beginner's guide to free motion quilting

I've been looking forward to Natalia's book - as a beginner quilter I figure I need all the help I can get :)

I love that Natalia has not only focused on quilting but has also included 6 quilt projects so you can make a quilt and practice the free motion quilting that you’ve learnt.

The book is in two main parts that include the basics of materials and tools as well as thread choices and batting. There is a section on techniques which includes layering and basting and also thread tension and setting up sample sandwiches to practice on.

Natalia then outlines different free motion quilting designs that suit all over quilting, background fillers, borders and sashings, custom quilted blocks, and also quilting designs for applique.  With more than 30 different designs there is a great range to choose from.

All of the designs are explained with photos of step by step diagrams of how to start the actual quilting and which way to continue the stitches – this is always helpful for beginners.

In Section two Natalia has included six quilt projects and then suggests the free motion quilting designs to use for each one so that you can practice what you’ve just learnt!  The patterns include the gorgeous orange slices quilt that is on the cover of the book.

Section three has all of the quilting patterns outlined in Section one so you can trace the patterns onto you quilt or you can practice drawing them before you start quilting.

With so many quilting designs, this is a fabulous book for a beginner and I’m fairly sure it has enough designs to suit all of the quilt tops that I make for the next few years and maybe more!

When I go to Queensland in a few weeks to join my family on the cruise I'm going to inherit my mum's Janome as she got a new bigger and better machine a few months ago.

I'm really looking forward to starting free motion quilting in a big way when I get back home in the new year as mum's Janome can drop the feed dogs, has needle down, and all the other little things that make free motion quilting easier !

With Natalia's book and Angela Walter's free motion quilting book I'm really hoping I can free motion quilt my very first quilt - fingers crossed :)

sweet celebrations

I've got a couple of book reviews to round out my month of not much blog activity ! I have been sewing a little but obviously not as much as I should be - I think I might already be winding down into pacific ocean cruise mode ! not long to go now :)

I received a couple of fabulous books from C&T Publishing this month ... the first one is Sweet Celebrations with the Moda Bake Shop Chefs.

Moda’s Lissa Alexander has put together a wonderful collection of projects by some well known and awesome bloggers.

The projects all have a theme of celebration that covers holidays as well as milestones.

The book is set out with holiday projects suitable for the four seasons and milestone events are covered with projects for beginnings (wedding and baby), school days, as well as family.

The 35 plus projects include fabulous quilts along with bags, an apron, baby layette, table toppers, lunch bags, pillows and gifts.

All of the projects use the versatile pre-cuts from fat quarters to charm packs.

There is a section on finishing touches which includes general how-to info along with pattern sheets for all projects.

I also love that there is a section introducing the designers featured in the book which has a photo and a little information along with their on-line address so you can visit them.  As the title of the book suggests, the designers also have projects at the Moda Bake Shop so make sure you check them out there as well.

I'm really excited to see fellow aussie Jane Davidson (quilt jane) in the book - Jane has a fabulous blog and a great little on-line quilt shop that has pre-cuts at great prices.  Jane is also very active on twitter and attended Quilt Market recently - lucky girl.  Jane has two quilts featured in the book and her gorgeous  "Let it Snow" quilt is amazing - especially as she lives in Brisbane where it never snows !

I'm also really happy to see Ellie Roberts in this book - Ellie blogs at craft sew create and we were both in the same swap a few months ago - Ellie made me this really awesome needle book !

Ellie has a autumn (fall) wreath project, very cute baby shower layette projects, as well as a lunch sack and messenger bag which are all just fabulous.  I have a friend who has just had a baby so I think Ellie's bib and burpie set from the baby shower layette might be my first make from this fabulous book.

With so many projects for all occasions, it’s the kind of book you’ll reach for again and again :)

I'll be back tomorrow with another great book on free motion quilting by Natalie Whiting Bonner who also happens to have amazing projects in the Sweet Celebrations book :)