’s eating habits, but even she could use a placemat to tidy up her spot.
I envy your talent and would very much like to win the DVD. Beautiful work!
I am excited about your DVD. Love the texture of the pieces
I’m seeing more and more techniques that I would like to try.
Thanks for the great giveaway. I like the way you have used a placemat to demonstrate. It looks like a good way to practice, and still end up with something useable.
Thanks for the wonderful ideas!!! Looking forward to your visit to Auburn!!!
I’m amazed at the different designs of FMQ you are sharing in your blog during this DVD tour.
I love the textures achieved with the free motion quilting. Thank you for the opportunity to win the DVD.
Each day, I love the samples you highlight more than the day before. What wonderful eye candy! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win your DVD. I found you on Bonnie Hunter’s Blog. Betsy
Love how that chrysanthemum design flows into all the others. I’m going to try it on my next project.
I heard you speak in Houston at the machine quilting round table. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
-Louise
I love your samples. I try to quilt up a sample to keep as reference. I like looking thru them for inspiration.
Loving all the blogging! Entering the giveaway! Thank you.
Great inspiration, and I adore Kim and Aurifil.
The mum, pebble, stipple combo is interesting.
Love the mum 🙂 thanks for the inspiration!
I like the chrysanthemum motif! I think it’s important to use good quality thread on a quilt. After all, the fabric isn’t cheap so the thread should be great too and Aurifil is lovely.
Beautiful work!
Saw this at Bonnie Hunter’s blog, looks so great! Thanks for the opportunity.
any help with machine quilting is a blessing in my book! Thanks for the chance!
Love Aurifil thread. Use it all the time. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work!
Your quilting is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
I love your chrysanthemum quilting! Thanks again for sharing!
I am really enjoying this blog hop. So much eye candy.
I’m a beginner quilter and fascinated how you accomplish those beautiful patterns freemotion. I have yet to get the courage to ruin a quilt top and will work on my technique with samples and small projects like placemats and table toppers first.
Thanks for sharing the thread colors you use. I wouldn’t have known the thread was variegated if you hadn’t said something!
Your work is really inspiring!
What beautiful inspiration- I hope to improve my machine quilting skills this year!
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a fantastic prize!
I am so very interested in this DVD and learning the details of FMQ! I have tried and tried and my work just doesn’t please me. I feel I could learn so much by watching an expert in person….the DVD is the next best thing!
I’m enjoying all of your tips about FMQ and thread. I use Aurifil for piecing and quilting.
Wow, I am so going to practice; RIGHT NOW! And this week I am going to buy some Aurifil thread.
Your quilting is beautiful and I certainly could use all the hints you offer on the DVD. thank you for opportunity to win.
Beautiful quilting! And your DVD looks wonderful.
So excited about learning new machine quilting tricks!
I love your quilting. I will definitely be buying your new DVD. This blog hop is fun and I am learning alot.
Thanks for sharing the Aurifil thread colors, it helps to know what they look like off the spool. I like the pale flesh when I don’t want to call attention to my quilting.
Sounds like a great FMQ DVD. I’ve added it to a list I maintain for DVD workshops on free-motion quilting: http://quiltshopgal.com/free-motion-quilting-dvds/
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
I’ve got to get practicing! I love your quilting.
Thank you for the chance to win!
Dmac5958ataoldotcom
I love how the designs just flow beautifully into the next design.
Such gorgeous samples! I would love to be a winner! 🙂
Your snails remind me a little of a geode or maybe a rolled pastry like rugelach 🙂 Thanks so much for all the inspiration!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Would love to win your DVD! I’m a beginner @ free mo—so my quilting and unfortunately my cooking may be a bit askew (or rustic?). Hence my suggestion for your new motif on blue stripe is squished cinnamon rolls or sushi rolls!
Beautiful quilting!
I’m enjoying seeing all these other blogs. I’d sure like to win your DVD!
I just found your blog today and your DVD looks like something I can really use. So far, I’ve only used my walking foot for quilting. The one time I tried to FMQ on a real quilt, I spent almost a day ripping it all out. I’ll be jumping to the other blogs for some more tips and inspiration. Thanks!
I am not ready for a variegated thread. I still use threads that blend in. I think I will need to get your DVD for more help. Your work is beautiful.
I can see designs in my head but when I try to transfer them to my quilt I am totally all thumbs:)
I am just a couple of steps ahead of being a ‘beginning beginner’. The visual stimulation gained from videos, blogs, online classes is invaluable – I am excited by the prospect of your DVD to motivate me into even more intense practice. Thank you for all that I have gained from your site.
You make it look so easy but it’s not. I need to practice, practice, and then go practice some more.
I have so much to learn!
I love Aurifil thread as well. I will look for the variegated grey next shopping trip. Thanks for the chance to win.
I learn something new almost everyday! Practice makes perfect as they say and I need a LOT of it.
Thanks for the giveaway. This is what I need to get me out of my stupor of thought. Your work is beautiful.
I love your chrysanthemum stitch! Beautiful quilting! Thanks for the give away!
Learning to machine quilt my own projects is a goal I set for 2016. I can certainly use your help! Would love to be a winner!
I love blog hops! You get to see whats going on in the quilting world, find new people to follow, and I get to see 8 other reviews regarding the DVDs. Thanks for the giveaway!
This is my first time visiting! Am I ever glad I did! Thanks so much for all the info! I am a newbie at free motion and far from being proficient. I mostly swear a lot and toss it to the side! Ha ha! I know that practice helps, so I am going to keep trying!
Thanks for sharing great info & ideas w/us!
Interesting textured pattern-enhanced by the varigated thread.
I am greatly impressed by the machine quilting in the top picture. It reminds me of my mother’s hand quilting. It is beautiful.
I am so ready to learn how to machine quilt! I was given a Brother VQ 3000 for Christmas and quilting was the main reason. Hope I can win!
The small bumps do look like tiny pebbles in a mini garden 🙂 would love to win the DVD 🙂
LOVE all the examples! This DVD is Amazing! Thanks for chance to win! 🙂
I love the gray on gray variegated thread in the top picture.
I have been wanting to learn fmq. You dvd would be a blessing.
I love the extra texture the variegated thread gives. Great tip!
Hope I am one of the winners. Thank you
Your work is so beautiful! I wish I could learn just a little of what you teach!
Aurofil is my favorite thread, I’ll definitely check out her blog!
I am so happy I found your site. Your free motion flowers in your quilt are beautiful and you are so inspiring that I am going to do this. Thank you. Great tips.
Love the place mat and would like to win the DVD.
What great design ideas – I love trying out new quilting patterns on spare blocks
Love your ideas and photos of free arm quilting. Just getting started in all of this so I’m glad to study all I can. Thank You
Your quilting looks very interesting, with lot’s of new inspiration. I would LOVE to win your DVD
I’m inspired to try some new ideas, thank you!
I always enjoy visiting with you on your blog and seeing your new creations! You’re such a natural teacher and gifted artist. Winning your DVD would be a treat, and meanwhile I am enjoying each project you share.
I’d LOVE to win a copy of the DVD – It looks great!!
I never realized how a chrysanthemum pattern can mimic pebbles, and yes, they’re definitely easier/quicker to do.
Your creativity is so inspiring! Great blog hop……….such talent.
Gorgeous ! Looks daunting ! Will try .
Thank you.
I have enjoyed the exposure to the different stitches — I like the effect of the chrysanthemum stitch and the fact that it is faster than the pebble stitch.
Beautiful stitches and quilting.. Hope to someday be as gifted as you. Thanks for chance to win DVD.
Maybe you could call the stitch in the blue strip, the snail, that’s what it reminds me of.
I’ve used pebbles a few times, and would love to learn this chrysanthemum design!
I’m really enjoying reading your blog. I struggle with machine quilting so anything that can help me is greatly appreciated.
I’d love to win or buy a copy of this DVD. I always have trouble moving to the next space to quilt and how to get there with only a few limited thread breaks.
I’m so glad I found your blog. Your quilting is beautiful.
The chrysanthemums look so pretty but also seem complicated – I would like to try them though because they add so much interest to a piece!! Thanks!!