Free-Motion Quilting Weekend in Portland

I'm thrilled to share a new local class offering I have. And for those of you who aren't local, it would be a great reason to take a trip to Portland, if I do say so myself! I've scheduled a two-day beginner's free-motion quilting workshop in January at my local quilt shop, Modern Domestic.

This class is exactly the way I love to teach free-motion quilting: small class size (we limit to 12), and only 3 hours of class a day so no one gets exhausted. Everyone comes back the next day fresh and full of energy and with the added benefit of having had a night of sleep, which research reveals helps us learn complex tasks; tasks like free-motion quilting!

The staff at Modern Domestic are happy to make recommendations for nearby places to stay if you're thinking of traveling to Portland for the weekend. And I'm happy to advise on local restaurants and sightseeing. It's always fun to have visitors!

If you're looking for a more advanced class, I also have another grid quilting class on the calendar. 

And I'd love to hear what you think of the two-day class idea. I feel like I often see my student's energy flagging around hour 5 in an all day class. Have you ever gotten burned out in a 6 hour quilting class?

Quilting Spirals with the Walking Foot

Today I get to share another quilting segment of mine from the TV show Fresh Quilting! This is from episode 203 "Mix It Up" which you can see anytime at www.freshquilting.com.

You know I've been playing with my walking foot more these days, and getting a really even, smooth quilted spiral is definitely a job for a walking foot! See my little trick for getting started on the episode...

Preorders open for Wedge Quilt Workshop!

Good things are happening! My first book on the wonders of patchwork, specifically, WEDGE patchwork, is about to fly out into the world on the magical hooves of reindeer and the scent of peppermint. We're so close. So so close. Can you smell the minty freshness? 

And here I am to show you a few pretty pictures (like the quilt above, "Hello Gorgeous") and get you thinking about some of the cool things you can do with wedge shapes. Do you have a wedge ruler? If so, great! If not, no worries, the book has all the patterns and instructions for using them with your trusty old quilting ruler. 

I love the way the diamonds float on the one above. And how about the full view of that cover quilt below? Does it make your eyes go buggy? The circles flash when I look at it!

So I know plenty of you will buy it on Amazon (And probably even leave a review! Thanks!) and many of you will buy it at your local quilt shop (Shopping local, right on!) and some of you will say "But Christina, can't we preorder a copy from you?" And I, intoxicated by reindeer magic and peppermint fumes, will temporarily set aside my impulse to avoid the post office and I will say Why Yes! Yes you can.

And, you may ask, "Can that copy be signed?" Oh ever so much Yes Again!

For you, my fellow wedge lovers, I am taking preorders. Just until the book comes out. And then I will make a single, joyful, and slightly sweaty trip to the post office and then, then...then the spell will be broken, for I will have remembered that I Do Not Like That Place. After that you can still Amazon or Buy Local it and I will be so delighted that you wanted to read my book.

So are you getting in on this not-to-be-repeated post office trip? Are you one of my signed copy preorder tribe? Fabulous! Click this little button below and you'll be ushered over to Paypal  Preorders are in the mail!! No longer taking preorders but please see your local quilt shop or Amazon for the book! 

I'll be sure to show more pictures from the book when it's officially released! I still haven't shown you some of my favorites!

Are you Gridding?!

Just a mostly eye candy post to remind you to use your half-off Craftsy discount link on my new class Quilting the Grid, before it's done tomorrow. That discount is expired. 

I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Kaleidoscope Free-Motion in the Grid video

What a fun week! I've been enjoying hearing your positive feedback on my new class Quilting the Grid. Thank you, whether you've stopped to let me know on Facebook, Instagram, in the Craftsy class reviews or the comments in the class, it means so much! I'm glad that other quilters get excited about the things I get excited about.

For those of you who haven't been able to join the class yet, I have two things for you. First, my half-off offer on Quilting the Grid is good until November 15th if you click this link.

Second, I made a YouTube video of the new grid design above, which looks just like a Kaleidoscope piecing design. Beginners: you can do this! It's just one simple movement, over and over. You'll get it down quick. Check it out:

This looks great in one color or in two! If you try it let me know what you think!

Quilting the Grid is now available!

My new obsession is now a Craftsy class! Quilting the Grid: Structured Free Motion is finally ready to share my freshest quilting design ideas. And I have a great offer to share with the first students to join the class: a half-off launch discount for you (good for the next two weeks). Just click the link above!   That discount is expired.

I'm so intrigued by what you can do when you quilt a grid with your walking foot...

...and then switch to your free motion foot and quilt inside the grid. There are so many ways to get killer geometric repetition with this technique! Below is the same idea done 4 different ways. 

From simple to complex, there is a lot of fun to be had with quilting in grids. It's unquestionably modern, and also incredibly practical. 

The greatest benefit, I think, is for new free motion quilters. You don't have to think about how to move around the space. You don't have to worry about keeping your quilting design the same size. You just do the same thing in each space, one little bit at a time. It's a very relaxing way to quilt.

I can't wait to hear what you think about this class, and see where you quilters take this idea! If you'd like to take the class, be sure to click one of the links in this post. You'll see the discount reflected in your shopping cart on Craftsy once you go to check out. Let me know what questions you have, or if I can help you get started!

P.S. If you learn better in person, consider taking my face to face version of this class in Portland Thanksgiving weekend: sign up here

A Craftsy peek...

I am having a hard time being patient waiting for my new Craftsy class to come out!! But happily for me, the Craftsy team just sent me these photos they took when I was out shooting the class, and told me I could share them. Sneak peek time!

Are you noticing a pattern.... like there's some straight lines and FMQ in each piece? What if.... you used both your walking foot and your free-motion foot for what they are each best at? What if you quilted something low stress that was also totally lovely? 

It can be dense or open. It feels super modern to me too. Did I mention I can't wait to show you? 

This may be favorite picture of me ever taken! I look at it and I see that I'm coming back to a certain amount of ease and joy and creativity that was lost during the confusion of the divorce.  Having my home be a safe place is incredibly powerful.  I wish for all of you the safe space to try new things and bring your beautiful work into the world.