Saturday, December 8, 2018

Day 8 Blog Hop and Book Giveaway!

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UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Frogquilter--an email is on the way to you and you will receive an autographed copy of the book from Jenny. Thanks to all who posted a comment.
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My friend, Jenny K. Lyon, has written a terrific book on Free Motion Quilting--I am thrilled to tell you how it can help you. AND, you can win one right here, if you make a comment on my blog--more about that in a moment.

I first met Jenny more than 10 years ago when she was teaching FMQ at the International Quilt Festival Long Beach. One of her students was raving that Jenny taught her she really could learn to FMQ to her satisfaction, in just a three-hour class. I asked Jenny "What's the Secret?" This book is her answer to that question.

Subtitled "3 Steps to Joyful Machine Stitching in 21 days", the book will take you through the basics of FMQ and you will see results over those three weeks. We ALL want to see results as we learn a new skill. The book is FULL of useful information--here is just a taste.

Step 1: 21 Days of "Plactice"--you know we have to practice FMQ to get better, and so many of us treat that like work. Jenny calls it play and encourages you to just do it.  NOTE: Recently, I wrote about making your "practice/plactice" quilt sandwiches into something useful Here. Planning for that as you make those sandwiches is a good thing.

Step 2: Five to Learn On--5 great projects to get you going, from postcards to quilts to garments. Full of helpful photos and excellent instructions.

Step 3: Your Personal Quilting World--Everyone should read these 5 pages, weekly if necessary, to rekindle the joy quilting brings and to inspire us to love it even more.

Beautiful photos of Jenny's work will inspire you:


Over the years I have taken several classes from Jenny and my FMQ is better for those classes. This is a book I will read cover-to-cover with a highlighter in hand, learning more as I read and even more as I "plactice".

Want to WIN this book? Write a comment HERE on my blog--answering the question: What is your favorite thread for FMQ and why? Eight days from now one of you will win an autographed copy of Jenny's book, sent to you directly by her. For MORE chances to win, go to each of the other Blog Hop posts, answer their question, and increase your chances of winning:

Dec 1     Jenny K. Lyon              https://quiltskipper.com/
Dec 2     Lisa Chin                      http://www.lisachinartist.com/                                              Dec 3     Catherine Redford        https://catherineredford.com/               
Dec 4     Lyric Kinard                 http://lyrickinard.com/               
Dec 5     Heidi Proffetty             https://www.heidiproffetty.com/                
Dec 6     Debby Ritenbaugh Brown    https://www.debbybrownquilts.com/                           
Dec 7   Libby Williamson            https://libbywilliamsondesigns.blogspot.com/               
Dec 8     Barbara Black              http://bbquiltmaker.blogspot.com/               
Dec 9     Cindy Grisdela            https://www.cindygrisdela.com/               
Dec 10   Teri Lucas                    https://terificreations.com/


A few additional notes about the blog hop, the "fine print":
  • You can enter each day but can only win once.
  • Each blogger will leave the comments open for 8 days and will then randomly choose a winner.
  • Jenny will send her book to the winner.
  • International winners will receive a digital copy.
If you are new to my blog, welcome. If you are a "regular", thank you. Good luck to all--if you don't win, ask Santa to gift you a copy, you won't be sorry.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

65 comments:

  1. This looks like a great book. I would love to learn fmq. Please enter me in your drawing!

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  2. I like Aurifil because it’s worked the smoothest so far for me. Need to still try wonderfil superior and so fine
    dawngilbert21@aol.com

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  3. This book sounds like it would be perfect for our quilting ministry's little library. We have several members who want to learn fmq and being in a very rural area, don't have access to the really great teachers and workshops. I learned about Aurifil threads while participating in SewCalGal's FMQ Challenge back in 2012, and that is all I use now since it plays so well with both my Janome and all my vintage Singer machines.

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  4. Love your red and white work on your home page. My current favorite thread is aurifil. It give snooth stitches, doesn't shed, and runs smoothly through my machine.
    Robin

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  5. My favorite quilting thread is King Tut from Superior Threads. It is strong, is available in many colors including variegated, has a little sheen, is priced right, is available in cones if you have a favorite color, and their service is spectacular.

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  6. My fave thread is Aurifil but I am playing with clear thread because I am so new to FMQ I am afraid for it to show lol. Maybe this book could help my confidence!

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  7. I read your blog consistently but this is probably the first time that I have commented. I am just beginning to teach myself FMG and could use all the extra help available.

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  8. I need all the help I can fet with FMQ! Sounds like a great book that would really help my skills! Thanks for telling us about it!

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  9. I'm an Aurifil girl! But
    mostly still practicing. Can't get brave enough to try on a real project. Wish I had more time to practice!

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    1. You will improve when you have something "important " but not "precious " under the needle. Get a real quilt ready and go for it.

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  10. Love what you said about Jenny and her book

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  11. I know I need this book, fingers crossed, maybe I should just order it. Love Superior and Aurifil threads, haven't tried bottom line yet. I guess I need to add that to my shopping list. I have enjoyed the blog posts and images of free motion quilting.

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  12. Any thread that’s strong enough to not break or shred is my favorite. I’ll use any size, depending on the quilting design and whether I want the thread to be more noticeable or fade into the fabric. Aurifil and Isacord are my current go to threads, with Bottom Line in the bobbin.

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  13. I love Aurifil, both top and bottom thread. It runs smooth and looks very nice on my quilts. I have tried FMQ for some time on my own. I learned of Jenny a couple years ago, tried to get our guild to bring her to our meeting unsuccessfully and have followed her ever since. I live in Northern Calif also and hope to one day meet her either at a meeting or at one of her Yes you can FMQ!!! So looking forward to her book.

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    1. Your guild is missing out, they should get in line to have her teach.

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  14. I love so fine thread by superior. Little to no build up in the Bobbin area. So many colors to choose.

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  15. Jenny is a fabulous instructor. I have taken 2 of her classes but would really benefit from working through the projects in this book. I hope I win!

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  16. As a new machine quilter, I have been using Superior Bottom Line thread because it is 60 wt. Being a fine thread helps it blend in and my inaccurate, jerky quilting doesn't show as much. I would surely benefit from Jenny's book! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  17. Superior's Magnifico is my favourite thread, it works great and has a nice sheen.

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  18. I need to practice more, perhaps with several different threads, to decide on a favorite. While I've done a lot of machine quilting, it has not been free-motion. I'd really like to get good enough to FMQ on real quilts!

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  19. I'd love to win this book. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

    In my limited experience w/ FMQ, I've only used Aurifil so that's my favorite!

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  20. Jenny’s book looks so interesting. I’d love to be one of the lucky people to win and autographed copy.

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  21. Aurifil. Have tried lots of others but this is the best. King tut looks nice but you have to be practiced at FMQ

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  22. I’ve had so much difficulty posting for any blog, favorite thread is Superior & Glide.

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    1. Ah, finally worked, I hope I’m fortunate enough to win Jenny’s first and new published book, yeah 🤗

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  23. I am super new to quilting, and I am using Aurifil thread, because it was on the supplies list for a class. I was surprised to see that such a fine thread could be strong too! And I was also told to use grey, or off white, and I love that. It really doesn’ t show and frees one from matching the thread to the fabric. Learning something every day, and I hope to learn free motion quilting!

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  24. Well, I am not unknown! I am not sure why blog thought that! Anyway, this is Anne Coleman here. I like Aurifil thread, because it is fine, yet strong.

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  25. My very favorite thread is Aurifil. I love that it is always smooth with no slubs, not linty and also that it is 2 ply and wonderful for piecing and ditch stitching. I am trying to use heavier threads to make my quilting show better. I like Superior's King Tut and Rainbows. Love your red and white quilt. Would love to have Jenny's boo.

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  26. I am finishing up a third quilt top and want to do some fmq on them in the new year. Would love be to have this book to help me improve my skills.

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  27. I like Superior's So Fine and Aurifil equally. I use So Fine when I am making projects and Aurifil when I am making quilts. My FMQ skills could a great book. Practice Practice Practice helps too.

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  28. I want to learn to do free motion quilting. My favorite thread is Aurifil.

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  29. I am a new comer to free motion quilting, so I really do not have a favorite thread. I took a class with Jenny Lyon and she had us use 50 weight thread and I like it.

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  30. Thanks for the chance to win the book! I struggle with FMQ and so I don't really have a favorite for that technique. I machine quilt with a walking foot and my favorite right now is Essential.

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  31. I really enjoy free motion quilting. It is an additional art form that enhances and completes my quilts. I already loved it but jenny took me to the next level in class. I'm really excited about her book. I hope I win. Thankyou for sharing how to make my practice samples into useful projects. I also use primarily king tut and bottom line but am experimenting with other superior threads

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    1. I also am not unknown. Dont know why it didnt give my name. Thanks, NJ
      Mjhillchastain@gmail.com

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  32. I don't have a favorite thread yet as I don't FMQ. My goal for 2019 is to learn how!

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  33. I use a variety of threads for FMQ depending on how I want it to look. Bold look-Superior King Tut, a finer more in the background look-Superior So Fine. I also love Glide thread. I use Superior Bottom line in the bobbing with every thread.

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  34. Aurifil is my favorite thread for FMQ. I also like Superior King Tut and Superior Bottom Line. I mostly go for the right color for the job.

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  35. I love Superior's variegated threads. I like that the color change is every inch.
    The book sounds wonderful.

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  36. Right now my favorite thread for FMQ is Sew Fine by Superior. It flows very smoothly through my machine and produces very little lint. :)

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  37. I don't use one thread for machine quilting!! But if I had to choose it would be superior in a wheat color.

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  38. I prefer King Tut by Superior for my free motion work because my stitches seem to look the best with this nice, 40 wt cotton thread.

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  39. I’ve been practicing off and on since I took her class. Need to try it continuously for 21 days. Using my favorite thread of Isacord because it works well in my machine, but with 50w aurofil in the bobbin my stitches are even better!

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  40. I use glide thread...its strong, runs effortlessly in my long arm, has a little sheen and I like the way my stitches look.

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  41. I like Aurifil 50 - less lint and doesn't break (as often)!

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  42. I like using Aurfil light gray color because it blends well.

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  43. My preference is Aurifil. It comes in so many weights and colors.

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  44. My favorite thread is Auriful for everything!

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  45. My favorite quilting thread is Aurifil 50 wt., but I'm considering branching out to polyester--I want to try Glide.

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  46. Hi Barbara, Thank you for the opportunity to win. We all need more Plactice! My favorite thread (right now) is YLI 40wt because it is so strong and Madeira for a bit of shine and sparkle.

    Paula

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  47. For FMQ I really like Isacord and Trilobal Polyester. When I use cotton thread in thicker weights like 30 or 40, I often get shredding problems.

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  48. I like Aurifil for it's fineness and strength.

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  49. I just use Coats. It's never given me any issues so I've never felt the need to buy more expensive thread.

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  50. My machine only seems to like Masterpiece or Isacord so those are my go to's!

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  51. I am not really choosy about thread - anything that doesn't cause thread throw up is fine with me. I tend to use Connecting Threads Essential threads. They come in a variety of colors and the spools are big so they don't run out quickly.

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  52. I have used Coats as I had it on hand to use up. Then I want to get some Aurifil thread. Thanks for giveaway.
    djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  53. I like to use Aurifil thread due to the use of use and variety of colors available. Thank you for offering the opportunity to win Jenny's book!

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  54. I usually use a 40 or 50 weight thread, which ever fulfills the vision I have for my project. I really need to practice more and love the idea of plactice. Just wish this 8 - 5 thing allowed more time for that!

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  55. My favorite thread for large all-over FMQ is Fantastico because it is fantastic! - My Bernina Q20 loves it, it feeds beautifully without shredding or tension problems!

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  56. I prefer quilting with Aurifil or Superior threads because they are strong and my machines love them!

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  57. I like Aurifil 50 weight, because it blends in to the fabric so well.

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  58. Today my favorite thread is Aurifil 50 wt. yesterday it was also Aurifil. Guess I’m stuck on it!

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  59. I mostly use Connecting Threads thread. I like the weight of it, and the price, and it comes in many colors.

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  60. I usually use Aurilfil 50 wt.

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