Quilting Book Review

It isn't often I add another book to my collection. It is even more rare for me to write a review about one of those books. Today I want to tell you about Step-by-Step Texture Quilting: 65 New Free-Motion & Walking-Foot Designs (affiliate link) by Christina Cameli. I first heard of Christina Cameli when I was still active on Craftsy and Bluprint. There I watched a couple of her classes and enjoyed both. I recently received a little nudge from Sam Hunter of Hunter Design Studio either via social media or from her subscriber list. I looked up this book and placed my order. (Full disclosure: I purchased this book with my own money and received no compensation for writing this review.)

This cover, front and back, makes me want to quilt up some of this texture. I suddenly have more quilting ideas than quilts. That is a good problem to have.

Each design is clearly explained with both line drawings and quilted examples. I can't imagine working up all these samples to photograph. Every design has step-by-step instructions and direction arrows when needed. Perfect for both beginners and beyond.

My favorite thing about this book is the photographic index in the back. I need to be able to see the designs quickly so I can make a selection without paging through the entire book (though sometimes I do anyway because I have quilter's block). This way I can see the design as it would be stitched out and turn to the applicable page. Brilliant!

If you want to see what else Christina has to offer, check out her website. You will get a free pattern for signing up to her email list. She offers free tutorials and you can buy her books, patterns, and fabric. You will also find links to her blog and free YouTube videos of her quilting.

Free-motion Quilting Books in my Library (affiliate links):
Step-by-Step Texture Quilting: 65 New Free-Motion & Walking-Foot Designs - Christina Cameli
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book: • 155 Mix & Match Designs • Bring 30 Fabulous Blocks to Life • Plus Plans for Sashing, Borders, Motifs & Allover Designs Spiral-bound 
Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: Choose & Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts
Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting: 50+ Visual Tutorials to Get You Started • Professional-Quality Results on Your Home Machine
Shape by Shape Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: 70+ Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Shape by Shape, Collection 2: Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters - 70+ More Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Graffiti Quilting: A Simple Guide to Complex Designs (no longer available through Amazon but you can buy it directly from the designer)
Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

Star Struck

I picked up this panel by Anthology Fabrics a couple years ago at a quilt show. It has been waiting around in my collection for me to get up the nerve to quilt it. Since I completed my Dream Big panel I figured I had enough confidence to give it a go.

While I complete expected variance from the package print, I did not expect it to be this different. Granted, it didn't change that I was going to quilt it, it was just kind of surprising how much my panel did not match the package photo.

I decided to let the quilting really show on this one and pulled out a bunch of coordinating colors in Fantastico and Magnifico by Superior Threads. This poly thread has great shine perfect for machine embroidery and sometimes works as a great top thread when machine quilting. Paired with Bottom Line in the bobbin. 

I loaded, basted, and looked at the center of the quilt. I wanted to work from the center out. 

I created some large pebbles and echoed closely around each. I used the dye pattern to guide me and keep everything mostly balanced. 

A couple big swirls mirrored on the top, bottom, and sides got me really moving. My swirls may not be perfect but in the overall view that doesn't matter all that much. 

I created a background for those swirls. 

I squared off with echoes and another large pebble. So simple and really effective. 

I replicated the stripes for the second to last round. This will create a sort of background for the center motifs. I used a wavy echo for the last round trying to add some organic texture to break all those straight lines. 

Here is a view of the back of the quilt. It isn't easy to see the texture on the front but you can really see it here. 

Trimmed and ready for binding and a hanging sleeve. I'm really having fun exploring more quilting and less piecing. Not that I don't want to piece any more, just that I like adding to my quilting toolbox.

Anthology Fabrics Cube-Bori panel (non-affiliate)

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors, 5 Inch
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Free-motion Quilting Books in my Library (affiliate links):
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book: • 155 Mix & Match Designs • Bring 30 Fabulous Blocks to Life • Plus Plans for Sashing, Borders, Motifs & Allover Designs Spiral-bound 
Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: Choose & Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts
Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting: 50+ Visual Tutorials to Get You Started • Professional-Quality Results on Your Home Machine
Shape by Shape Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: 70+ Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Shape by Shape, Collection 2: Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters - 70+ More Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Graffiti Quilting: A Simple Guide to Complex Designs (no longer available through Amazon but you can buy it directly from the designer)
Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts
Step-by-Step Texture Quilting: 65 New Free-Motion & Walking-Foot Designs by Christina Cameli

Dream Big

Part 2

Last week I shared the first part of my Dream Big panel. Above, the order I used for the thread changes. I love that I have so many colors of So Fine! from Superior Threads. Options are good.

As I worked each petal I would decide what to do with the next. I looked at panels quilted by other people and realized I really went middle-of-the-road with the quilting. So many others did some pretty intense quilting. My quilting is light in comparison to some. 

I worked on it for several hours but I had to quit for the day and come back to in the morning.

I finished rather quickly in the morning. I trimmed it and admired it.

The decision to use a double layer of batting was good one. It really helps sections puff up when the quilting isn't too dense.

Bound and hanging sleeve added. I just need a short curtain rod so I can hang it. The more I look at it, the more I like it.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors, 5 Inch
Hoffman Fabrics Hoffman Digital Dream Big 43'' Floral Panel (I didn't see a panel in the colors I have, but there are loads of options if you want to try one)
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Free-motion Quilting Books in my Library (affiliate links):
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book: • 155 Mix & Match Designs • Bring 30 Fabulous Blocks to Life • Plus Plans for Sashing, Borders, Motifs & Allover Designs Spiral-bound 
Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: Choose & Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts
Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting: 50+ Visual Tutorials to Get You Started • Professional-Quality Results on Your Home Machine
Shape by Shape Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: 70+ Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Shape by Shape, Collection 2: Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters - 70+ More Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Graffiti Quilting: A Simple Guide to Complex Designs (no longer available through Amazon but you can buy it directly from the designer)
Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

Dream Big

Part 1

I've had this Dream Big panel for a while. I picked it up because it seemed everyone was doing it.

I found a piece of leftover backing fabric that was wide enough to user and I picked my threads. I wanted to blend the thread with the petals so I pulled seven different thread colors. 

I used a double layer of batting and basted the entire panel before beginning. I don't usually baste, finding I get a better result without basting. 

I started in the middle. 

If you look at all the different versions of this panel, both in color and quilting, you'll see so much variation. I looked at none of those while planning my quilt. I worked color by color, petal by petal, until I was done. 

I tried to use a different quilting motif on each petal. It wasn't easy, and I needed my stack of free-motion quilting books to get some inspiration. I'm breaking this post into two because it's just too many photos. Look for the second part next Wednesday.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors, 5 Inch
Hoffman Fabrics Hoffman Digital Dream Big 43'' Floral Panel (I didn't see a panel in the colors I have, but there are loads of options)

Books in my Library (affiliate links):
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book: • 155 Mix & Match Designs • Bring 30 Fabulous Blocks to Life • Plus Plans for Sashing, Borders, Motifs & Allover Designs Spiral-bound 
Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: Choose & Use Quilting Designs on Modern Quilts
Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting: 50+ Visual Tutorials to Get You Started • Professional-Quality Results on Your Home Machine
Shape by Shape Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters: 70+ Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Shape by Shape, Collection 2: Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters - 70+ More Designs for Blocks, Backgrounds & Borders
Graffiti Quilting: A Simple Guide to Complex Designs (no longer available through Amazon but you can buy it directly from the designer)
Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

The Mermaid - Part Two

I made the time to get coloring with the Inktense Blocks and Inktense Pencils.

I colored with the blocks directly onto dry fabric and used the pencils to fill in finer lines and areas I wanted especially dark or intense.

When the fabric is dry, blending on fabric isn't that easy so I tried to lay down layers that could be blended when wetting the fabric.

Working with the blocks is messy business. Take this into consideration if you don't want "artist hands". The inks aren't staining on skin and clean up was as simple as soap and water. There is a danger of transferring this ink onto the fabric.

I got way, way carried away with the colors after I had started to wet the fabric and blend the colors. If I do this again, I won't add those background colors, I'll keep the focus on the mermaid, or whatever the subject may be.

The colors blended nicely and I was able to use the white to add highlights after I wet the inks. I really like the effect. This is another reason I'm sorry I colored the background. It just takes away from the mermaid. This image is when the work was still wet.

Keep an eye out for the next segment when I put it all together into a tote bag.

The Mermaid - Part One

I took loads and loads of photos of this project so I'm breaking it up into a couple posts. The only thing I didn't take a photo of was the line drawing before I quilted over the lines.

First, I love this mermaid design from Urban Threads Embroidery. Second, I wanted to use my new Inktense blocks and pencils to make something really fun. I printed the hand embroidery design super-sized and used Crayola Ultra-Clean Fine Line Washable Markers to trace the design onto my fabric.

I loaded the fabric onto the long arm with muslin and low-loft batting (I think I used a remnant of Quilter's Dream Blend). I quilted over the lines of my traced design several times with a dark thread.

Then I shifted to a blending color of Superior Threads So Fine #50 and filled in the background with swirls and waves. This is my favorite thread for quilting. I also quilted another panel with swirls so I can make a tote bag with the finished pieces.

I washed both pieces after quilting. They aren't kidding about the Ultra-Clean Washable Markers. With nothing more than cold water I managed to wash out all the marked lines. I followed with a delicate wash in the washing machine. I used delicate because even though I basted all the way around the panels, there are still raw edges.

My stitching may not be perfect, but I like the overall effect.

Next step is to use the Inktense blocks and pencils to add color.

In the Mail Monday: Quilting from A to Zen

I received my copy of Bethanne Nemesh's new book Quilting Textures from A to Zen. This is a great addition to my growing collection of quilting design books. I love background textures and this will be a great resource. Bethanne does a great job explaining how she finds inspiration in so many things. You can look around you to find beautiful designs to use in your creative process.

Quilter's Quest: Feathers and Flowers

A friend participated in the 2015 Quilter's Quest Shop Hop and this is the quilt she decided to make. I didn't participate in the shop hop during 2015 and 2016 for various reasons. My 2014 Quilter's Quest quilt is still waiting to be quilted. I'll be adding it to my UFO list for 2017.

This quilt has been on my shelf for what seems like ages waiting to be quilted. Part of that was because I wasn't sure how to quilt it. I finally decided on a design that would define the borders with swirls and feathers with echoes and an all-over flower motif for the center of the quilt.

I like to quilt for quilters that give me the chance to do what I want, but it challenges me, too. When I piece my own quilts I have plenty of time to think about the quilting because I have all that time with the quilt. When someone hands me a quilt and says "make it pretty" it takes more time to decide what I should do. There is also the worry that it won't be what they want, but I suppose they did accept that risk.

I'm really pleased with how this quilt turned out. The texture is nice and I think the quilting doesn't compete with the piecing, it complements it. Someone on Instagram recommended I quilt it with straight lines, but I wanted to soften it a little. Straight-line quilting might be good for some quilts, and given a different color palette I might have decided to quilt it differently.

Day 25 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

Patience and Quilting

A friend of mine asked me to quilt this quilt for her. I don't do this often and it takes a big portion of patience to wait for me to do such a thing. Yes. I quilt most days. I do not however, do it on a schedule and being on a schedule makes me rebellious. This one has been hanging around for more than a couple months waiting for me to be inspired.

A real beauty made entirely with batiks. Such pretty fabric. Beautiful piecing, too.

I picked this lovely light blue thread for the quilting. It is subdued enough to melt into the backing and not overpower the top. I used So Fine! #50 for the top thread and Omni for the bobbin, both from Superior Threads. This is my preferred combination of threads.

I went with a kind of open-center swirl for the motif. I think Christina Cameli calls this one Bear Claws in her Craftsy class Wild Quilting. It gives the quilt loads of texture and I really like the movement it adds to the quilt.

I've bundled it up and sent it home with its maker.

Day 8 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

Quilt Soup

I wanted to get some hands-on time with an Innova long arm quilting machine. I decided it was time to jump in by taking a class at the Virginia showroom of the Longarm Network. They were offering a class called Quilt Soup and it seemed a good fit for me.

Their shop is big and bright and filled with thread and machines. Definitely my kind of place. The staff is super friendly, helpful and so supportive.

The Innova longarm is a great machine and when I'm ready to upgrade they are at the top of my list. The support is excellent and they don't just sell you a longarm, they empower you to be your own technician which is something I love. I'm not afraid of working on my own sewing machines as long as I have the support I need to do so. For this reason I'm confident this is the machine for me.

The class introduced several quilting motifs and encouraged us to use the many different books out there to incorporate as many as possible into the piece. I likely used way more swirls than I needed, but they are such a great filler. I'm so glad I took the class. It really helped me feel like I'm on the right track with my creative journey.

So, if you want to practice your free motion quilting on your domestic machine, or try out some things with your longarm I recommend you pull out a couple of those panels you bought for some crazy reason and get stitching. You never know where your creativity will lead. Besides, it is only fabric and thread.