Quilt As You Go

Joanne D & Me

October 2, 2016 by Marguerita

Joanne D and I have been emailing for a while, and I have to tell you that I— number one, admire everyone who can ask for help and —number two, love anyone who can laugh at their own mistakes. These are two qualities I value deeply, so she and I are hitting it off quite well.

When she signed up for my newsletter she mentioned that she needed help understanding the block joining process. I know that, no matter how many times I write it (in books) or how many times I teach it in classes, not everyone is going to say “aha!” the minute they read it. It’s confusing and what’s worse, it’s frustrating when your’re confused. I felt her pain.

I sent all my best tips and she took a deep breath – and she got it!

Then she sent me her pics and I notes and I just had to smile. She told me about her “oopsie” and I told her about mine (and I have plenty).

Here’s Joanne’s quilt, and I thank her deeply for sharing it and her quilting adventure with me. You won’t see any mistakes on the top, her tiny oops is on the back. I wish I could say the same for my quilts 🙂

Joanne DeS’s Quilt

Bonnie’s Sawtooth Star Quilt with Quilted Borders

September 25, 2016 by Marguerita

I recently received the nicest note from Bonnie about a quilt she adapted to quilt-as-you-go, using methods that worked best for her. That’s my very favorite kind of story! Thank you Bonnie for sharing your quilt and your tips!

Dear Marguerita and Sarah,

Here is a photo of the sawtooth star block quilt I made for our grandson.

I used the method as described in your book Crazy Shortcut Quilts however I attached the sashing so that I could hand sew at the back . Thank you so much for the chapter 6 from your new book about quilted borders. I quilted the borders with wavy lines using my walking foot and then joined them to the quilt.

I was having some difficulty with sewing on the back sashing as described on page 105. Then I noticed that you were using a different Bernina foot (not the walking foot), so I changed to my 34D foot. A lot narrower than the walking foot and so much easier.

Thanks again for your help.

Kind regards.
Bonnie Jenkins
Salisbury, South Australia

Robbie’s Quilt by Bonnie Jenkins

Heather’s Modern Jelly Squares Quilt

September 15, 2016 by Marguerita

Heather used my book “Quilt As You Go {reimagined}” and resized her quilt to king size and sent me the pics and this note – I am just speechless!

Hi Marguerita

I just wanted to show you the king-sized quilt I made from your Quilt as You Go Reimagined Book. It has taken me 2 ½ years (on and off) to make and I am so proud of myself. I am a self taught quilter and gaining more confident with my sewing all the time. Hope you like it.

Regards,
Heather
Far North Queensland
Aust

Debbie C’s Special Quilt

September 5, 2016 by Marguerita

I met an Alaskan Quilter – Debbie lives in Anchorage and sent me a pic of her quilt and the most heartwarming message to go with it:

I make charity quilts mainly for a NICU, but occasionally I will get a request to do a special quilt for a family. I thought I was in over my head with a quilt I promised to a family going through a really tough time now in the process of trying to adopt a little boy. I was given a bag of his clothing, and asked to use the pieces in a quilt. I had no clue how I was going to do this and then I remembered I had purchased your book on shortcut quilts.

Oh my gosh! Now I must admit, it wasn’t easy, it required a couple of wine coolers?!! And at times I looked outside to see the beautiful weather, I live in Anchorage too, and thought to myself, ” why did I volunteer to do this!?”

But… I finished it this morning, your instructions were easy to follow and I am so pleased.

Thanks!

Debbie C

Judy’s Corvette T-Shirt Quilt

August 30, 2016 by Marguerita

Judy and I have been emailing since 2009, when she wrote to tell me about a quilt she made and about using my first book to make it. In the years between we’ve just kept in touch, asking a few questions here and there and and sharing brief updates. But recently, she sent me pics and I really need to share them with you.

Her newest Corvette Quilt!

Judy Simmons’s Corvette T-Shirt Quilt

I really like the attention to detail she paid to the blocks. Her quilting makes each one stand out!

Custom Quilted Blocks

Teresa Rush’s Finished Quilt

August 22, 2016 by Marguerita

Not only did she finish her quilt (here’s more about finishing any quilt), and beautifully, she sent the most gorgeous pictures too! Here’s Teresa’s story:

I hope the new year is finding you happy and healthy. I thought you might enjoy seeing what your book, “Finish (Almost) Any Quilt” has recently inspired. I have been playing around with free motion quilting and the techniques you so skillfully describe makes it possible to do on a my cherished 30 year old Bernina 930.

I sent a close up the free motion quilting I did on this border. It was the most intricate quilting I did.

The blocks in the middle was my first attempt at foundation paper piecing. Definitely helped with the scrap busting. LOL

Again thank you writing a book that is so easy to follow and allows me to make the quilts I want without having to wait until I can afford to pay someone else to quilt it on their long arm.

Teresa

Teresa’s Gorgeous Quilt

She added two quilted borders using QAYG.

Teresa’s Gorgeous Blocks

Teresa’s perfect machine quilting!

June Copeck’s Table & Quilt

August 2, 2016 by Marguerita

June asked me a common question about my Sewing and Quilting Table adaptations and when I replied, she sent me pics of her table and her quilt (check out those gorgeous batiks!), along with her story:

Thanks so much for your information. This is what I did. My sons cut a hole in my sewing cabinet and
it will work for both my sewing machines. I thought about spending over $100 for a plexiglass cover
to fit the sewing machine. but I thought of you and you plastic idea, so this is what I came up with.
I cut it a little short on the right side but it works really well and I love it. Cost $5.99.

Below are a couple of pictures of cabinet and my quilt as you go quilt using Batiks. Just need to put
the binding on. I choose to not do a border since it is a lap throw.

June Copeck’s Quilt-As-You Go Quilt

Thank you June for sharing your table and your gorgeous quilt!

Maggie-beth’s Delicious Quilt

November 10, 2015 by Marguerita

“Lettuce All Be Berry Happy” is her name and below is Maggie-beth’s quilt story:

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Hi Marguerita

At long last, the quilt I started after buying your book LAST SEPTEMBER – is done. And she’s pretty, if I do say so as shouldn’t.

Actually I finished her late last Wednesday night, but didn’t get pictures of her taken until yesterday and today.

She was a BIG hit at the quilting group – and even people who work at the shop wanted to know all about YOUR version of quilt as you go. They have the book by that lady whose name happens to be “Cotton” – how nice for her! And the book is “Cotton Theory”. I’m sure it’s a lovely book, but I looked at it and was SO confused. Her diagrams look…well, never mind. I wish her well.

Anyway, apparently some of the people who work at the fabric store (quilters all), and everybody in my group – pretty much based their impressions on that book when it comes to quilt as you go. And were therefore uniformly surprised when I showed up with MY quilt. (Her name, by the way, is “Lettuce all be Berry Happy.” and yes, for me quilts are either male or female. Just like ships. My first quilt is a male. I know. I’m nuts.) So, I have given your name to several employees and some from my group. Also the title of your books. I also suggested they find your youtube site, because I know that once they hear you talk, and watch your process, they will want to buy the books. It would be LOVELY if they also bought the books for your store, but I didn’t push it. I suggested that they look at it with that in mind, but I did it gently.

The crazy cuts are all veggies. The back is all fruits. I turned the crazy-cut squares differently than your daughter did – to make large triangles in the middle. It works with these fabrics, I think – although I have other fabrics in mind that I will align as your daughter did, because her layout is quite dramatic. Mine were too busy for her pattern with this one, I thought.

I REALLY REALLY like this quilt! What do you think?

She has LOTS of flaws, but they don’t show unless you look really closely, and even so, I don’t care. Friends have asked me who I am giving her to. The answer is ME! I am NOT letting go of this bright, happy quilt! I smile every time I look at her, and that’s the point, really, isn’t it? She’s taken pride of place on the back of the couch in the family room, right next to the kitchen, which is appropriate, considering her make-up.

My next project is going to be all violets – deep purples, greens, etc. I will take your 8-square quilt of diamond cuts and make it a 12 square.

Now – I need to say something else. Your emails have made me hope that we could be friends on some level. I know you live in Alaska, and I know that you are very busy – too busy to write regular emails. Still, it IS possible that you and your husband might visit Arizona again, and as lovely as Northern Arizona is, the rest of the state also has much to visit and admire. I am hoping that one day you could visit Phoenix – there is SO much here to enjoy – and also perhaps Tucson, Bisbee, Tombstone, the caverns, the bio-sphere, our little “wine country” area…there is LOTS to do if you would only give it a thought. I would be SO happy to meet you, and take you on tours of my area and “down south”. So, it is my hope that we can stay in touch.

Sending huge thanks for walking me through the process, and more thanks for your suggestions about marketing John’s book. We will need some of that help you offered to get him going with a youtube channel!

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes,

Maggie-beth Rees

Jean Knapp’s Quilts

October 24, 2015 by Marguerita

Jean texted me (to my email) months ago with pics of her quilts and notes about them and I have to admit that I know so little about phones and texting that I had no idea how to open any of her texts until today. Seriously.

Here’s her message and pics – finally!

Hi, first I am going to send a pic of a quilt I made for granddaughter. Did this without a pattern. Everything that could go wrong did. I made the sashing/front binding strips 2.5″ by mistake. But I left them and I think it worked out ok. I just had an extra line of stitching on the back. But since I used shrine backing it doesn’t show. It will be used a lot so after washing you probably won’t notice.

Back. Ran out of fabric, improvised.

Next I am going to make this hockey quilt. It is 68 x 88. Grandson plays. No way will I ever be able to quilt it. So what if I made the quilt before making the quilt sandwitch I cut it in 3 sections. Quilt it and then put it back together with your method. Any thoughts? I won’t start it for about a month. I am in to hurry. As long as it gets done by October. Man, when I leave Florida for 2 months in Ohio my car will be full of quilts. Now I am doing all the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff. 4 kids and 8 grandkids – lol. Thanks for any input. If you put my pics on your blog. It’s ok.

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Here’s the back of her quilt and I love how she improvised!

Below is Jean’s “Hockey Quilt” from a pattern by Kristie Marlow.
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Maria’s Penguin Quilt Story

January 23, 2015 by Marguerita

Check out this super fun quilt and the story behind it, which is well worth the read. By the end you’ll know Maria, her daughter and her quilting goals in addition to the saga of the Penguins Quilt.

Penguins

Our friendship started with an email – Maria had questions about the joining process. She bought our quilting e-books on her Nook and she needed just a bit of encouragement to clarify the quilted block joining process. I sent a few tips, but I replied about 24 hours after receiving her email because I’ve been traveling so much and not always able to reply right away. By the time she received my message she had already figured everything out!! A day later (one day!) she emailed again to say she was taking her new knowledge to a treasured project. Here’s her story:

Hiya Marguerita!

Girl I have watched every last one of your videos and love them all! I’m anxious to see what you and your daughter come out with next. I’ve also read all three books that I purchased on my Nook. Below are photos (yes I would be flattered if you posted my photos! ) of my daughter, Alexa’s (who is now 21 yrs old LOL!) applique penguin quilt.

When I finished it last night I asked her if she still wanted it and her reply was “Mom! I’ve waited years for this quilt! No one is getting it!”. I had to laugh! Like I told you in earlier emails, this quilt has been waiting to be finished for 11 years?!

Appliqueing the penguins gave me no problems when I first started this quilt. But after that it was nothing but a disaster in the making! I had originally put white sashing around the blocks and added 3 borders BUT when I went to sandwich it I found not only was the sashing wonky but so were all of my borders and it was extremely heavy. There was NO way to get this top smooth enough for me to even try to quilt it. Soooo it ended up in my UFO cabinet hidden for many years.

Every once in awhile Alexa would ask me when I would finish her quilt. I found excuse after excuse because I had NO clue as to how I would finish it. Then 3-4 days ago for some reason I went to YouTube and was just watching random quilting videos and that’s when I came across your QAYG videos. Let me tell you, I was blown away! I couldn’t get enough and after watching all of them I came up to my quilting room and cut the penguin applique blocks out of their sashing, cut backing and batting…spray basted them and had all 12 quilted within an hour and a half!

I did get stuck on how to add the sashing like you do but again like I told you I made a scrap block and had that major AHA moment!! From there I got busy and cut my strips and even cut border fabric, sandwiched the border fabric, quilted those and added them to the quilt.

There’s one thing I did different and you may or may not have tried this but it sure cut down on time and saved me from stressing too much (it was a FACE PALM moment! LOL). While adding the long strips of fabric to the rows of blocks (the back 1 1/4″ x width strips) to the first set of blocks I had a little trouble making sure it stayed straight. While putting the first strip on the wheels in my head started turning again and I remembered I had a bottle of temporary basting glue that came with a metal adapter and a very small hole. So after finding it, I decided to try it on my 2nd row of blocks and it saved me not only time but worry!! Once I had basted the back strip with the glue, mainly all I had to worry about was making sure the front 2″ strip was straight. I didn’t glue the top strip down but pinned just to make sure neither piece moved while I sewed them down.

There is no way I can Thank you enough for sharing your wonderful videos and books that have allowed me to complete a quilt that I thought would literally rot in my UFO cabinet!

My next project is going to be a king size quilt for myself and my husband using layer cakes and I can’t wait to get started because I plan to use decorative stitches which is something else I’ve never done and your QAYG technique to get it finished!! This was also my first time to sew a binding to the back of a quilt and machine sew it down to the front. Can I say I am in LOVE again? I do know that at all cost…I will probably never make a quilt the “traditional” way again.

We will be grandparents in August so you can imagine the baby quilts I will be making from now on lol! One last thing I’d like to share with you is in the 15 years that I’ve been quilting, I have never used my walking foot. For some reason it scared the life out of me. But now, I’m happy to say I do believe it’s become my favorite foot to use! There’s only two things that I will invest in very soon and that’s a 16 1/2″ square ruler and a 20 1/2″ square ruler or I may just invest in the 20 1/2″ square… do you prefer both? or would just the 20 1/2″ suffice? Ok I will quit rattling on for now! Again thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Sincerely and always a follower of your videos and books…. a fellow quilter and a friend!!

Maria

P.S. A couple of my favorite sayings: 1. I’m not perfect so don’t look to close and hard at my stitching. The imperfections in each quilt is what makes them unique in themselves! 2. If it can’t be made using QAYG then I probably won’t make it! 3. Love who you’re with, what you are doing and mainly life’s too short to stress over a wonky stitch! LOL
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Quilters, receiving Maria’s email was so rewarding! I was thinking the other day “I can’t believe people read the books I write” and now to know that what I’ve written has made such a big difference for Maria and her daughter that I’m just speechless, and endlessly grateful for her kindness in sharing the story of her quilt.

The quilt pattern that Maria adapted is called “Penguin Paradise” and is by Amy Bradley.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has sent me their quilting questions, stories and photos!
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