Episode 445: Our Best Tips for Machine-Quilting
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Our Best Tips for Machine-Quilting
Whether you quilt a project yourself or send it to a professional long-arm quilter, you'll get better results if you prepare it properly. These tips from Quilts & More editor Joanna Burgarino will help you get perfect quilting on your finished quilt.
- Carefully prep your quilt sandwich
- Pay attention to your backing
- Think about the personality of the quilt
Back to Basics with Joanna
Joanna continues the talk of machine quilting by sharing two tips for finishing. The first is to test your combination of thread, needle, and tension before you start. You don't want to start quilting and then discover your combination isn't working -- then you'll have to rip out stitches. She also reminds us to take regular breaks when quilting to give your body and eyes rest.
Ask Us Anything
Lindsay Mayland shares about her newest birthday project. Each year, Lindsay makes a quilt to celebrate her birthday. These yearlong projects are aimed at expanding her quilting skills, documenting a year-in-the-life, and making a beautiful momento to share and display. This year, she's doing a "Give It a Month" Challenge, where she conquers a new quilting technique or bucket list item each month in the upcoming year. For her first month, she worked with wool. Follow her on Instagram @lindsmayland to get updates on her monthly challenges and join in!
If you have a question you'd like us to tackle on air, just email us at APQPodcast@meredith.com.
Reader Tips with Lindsay
Lindsay shares tips for hanging and displaying your quilts. With the holiday season in full swing, you may be looking for a way to add more seasonal quilts to your décor. From quilt ladders, creative uses for yardsticks, and even a way to show off quilts long after you've gifted or donated them, these tips will inspire you to add more quilts to your decor!
We love hearing these ideas from our readers. If you're interested in submitting your own tip for feature in our magazines or on the podcast, send an email of your tip to APQTips@meredith.com.
Getting Sewcial with Jess
On today's show, Jess Zeigler of Threaded Quilting Studio chats with Brett Lewis of Natural Born Quilter. Brett started quilting in 2016 and is already a talented fabric designer -- his debut line called Stag and Thistle for Northcott Fabric ships to stores in April 2020. Brett talks about his start in the quilting industry, the inspiration behind his fabric line, and gives great tips for fussy-cutting. He also is a certified Sew Kind of Wonderful teacher, so if you're interested in having him teach, reach out to him on his website.