Thursday, December 06, 2018

My Day on Jenny Lyon's Blog Hop!

I'm so excited to share a fellow machine quilting teacher's new book!


From my decade of teaching machine quilting, I know that there are many different quilters, quilt teachers, and ways to learn machine quilting.  Jenny and I quilt and teach differently and I am tickled to share Jenny's book with you.

My favorite part of her book was when she described quilted postcards as "a great place to try new free-motion quilting ideas... with minimal investment in time and materials".  I couldn't agree more!

Many quilters make too much of practice.  They think it has to be an entire scrap quilt or at least a fat quarter-size quilt sandwich.  Not so!  It can be a small postcard.  Let that postcard make you happy and then send it through the mail to deliver love to someone far away.  Jenny calls her quilting "Plactice" to combine "Play" and "Practice."  I couldn't agree more!

I recently sent a little Hanukkah love through the mail.

I stitched a Star of David in two different threads (variegated blue and variegated gray) on white fabric over cotton batting.


The fabric is wet because I took the photo right after I removed the markings on the fabric.

Then I fused it to a double-sided fusible stabilizer, added a plain white backing, trimmed using my Postcard Trimming Tool, and zigzagged the edges with FabuLux Blue Heaven thread.


I make a lot of postcards and send them in cellophane envelopes so they are clean when they arrive at their destination.

I must confess that my Hanukkah cards arrived a day late because I lost track of the calendar.  I haven't started making my Christmas cards yet and won't guarantee that they'll be on time.  Even late, no recipients have ever complained about receiving a lovely card in the mail.

So, do you want a chance to win Jenny's book?  Leave a comment here on my blog saying what your favorite thread is.  If your ID doesn't link back to you, please leave a valid email address or way to contact you.  I will choose a winner on December 14, 2018.
a great place to try new free-motion quilting ideas. With minimal
investment in time and materials

A few notes about the hop:
– You can enter each day but can only win once.
– Each blogger will leave the comments open for 8 days and then will choose a winner using a random method.
– Jenny will send winners a signed copy of her book.
– If you find a blog along the way that you find interesting, sign up to receive notices of each future posting. This is a talented group!
– International winners will receive a digital copy.
The more the merrier-feel free to pass my post on to others so that we can all play along.
Here’s the schedule:
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/
It’s that simple! Now, won’t you play along? Click on the appropriate link for the day, make a comment, and you’ll be in the running to win a free, signed copy. Wouldn’t that be nice to snuggle up with Jenny's as we enter the winter months?

59 comments:

CarmWhite said...

After a zillion years of "making big" i am quite enjoying the reverse ... lately, insulated hot pads are my jam.

Sue Hilton said...

Favorite thread? Fabulux, of course!!! Thanks for the chance to win this book.

Laura said...

Artiful is my thread to choose!

LadySchep said...

Your postcards are always so cute. I really need to try making one. I'm one of those quilters that makes too much of practice.

My current thread choice is Aurifil 50wt for machine piecing and quilting. It's a bit pricey for me, but my last machine was very finicky, and it got along with Aurifil. Now that I have a new machine, I suppose I should break out some of my other threads and try them out. For hand piecing, I've been using YLI hand quilting thread, and for embroidered details, I looooove Sulky 12wt thread.

debby said...

The thread I use the most is from Connecting Threads. But I do a lot of quilted embroidery and for that I use perle cotton size 8.

Sylvia said...

I don't have a favorite thread, I enjoy using a variety. Superior, Essential, Sulky, all have their purpose depending on the project.

Thanks for a chance to win!

Penni said...

I like superior thread and can’t wait to try Jenny’s 21 days

Brenda Perry said...

My favorite thread is Superior Threads Fantastico, but I haven't tried your favorite thread yet! Maybe I'll have a new favorite soon!

Tish Stemple said...

I have to say I'm an Aurifil girl. I love the idea of little fabric post cards!

Martha Ginn said...

So many favorites! Mostly by Superior, but always So Fine in bobbins. I make lots of fabric postcards, too, and have good luck sending through the mail (with watercolor paper for backs). I am trying to like the variegated thread and like your Star of David card. This makes me wanting to give variegated another try.

Laceflower said...

I have to say, besides Magnifico, I love the invisible thread in both clear and smoke, so Superior to the old nylon we used to have.

Sandy said...

I really like Aurifil for most piecing, as well as for some quilting. However, I've recently "discovered" Sew Fine and love how well it stitches -- it may have become my new favorite, at least for free-motion quilting.

Robin said...

Wow I really like your post card idea. I love to send cards to my family and friends.
My favorite thread is aurifil for general sewing and then anything shiny to brighten up my service quilts.
Robin

Unknown said...

I am enjoying this "blog hop" so much and learning about threads and fun project ideas. I ,too, do so many large projects that I am excited to do a few smallprojects. The postcards are just the answer! Because I dont like to waste anything, I can practice and share.,I am getting ready to quilt with metallic thread so I chose superiors for that because I can always count on theirs to work well and not fray. I so hope to win Jenny's new book. And I'm happy to find another quilt blog to follow

wlstarn said...

I don't have a favorite thread brand at the moment. I've been doing some threadpainting, and color is what's most important. I like cotton for threadpainting, a very fine thread for piecing, and either cotton or poly for quilting. Not a fan of rayon as it seems to break too easily for me.

Ann D said...

I haven't tried many threads, but I have found Aurifil to work well with my machine. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

anndunn24(at)gmail.com

Bev Longford said...

Jenny's book would be really helpful to me I have been coming back to free motion quilting after not doing any for a long time. I did start again this spring when my granddaughter was on a year long exchange and decided to make her a post card ever month. I mostly used Aurifil for these which I hadn't used a lot and found it worked very well in my machine. Bev

Kathy Pitts said...

My thread depends on what I am quilting. I have a variety of Superior threads and I use what I think is most appropriate for the area I am quilting. I usually use their bottom line in the bobbin.

Barb said...

I love Glide thread and Magna Glide bobbins. I like Sew Fine thread too especially if doing micro stippling. I like Superior Monopoly too. In my domestic machine I tend to use cotton either Aurifil or Superior to piece. But use bottom line in the bobbin. Thanks for the chance!

Sewgirl said...

I love Aurifil. I love all the colors and the various sizes. Plus it. works well in my machine! Your Hanukah cards are beautiful! What a great design too. And the idea of sending them in cellophane envelopes is a good one. I got a beautiful one from a friend, but it arrived smudged from the post office machines. I couldn't get it out it. Thanks for sharing!!

Kim @ TiesThatBindQuilting said...

Honestly, I haven't used very many different threads. But Coats has never given me any issues so I've never really had any reason to explore other potential thread options.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Love your postcards! My favorite threads are Aurifil (which I always use for piecing) and Superior which, along with Aurifil is used for quilting! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Anne-Marie B. said...

I have two favourite brands of threads. Aurifil for piecing and Superior for Free motion. Thanks for a chance to win!

Donna W said...

I agree with Anne-Marie B - Aurifil for piecing and Superior for free motion.

Iris said...

Love your Star of David cards!!

Jayne said...

I usually use Aurifil but think I need to try out Glide

Sandy in CA said...

My favorite thread is Aurifil.

BinkArt said...

My mid arm is being serviced. So sad. It is taking forever. I will be happy to get it back so I can finish some projects very big for my domestic.

The Inspired Muse said...

Wow- That ribbon quilting is awesome. Thank you for the generous chance to win a copy of Jenny's book. My go to thread for most of my art is YLI with a splash of Madeira if I want shine and sparkle.

aksk8wmn said...

Need to try some postcards! I am currently trying a quilt project with Isacord 40 which I have never used. I typically piece with signature thread and like quilting with Aurifil. I’m interested to see how the poly thread works.

Delta Gilbert said...

So far I love Aurifil for free motion
dawngilbert21@aol.com

Bev said...

I would love to win this book. My usual quilting threads are Superior threads.

Michele said...

Right now I like Aurifil but after reading the comments, I am going to try Superior threads. I would love to win the book and learn to do FMQ. Thank you.

Sumac said...

I love Mettler and Aurifil threads.

Paula said...

Thanks for participating in the giveaway! I love Auriful thread and use a lot of it in my quilting. My machine seems to love it and I have less breakage.

pennylanequilts said...

Postcards look like a great way to use fmq . I prefer King Tut by Superior for my fmq.

Unknown said...

I’ve been practicing off and on since I took her class. Need to try the postcards, great idea! 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!

mumbird3 said...

Aurifil is my thread of choice! Less lint than others on my machine! Mumbird3atgmaildotcom

Vicki said...

I love Aurifil for piecing, but my new favorite for quilting is Isacord.

Dixie Morris said...

I like Aurifil thread.

Sherrye said...

My machine only seems to like Masterpiece or Isacord.

Donna said...

The postcards are delightful. This looks like a great book for learning some new FMQ over the winter. Thanks.
djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com

Jennifer said...

My thread of choice is usually a 40 or 50 weight, depending on the color and the project. I usually fudge and draw out the design on water soluble add lightly water spritz to "stick" the design on the quilt. When I stitch through the lines it is really messy until it gets washed in the end. I really need to learn free motion without having to follow lines!

scottylover said...

my thread of choice is Glide. My machine loves it.

Sandy A
Scotty4me39(at) yahoo.com

Rose said...

I love Aurfil thread for piecing and many different kinds for quilting.

Liz Horgan said...

I've used aurifil and connecting threads. I just got the craftsy brand. I like to try whichever is on sale!

Karen said...

I really like Aurifil, but I have tried many brands and my machine works with all of them.

Susan Stanton said...

My favorite thread is Aurifil 50 weight. I've gathered a nice collection of them now as I like to use it for machine applique.
yoyopattycakes at hotmail dot com

Lin said...

My favorite thread is Aurifil 50 weight. I also love just about all of the Superior threads.

Cyn G said...

My favorite thread is Superior Threads So Fine 50 for free motion quilting and I like the Craftsy Pima cotton thread for piecing.

Debby Wright said...

Superior' Masterpiece

Helen T. said...

Love your postcard and the cellophane envelope idea. My favorite threads are Fil Tec magna soft, maga quilt and glide threads as well as some threads from Superior.

Vjquilter said...

My favorite threads are Superior's So Fine thread in 50 wt. in polyester for machine quilting and Superior's Masterpiece in 50 wt. cotton for piecing quilt tops.

Vicki Sprain
vjquilter at gmail dot com

R Wilson said...

I have been using Aurifil 50 wt. and really like it.

Claudia said...

After many years of using Connecting Threads thread, I have now gotten rather thread literate for myself. I don't like thread that breaks easily and one that has a lot of lint, so I have quit Connecting Threads. I love Aurifil thread. I buy when on sale. It sews beautifully and has very little lint and comes in 50 wt and 40 wt. I use it to piece for better seams as it is only 2 ply. I use it for quilting as well. I like Superior Threads too. And I have discovered Glide thread works well for quilting too. Soooooo, guess I have a few I like. Thanks for the opportunity for the book. Hugs to you Debbie and Merry Christmas.... Claudia

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

My favorite thread for piecing is Aurifil and for quilting is 50 wt. Superior or Glide thread. My machine loves them. I always use Bottom Line in the bobbin!

Penny said...

I can’t go wrong with Aurifil thread. I usually use 50 wt. sometimes 40. But I also like to use Superior Bottomline in my bobbin. It’s almost invisible on the back.

Laura McGrath said...

I could never decide on one favorite thread, I use Auriful, Isacord, and Florianni the most, but have lots of other brands and thread weights in my stash

saad said...

Thanks for this quality post. Thumbs up!.Buy Mono Thread With Needle