It is my turn to write about the new book, Machine Quilting with Style, by Christa Watson and the quilt I made using one of the patterns, Broken V. The book was just released by Martingale and is for sale, Here (signed copy from Christa).
I met Christa last November at Sewtopia in Salt Lake City. We sat at the same table and really hit it off. I was excited when she asked if I wanted to preview her first book and take part in the blog tour showing off some of the projects featured. Regular readers of my blog have seen this quilt coming along for the past month or so, but I am really happy to finally share it all finished! Read more about my experience with the quilting in This Post. I used fabrics mostly by Tula Pink, Alison Glass plus a few others others. Thread by Aurifil and batting by Hobbs batting.
When I first looked at Christa’s book, I was immediately struck by how well written it is. That is not something you often say about a quilting book! It contains so much more than the usual stock text and graphics of quilting basics…it actually reads like a book and contains great ideas and new (to me) instructions. Christa provides great tips on quilting and sewing basics…from thread choice and batting to the actual construction of the quilt start to finish.
What makes this book unique among other machine quilting books is that it contains full patterns for piecing as well as ideas for quilting the projects. This means that even if you have no plans to do the free motion quilting part of it (lots of us are intimated by that, myself included), the book is a worthwhile addition to your library just for the patterns.
There are two parts to the book: walking foot quilting and free motion quilting. I feel pretty comfortable with walking foot quilting, and that is what I do most frequently on my quilts. It is a great place to start if you are new to quilting on your home sewing machine. For my Broken V quilt, I used a combination of walking foot quilting (straight lines, and wavy stitches built into my machine) and free-motion quilting. I feel so proud of myself for trying the free-motion and found that I really enjoyed it. Thanks, Christa, for inspiring me to plunge into this!
Christa and Martingale are giving away e-copies of the book during the blog tour. If you would like to win a copy of your own, be sure and follow along all the other quilters (find the list, Here). To enter now, leave a comment on this post. Tell me what type of quilting you like most (modern straight lines, traditional FMQ, a certain pattern, or anything in between). I would love it if you include any tips or tricks you have learned along your quilting journey.
I will choose a winner next Wednesday, September 23. Edited: The giveaway is now closed, the winner is Diane B. Thank you all for your comments! I love reading them.
Sharon
I am a pretty basic quilter, but my straight line skills are good! I would love to expand and do some free motion on my next project.
I’m new to quilting, so haven’t actually done any machine quilting. I have done some hand piecing and hand quilting tho. ktsquiltdreams (at)gmail (dot)com
I’m very comfortable with ditch stitching and my walking foot, and slowly getting better at free motion.
I am always drawn to straight line quilting using my walking foot. I use the edge of my foot for a guide, which creates 1/2″ lines! Wonderful giveaway!
I mostly do straight line but want to branch out a little. This book sounds like something I need. Your quilt is wonderful in every way.
your quilt is lovely. I love paper piecing. But I also love to do modern straight lines. I am working on my FMQ, LOL, right now it just looks like a kindergartner that is trying cursive.
Straight line walking foot quilting is my go-to style currently. I have a quilt layered, basted, & ready for quilting. This time I plan to do serpentine walking foot design on the diagonal. I’ve done fmq but don’t find the process comfortable. Yet! Can’t wait to get Christa’s book. May just be the incentive I need to keep trying 🙂 Love everything about your quilt!
I am taking a free motion quilting class next month at my local quilt store. I love stippling and spirals.
This is so fabulous! I love how your version turned out and you did such a great job with the quilting!!
I love any type of quilt designs, but would love to get the courage to do more free motion quilting.
It depends a lot on the quilt, I find, but I tend to do more free motion patterns than straight lines at the moment. Of course that could change tomorrow!
SO pretty! I love your interpretation of the Broken V quilt pattern. I like a combination of modern machine quilting mixed in with more traditional shapes, like feathers. I am trying to clear a spot in my garage so I can set up a mid-arm sit down FMQ machine. I would really like to improve my FMQ skills!
I love feathers, but tend to stay safe with quilting a spiral with my walking foot.
Like you, I’ve always done straight line quilting ~ FMQ is scary to me. But I love what you did with the different chevrons! Christa’s book definitely looks like a must-have ~ thanks for the chance (fingers crossed!)
If I do the quilting, it is done with my walking foot. But I love swoops and swirls, so my big quilts get sent out to a longarmer. I am really interested in learning to do it myself, so this book seems perfect!
I’m experimenting with FMQ recently. Intimidating but so much fun!
Very cool quilt! Newbie quilter here so I am more comfortable with straight line quilting but I’m giving FMQ a shot on a baby quilt.
I like your quilt. I only do straight line quilting or quilt by hand. I took a FMQ class at a local quilt shop, but the teacher gave up on me because I have an old sewing machine and it didn’t have an open darning or walking foot. Neither is available for my machine. I like the looks of all kinds of quilting.
I love how the quilting can change the look of a quilt. I do FMQ on a home machine with a large throat. I’m doing everything from feathers to ruler work.
I do a lot of FMQ, but am most comfortable with stippling and spirals. I’m looking for ways to get more creative with my FMQ and find new ways to use it on my quilts!
I have been happy with my straight line quilting, and want to get comfortable with FMQ. This blog hop is great for seeing examples of both!
I quilt mostly straight lines, I need more practice with FMQ. I have followed Christa’s blog for along time, I’m excited to see her book! And I love your quilt!!
I love the texture created by closely spaced straight lines and wavy lines. They are simple to stitch but with a dramatic effect.
Oh my! Love your version. Broken V I must make this one. FMQ is great. I love it. My advice is practice practice practice! The more you do the easier/better it gets! You’ll be great in no time! !!
I just started quilting in May and am working on my fourth and fifth quilts. I want so much to learn free motion quilting, but never seem to put the time aside to practice. I’m hoping Christa’s book will inspire me to learn this art. So far I have done a lot of diagonal lines with my walking foot.
Really pretty quilt!
This quilt looks gorgeous! I really prefer the piecing part of quilting. I do like the look of straight line quilting using a walking foot, and I really need to push myself to practice some more of that. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
I love your interpretation of Christa’s Broken V quilt. I would love to get a longarm machine and learn FMQ, but since i started quilting a couple of years ago I have been doing ditch stitching and experimenting with using my walking foot.
I love FMQ and learning new designs. I actually teach FMQ for beginners at my LQS.
I have been doing free motion quilting but am really starting to lean towards modern quilting and graffiti quilting.
I make a lot of small quilts for Project Linus, so my free motion usually ends up being the classic meander-I don’t want too much quilting which seems to stiffen up the quilt.
Most of my quilting has been done with a walking foot. I really like your combination of straight line and serpentine stitches, BTW! I tried some FMQ in a class… but am intimidated by the thought of FMQ an entire quilt!!! I would LOVE to win a copy of Christa’s new book. I’m sure I could learn from it and have some fun.
Being a newbie, I have only quilted a baby quilt and a few potholders. 🙂 The baby quilt was straight SID and the potholders were FMQ. I really enjoyed the FMQ and plan on doing more. 🙂
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I have done some straight line quilting by machine and have taken several free motion quilting classes but am too scared to “ruin” something that I have spent so much time on. Hand quilting is super relaxing for me but you’d better not be in a hurry.
I L.O.V.E. FMQ. I’m pretty traditional, love applique and pieced quilts like from Bunny Hill and Lori Holt respectively. I use feathers and my own designs that can surround the appliques and pieced blocks. Now I’m trying my hand at whole cloth. I’d like to make some modern quilts to take advantage of all the negative space. This book by Christa looks great.
I love your interpretation of the broken V! I am a straight line quilting kind of girl, mainly because that’s all I can handle! I just can’t quite get the hang of FMQ!!
I have only quilted straight lines but I am preparing to quilt with more and longer straight lines plus I want to try some of my built in stitches. It has been my goal to learn to free motion quilt for some time and I will just have to do it.
I’m a huge fan of walking foot straight line quilting. Even though I took a free-motion class a number of months ago, I’m terrified of messing up a quilt that’s so close to be done, and that I spent so much time on it. Would love to see the techniques she uses, quite excited about the new book!
Love the location you chose to photograph your Broken V quilt. I began with straight line quilting using my walking foot and am now venturing into free motion. It’s always a little scary at first but once I get going I really enjoy it. It also helps to let go of being a perfectionist.
Well after ripping some quilting out last night and tonight and probably all day, I will go back to my straighline work as that is where I feel the most comfortable. 🙂
I like your interpretation of Christa’s pattern. Prints look great, good for you doing your own fmq, Hurray on a beautiful quilt. I would love to win a digital copy of this book.
I love your version of this pattern! I mostly do walking foot quilting but ventured out on my last quilt and used my darning foot to do “straight” lines since I was going up and down in each block and didn’t want to have to keep turning the quilt.
Wow your quilt is stunning, amazing how fabrics change the look of your quilt compared to Christa’s.
I am using my walking foot to straight line quilt and am trying to get up my nerve to FMQ. I have ended up with a birds nest of thread and uneven stitches the other times I have tried to FMQ. The book sounds great, thanks.
I like FMQ and occasionally straight lines. Depends on my mood!
I absolutely love your fabric choices!! Beautiful quilt. I like walking foot best right now. I’m still a bit nervous to do much free motion, but Christa has helped me in the area to give me confidence to try it more.
Your quilt is so pretty! I love the fabrics you chose, too.
I’m fairly new to quilting and have only done straight line quilting on finished projects. But I am learning how to use rulers on my regular machine and loving it!
I love your version – such a difference changing out solids for prints! I typically do straight-line because it’s what I’m most comfortable with but I would love to learn some cool FMQ.
Love the quilt and I’d love to win the book!. I’m fairly new to FMQ and I’m trying to extend my repertoire by trying lots of different ‘patterns’. My favourite look though is straight line quilting with a ruler.
I enjoy all types of FMQ. I do enjoy using some of the modern quilting on traditional quilts. Cute quilt! Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.
I am pretty much a traditonal quilter, but this Christmas I will be working on some quilts for my grand daughters and they want modern,,, so we shall see how that all goes.