First Steps to Free-Motion Quilting

I am a beginner to FMQ (free motion quilting). I have never done it before, but have a great amount of knowledge from reading about it. This book has connected the dots for me! I understand how you are supposed to start and end your thread. Quilting is awesome, because it has so many different art forms within one quilt! You are creating, putting together, and when you are done with a quilt sandwich, you have an entire canvas to "draw" on! It's the best because you get to shop, put together like a puzzle, then "draw" over your quilt! Christina is such a nice person, and was available to answer any question I had. She explains about tension, and what to do if your thread is laying on the bottom or top. She shows a lot of pics and diagrams on how to make different patterns on your quilt. She explains how to hold the quilt while you are quilting. She goes over what equipment you need, how to start and finish the actual quilting (which was always a mystery to me!), and the techniques that she uses to make amazing quilts. She uses a lot of different shapes: circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, and then goes on to show you how to do feathers that looks so amazing on negative space on quilts. Christina stresses that quilting is supposed to be fun, and the only rule is that there are no rules. She gives tips on everything that has to do with FMQ, and I learned SO much in this book. It's definitely a good book to pick up as a beginner. It's a great book to pick up if you have been doing FMQ, and want to learn more. It's a great book to have, so you can have it as a reference anything you have a problem with FMQ, or just don't know how you should quilt your quilt! She gives a lot great tips on what looks good on different parts of your quilt. I know I will be using this a lot in the near future, and grateful that I have it when I need to look up something quickly. oh! She goes over 24 projects you can FMQ on!!! The projects she has range from place mats, pillows, purses, and a lot of quilts. I'm grateful that I have an awesome book I can refer to whenever I need inspiration or a problem with my FMQ. Thank you so much, Christina!

This book is just what the title says: a beginning free motion instruction book. As a bonus, it includes 24 simple projects that are designed to be quick to make so that you can spend a minimum of time making the project and most of your time practicing your free motion quilting.The instruction section is short but complete. The photos are good and the writing clear. Extensive use is made of bulletized lists so that you can quickly see the important ideas without wading through lots of text. In fact, as I read the instructions I found the author making all the same points I tell my students in my free motion classes.Following the instructions, a thoughtfully organized section shows about 65 different free motion designs, all very suitable for beginners. This section is a wonderful resource for quilting ideas.The remainder of the book – in fact more than half of it – is devoted to the 24 projects. There is a wide variety – bags, bowls, placemats, tablerunners, clothing, and quilts. The last part of the section discusses embroidery – or using the free motion designs on plain cloth or readymade clothing. Many of the projects have a “modern quilt” feel. They are young and fresh and are likely to appeal to younger quilters (Judging by her photo, the author fits in this category!)In short, I heartily recommend this book. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because I haven't worked through the projects and so can't evaluate them at this time.

I have several free motion quitling books and even took a class at the local quilt store. Was curious about this book and delighted when I got it! It covers the basics (always nice to review for me) and has tips and helpful encouragement. The patterns start easy and get more elaborate, just what you would expect. I think the book would be good for a beginner and it is very nice for me, with a little experience already, too.What I like the best, what makes it my favorite free motion book, is the many fun projects that are included to practise the free motion quilting on something one can finish and be proud of. There are so many projects I am excited about and I have alsready picked a bunch of them to try: the quilted messenger bag, the little bowls, the loopy bucket, the fishbowl purse, the wiggle-bottom seat cushion, the good advice wallhanging, the strip sampler, the fireworks quilt that has attractive and creative, yet simple applique with free motion thread play on it, and the quilt as you go quilt that has a different free motion quilt design in every square which makes it managable and excellent for practise. Most free motion quilting books ask you to practise on a muslin square, which is fine, but this is much more fun!

What a terrific book! I have been stalling on trying machine, free motion quilting knowing for sure that it takes a lot of practice to become decent at it. I didn't want to ruin something I had made. But now, I am ready to GO! The book has multiple projects where "mistakes" made while practicing are just fine, they actually add to the beauty of the finished projects! What a great approach. I can practice and still turn out wonderful items. Thanks to the author for this approach. Usually I am not a fan of so many of the projects in quilting books, but this one had several that appealed to me. The little baskets and various bags that can be used for utility purposes are terrific. I see shopping and utility bags and little shallow baskets by my sewing machine holding notions in my very near future. The directions and encouragement are great, neither too much nor too little. Nice troubleshooting section too.

Fabulous - going to try some of the patterns.

Found this book very helpful and intend to use the patterns listed. Encourage quilters that are starting machine quilting on their domestic machine to use as a reference book.

I wish now I had been a bit more patient and waited to receive the book rather than download instantly to my kindle as it would be better to flick back and forth on pages rather than clicking away until I reach the right spot. For a novice free motion quilter like myself, I found that it gave me confidence to give it a go.

This is one of the best quilting books I have bought. It is informative and easy to follow

I have been trying to get to grips with free motion quilting and this book certainly is helping me with this. Very clear with good pictures. As a beginner to quilting I think this is a good book to have in your library.