First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting by Christina Cameli
First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting by Christina Cameli is a fabulous new book that combines learning to free-motion quilt with a clever idea of how to get in the practice time that will hone your skills.
As the author points out in the introduction, many of us get hung up on finding an accessible approach to learning and practicing free-motion quilting. I love the small projects included in the book that incorporate free-motion work. What a brilliant path to practicing stitching skills.
The Basics chapter covers all the start-up activities that will have you sitting at your machine and jumping in. Christina does an excellent job of being very specific about technique, side-by-side with excellent photographs. The Quilting Tips and Techniques section takes things down to a further level of detail. I especially like all of the modern style free-motion designs.
Learning to free-motion quilt can be slow going if you’re waiting to be good enough before tackling a large project. Doing mindless practice quilt sandwiches gets boring! My favorite thing about Christina’s book is her approach to getting us to practice: Small Stitched Projects!
Simple construction and good design make the projects perfect for practice. There’s nothing better than learning while creating something that will make a lovely gift or addition to your home. There are 12 of these projects included in the book!
Had to include the project with the cat.
The Wiggle-Bottom Cushion is great practice for long continuous sections.
There are 6 quilt projects including a quilt-as-you-go quilt that not only teaches the assembly technique, it’s a great design for practicing large ares of free-motion designs.
The final set of designs in the book are Embroidered Projects. This is such a unique and inspiring addition to free-motion stitching. I totally need a Scissor Skirt!
Congratulations to Christina on bringing her approach to learning free-motion quilting to life in this book. It includes all of the technical know-how needed combined with a game plan for how to get practice time in with something to show at the end of a session. With such limited time to create and sew it’s a brilliant approach!
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Stash Books is generously providing a free copy of the book for giveaway (International winners will receive an electronic version). To be eligible for the random drawing leave a comment sharing why you’d like to learn to free-motion quilt.
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Visit these other fabulous blogs on the book tour:
9/25: Allison Rosen at Stash Books Blog
9/26: Jessica Alexandrakis at Life Under Quilts
9/27: Monica Solorio-Snow at Happy Zombie
9/28: Susan Beal at West Coast Crafty
9/29: Kathy Mack at Pink Chalk Studio – you’re here 🙂
9/30: Angela Walters at Quilting is My Therapy
10/1: Amanda Jean Nyberg at Crazy Mom Quilts
10/2: Megan Dye at Monkey Beans
10/3: Victoria Findlay Wolfe at Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts
10/4: Katie Pedersen at Sew Katie Did
10/5: Christina Cameli at A Few Scraps
187 Comments
I’d like to learn free motion quilting because I would like to finish more quilts. Not all quilts are a good candidate for hand quilting and I’m on a budget, so sending them out to be quilted isn’t in that budget.
View CommentOctober 2, 2013
Thank you Pink Chalk fabrics for highlighting this book. I have tried more free motion quilting lately after taking a class and this looks like a great resource for my new experiments.
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am intimidated by free motion quilting and hesitate to just go forward on my large quilts…after all the piecing I feel I would destroy my quilt. I can see how practical this book would be for someone like me who is willing to put their toes in the water of free motion quilting… and to practice on small projects-brilliant idea! thanks for the opportunity. Judie
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
I love fmq! Looking forward to knew ideas!
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
I would like to learn so that I can quilt my quilts with something other than straight lines!
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
Looks like a wonderful book!
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
I took a summer class on free-motion quilting and have been putting off practising. Why???
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
This book looks great and easy to follow. I am still learning to FMQ!
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
Looks like a great book! Would love to win a copy to help me try something more than wavy lines when I FMQ.
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
I have been FMQing for a few years but am not satisfied with it. I would love some help trying new designs and improving my methods. Thanks for the chance to win.
View CommentOctober 3, 2013
Yes please! An e-book would be fine with me, this just looks like a really refreshing way to learn fmq! Now that I discovered my needle post has been crooked for a year (I know, how could I miss that?!) I am really charged to see how it is to do fmq with a sewing machine that doesn’t balk!
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
Want to learn FMQ because it is so intimidating and the results so visible when you mess up. My desire to quilt is bigger than my skill. Concept of this book is really simple and nice, to practice on small pieces first, before attempting the big large expensive quilt.
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
I’d love to be able to make different textures using FMQ! Right now, I just don b’t want to mess up my beautiful top!
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
I would love to win this book. It appears to be just what I need to home my practice efforts. Thank you.
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
I have tied 1 quilt, paid for quilting on 3, line quilted 1 & 3 tops are waiting for me to be confident enough to finish them.
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
I would like to learn FMQ to spice up my quilts.
View CommentOctober 4, 2013
Please, pick me! Pick me! This looks like just what I need for make another attempt at FMQ.
thanks!
View CommentOctober 5, 2013
Lovely book! I need this so I can quilt my stack of tablerunner tops. That way, I will have permission to go on a fabric shopping spree!
View CommentOctober 5, 2013
I’d love to win because I make charity baby quilts and am always looking for new designs for quilting them.
View CommentOctober 5, 2013
After 20 plus years of quilting it would be great if I could put my name to the entire quilt including the FMQ. That would be one more item off the bucket list.
View CommentOctober 5, 2013
I haven’t tried free motion quilting yet. I’d love to get my hands on this! I can be contacted through my blog. Thank you!
View CommentOctober 5, 2013
would love to learn how to free fmq. am learning to piece quilts and have no idea how to fmq. this would be fabulous. thanks for offering this!
View CommentOctober 6, 2013
I love how all these quilting bloggers are supporting each this book and each other. I am so looking forward to improving my FMQ skills and this book looks amazing, love how the small projects provide opportunities to improve skills and confidence
View CommentOctober 6, 2013
I’d love to learn because I bought a free motion quilting foot for my sewing machine but haven’t even taken it out of the package yet!!
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
I would love to win a copy of Christina’s book. I have a few tops laying around and I would love to be able to quilt them myself. At this point I’m just scared I will ruin them if I do it myself, but I can’t afford to send them to a LAQ.
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
This looks like one awesome book and I would so like to win a copy! I have just started learning FMQ, I’m still a little scared but I really like what I have done. I just want to keep practicing like they say, practice practice PRACTICE! And this book looks like it is just that so it’s just what I need 🙂
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
Hope it’s not too late to enter! I would like to learn free motion quilting because i would rather quilt my quilt myself than have a shop do it.
View CommentThanks for the chance to win.
October 7, 2013
Looks like a fantastic book to have!
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
I want to learn to FAQ because it’s beautiful! (At least when other people do it).
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
I want to be able to finish my own quilts. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.
View CommentOctober 7, 2013
After reading your blog about free motion quilting and casting my eyes over the pictures, I’ve started dreaming of my next creation, the one after that, and the one after that! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to give wings to my dreams.
View CommentOctober 8, 2013
i want to realize a bed quilt for my daughter who put in her 1st home;for me is a great plan i want do make a modern quilt with FMQ .and this book allow me to practice before the fullfilment. And the small projects in the book are so nice. I hope you understand me Sorry for the mistakes, my english is very loosy.But i read it better than i write.and i hope to win Christina ‘s book.
View CommentOctober 8, 2013
I need to get over the fear. I have 7 baby quilts that I want to fmq. Time to conquer!
View CommentOctober 10, 2013
I would love to lesrn to FMQ!! I think my inability to have confidence in my drawing skills, leads me to believe that quilting just might ruin a pretty project instead of enhance it….
View CommentI would greatly appreciate ad much help as you can give to me to push me over this hurdle
Sorry for the tough job, but somebodys gotts do it!!!
Happy quilting!! 😉
October 29, 2013
I SO need this book!!
View CommentNovember 3, 2013
enjoyed reading through your sight thankyou for sharing
View CommentDecember 10, 2013
When I first started making quilts I thought SITD was my only option. After 3 or 4 quilts and a few quilting books I decided to send my next quilt to have it quilted on a long arm…well that was an expensive awakening. I now have 3 FMQ quilts under my belt and still find it intimidating. I want to go back and FMQ my first quilts as I realize they look unfinished!
View CommentJuly 15, 2015