THEN....yesterday, I got an e-mail from Deb pointing me to this website. I read through most of it. When I read this post (specifically check out the photos, not the videos), I knew I had the answer to my problem! Yipee! Did you know that you can modify your free motion foot? I didn't break any pieces off my foot (eeek!) but I did place a few layers of corrugated cardboard in order to compress the spring on the foot a bit. Now my machine glides over the quilt top with ease! I can't tell you how much easier it is to quilt now. Amazing, I tell you. AMAZING!!! I quilted an entire baby quilt yesterday afternoon and the cardboard didn't shift a bit.
In honor of this exciting event (trust me, it made my week!) I am going to be giving away some flea market fancy fabric. One half yard of each of the green and the orange pictured below.
No need to become a follower, no need to blog or twitter about it. Just leave me a comment with your name, where you are from and your favorite quilting tip or your favorite quilting gadget. If you don't quilt, you can let me know what your favorite color is. It will make reading the comments much more interesting than reading, "pick me!" over and over.
As always, thanks for reading. xo
725 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 725 Newer› Newest»My name is Jen, and I'm originally from Utah but currently living in the Bay Area, California. My favorite color is red. I've only made rag quilts, but I'm going to attempt a ragged squares quilt soon (your tutorial makes it look easy, I sure hope it is!) By the way, I love your blog. You are super talented.
Hi I am Debbie from Western Australia. I am new at this quilting game and so far am doing just straight line quilting. I have one of those darning feet and am almost getting the courage to give it a go! Thankyou for all your useful tutorials, I have referred to them quite a few times. I love looking at all your pictures and wonder where you find the time!
I'm going to try that on my free motion foot. I'm Mary from Minnesota and my favorite "gadget" is my iron. I find it so essential to making a quilt that looks professional.
I'm Krista from Fort Worth TX. My favorite tool is a 1/2" ruler from Fons & Porter that makes marking seams for half square triangles a breeze.
can you believe 417 comments????
this shows what a fantastic blog you've got... you've got a LOT of fans.
i too found the 'juki free motion foot adjustment' blog.. i follow her too... and thought..hm.....aj hasn't mentioned a thing - yet...
i LOVE your blog, i LOVE your style, i LOVE your unselfish teachings, and i'd be thrilled to win fabric too....
xo
eva
My favourite colour is red and I think those fabrics are simply beautiful.
I'm pretty new to quilting, but I do love the hera marker for marking straight lines on a quilt. I'm always a bit skeptical to write on fabric, especially white, so the hera marker is genius in my opinion!
Hi! I'm Ashley from South Pasadena. I recently discovered your site and am SO impressed with how much you are able to get done! I have really been inspired by your quilts. Thank you!
I have a love/hate relationship with my seam ripper. I love that it's there to save me time when I make mistakes and I hate that I make so many mistakes!
Hi-Zeynep from St Louis Missouri. My favorite tool beside Olfa rotary cutter is Olfa rotating cutting mat. It allows me to cut many times without moving the fabric, just rotate and cut. It is great for small work areas.
Jaime from So-Cal. I have only completed 3 quilts in my new hobby, I don't have much advice or tips. My favorite gadget would have to be safety pins!
I'm just learning to quilt. So I am just absorbing tips from your site. I love the green.
Hi, my name is Shelley and I'm from Western Australia. I have just started quilting so i don't really have any tips yet-but totally absorb everything your write on your blog, its very helpful for a newbie like me!! My favourite colour is Aqua/Turquoise and pretty much anything bright. Keep up those wonderful tutorials.
I'm from IA and new to quilting. It's quickly consuming much of my time! My favorite tools lately are my new SHARP quilting pins! What a difference a sharp pin makes!
Hi Amanda,
My favorite quilting tip: I make a hot pad (or mit for use with hot oven) from (2) layer cakes, with batting inbetween. I use the design on 1 of the sides to practice the free motion quilting. So by doing that, there doesn't seem to be any stress. Bonita from Northeast Fl
Hi, I am Barbara. I have a lot of favorites so its hard to choose. but I will say that blogging is new to me and I have found a lot of wonderful and inspiring tips and tricks from all the new blogger sites I have come across. I am glad you resolved your free motion foot problem. Happy quilting days ahead!
Santa Fe, New Mexico. I love bright colors, right now mainly green. Whenever I sew I pull the bobbin thread up through the fabric before sewing so I don't have balls and knots as I begin to sew.
So glad you got your problem taken care of and saved $$$ too.
Hi, I'm Henny, thanks for the important info!!
I will remind this when I have a walking foot.
I'm staying in a small city in Indonesia, no one sell darning foot here, a little bit lazy too for ordering online. As a trick in using my regular foot for quilting, I choose organic lines in sewing and believe me, still fabulous. You can see my table runner at 2009 Fall Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy.
Hi, I'm Cheryl in Idaho. Don't have a favorite tool yet (unless you count this blog. I have been soaking up all the info I can from you.) I just finshed my first quilt (top only) It only took me 8 months ha ha. I have bought my backing fabric yesturday. Wish me luck!
OMG, you're giving away FMF, be still my beating heart! Great tip about your free motion foot, I bet it was a joy sewing that baby quilt without wrestling with your machine.
My fave colour is purple and my fave quilting tool, aside from my wonderful Pfaff sewing machine which I completely adore, would be my clover seam presser, great for pressing small seams when constructing a block, rather than getting up to the ironing board every 5 seconds.
Thanks for the giveaway and for having such a brillo blog!
Kelly :-)
I do quilt but I couldn't figure out what my favorite quilting tip or gadget was. Maybe my sewing machine, it would be very slow going without that gadget. My favorite color is purple, my master bedroom is a wonderful medium purple. Thanks for the wonderful blog. Now I need to run off and quilt my 9 patches.
I love this fabric! I'm Priya in Los Angeles. I love quilts and I am just getting started learning this craft. Actually my next project is your star quilt-along! My favorite color is green.
I love your blog! I just started quilting so I don't have any tips, but I did want to share that your tutorial for the stacked coins baby quilt at Moda Bake Shop is the very first quilt I tried! I'm almost done with the quilt top and just wanted to say thanks for the constant inspiration! My favorite color is blue :)
Hello again, I forgot to say, I'm from Brisbane, Australia. Kelly :-)
I'm Joan from Hillsboro, Oregon, and my favorite quilting gadget (of this very moment) is my 12-1/2" square frosted ruler. I bought it for the size, not the "frosted" bit, but it really does not slide when cutting. I am impressed, especially when right after using the frosted ruler, I had to use another non-frosted ruler because I needed a different size, and made 2 cutting errors due to the ruler sliding on the fabric! It really works!
glad you got your foot working again. there's something wrong with mine, but I think it might be operator error :) I don't have many quilting tools/gadgets etc, but Thimbleanna has me sold on a stylus, for starters. I'm saving up for a new machine :)
Hi I'm monique from Vancouver, B.C. I love wearing my old, comfy, black velour, lululemon sweat pants when hunched over my sewing machine - (the thread magnet pants) so I love having a little loop of masking tape stuck to the table beside me that I can use to stick loose threads to instead of the threads ending up all over me, (and the cat).
I reallly enjoy reading your blog! Thanks for sharing!
Hello! Holly - from Washington state...it's cold here and I wish I had a finished quilt to wrap up in!! :)
I love your blog...inspires me! So thank you greatly!
My favorite quilting tip: there is no quilt police!! (unless you are entering it into a contest!). Learn from mistakes but don't be afraid to make them.
My favorite tool - wooden shishkabob stick...I use it to help pull up my bobbin thread when I'm starting free-motion machine quilting.
Happy quilting! :)
Hello and you are right it is fun to read all the comments when its not pick me please
my fav item is my purple thing works great to hold down what my big fat fingers cant get to
and i love all the colors whats not to like about them when you can mix them up and play all day
thank you for the uplifting blog today
ter from chi town
Gidday!!...I dont normally say that really (hehe!!) Just thought I would say hello from Melbourne Australia, love your blog and my favorite tool would be my machine cause I hate hand sewing!!
Hi, I'm Joan from Hillsboro, Oregon. I just sent you an email about having difficulty posting, then realized that my internet had timed out on me for some reason, so I'm trying it again. My favorite quilting tool right now is my Olfa cutting ruler that is frosted. It really does not slide when you are rotary cutting. I trimmed many blocks with it the other day without incident, then used another ruler (without frosting) to cut some strips. I almost immediately made two cutting errors due to the ruler sliding across the fabric. I'm sold!
Joan
Hi, Robin from SW Florida. I couldn't quilt without my quilting gloves. They make it much, much easier :)
Hi, I'm Beth from Oconomowoc.
I've been itching to try my mom's grand quilter, but I would need to get some quilt tops done first, now wouldn't I!
I also agree with Jen way at the top: one needs to do more quilting and less blog reading! I think that one does me in every day...
eaputzer(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh my goodness, 446 comments to read - plus mine! How will you ever find the time??
I have only quilted a couple of little baby floor quilts, so I am not very experienced at that part. I do enjoy the satisfied feeling of stippling, and wearing those ugly quilting gloves that make stippling sooo much easier. Only problem is how hot my hands get wearing the gloves. I stipple fast as when I do it slow, it doesnt look as good. Love your blog!
Hi Amandajean,
I'm Simona from Croatia, Europe
My favorite gadget is my rotary cutter... couldn't work without it
Hello! I'm Jenny and I check in on your blog from San Diego. This probably sounds lame, but I just started using - and loving - spray adhesive for basting layers. I fought it for quite a long time because I figured seriously, how good can it really work? I finally broke down and bought some and I feel like such a moron for all the hours I've spent hand-basting!
My favorite quilting tips generally come from your blog.
My favorite color? That's impossible to narrow down to one, but probably white.
Right now I'm crazy for navy blue and red and white... and I'm also crazy about vintage sugar bags. Not sure how to make them into a quilt but I know I'd like to do something modern.
I'm rambling on, but also wanted to say how much my design tastes have changed (from more traditional to modern) since I discovered this online quilting world. Was that the same for you? Just curious.
Best wishes and thanks for including me in your very generous draw.
AmandaJean, Thank you for your inspiration in my quilting this summer. Because of you, I have a beautiful 'nine patch' quilt top, a little "out of my box" in my usual color scheme, and it was fun! I find myself trying so many projects because the helpful blog tutorials. It has been fun to see your quilts, keep 'em comin'!
favorite color: red
favorite gadget: I have an Olfa rotary cutter that I bought out of a magazine before anyone knew what it was! My 30 year old daughter was a baby. Of course now I own about 8 others. I also used my husband's metal art rulers, until they started making the wonderful clear acrylic ones. Don't I wish I had the insight to invest back then! Thanks for letting me ramble. pokey
Hi my name is Corrie from Nebraska.I like to use pages from the phone book as my foundation when paper piecing. They tear off so easy. Thanks for the chance to win some great fabric!
Lucy from Kokomo, IN
I like to use shish-kebob sticks instead of stilletos because they "grasp" the fabrics I'm squooshing together best for me. I LOVE your blog. SUCH a blessing...thank you.~
Boy oh boy have you got plenty of comments - I'm still gathering courage to 'properly' free motion quilt and I'm loving following the blog on 365 days of free motion quilting patterns - some great patterns here and one very talented lady
Dear AmandaJean, I am follwing your page since only a few weeks. However it is always very interesting as well as it keeps up my english as I am writing you from Germany. I am into quilting only a few weeks and hooked. Love the colours you chose this time. Kind regrads, Sophie
I'm from Budapest. My fav. colour is brown on clothes. In quilts I love green, blue, red, white, a little pink, and DOTS.
Well, favorite gadget full stop has to be my Aurora 440! It has made sewing sooooooo much easier!
Oh and I live in Portugal
I just found your blog through the online Quilt Festival by Park City Girl, and I just wanted to say that you are sew inspiring ;)
I love you color choices, and you have made so many that it was actually a little exciting to continue reading and browsing you site! Congrats on the fix!
My favorite quilting thing is probably my walking foot, just because I haven't ventured into using my free motion enabling foot (can't think of it's name right now, but it looks like a little hoop). And, my favorite color is blue :)
I couldn't live withour my darning foot. Especially when i fix my boys jeans.
Sol
It's so exciting when you discover some tutorial or tip on the Net that completely solves a problem that's sometimes has been nagging at you for a long time! It happened to me the other day - I'm a newbie and was trying to puzzle out how to sew a curved seam on a plush hedgehog I'm putting together from a kit with... let's call them sparing instructions, when a friend pointed to a tutorial on how to piece a Drunkard's Path block... completely unrelated, but tah-dah, there was my answer!
I'm Jeannie from New Zealand. I love my walking foot which makes sewing a breeze.
yay! glad you found a fix, that must have been driving you nuts! I'm Kellie from New Zealand and my fave gadget is the good old rotary cutter - wouldn't get a thing made with out it!!
Hello, Caroline from the UK here. That fabric is gorgeous thank you for the opportunity to win. My favourite quilting tip is simply to wrap both top and bottom threads around fingers and tug gently when starting to free-machine stitch - it pulls the tension, otherwise I have nasty loops on the back!!!
Hi, I'm Kristina from Budapest, Hungary. My favourite tool is the rotary cutter, and I also love my free motion foot, especially now that someone pointed out to me how to use it properly... :-)
I started free motion quilting after reading your blog a lot, so you are sort of a hero for me! :-)
Kristina
Hi, i am Diana form the netherlands. I have been reading your blog for 2 months now. I love the kind of quilts you make. i have been reading back in you blog to see what i missed the months before, and to look at the pictures. I hope you won't mind a copy cat, but i am planning to make some quilts like yours :)
so keep on writing and posting those pictures of your quilts.
Hi, I'm Joyzelle.
My favorite quilting tool believe it or not is my serger. I can't stand fraying threads so I do all my piecing using my serger with very nice finished seams. Weird I know but it fits me.
SO glad you found a handy solution! my janome is making some slightly strange rumbles and i just found out it will take 2 weeks for a complete servicing! yikes!! anyhoo, i'm bess and i live in kentucky and my favorite quilting tool is my giant 6"x24" quilting ruler. LOVE IT. so much better than the skinny one i was using to cut with before that would slip constantly. :)
hello, greetings from Berlin Germany. I tape each layer of my quilt on my living room floor to put the layers together (don t know the englisch word for "Heften" ;-))
Favorite : the rotary cutter, I started quilting with sissor and the fabric kept shifting so that I had to cut and recut.
love bothe fabrics.
Wow, so many comments I wonder if you'll ever read mine!
My name is Kristin, I am from CA but currently living in Austin, TX, and my favorite quilting gadget is my free-motion foot, because I can't live without it!
You're already on my blog roll, by the way.:) I'm glad you got your foot fixed. Have a good one!
Hi Amanda! I'm happy that you sorted this out! This is Alia originally from Bogota, Colombia; then from St. Louis, MO, and now Muscat, Oman! I have successfully quilted two large quilts using the stippling method and have learned with the second quilt that THREADS are so important! I also learned that while having purchased some fons and porter quilting gloves, the tips bugged me. I went to our local dollar store, which is called Daiso and is from Japan. They have really cute stuff and nice quality. Anyway, I found some driving gloves with the thumbs; forefingers and middle fingers cut out and it made such a different for me. I also learned more control in my turning to get better stitches. I love the Kwikclip which helps immensely with basting the safety pins; especially with a sprained wrist! Come by and see the Halloween quilt I just finished last week! It feels so GOOD to cross off my WIP list!! Take care and I will have a look at those links! Fondly, Alia www.coffeebeansdailies.blogspot.com
Hello! I am kelley from Lexington, KY and my favorite quilting tool is my thimble. I wear it to hand piece and quilt.
Hi AmandaJean,
I love to use fusible batting and a crayola washable marker to draw any straight quilting lines on my quilts. Both of them make quilting so easy and quick!
:) Jessica
I am a newer quilter. I am inspired daily by your quilting. My favorite quilting tip while I am trying to learn free motion quilting was garden gloves with the tips cut off. I got a bag of them for 2 dollars at the dollar genteral store and they are great. Another tip was have a glass of wine when you start to relax you! It works! Blessings! Denise from FLorida
http://dbriese.blogspot.com/
Wow! What a great link! I think she solved my bobbin issue for me! Yay! So very generous of you to offer this fabric! I don't really have any good quilting tips or gadgets, but I do agree that the Machingers gloves are really great. I can tell a huge difference if I forget to put them on. I don't forget for long because there is such a difference!
I'm Margaret from Maine. My favorite tool while quilting is the purple air eraseable pen. It's great for spot marking designs and never shows when I am done.
My name is Ann, I live overseas with the military in Italy. I don't know if you'd call it a gadget, but my favorite "new" quilting discovery is Jelly rolls! I just started working with them and they are MARVELOUS!
Love your blog btw!!! I check weekly to see the latest projects!
I like the orange fabric but my favorite color is purple. I don't have a favorite quilting gadget yet. I just finished my first quilt 2 months ago on a very old machine that I fight with. I am saving for a Bernina but I think it is time to look for something a bit cheaper because I have tons of projects already to go, a baby clothes quilt, a Hannah Montana "quilt" I had to put back together all sandwiched and pinned and the machine refuses to work. It's already been serviced twice and I've only owned it 10 months! Have a great weekend! ellis102278@yahoo.com
Stephanie
That is a great tip! My favorite quilting tool is the rotary cutter. It makes life much easiler! I am Bethany and I live outside of Atlanta GA. Thanks for the great giveaway.
My name is Patty and I am from Texas. I do follow your blog and really enjoy reading your posts. My tip would be…”roll extra bobbins before beginning your quilting project”. Having extra bobbins really help with time, especially when you are on a roll.
I just read about that yesterday. I'm going to give this a try. The handiest thing I've learned so far is to set up a mat and cutter area close to my sewing machine. My big mat is in the next room and that wasn't working. Next will be a larger pressing surface.
I learn so much from your blog!
Vicki
Tennessee
since I"m relatively new to quilting, I don't have a tip to share....Although I have been sewing since I was in the 7th grade and believe that the key to any sewing project is great ironing. Nothing beats flat seams! Thanks for a chance to win these great fabrics! I'm a follower of your blog on google reader.
Hi, I'm Chris from Alabama. My tip is this: I lower my adjustable ironing board to my sitting height and put it right next to me at the machine, making an L shaped work area. So much easier than jumping up and down to stitch, and iron. Also makes a nice turning move that might be considered exercise?? Well, probably not..
I saw that trick too...so clever! I'm glad you're back to speed on quilting!
My favorite tool is my least favorite...the seam ripper!
I hate that I have to use it, but I'm so glad such a small cutting implement is there to help me wash away my boo boos!
My favourite tool is my 1/4" foot. I love it - with all my heart. I only realised they existed a few months ago and now my life is complete! Second on my list is my rotary cutter. Is it normal that i still smile when i'm cutting out with it?? I love the straight lines, and the sound it makes.
I love ALL colours!
Thank you for pointing this out, it is somsthing I might try as well. I already noticed that there are other quiltingfoots on the market. On my Bernina the BSR came with three different ones, and the big clear one works the best, especially when working with thicker batting.
Then I would like to give you another thanks, for the inspiration you gave how to quilt my newyork quilt. I will try to do that as your favo quilt which you posted on 10-10. Unfortunately I am not as fast as you ;-) but soon I will finish it. If you like I'll give you a notice when it appeares on my blog.
Greetings from a very windy Holland, and keep up the good work!! Marloes
Amy in Maryland - who was interested in reading the comments until she saw that you are almost up to 500 comments...
Tip: treat yourself to a fresh rotary cutter blade (or needle) every so often, not jus twhen you "NEED" it. Ahem, no reason at all why I can give this advice - none what so ever.
I'm a stippling fiend. I love the hint...keeping it in the head for future reference.
Oh, any colour would do if I get picked...purple or anything with black is good for me.
Hi, I'm Chris and I live in Monroe, NC. I found the same site you were pointed to the other day via the Fall Quilt Festival. She amazes me with all her tutorials as you do. I've been telling everyone I know who quilts about your site. My favorite color is blue, my favorite gadget is my Juki sewing machine, and a tip I found and use is the sticky pad beside my sewing foot to keep my seam allowance consistant.
Again, I love coming to your blog and seeing what you've posted!!!
Yay for finding a solution! A cheap one at that :)
My name is Kelli and I live in northern Michigan. My favorite quilting tip is, when possible, make your blocks slightly larger than you want their finished size to be, so you can square them up nicely and not fight with trying to make odd sizes fit.
Not my favourite tool or gadget but it seems to be the one I can't live without - A STITCH RIPPER.
Mandy Adams
Grimsby, UK
I am Patty from Ohio. My favorite quilting gadget is a little plastic guide I have for making miter binding corners. It makes for beautiful sewn not wrapped mitered corners. I like wider bindings and it works great.
My name is Aimee and I'm from Medina, OH. My favorite quilting tip is paper piecing. It takes forever but for a perfectionist like me I get perfect seams and points.
Nancy Sue from Maryland (near Wash.DC)
My favorite quilt tip is using hairspray instead of basting spray. I'm celiac and have a wheat allergy that makes me break out if I touch anything with gluten. Wouldn't you know those basting sprays are derived from wheat :( So I'm going to try the hairspray trick. My hair will still look like crud, but my quilt may be pucker free :)
Enjoy your new rigged foot. We love Leah Day!
My name is Leann and I live in Jacmel, Haiti. I love holding a finished quilt. I'm horrible with finishing sewing projects. I have several half done things in my room. My favorite color is teal!
I'm Michelle from SE Massachusetts.
My favorite.. my seam ripper.. always my best friend :) Thanks for your blog.. I love all of it!
Great tip and give-away! I don't really have any tips since I'm still fairly new to quilting and don't devote as much time as I would like to the craft but I do have a suggestion. Please donate your scraps to your local schools. With the ever increasing cuts in our school programs music and art are usually the first to go. Many art teachers struggle tight budgets and need all the help from the community they can get. Don't forget about other items that often get thrown out such as toilet paper/paper towel tubes, shoe boxes, magazines, and newspapers. Call your local school and find out what their specific needs are. Thanks for the awesome give-away!
Wow everyone wants this fabric!!! I can only imagine all the wonderful quilts that are out in the world today!!! Making the world more beautiful one quilt at a time!!!
I sew a lot but I am not the best quilter. I am working on one right now that is patterned after one of yours and I can't remember what you called it now ;-) I have a Bernina and I use my open toe darning foot and I have had pretty good luck with it but my absolute favorite, bestest tool is my quilting gloves! It's amazing how much easier the fabric is to handle with these!!!
Good Luck to all!!
Okay, my favorite quilting tool is painters tape for basting, and as a quilting line guide. Yes, you have to go to the hardware store rather than your LQS, but I have found it a necessary staple in my sewing box.
Love the new blue solids quilt. It is so soothing and beautiful. Thank you for sharing with all of us!
great googly moogly! :) I'm happy you've made it easier on yourself!
I'm Tracy from Madison and my favorite quilting thing is chain piecing. I know, obvious. But I didn't try it until a little while ago when I went to piece a block of teeny tiny squares and figured it would likely help, and man. did it ever.
i'm having the same problem with my free motion. I'm going to read that blog and try to figure out what's wrong with my machine feet.
Maybe i can make it work as you did!
My quilting tip is simple...and it looks like you've taken heed already!!!!....it is......never give up...always look for a solution and don't be afraid to try new things!
Now, I've never tried flea market fancy fabric before...!!!!! (hehehe)
'o) Wendy B from Queensland, Australia.
What a fun idea!
I'm nikki from Michigan. One of my favorite tools is actually an empty kleenex box. I stash all my strings and too small pieces of fiber in there instead of in a garbage can. It fits on my sewing table right where I need it! Plus, I can use those later in my felting projects.
My name is Kirsti, and I'm from Durham, NC. Since my 18-month-old son is growing out of his baby blankets, I decided to be daring and make a quilt for him myself. I had never quilted before and, despite the super-easy pattern I created for the task, was at a complete loss as to how to proceed. A Google search led me to your site, and I have returned again & again to it (your binding tutorial is a life-saver!!). Your site has made me excited enough to undertake making another, slightly more complex quilt soon -- this time for our next little bundle of joy (to arrive in April). Whether I win cloth for that blanket here or not (I like the red; the quilt I'm binding now is blue & green), I just want you to know how much I love and appreciate your blog! Thank you!
I just finished my first quilt--your stacked coins baby quilt--for my daughter, due in about 5 weeks! My favorite gadget was my walking foot. I quilted in a diamond pattern and wound up with only 2 very tiny puckers that all but disappeared when I washed and dried the quilt. As soon as I get my camera back, I'm e-mailing you a photo! I'm so proud!
I currently live in Georgia, north of Atlanta.
Christy D. in Starkville, Mississippi. Right now my favorite color is a deep teal.
My name is Lauren LiGreci and I am from Albany, NY. My FAVORITE accessory for quilting and sewing in general is the KNEE LIFT! I got a new Bernina and it came with one, and I cannot imagine life without it. My favorite quilting tip is to from Elizabeth at Oh Fransson and her entire basting scheme works absolutely wonderfully.
Have fun reading and have fun quilting with your "new" darning foot!
Very cool! I'm Allison from Kentucky, and I don't quilt but my mom does, and she is great. It's hard to narrow down a favorite color, but I'd say Green is one of my favorites, as it coordinates with so many other colors so well!
My name is Joanna and I live in NH via UT and NZ! My quilting tip is to use a lightbox when drawing your applique shapes. Saves so much time!
I'm Rose, currently living in New Jersey, from all over (military brat and corporate wife). Neat-o trick I learned in machine quilting 101 - prop the back two legs of my machine with magazines. The angle puts less stress on your wrists/hands and gives you better posture!
I am new to quilting, so I don't have a fav tool yet. I am in love with the color teal lately. The fabrics you are offering are beautiful. Thanks for offering such a nice giveaway. You are an inspiration! :o)
WOW! You're generous! I am Katie and from CO, but live in Louisville, KY. I am a beginner so I guess my rotary cutter, I couldn't live without it! But my current favorite colors are probably golden yellows! Thank you for sharing! and for all your ideas and inspiration!
I'd love to be entered!
My favorite "tool" is curved basting pins, size 2! I hate using strait pins!
I love your blog, you actually are the one that inspired me to FMQ a bigger-than-doll-sized quilt!
Tape your quilt backing to a tile floor for perfectly square sides and no shifting.
I'm so glad to read that you found a simple solution to return your quilting to what it should - enjoyable : ) I'm Anna from central Wisconsin where I live with the good man I am fortunate to have for a husband and our six children. I'm just venturing into quilting, just purchased some fabric to make fall and Christmas table runners. I'm anxious to get started but I'm making myself finish up some necessary sewing first. I don't know enough yet to have a favorite tool or gadget, but I'm so grateful for the inspiration of all you awesome ladies who share your creations and tips and insight via your blogs. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to share with all of us. God bless. Anna
Oh, I forgot to mention my favorite color. Currently I'm loving the colors of the Gobble Gobble collection at Moda. I have got to get some, someway, somehow : )
I'm Stephanie from Redmond, WA. I'm really loving my handle thingy for my ruler. It suction cups on and makes moving my straight edge easier, and then provides an easier (or at least different) way to press down while cutting. Thanks for the give away!
i am Leslie from NY and by far right now my favorite sewing helpers are my walking foot, because i am terrible at free motion, and my binding tool. they make things so much better and easier. it is super nice of you to have a giveaway.
I am Jeri and I live in outside of Seattle, WA.
My tip is to use two rubber door stops and place them under the front of your sewing machine. Tilting the deck of the machine like that makes it so easy for me to see more of what I am doing. It gives a whole new perspective of my sewing and quilting. I hope that helps someone!
jcleveland03@comcast.net
My favorite quilting gadget is something I don't own yet... but I will! It's at Joann's, and it's an electric rotary cutter. I think this is one of the coolest inventions ever, because I tend to get distracted when I'm cutting and sometimes things aren't perfectly straight. But this electric thing looks like it will solve all my problems and make me a great quilter. (This from a woman who's only completed one quilt...)
Oh my! What a great tip and even better site! I am bookmarking!
My must have tools are just the basics, a sharp rotary, a large mat for cutting, baskets and bins for scraps.. a plastic bag placed right at my cutting/sewing area for thread waste. I have anxiety when I can't find my seam ripper....
I am from Memphis,TN of course I LOVE your blog, you have inspired me for a long time!
my favourite quilting tip so far has been using basting spray. i haven't gotten the hang of pinning, but basting spray is awesome!
Hi, I'm from Portugal and consider myself new in the quilting world. Mostly everything I know I learn in blogland, from generous girls like you, that share knowledge (thank you!). I used to read lots about the walking foot, but couldn't find one in my country, so a dear friend from blogland send me a matching one to may machine (actualy, two), and since I tried it to quilt, it made all the difference, so that's my fav. tool!
Hi! I'm Annie from PA, and I have only made one quilt ... so far. I am slowly working on my second, and it's slow going. Anyway I don't really have a favorite tool or tip, my favorite color is green, this week, but my favorite fabric colors are all shades of blues and purples.
Pick me, pick me.... just kidding :D
My favorite quilting tool is my rotary cutter. When I first learned to make quilts, we were using templates and cutting every single, individual piece for a quilt and sewing them together one by one. So I LOVE rotary cutting and strip and other quick piecing we do today; and my favorite color is red, among several others, and I am currently living in Kansas.
Congratulations on getting your free-motion foot working properly again! My dream: to some day be the thrilled owner of a quilting machine.
Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway! My name is Nicole and I am from NEw York. My favorite quilting gadget is quilt basting spray...it makes quilting so much easier and my finished quilts look so much better!
I know it's nothing special, but I just got a new quilting square that I love!
I'm Becky from Shropshire
I think my favourite sewing gadget is probably my button-hole setting on my Singer. I don't do button-holes very often, so every time I have to do one I start to panic! I convince myself that I cannot do it, and it's far too difficult, but the machine makes it *so* easy. I'm super proud whenever I do it now, and I have to go and show random people :)
Great solution! Have a nice weekend!
Julianna
I am Jaime, from Missouri. My favorite quilting tool is the internet and tutorials like you post on your blog.
Hey Amanda Jean! My name is Jordan and currently my favorite color is... well, not a color. Polka dots are my current obsession. Can't get enough! Thanks for the giveaway.
anarchyintheok at gmail dot com
My name is Jade I'm from Mercer, PA
and I love my rotary cutter.
Hi,
my top tip is DO NOT start a quilt with the title 'insanity'. It will live up to its name.
Fran
I'm Rebecca from California, my favorite quilting tip is to pin the heck out of the quilt sandwich when pin basting. Also watching your free motion quilting video was soooooo helpful for me before my first attempt, so thank you for making it! My favorite tool is my 1/4 inch seam foot, and my favorite color is red. I hope I covered all my bases here!
I too just found that site you were referring to. I did remove the bar from my foot and added some plastic were you added the cardboard. I just love the changes. Why didn't I think of it sooner. My favorite gadget it gloves! I just use gardening gloves. I am from Utah.
I am very new to quilting, I haven't even used my free motion foot yet, that thing intimidates me! My favorite gadget is sewing with gardening gloves on. It makes the whole process so much easier.
Lavina
Seward, Alaska
My name is Jennifer,and I am from SE Texas. My favorite quilting gadget is my seam ripper. Probably not my favorite item to have to use (lol) but when I make a mistake, it is soooo much easier to fix than trying to cut each individual stitch. :) I should know, as I have made many, many mistakes since I started quilting. :)
HI There my name is Heather and I am from Calgary, AB Canada. The most loved gadget of mine is the "Angler". It makes sewing half square triangles a breeze!! Pam Bono designed it I think. Love It!!
I just started quilting. My favorite "tool" so far is precut fabric and bias tape markers.
I am not so much of a quilter, but I have made a couple.
My favorite tool is my rotary cutter. I love it for cutting fabric for any project, quilt or otherwise.
I'm Amy from Arkansas, and I love my walking foot. I made my first few quilts with just a regular foot, but had puckers. The walking foot has all but fixed that problem.
I'm going to try this on my machine! I hope it works as well!I'm Regina and from Notre Dame, IN and my favorite color is orange!
My favorite quilting tip is STOP PROCRASTINATING!! (sarah AT kerner DOT net)
I'm Jamie from Kentucky. I don't really quilt, but I have been trying out patchwork and am making a patchwork apron as a christmas gift. I can now say I am excellent at stiching in the ditch! Other than that, I love the orange fabric on the left.
Great news to hear from you about this new solution , that´s good for us , who knows how productive you are. Well, my name´s Mercedes and I ´m in Madrid ( Spain ) . Absolutely my favourite is my new Bernina 440 and her free motion and my just discovered batting Warm and Natural that I can buy here .
I'm from Idaho and am a relatively new quilter. I use my seam ripper a lot! But, I have also learned to use a piece of cardboard to carefully measure each of my finished squares (and trim to fit), or else they don't line up in the end and look terrible! Ugh! Oh, and, please pick me!
That is so cool. I'm going to have to look around at that. I'm living in the Boston area and I have to say my seam ripper is my favorite tool. Or maybe my most used one. :)
What a great tip! I'm Bonnie from Indiana and my favorite tip is to use Leaders and Enders ala Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville.com. It's AMAZING - you get two quilts with the effort of one!
My favorite tool/gadget!? I think it's the ergo rotary cutter - my hand doesn't tire as quickly when cutting!
I'm so glad you found a solution!! thanks for sharing from your stash :)
Hi! My name is Jenni and I read your blog religiously. I too am loving my new found desire to quilt...always. I am not a patturn girl so I mostly just look at what you have done and go for it. I probably do things the hard way but that is just me. I love my big square table in my formal dining room. My friends come over and with at least 8 electrical plug in thingies we can all sew all day and get our chatting in at the same time. That is my favorite tip and gadget. Do it with friends and make your dining room into something useful. Thanks! Oh and I'm from Covington Washington...it's gorgeous here right now!
My name is Erin Appleby, and I'm from Lawrence, KS. Before I got my Janome, I always tied my quilts. My new machine came with all of the quilting accessories, and my walking foot is the best thing EVER!! I'm still building up my courage to use the darning foot :)
Love your blog, by the way!
I love your blog and am an avid reader... I quilt but can't tell you what my favorite tool is because it changes randomly. But I do have a favorite pair of scissors that I can't live without. I even took my couch apart one time to dig them out of the arm. They are by Duvo and I LOVE THEM!!!
BTW - My favorite colors is a deep red.
My name is Sarah and we live in Goldsboro, NC. My favorite quilting tool might have to be my transparent ruler. I find myself using it for everything!
I'm Nicole from Pasadena, CA!
My fave quilting tool is my new extension table for my Bernina...now I can stipple my big quilts no problem! Those babies just slide around!
From 1 CrazyMom to another, LOVE your blog!! Inspiring. Best gadget/tool: my NeedleKeeper I made from wool, has a pocket to hold the 7 main colors I need,a plethora of threaded needles, small scissors, band-aid, chalk - that & my current applique block, that's all I need. I adore the color teal and chocolate together, I rejoice when I can find a new unique combo w/my Kaffe fabric and a toile or a polka dot, I am a true Bohemian artist so I like it funky but quilty. Love Ya!
~anna in MD,right outside of my hometown DC
Oh my goodness. you are so generous! i am a brand new quilter from new mexico and my favorite color is teal, turquoise, blue, blue green, and anything in-between! i guess my favorite sewing gadget, since i am a new quilter, would have to be the seam ripper...please don't judge me... i am still learning!
Hello, I love quilting. I have yet to machine quilt. But this year for my birthday I am getting a walking foot and a free motion foot. I'm super excited as I have a top ready and waiting for my daughter. Currently my fav colour is purple and burgandy.
Heidi
that site looks like a great resource! I'm glad that you were able to figure out your free motion foot problems.
My quilting tip is to remove the plate on your machine that's just above the bobbin (throat plate?) and vacuum it out. You'll be surprised at how much lint collects in there and it will really junk up your sewing and slow down your machine if it's full of lint (and quilt batting bits)
I LOVE those colors! I'm from Issaquah, WA (close to Seattle and back to the rainy weather). I just started quilting and my favorite gadget is my 1/4" foot... I know I cheat. It's been very helpful to keep my seams the same width as I'm just a beginner quilter and my corners & points always match.
I'm Geneva from South Carolina!!
i only do hand quilting. My mom and Grandma taught me. i would love love to learn machine quilting, but i am totally not understanding it. i want to spend some time looking it up and try to get the hang of it :) i have 4 kids and homeschool but i still like to TRY to pursue my hobbys!
I am very new to quilting and I absolutely love it. So my favorite quilting gadget right now would have to be my roller cutter. I love that it is so easy to cut straight lines. Also thanks for having this contest.
My favorite quilting gadget is my mom's sewing machine (mine doesn't do free motion, the feed dogs don't go down). The other is my mind, I love the creative process!
I'm Jess from near Seattle, WA.
I'm new to quilting, working on my 2nd quilt ever and I love my new Pfaff machine with IDT. Now, I can't wait to give free-motion quilting a try.
Looking forward to reading the other comments for tool ideas.
Hello Amanda! I am Gail from Missouri :) My favorite quilting gadget, hmmmmmm I have a love affair with my rotary cutter it is true, but I love Bee's Wax for all of my hand work. Lets the needle and thread just glide through the fabric :) Oh and my favorite color? I really do LOVE them all! Sometimes when I think I don't care for a particular color I see it in a new color combination and I LOVE it!
Super give a way too ;)
I took a free-motion class last year and the teacher showed us that most machines have a presser-foot pressure adjustment gague somewhere on the machine (different for different makers). On my Bernina it is on the left side near the top and it is a dial that you can loosen up for thicker materials (like layers in a quilt). I had never noticed this dial before the class. Now I see it on all kinds of machines. You might want to look into this also. You might also want to try typing "presser foot pressure" into Google!
I'm Kellie from Chicago. I think the only quick tip I can think of is to use masking tape when quilting in straight lines, using the tape as a marker and follow the tape. Thanks so much! and my favorite color is pink :)
Thank you for the tip! I haven't even tried my free motion foot yet. How sad is that? I guess my favorite quilting tool is my Bernina sewing machine, though. LOL I love it!
I am Leslie from New York...where we got a couple inches of snow last night...sigh. My favorite "tip" is to use the needle up/down choice when quilting...especially applique. My favorite Bernina is in the shop, and I am using an older backup...which doesn't have the option...the needle is always up...Hard when machine quilting. The things we take for granted!
That is a really cool tip!! My name is Chris, my favorite quilting tip, I am not sure it qualifies as a tip, but I think Denyse Schmidt was the one who said "there are no mistakes in quilting". This thought helps me every time something doesn't go exactly as planned. My favorite gadget is my walking foot!! I LOVE it! Ever since my daughter was born I have been stuck on pink, I know it's kind of a cliche, but after 10 years of only son's, I am embracing the feminine side of the world!!
Hi I'm Jenny from PA. My favorite quilting tool is my new sharp rotary cutter!!
My name is Kristy from Cincinnati, Ohio and I have been quilting for some time, but just this week I found the greatest thing in a box of stuff I INHERITED from my mother. An Olfa cutting mat on a turntable....oh my gosh does it make squaring up blocks easy...there is no moving of the block until all the sides have been cut. Now the greatest GIFT is I feel like I can buy some fun new gadgets, because not only will I benefit, but my dear daughter, Kate will one day remember me and my joy of quilting when she finds a great new gadget in a box she INHERITS from me!
Hi! I'm from Indiana. My favorite color is fuchsia and one my favorite quilting tools/tips is to use Prismacolor colored pencils when marking fabric before cutting blocks. There are a ton of colors and orangish-yellow or bright green is often easier to see than pencil or white chalk.
I'm sara from estero, florida. My fav color is any shade of blue .... and i would say my favorite sewing tool of choice is the air-erasable marker - i use it for so many things! my fav. tip or time saver is to chain piece as often as possible! thanks for the giveaway!
Hi, I'm Karen from CA. Thanks for the tip about the free motion embroidery foot! That sounds like something my husband would come up with. He's always modifiying things! My favorite gadget would be my walking foot! I used to quilt without one and now that I have one, I love, love, love it! It makes things so much smoother and quicker.
Thank you for celebrating :-)
Orange Flower sketch book blog, had a tutorial about ladder stotching that finally made me understand how that stitch work.
Oh by the way I'm Isa from Denmark :-)
i'm in maryland. i love the self healing mats and the walking foot. fave tip is on continual bias binding and then putting it on a string around your neck to make attaching it easy. thanks for sharing your tip!
I'm from NJ and I couldn't live with my Singer featherweight for piecing. What a great reliable, and old, sewing machine! And I love my Juki (on your recommendation) for free motion.
Nearly 600 - in case you get to here, my favorite thing right now are bamboo garden gloves. The bamboo fabric breaths wonderfully, and the tacky fingers make moving the quilt through the machine super easy. I love them!
My quilting tip is this: when you are cutting fabric on a regular table your back probably gets sore. Buy a package of bed risers (to make your bed higher for more storage under it) and put them under the legs of your table. It makes it a perfect height for cutting! If you can't find those, you can also use paint cans.
Thank you so MUCH! Since I am sneaking on from work I am searching my desk for cardboard bits to cram into my quilting foot when I get home! YAHOO!
Megan from Seattle
Please put me in for the fabric. I live in Petersburg Alaska and do art quilting more than quilt quilting. My tip is from a beautiful Native woman who said "you can't weave a basket until your house is clean". I can't work on my quilts until my house is clean either!
Love your blog.
I'm Tina, I live in Arkansas, I love to quilt, but I am not that good at it...yet. But I'm trying. I never win anything, and I'm not saying that in the hopes that you'll feel sorry for me. It's just fact. But I figure I would this a shot. Leave you a comment, tell you how wonderful you are (which, I really do mean that). How much I respect that you are teaching a whole wide-world of ladies/gents how to quilt with absolutely no anticipation of gaining anything other than satisfaction of knowing you have helped others. And, how much I respect that you donate, and give not only your quilts, but your time and passion for what you love to do. I love your blog. Your comments are quick and to the point when needed. And detailed when needed as well (tutes). Ok. Done. 'Prolly will never leave a comment again considering I just bowed down before you. Ha! God bless you and keep on a 'truckin!!
I'm glad you solved the issue, I hate it when you have time to sew but you can't because your machine isn't working right. Thanks for the give away!
Sorry, forgot to leave my tip - After school begin sales is where I buy my rulers for quilting and quilting design. Like the triangle ones and longer ones. I think I pay like .49 cents or so for them. They are just as good as the more expensive ones.
Also, I buy the markers that disappear. They wash right out in the wash and on sale after school are like twenty-nine cents. Works great on quilts for marking.
I am just learning to free motion quilt and it has been helpful to practice a meandering pattern on paper first...although I really stink at the stitch length regulating...wish I had a regulator. Hope I win that beautiful fabric...love it!
I have to say my favorite tip is to use the leaders/enders idea (from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com) but as opposed to scraps I cut out the pieces I needed for another quilt and have been putting those together in between current projects. So a little like two projects in one.
LOVE the home-made solutions to problems that come up. Keep 'em comin'!
The fabrics are lovely! My favorite color is green. Favorite tip?? Always press inbetween, it just makes things easier.
Hey! Amazing tip there! I'm gonna remember that. My favorite quilting tool...oh this is hard...would have to be the rotary cutter. Except when I use it I get hungry because it reminds of me of slicing pizza.
Jerusha
Ontario, Canada
I will have to give that a try!! I am Shanna from Raleigh, NC, and my favorite quilting tip is to use a spoon to help close the curved safety pin when basting a quilt. That has helped save my fingers from many a pin prick and no blood on the quilt!
I have tried a few times to use my free motion foot, but the stitches and tension are always uneven! I would love to stipple, but for now I just have to do straight quilting with the walking foot.
What a great tip! There's some serious love out there for that Flea Market Fancy fabric, huh?
I'm Dawn from Chatsworth, CA. This is a great fix for a problem that a lot of people probably have! Thanks for sharing. My favorite tool is using hair clips to keep the binding folded over while I hand stitch it to the back of the quilt.
I'm kimberlee from IL. I haven't been quilting long, so I don't have any tips, well one that was passed down to me, use 1 wood part from a clothespin to finger press.
And I am not sure what my favorite gadget would be, but that is really cool about what you learned! I will definitely remember that for the first quilt I quilt next month. It's small, but I'm nervous!
That is a great solution! My favorite two things are my rotary cutter and cutting mat. I would not be able to cut accurately without those tools!
I love the fabric. I'm not sure I have just one favorite tool, but I just love rulers. I have rulers I've never used and probably never will, all shapes and sizes. I especially love the little 3-inch square - the tinier the better. Weird, but they give me pleasure. Oh, I also love the miniature mat!
This is a great solution! I think my favorite tool is the rotary cutter or my cutting mat!
It is so great when the solution is simple and inexpensive. Congratuations!
Awesome idea, can't wait to try it! I'm Chris, from Minnesota. My favorite 'tool' is Maryann's Best Press starch. It makes ironing out stubborn creases easy - and smells good to boot!
laura d
texas...where it is COOLER today. yip yip.
the only gadget i have is my trusty ol' enlnita sewing machine i got while in college. like. 20 years ago. ;o)
WOWZA on the amount of comments you have...I personally like the quarter inch foot...helps me get my seams better!
Jen from Michigan - I made my first quilt at the beginning of this year for my son's new big boy bed. Afterwards, I liked it so much that I decided quilting was my new habit - so I bought a cutting mat and rotary tool. Simple, but after making one (twin sized) quilt without it - it's the best quilting gadget there is - even if it's not just for quilting:)
From Rhode Island
My favorite quilting gadget are binding clips. I only have a walking foot, but I really want to get a darning foot.
So glad your free-motion woes are a thing of the past now!
I'm Aditi from Natick, MA. My favourite thing to do is to save every last teeny scrap (well, not the 3mm bits) and then jump with joy when you find a use for them a day or a year later! I've often made entire quilts and had hardly anything in my trash can to show for it! ;-)
Amanda Jean,
My name is Melissa and currently I am residing on a lovely farm in Virgina. I had been wondering for quite some time (I am self taught as well) how many were so accurate with their diagonal quilting (diamond grid) and thanks to you I discovered the benefits of painters tape!! Thank you!
Wow ... this is great info! I jsut got my foot last month and have had not issues, but, I would imagine this is something that may happen over time. I just re-engaged to sewing in the past month and your blog has provided lots of inspiration.
Diane
Ellen from Maryland- I love to quilt (it's so relaxing) I have the worst tendency to go too fast (I have a lead foot on the machine pedal) so my favorite tip is to play music while I sew- I tend to end up sewing to the tempo :) My favorite tool is old school- I love my rotary cutter. :)
Hi, my favourite colour is purple and I'm very new to quilting. I have sewed together some tops (I'm making car quilts for my kids) but haven't got around to sandwiching it altogether. That seems a bit scary to me at the moment.
I live in Raurimu, Central North Island, New Zealand.
I love reading your blog (not sure how I found it) and love your quilting style. But I think I should do some very basic straight lined projects first!
I haven't been quilting long enough nor am I daring enough to try my hand at stippling. So, for right now at least, I think my favorite quilting tool is my walking foot but my 6.5" square ruler is a close second - I just find it super handy. Oh, and my favorite color is brown - for fabric and to wear! =)
I love my rotary cutter!!
Hi, my name is Alejandra, Im new to machine quilting,so, I dont know yet much about quilting gadgets for machines, but I may say my favorite would be, Practice, practice and more practice.
Im from Mexico, in Canada for a visit.
Thanks.
Ale
Wonderful! The fabric is fantastic. My favorite tip is to relax and if you make a mistake, know that 95% of the people who see the quilt won't see the problem. Every quilt I've made has been a little wonky, but no one but hard-core quilters have noticed.
My favorite quilting tool is your blog. Not brown nosing. The truth.
Aviva in Seattle
Being fairly new to quilting, I'm afraid that my favorite gadget right now is my seam ripper! Thanks for all the inspiration that your blog and work give. I can especially relate to your blogs name! Have a good weekend :)
Hi, my name is Loralynn and I'm a materialaholic...oops, wrong place to say that! Seriously though my favorite quilting "tool" is material! I have to collect ALL of it! Dot's and stripes, flowers and geometrics...love them all!!
So glad you can freemotion quilt with ease now. Someday I'll have a machine that I can do that with.
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