Saturday, March 2, 2013

Free Motion Quilting Info

Today was the first class I thought in my studio. Exciting. And on my favorite topic, Free Motion Quilting.
I have had a passion for the quilted surface since my first visit to the Nation Quilt Museum in Paducah in 2005. After quilting once with a walking foot and feeling completely restrained by the prospect I decided I had to conquer Free Motion Quilting. A few thousand hours of practice and I think I have some handle on the issues. Still have room for improvement, but I'm not dead yet!
For the class I prepared a list of resources that I think are useful for Free Motion Quilting with a machine. I though you might enjoy them as well.


Nysha’s Quilting Video

Sharon Schamber videos on hand basting 

*Portable sewing table

Marguerita McManus - inexpensive “sewing table”

Carol Bryer Fallert’s Studio (great ideas for setting up yours for maximum comfort)

Leah Day’s 365 day quilt designs ( 365 different quilt fill patterns)

Diane Gaudynski’s Blog (information on all things related to Free Motion Quilting)

Superior Thread Tension Diagram
Superior’s Thread and Needle Guide
YLI’s Knowledge Center; “Thread and Needle” and “Thread of Truth”

Mettler Thread, images of thread stitched out in a variety of colour schemes

Recommended Reading 
Quilting Makes The Quilt, Lee Cleland (1994, Martingale and Co.) [Out of Print?]
Heirloom Machine Quilting, Harriet Hargrave (2004, C&T Publishing)
The Grammar of Ornament, Owen Jones (2001, L’Aventurine)
Dover Pictura Design books, Dover Publications
(Islamic Design and Japanese Design)
V&A Pattern Books, V&A Publishing
ZenTangle Books, Various publishers

This list is by no means exhaustive or complete -- it was just what occurred to me and would fit on a single sheet of paper. If there is something you would like to share please feel free. I love to discover new people and places and explore new ideas and products.

As a foot note - the class was great. A good group who worked hard, were open to learning and we had a good time. Thanks.