APQ Quilt Along 2016: Part 2

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Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you guys know that the instructions are now on newsstands for all three quilts in the APQ Quilt Along.  They can be found in the current issues of Quilts and More and American Patchwork & Quilting.

I made some progress on my Easy Addition quilt (featured in Quilts and More actually) earlier this week.  I’m sewing it in Sparkle, my holiday line for Benartex – which should arrive in stores in March/April.  (If you are working on this project remember to follow along on Instagram using the hashtag #APQQuiltalong !

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My favorite Sparkle color combination…
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I like it so much I made it twice!
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Another favorite…

 

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But maybe I just like the wreaths?

Easy Addition is made in such a clever manner – all four outer corners are cut from one simple square-in-a-square block which you pre-piece and then cut.  Which means, if you are using directions prints, that you get all four corners with the prints oriented in the right direction automatically!

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Also this year in APQ they are running a quilting series where Angela Walters, Leah Day, and I all show you ideas for quilting a particular block.  This month it is the split rail fence.  Fun to see that everyone comes up with something very different and unique!

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Finally, a lot of people have been joining our Free-Motion Quilting Idea facebook group, which is awesome!  We are talking about all things quilting over there.  I try to loosely screen membership requests to make sure are all quilters or at least crafters so, if your membership request hasn’t been accepted, chances are that you might need to change your settings so I can see something about you – or message me so I know who you are.  If your feed is in another language that is ok, but just make sure that I can see some pictures or posts that indicate your interests so I can tell you aren’t a spammer, ok?

Also, I had so much interest in my last quilting tutorial on swirl feathers that I’ll be working another free quilting tutorial for you all in time for Valentine’s Day – stay tuned!

So that is it – I hope you all have a wonderful week and get in a few minutes of sewing along the way!

Happy quilting!

Amanda

The Free-Motion Quilting Idea App!

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Oh my goodness the day has finally come when I can say that my Free-Motion Quilting Idea App has launched! Pinching myself! Then pinching myself again! It is a companion piece to the book and the sampler of the same name and it is all new in the App Store for your iPad and iPhone. (An android version is to follow – I don’t have a date yet.)

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The Free-Motion Quilting Idea App on the iPad

 

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The Free-Motion Quilting Idea App on the iPhone

 

As many of you know, The Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book is a reference tool – to keep by your machine and spark your imagination. It is comprised of drawings that show you, step-by-step, how to form many different free-motion patterns and then apply them to blocks, sashing, and borders. It is a reference tool to keep by your machine, really. If you can do just a few free-motion patterns you CAN do custom-style quilting. I really believe that. If I can do it you can too!

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The App builds further expands that concept, showing you step-by-step through, through animation and video, how to form the basic allover designs that all the designs in the book were based upon. In the app you can actually see each of the allover patterns animated and many of them stitched out by me on the BERNINA Q Series!

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On the app you can actually see this paisley design being drawn out!

 

Or you can watch me quilt it on a video…
Or you can watch me quilt it on a video…

I want to thank for C&T and BERNINA for making this project a reality. Seriously, I could have never ever done with with the help and support of these fantastic companies. All the filming was done at BERNINA USA headquarters in Chicago with an amazing and the entire thing was put together by the wonderful people at C&T Publishing, who had the vision to believe in the project in the first place.  And I want to thank you guys out there for your enthusiastic reception of The Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book – quilters are amazingly creative and generous people.

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The Video Library

To find the App you can search the App store or use my affiliate link by clicking here.

 

If you are interested in being part of my Facebook group for people who are getting inspiration from the book, app, and/or the companion sampler, please join us!

I hope you really love the App!

Happy New Year and happy quilting!

Amanda

APQ Quilt Along 2016: Part 1

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Hi guys,

Have you heard? It is time for the APQ Quilt Along for 2016!  This year plus-sign quilts are all the rage and I was thrilled to be asked to join in on the fun! You can choose from one of three projects – appearing in the new Quilts and More issue on newsstands this week and the April issue of APQ, on newsstands February 2nd but shipping to subscribers before then.

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But they said that we could give sneak peeks so I thought I’d show you this lovely quilt called Easy Addition, which was designed by Brenda Ratliff and will appear in the new addition of APQ Quilts and More.

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Makes you want to quilt along, right?  Me too!

I really loved all three options, but I chose this one because it was perfect for my Sparkle collection for Benartex, which has lots of bright colors plus a fun white and aqua print – it ships to stores in March/April. Easy Addition is super easy to piece. It is rather large, so I’m going to make a version with half the blocks – 24 – so I’ve chosen 12 of my favorite small quarters, plus the white/aqua blender for the background.

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These are my fat quarter fabrics for the blocks…
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… and the stripe in the lower right is for the binding.

For more information you can visit APQ’s site.  I hope you all will join in!  The more the merrier – it will be fun to see all the different variations of plus-sign quilts! Remember to post pictures using the hashtag #APQQuiltalong on Instagram!

Happy quilting!

Amanda

P.S. On the frame right now I’m quilting this Carina version for the Free-Motion Quilting Idea Sampler Facebook Group.  There are really some spectacular versions of this quilt in all different fabrics going on there – be sure to join us!

Carina FMQIdeaSampler on frame