Machine Quilting with Style Blog Hop

Machine Quilting with Style Blog Hop

blog hop christa

Today is my day to talk to you about Christa Watson’s new book Machine Quilting with Style. Christa sent me an E-copy of the book to review and talk to you about it.  To be completely honest, with Mom’s passing and the weeks before added up with other projects, I really haven’t had all that much TIME to peruse it, but I want to tell you what I did gather from the book and offer you a little prize at the end of this post, because I know how much you LOVE prizes!

 

So first off, in running through the book, I have to say the photos and illustrations are top notch! Nice clear photos of the quilting and good directions. It is written with a very calm and reassuring voice that I like as well. Christa talks about quilting on a domestic table top machine which I am trying to start up (for awhile I had a Juki on a B-line quilting frame, but it just wasn’t working for me, so I usually hire out most of my quilting because I just don’t have the time. But sometimes I would like to be able to quilt small things and I have not felt very good about my skills in that arena in the past.)  Christa talks about using a walking foot and a free motion foot, but I don’t have a walking foot, so I looked mainly at the free motion quilting.

 

DSC_2769

Above is my very first attempt at any of the free motion quilting techniques that Christa talks about. This one she calls “String of Pearls.”  It caught my eye first thing, so I wanted to try it right away. As Christa mentions, practice makes perfect, so these aren’t super great, but I do like how they started out. I found I really needed to oil the Juki up, so I didn’t get very far, but I am looking forward to getting back to it.

 

And I almost forgot, besides some great quilting patterns and advice, there are 12 quilt patterns in the book that are pretty fabulous too. The ones that are at the top of my list are Little Man’s Fancy and Focal Point.

 

Below are two lists of sites to check out for this blog hop. Each of the sites has it’s own set of prizes. Not all of these links work, I discovered and the links that are after today may or may not go straight to that person’s post about the book, but you can have a good time looking around each site and find the goods, right?

 

Plus, Christa has arranged for additional stops on the hop from the awesome people listed below. They will be sharing their insights including book reviews, interviews, sample blocks, and other interesting content you won’t want to miss.

 

You can find Christa at:

http://christaquilts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithChrista/

https://instagram.com/christaquilts/

 

Now for the Blue Nickel Prize pack!

I had the privilege of interviewing Christa for the I am Gen Q feature over at my gig as Community Editor at Generation Q Magazine. And I got my copies just a few days ago, so I thought it would be fun to give you a free issue, plus I am throwing in some scraps from my stash. I have NO Idea what kinda fabric you will get, but I will pick out something in your favorite colors.

 

DSC_2766

And how will I know your favorite colors? Well, that’s what you have to tell me to win!  Please leave a comment here telling me what your favorite colors are and I will pull an assortment of fabrics from my crazy stash and send them to the winner with the issue featuring Christa.

 

Also check out Generation Q post on 9/22 where I will have a couple blocks of the quilt pattern, Facets from Machine Quilting with Style. Fellow GenQ  staffer Teri and I are each doing our versions of that quilt for the Generation Q stop on the tour.

 

And make sure to add Machine Quilting with Style to your quilting library. I think that I will be referring to my copy a lot.  You can pick up a copy here or here.

Keep Sewing, Keep Happy,

Scott

 

89 Comments

  • I’m impressed with your string of Pearls! And best wishes to your family as they go through this trying time. Hugs!!

    September 18, 2015 at 6:27 am
  • Susanne

    Reply

    Oh my goodness. . . am I first to comment? Love your blog. Love a give-away, too! My favorite colors are sea colors, or reds, or navys. . . . thank you for the chance!

    September 18, 2015 at 6:42 am
  • Betsy Smith

    Reply

    I love all shades of green and orange. I’m enjoying the book tour.

    September 18, 2015 at 6:46 am
  • Peggy

    Reply

    I’m so sorry about your Mom, Scott. The FMQ does take practice for sure and it just isn’t for everyone and that is OK. You need to do what you love and let the rest go. My favourite colour (yes there is a ‘u’ in both words for us Canucks) is purple. Thanks for sharing your review and this offer.

    September 18, 2015 at 7:03 am
  • Julie A.

    Reply

    Aqua …..all time favorite but really I am not picky 🙂

    September 18, 2015 at 7:07 am
  • Lori Morton

    Reply

    How fun!! would looov eto win a copy & surprise scraps! Thanks for the chance! 🙂 I loooove blues & greens 🙂

    September 18, 2015 at 7:08 am
  • Karen A

    Reply

    I’m enjoying the blog hop for Christa’s new book. It is so fun seeing what inspiration other quilters draw from it. My favorite color is anything blue from baby to sky, indigo, royal and navy.

    September 18, 2015 at 7:13 am
  • carolyn montgomery

    Reply

    i want to fmq but am really intimidated by the idea, maybe this book would help. my fave color combo is aqua and gray.

    September 18, 2015 at 7:34 am
  • Susan

    Reply

    Congratulations on taking the plunge into FMQ. I just started trying it out as well. I think you are doing better than I am. My favorite colors are rainbow colors as in ROY G BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet).

    September 18, 2015 at 7:41 am
  • lou

    Reply

    Thank you for the informative review. turquoise is a long-standing favorite of mine as is red.

    September 18, 2015 at 7:57 am
  • Karen Seitz

    Reply

    Thank you for your take on Christa’s book. My favorite color is blue, just in case I win! 🙂

    September 18, 2015 at 8:01 am
  • Ann

    Reply

    Hi Scott, thanks for the good review on the book. I look forward to seeing more of your work. My favorite colors are greens and blues…good calming stuff!

    September 18, 2015 at 8:03 am
  • Shari K.

    Reply

    My favorite color, hmmm. If I have to pick only one, I would say blue. There are so many shades!

    September 18, 2015 at 8:08 am
  • Cecilia

    Reply

    My favorite colors are red and aqua. Your string of pearls are great! Just keep practicing.

    September 18, 2015 at 8:43 am
  • Sarah

    Reply

    My favorite colors are pink and red, and I love scraps! Thanks for the giveaway.

    September 18, 2015 at 9:00 am
  • MoeWest

    Reply

    I want to make a black, white and red quilt someday, so I would love to win scraps in those colours.

    September 18, 2015 at 9:42 am
  • gayleburton

    Reply

    I’ve heard good things about this book – thanks for sharing about it. I would love to win your giveaway. My favorite colors are blues & reds

    September 18, 2015 at 9:50 am
  • farmquilter

    Reply

    I am very impressed with your string of pearls – no way I could quilt a circle on my domestic!!! Teals are my current favorite color – thank you do much!!! BTW, I love folks who quilt by check!!!

    September 18, 2015 at 10:17 am
  • Connie Cain

    Reply

    Love this book! If I don’t win one during the hop, will definately have to buy it. 🙂 Thanks for your giveaway. And did I sense that you just lost your Mom? I am so sorry for your loss, I too lost my Mom 9 years ago and it’s a hard thing to go through. Thoughts and prayers your way.
    craftyccain@gmail.com

    September 18, 2015 at 10:45 am
  • Sarah J.

    Reply

    I’m new to quilting and this book is on my wish list- it looks amazing! My favorite colors are yellow (especially buttery ones!) and blues- but I’m not fussy 🙂

    September 18, 2015 at 10:55 am
  • Hi Scott. Great post. I’d love to win a copy of the magazine. My favorite colors are robin’s egg blue, navy and coral. Also, I did notice that the link for my post takes you to Confessions of a Fabric addict instead. If you want to fix them, this is the link to my blog hop post – http://www.idaratherbequilting.com/2015/09/urban-sunrise-my-version-of.html

    September 18, 2015 at 11:06 am
  • I love any colour and all colours. When I first started quilting I kept leaning towards monotone and pale colours, over the last year I am being drawn to very vibrant colours and now solid colours.

    September 18, 2015 at 11:14 am
  • Dawn Jones

    Reply

    My favorite is teal, and I like black with it, especially text prints. Have a wonderful day.

    September 18, 2015 at 11:49 am
  • buntyw

    Reply

    Christa’s book looks fabulous!
    I love blues and greens

    September 18, 2015 at 1:08 pm
  • Kathy Potts

    Reply

    Thanks for your review and chance to be a winner! I haven’t received my copy of Christa’s book yet but am anxiously awaiting it. My favorite color range is the sea/ocean blue green kind…..maybe I was a water nymph in a previous life! Thanks again for this chance to win not only fabric but a copy of Generation Q as well.

    September 18, 2015 at 1:16 pm
  • AnnLouise Pugh

    Reply

    Not sure I ever met a color I didn’t like…often the “odd” piece is just what a quilt/wallhanging needs!

    Ann cronelv@pughlitzer.com

    September 18, 2015 at 2:46 pm
  • Kathleen Dalecio

    Reply

    First of all, Scott, you have my condolences on your mother’s passing.

    Secondly, thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I like clear, jewel tones rather than muddy colors. I’m partial to aqua, teal, blue & green (ocean colors) but find it hard to pass red & navy fabrics, too!

    September 18, 2015 at 2:55 pm
  • Linda Collum

    Reply

    I’d love a copy of the magazine! Scraps from your stash, hmmm…….my favorite color is purple and I am usually drawn to fabrics in blues, purples, and greens. BUT, I don’t really have any white tone on tone scraps and I could use some of those in an Irish Chain that I’m planning. I could also use things that read as neutrals, I’m having a hard time collecting those – I go straight for the color every time!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    September 18, 2015 at 4:31 pm
  • Beth

    Reply

    My favorite are cool colors like torquoise, chartreuse, Aqua and such.

    September 18, 2015 at 4:43 pm
  • Pamela

    Reply

    Excellent review! Love the magazine, it’s one of my favorites. I like bright happy colors except purple and batiks. So sorry about the passing of your Mother. Thanks for the entry.

    September 18, 2015 at 5:40 pm
  • Purple and orange! Love your fmq experiments. It’s inspiring!

    September 18, 2015 at 5:44 pm
  • Annette

    Reply

    New to your blog! Thanks for the chance. I like reds and aqua and coral.

    September 18, 2015 at 6:17 pm
  • Orange is my current favorite.

    September 18, 2015 at 6:20 pm
  • Marilyn

    Reply

    My favorite colors are red and blues. My FMQ is not great, but I keep trying! Thanks for the opportunity to win your giveaway.

    September 18, 2015 at 6:23 pm
  • duchick

    Reply

    Woohoo for you on your new book! How exciting! My favorite colors are purple and lime green. I am collecting grays for a quilt, so that would be great too!

    September 18, 2015 at 6:28 pm
  • Cathy Wilson

    Reply

    Thanks for the opportunity! I’m gathering fabrics in teals, rust, & creams for a quilt for my bedroom. I’ve only been quilting for a little more than a year so I could use anything!!

    September 18, 2015 at 7:04 pm
  • Rebecca H

    Reply

    I love all the modern looking fabrics lately. But I can give you some colors, reds, yellows, greens, blues. thank you…

    September 18, 2015 at 8:23 pm
  • Paula

    Reply

    My favourite colours are orange and hot pink! Love Gen Q too! And any book on machine quilting is highly coveted – I need help! Thank you for the giveaway …

    September 18, 2015 at 8:33 pm
  • audrey

    Reply

    I definitely need this book. My machine quilting is abysmal. My favorite colors are red, pink and green.:)

    September 18, 2015 at 9:06 pm
  • Kath S

    Reply

    My favorite color is anything in the yellow/orange range. I’ve always been a rainbow lover and sometimes it can be difficult to choose just one color. Thanks for sharing your stash, it’ll make some lucky person happy!

    September 18, 2015 at 9:06 pm
  • Pam

    Reply

    Wow, your first attempt at free motion circles sure looks better than my first attempt! I like purple and green and blue. Thanks for the fun Scott!

    September 18, 2015 at 9:37 pm
  • Melissa

    Reply

    My favorite colors are purple and teal!

    September 18, 2015 at 11:10 pm
  • Barbara

    Reply

    I would love to get a copy of Generation Q! It’s not for sale at any of my LQS and would love to check it out. So thank you for such a great giveaway. Regarding color, I like it all except for pink, purple, and brown.

    September 19, 2015 at 5:19 am
  • love to win a copy of the magazine. I can always use fabric stash. thanks. my favorite colors are reds and pinks.
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    September 19, 2015 at 5:52 am
  • Rosalind Gutierrez

    Reply

    I favor shades of red fabric. It always makes a stunning quilt.

    September 19, 2015 at 5:54 am
  • Donna M

    Reply

    I’ve been collecting any fabrics with letters, text or numbers, so would love to win some of those. I’m going to try string of pearls this afternoon!

    September 19, 2015 at 6:22 am
  • Scott, I’m sorry to hear about your mother passing. I am glad to see you are getting back to some quilting and trying new things, which inspires me to do the same. I just got my signed copy of Christa’s book. If I win your prize I would like to get sea glass colors.

    September 19, 2015 at 6:38 am
  • Julie B

    Reply

    Purple is my favorite color and Asian prints are my favorite fabrics. Thanks for sharing.

    September 19, 2015 at 6:46 am
  • akagracie

    Reply

    Thanks for your generosity in offering these prizes. I love every color, so long as it’s red – which I suppose means I would welcome anything that complements all the red in my stash (but then, every color goes with red).

    September 19, 2015 at 6:59 am
  • Diane

    Reply

    Sorry for the loss of your mom. Thanks for taking the time to review Christa’s book. I haven’t seen it in person yet but it is on my wish list. I am crushing on bright colors most recently like orange and yellow and turquoise. Thanks!

    September 19, 2015 at 7:11 am
  • My favorite colors are blue – but not just any blue…it needs to lean a little toward the green side – like the color of the Caribbean. I also love purples and..well, any batiks regardless of color.

    September 19, 2015 at 7:13 am
  • Pat Evans

    Reply

    Just keep practicing. It will come to you. FMQ is really lots of fun. My favorite colors (I love brights) are purple and lime green.

    September 19, 2015 at 7:17 am
  • I seem to always go towards blues. Thanks for a great giveaway.

    September 19, 2015 at 7:51 am
  • Paula

    Reply

    I love all the colors! Can’t wait to read Christa’s book!

    September 19, 2015 at 9:24 am
  • usairdoll

    Reply

    So sorry to hear about your Mom’s passing.

    Great hop and can’t wait to see more. Would love to see your stash, I’m sure it’s amazing, hehe. I love all colors, surprise me ;-D

    Awesome giveaway!

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

    September 19, 2015 at 9:40 am
  • Donna W

    Reply

    Thanks for your review of Christa’s new book. Would love to win a copy of this magazine so that I can check it out. My favorite colors – green, blue and neutrals.

    September 19, 2015 at 10:29 am
  • sophieandmomma

    Reply

    I really like ocean colors and peachy to tangerine orange colors
    N.snaer at gmail dot com

    September 19, 2015 at 11:52 am
  • Judy J

    Reply

    I like all colors, maybe browns and blues are the favorites. Thank you for the generous giveaway.

    September 19, 2015 at 2:11 pm
  • Judy

    Reply

    Your string of pearls turned out pretty great for your first time trying them. My favorite colors are blue, purple and green.

    September 19, 2015 at 2:27 pm
  • Marianne

    Reply

    I’m liking reds and yellows right now.

    September 19, 2015 at 3:12 pm
  • Lisa

    Reply

    My favourite colour is blue, and I like greys and greens to go with it. Thank you for the giveaway the magazine looks quite interesting.

    September 19, 2015 at 7:11 pm
  • Donna Joy

    Reply

    This book will help me to reach my goal to learn to machine quilt. thanks for the giveaway and I would be happy with any assortment of your fabric scraps. Thanks so much

    September 19, 2015 at 7:32 pm
  • Perri

    Reply

    Thank you Scott for the review of Christa’s new book. The have several small pieces I am going to do my own quilting on and her book seems like a great source of inspiration. My favorite color is fall…all the great hues and tones this time of year really does it for me.

    September 20, 2015 at 11:43 am
  • Claire Ross

    Reply

    My favourite colour is Blue. Thanks for the opportunity. X

    September 20, 2015 at 12:24 pm
  • Kathy G.

    Reply

    Hey! Thank you for a chance to win your goodies! Love GenQ! My favorite colors are brights, reds and oranges, with a little green thrown in. Nothing conservative for me. Keep up the good work Scott!

    September 20, 2015 at 2:49 pm
  • thanks for the review – would love the check out Christa’s interview in the GenQ and my favourite colour is pink ! I’m partial to orange and lime green too !!

    September 20, 2015 at 11:54 pm
  • I tell my children I have no favourite colour but according to my stash, it’s blue and green.

    September 21, 2015 at 12:17 am
  • Eleanor

    Reply

    Condolences on the passing of your Mom, Scott. I am a first time reader of your blog, and am really enjoying these posts about this new book…I can’t wait to purchase my own copy. Thanks for the opportunity for your giveaway… I love every colour, of course ☺ , but am currently working on boosting my stash of low-volume fabrics.

    September 21, 2015 at 6:28 am
  • This has been such a fun hop and I’m finding new blogs (like yours) that I didn’t even know about! Thanks for the giveaway. My favorite colors are aqua and orange.

    September 21, 2015 at 10:15 am
  • Loving Christa’s book! I can’t pick one color I love all the colors and scrappy quilts!
    Dmac5958ataoldotcom

    September 21, 2015 at 10:51 am
  • Margo

    Reply

    Hi Scott. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Sending you and your family the most positive thoughts. I am a long time reader of your blog and of course as a blogger we all end us feeling like your family is our family too! Take care during this time.

    I can’s believe that you have wrapped your head around the giveaway as well. Thank you so much. Of course I’d love to win, but as for colors… I love them all! The wilder the better!

    Take care!

    September 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm
  • Margo

    Reply

    ps…sorry..can’t spell either! I am a one-handed typer as I am recovering from thumb reconstruction surgery! ouch!

    September 21, 2015 at 12:08 pm
  • Bonnie

    Reply

    What an interesting book! I could certainly use some help with my quilting. My favorite colors are purple and green. Thanks for the great giveaway.

    September 22, 2015 at 7:39 am
  • Patty Flynn

    Reply

    Love this blog hop too
    Favorite color is green, but the acid green is the best
    Wanted to say sorry about your loss (mine too this year). The quilts that I made her, help

    September 22, 2015 at 7:43 am
  • springleafstudios

    Reply

    It’s been fun to follow Christa’s book hop and see what everyone is trying. I admit to not much liking the quilting part. Favorite color is definitely green . . . chartreuse, lime, grass, moss.

    September 22, 2015 at 8:47 am
  • patty

    Reply

    Red is my favorite color.

    September 23, 2015 at 6:29 am
  • Nancy Evans

    Reply

    Sorry to hear of your loss, know how difficult it can be at this time and hope your work, and all associated with it, is helping each day. Favorite color…..hmmm……..toughie………working on a star quilt at the moment and realize the yellow-greens are pretty scarce in the stash right now as I always seem to reach for them when the blocks are scrappy. Aquas are another favorite and pearly shades of grey.

    September 23, 2015 at 9:35 am
  • Suzette

    Reply

    Thanks for the chance to win such a great prize! My favourite colour combo is red and turquoise.

    September 23, 2015 at 10:32 am
  • Blues and greens are my current favorite color combination.

    September 24, 2015 at 3:01 am
  • Yay, colors! Reds and Grays. Fun giveaway!

    September 24, 2015 at 6:42 am
  • Jacklynn Grimm

    Reply

    Thanks for the chance to win the magazine and the fabric, my favorite color is purple.

    September 25, 2015 at 8:48 am
  • Jennie

    Reply

    Fabulous first try at pearls and FMQ. My favorite colors are sunset colors. Living in the desert southwest, the colors from oranges to yellows, pinks to blue of the sunsets has always been my favorite time of day and colors. If you’ve never seen a sunset in Arizona you really should they’re gorgeous.

    September 25, 2015 at 10:55 am
  • Daria

    Reply

    Lately I’ve been drawn to blues and greens. Thanks for the giveaway!

    September 25, 2015 at 1:46 pm
  • Jane

    Reply

    I was going to say my favorite colors are yellow, orange and pink. Then I thought I really like blues, too. And greens are great. And who doesn’t like red….and purple? So, thanks for the giveaway. I like all colors!

    September 26, 2015 at 12:29 pm
  • Lisa E

    Reply

    I love rainbow colors — clear and bright. Thanks for the great giveaway.

    September 26, 2015 at 1:18 pm
  • Emily C

    Reply

    I love blues, pinks and purples. Thanks for including a giveaway.

    September 27, 2015 at 1:57 pm
  • Blues, greens, purples…

    September 28, 2015 at 8:48 am

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