> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Quilt Alongs and the FMQ Challenge

Quilt Alongs can be great fun!  They can help quilters learn new things, as well as meet new people. For Quilt Shops, they can also be an excellent way to get customers into your store. 

The possibilities for Quilt Alongs are endless.  There are Christmas Quilt Alongs, Mug Rug Quilt Alongs, Scrappy Quilt Alongs, Color Challenge Quilt Alongs, Border Challenge Quilt Alongs, and yes, there are even Free-Motion Quilt Alongs.  Today, I want to share a few insights with you about some Free-Motion Quilt alongs that you may want to join.  You may also want to talk with your quilt guild, local quilt shop, or even your own group of qulting friends, to see if they want to organize a Free-Motion Quilt Along to learn/improve their free-motion quilting skills in 2012!  To clarify, don't just use the 2012 FMQ Challenge as your only place to inspire you to do FMQ.  If you really want to improve your FMQ skills this year, take advantage of every possibility you can and create your own opportunities too!   

Shiisa Quilts  has started a "Free-Motion Quilting Addicts Support Group" that meets the 4th Thursday of each month.  The group is doing a "piggy back" using tips & tutorials from the 2012 FMQ Challenge.  This shop also has many FMQ classes scheduled, including a class with Sarah Vedeler and one with Paula Reid.

Leah Day (Free Motion Quilting Project) has started a new project called the "Quilt Along Wednesdays".  Every Wednesday Leah will post a video, on her blog,  of a design to work on, which gives you more opportunities to practice and learn more FMQ designs. 


Cozy Quilt Shops has also offered free "Project Linus - Free Motion Quilting" classes, where participants practice on charity quilts (e.g. Linus) and learn new FMQ designs.  Cozy also has a variety FMQ classes, including a class with Paula Reid in March and one with Sarah Vedeler in August.

Again, I do hope you take advantage of as many ways as you can, in 2012, to learn and improve your FMQ skills.  Quilt Alongs, classes, books, dvds are all great ways to learn and improve.
 


6 comments:

YankeeQuilter said...

All of this has really inspired me to take a deep breath and practice....thanks!

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

That is an excellent idea....then more folks will be involved and support one another.

Smiles,
Kelly

sao said...

I have been practicing my little heart leaves quilting for this month....it is really fun!

THANKS FOR DOING THIS!
sao in Midlothian, VA

StitchingBahma said...

Thanks for all the info. I've promised myself to really improve my FMQ skills this year and your blog inspires me to learn as much as I can.

Laura said...

You forgot me :( http://www.quokkaquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/fmqing-at-last-fmqal-row-1-blocks-1-and.html

Unknown said...

I had set my quilting goal for 2012 to learn to use my Voyager 17 and frame this year. The FMQ is great to work with my goals. I had to order all the cords since they got trashed when I was sick this past year.