Try Machine Quilting Today
It is time to check free-motion quilting off your bucket list! With tips from Sewing With Nancy guest Molly Hanson you can jump in with a can-do attitude. Luckily, my guest took her can-do attitude and taught herself artistic stitching. Now, you can watch her can-do free-motion quilting techniques online and view the specific techniques in her book.
Molly’s goal in teaching free-motion quilting is to inspire creativity. The best news is that creativity isn’t difficult! To prove it, we’ll start with Paisley free-motion quilting techniques.
Paisley
The wide-to-narrow paisley design is often paired with geometric quilt patterns. It’s a free-motion design perfect for beginner stitchers.
Note from Nancy—I’ve tried free-motion quilting in the past and was never able to master paisley. After following Molly’s directions, I had success after the first try. Really!
Woodgrain
Quilting nature-based designs seems to bring a sense of calm. Woodgrain is a design that relies on imperfection for its beauty. This is not a design to stress out about or fuss over. Small wiggles and bumps give it character, and variance in width of the grain adds to the beauty.
Swirls
Swirls work well almost anywhere. You’ll learn how to manipulate the shape by creating a half or even a quarter swirl, or stitch around one swirl to create more layers to fill a space. This design teams well with many other free-motion styles.
Print Tracking
Our last free-motion quilting technique of this series is Print Tracking. Just like it sounds, you choose a printed fabric and track or stitch along the design. This outline stitching allows you to make the fabric design really stand out, while giving you the opportunity to quilt all sorts of new shapes you might not otherwise try.
You’ll really enjoy Molly’s Book!
In Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners learn how to:
- Set up your machine for free-motion quilting—no technique is left out.
- Begin by learning how to quilt your name, because soon you’ll be signing unique works of art.
- Master all the fundamentals of free-motion quilting by working on manageable fat-quarter-sized fabric pieces.
- Confidently stitch 10 different quilting designs, including stippling variations, pebbles, square meander, swirls, and woodgrain.
- Take your skill to new heights as you quilt 15 practical projects to enhance your daily life, such as a tabletop organizer, table runner, tote bag, weekender bag, and laptop sleeve.
Watch Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.
Bye for now,
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Kimberley Martin
I like the woodgrain pattern the best! I live in the woods and love nature so that design really appealed to me. Plus, it looks easy and forgiving since any wobbles will just add to the organic look.
Wen Scott
I love the Woodgrain free quilting best.
Elizabeth
I like the swirls! Looks like a fun new technique to try!
Anne Z.
I love the swirls. I would love to perfect quilting swirls.
Anne Z.
I love the swirls. I would love to perfect quilting swirls. My question is how do I quilt a Queen or King size quilt on a domestic machine?
Carolyn
I like the idea of print tracking.
Lisa
Pebbles are my favorite.
Linda
The woodgrain is gorgeous – I think it has great character! I’m looking forward to trying them all!
Becky Jones
Print tracking may be the best for me to start, but I really love the wood grain
Judee Strukel
I love how easy it looks. I’m anxious to try these patterns as I can’t afford to pay the cost of having someone quilt my quilts.
EllenB
I love swirls, gives movement to the item I’m quilting.
Carol
I love the woodgrain effect but I really like them all! I would be satisfied to be able to sew any of these patterns.
Ann Hiler
I would really like to learn that paisley.
Helen Stewart
I love the swirls, but have been unable to keep them even sized. I would love to learn more!
Helen Stewart
I love the swirls but have been unable to make them in even sizes. I would love to improve!
BevM
I like the fluid movement of swirls in free-motion quilting.
Kathleen
Seems like a good technique to start with is the “Print Tracking”. That way I would have a motif to follow and learn how to control my hands and the machine…hopefully. Then grow into the others too. Thank You, Thank You both.
Helen Owen
Love the wood grain – I will be giving this a try!
Shirley Brown
I love the swirls and would love to perfect them!
Gwen
All the designs were beautiful, but the paisley is my pick. I think this would be easier for me to learn as a beginner.
Elizabeth Lewis
Wow! I want to do them all. First I’d like to learn the paisley. Thanks for the inspiration to learn a new skill.
Susan Spiers
The swirls are so pretty & the paisley is great, but maybe a little more challenging-just a beginner, still practicing my stipple!
Jadine
I love geometric style quilting, so the print tracking looks like a good beginner project…I have been reluctant to try machine quilting, but this book looks like just the one I need to get me started!
Jan Harbuck
I live feathers and paisley designs! Would love to win Molly Hansen’s book!
Julie Spangler
I love pebbles and swirls.
Jan
I would have to try them all and see which one came easiest to me — and that one would be my favorite. The swirls are beautiful. Thank you for the tips and chance to own this book.
Joyce W
I like the swirls. Thank you for the chance to win this book.
Ola Norman
The swirls.
Marnie Pettey
I love the swirls and can’t wait to try them myself!
Alice Newman
Can’t pick just one! I want to master paisley, swirls and pebbles.
Norma Jean
I love the swirls but l am fascinated by the woodgrain! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
Lucy, Phillips
Since I’m not really good with any of them,I would have to say that the Woodgrain would be one that I might be able to do. I will keep trying to do them all,at my age(74) I’m going to do it!
Catherine Gregoire
I like the swirls. I think that would be a good one to try out. I am new to free motion so this is a very interesting article. Thank you very much.
Cindy Schultz
I love the swirls, you make it look so easy. I have tied the wood-grain look but I wasn’t very successful. I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice. Thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome book.
Anne Molitor
I have always admired the Paisley design and I loved the program instructions. Can’t wait to do these myself!
Kathy Schulz
I need to practice these techniques. I think part of getting it to look good is determination and confidence. Would love to be able to do this!
Lisa Gonsalez
I like the swirls. Have never tried it but my machine that my mom bought me some 25 yrs ago came with a quilting guide. I am now ready to try it..Thanks for sharing the video..Love your show.
Lynn Again
This is the best series! Free-motion quilting is very zen-like when you get into it. I’d like to try the swirls because they remind me of ripples in the water, also very soothing.
Carol
Molly sure makes it look “doable”. Love the positive attitude that Nancy always brings to the table. I know I’m going to give this a try.
Starla
I love the swirls! But I’m also smitten by paisley.
Brenda Gula
Love the swirls, but the woodgrain pattern looks great on the earth tones, love the bag. I’m going to have to try it!
Lynne
They all fit nicely in their places, but my favorite would be the swirls, and perhaps that one would be the most difficult?
pgs
It is a toss-up between Swirls and Woodgrain
Linda
I have 3 quilt tops ready for quilting yet I keep putting if off
not really knowing what to do next. Thank you , I’ve decided to give your free motion ideas a try using your advice of slow and steady .I think I can ,I think I can,I know I can :))
MILLIE CARPENTER
I think that I like swirls and pebbles, they seem to be fairly forgiving patterns. I would not have to be perfect.
Jane Drewel
I have tried to machine quilt but find out stressful. I end up going back to hand quilting. This approach may help me stay on small project and get the hang of it. Thanks
Donna Pfost
I think I like the swirls pattern the best, then the one that follows the design on the fabric. I would really like to try to do my own free motion quilting, I just need some self confidence!!
Donna Pfost
I think I like the swirls pattern the best, then the one that follows the design on the fabric. I would really like to try to do my own free motion quilting, I just need some self confidence!!
Donna Pfost
I think I like the swirls pattern the best, then the one that follows the design on the fabric. I would really like to try to do my own free motion quilting, I just need some self confidence!!
KayZee
I like the swirls the best. I’ve tried it in the past, without achieving a pretty shape. Maybe this tutorial will help me. Thanks.
Melissa Bates
I just purchased a stitch regulator for my machine and a pair of quilting gloves, I’m ready to start learning free motion quilting. I think I would start with the paisley, it looks much more forgiving when it isn’t perfect.
emily w
I like the print tracking design best, as i think i would make mistakes with this method, tracing the design already in the fabric. thanks!
Jan N.
I love the combination of the paisley and the pebbles.
Naomi
Love pebbles and swirls
Kathy
I just finished a quilting class at my LQS so I am still struggling with “everything” but I do enjoy meandering. I’m just not very good. I will keep practicing. kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet
Verena
I like the look of the wood grain,
Gloria
I just love the swirls and pebbles? The wood grain is fun too.
Joyce
I love the swirls, but would like to try the paisley so also. Free motion quilting is very intimidating.
Mary Wippold
I like the paisley design. It’s reminds me of a sophisticated stipple stitch.
Mary Green
Meandering was my go-to free-motion quilting design but I have been branching out. I used different designs on four patriotic placemats I made last year and I fell in love with the wood design – super forgiving and easy to do. Great video, Nancy. I’ve been watching you forever and I love everything you do. Thanks.
Bonnye
i like the swirls.
Renea Yarolim
I really like the swirls. I have tried to do these and just cannot master them. I am sure this book would help me. Thanks for the giveaway.
Suzanne. Tetreault
I like the peebles and swirls !
LILLIAN K
I LOVE THE SWIRLS AND THE PEBBLES.
Elaine
Wood gain would be my choice. Nature designs bring the outdoors indoors.
Chris
I love swirls but it’s not as easy as it looks. Getting that perfect spacing is hard.
Brenda
Print tracking is my favourite style. They are all beautiful.
Kathy Rippy
Used to make all my clothes, but I fine the patterns have changed. I would like to get your books so I can relearn to sew,
Deb M
I love the swirls!
Suzanne. Tetreault
The paisley sèmes easy enough !
Vicki
I’m trying to learn the paisley. My swirls don’t fell natural. I’m anxious to ‘study’ the video. Thank you!
Vicki
I’m trying to learn the paisley. My swirls don’t feel natural. I’m anxious to ‘study’ the video. Thank you!
Delaine
The wood grain looks pretty interesting. Thanks!
Helen
The swirls & woodgrain methods are ones I would like to learn and perfect.
Sandra Collin
Love that book on free quilting.
Karen
I like the swirls. I have tried some free motion quilting and also fail and have given up. I use my embroidery machine to do the quilting.
Anne Oppegard
Of those included in this post … woodgeain! I really like how the linear lines of the quilt are reinforced with the quilting.
Kate
I purchased the working the west fabric panels, the woodgrain it a terrific idea for the sashing in between maybe I’d try it if I had the book
Janice King
I really want to master FMQ on my machine! I think I would start with the Paisleys as it seems they would be the most beginner friendly. Thanks for this series, Nancy.
Rosamond Corwin
I would love to learn swirls and paisley. I would love to master free motion quilting.
Betty Peterson
I’m working on a memory quilt pillow cover for my dad who was a woodworker. The wood grain pattern is the perfect background for appliqué letters cut from his flannel shirts.
Debe
I like the paisleys & the pebbles. I enjoyed these 2 shows a lot. Thanks!
Marty
I will try Paisley first to make a gift: I have a special foreign-born friend whose favorite motif is Paisley!!
Cecilia
I have tried to machine quilt, it is ok, but want to lean how to do a better job, the swirls look nice and more easy to me, but again would love to master all the patterns, so I can quilt some small projects.
Shirley
always on the lookout for new quilting designs..lovf the woodgrain …
Shirley
always on the lookout for new quilting designs..love the woodgrain …
Jeanne
Thanks for taking the fear out of FMQ.
Mary
I love pebbles of various sizes.
Peggy
I love the swirls so far I haven’t been able to master free quilting but would love to try again with the book. Thanks for such a great offer.
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