I know a lot of wonderful quilters who make amazing quilt tops  and then stop. The thought of quilting their own quilt paralyzes them but really it needn’t. With just the investment in a walking-foot for their machine basic and not so basic quilting can really be very easy and doable for everything from placemats to king sized quilts even on a basic domestic sewing machine.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not going to be giving my my longarm anytime soon but the truth is that you don’t need a long arm to be a quilter and Catherine Redford proves this every day and I am so excited that she has now put her teaching into DVD/ download form through a collaboration with Interweave. Modern Machine Quilting with Catherine Redford
For a lot less than you you will pay for a quilting class you can hang out in your jammies ( or heck watch naked, who am I to judge?) Â and learn how to harness your walking for to make quick work of those quilt tops you have piled up!
Catherine’s style shines through on this video and it really is just like taking a class with her when you are at a quilt show or retreat.
Clear up-close video work makes this an easy to follow and understand tutorial on how to approach each part of the process. Starting with straight line work…
to shaking things up with curves, spirals and other curvy treatments that scare a whole lot of quilters to death. Â Honestly after a spin through this video you will wonder why you were scared in the first place. Catherine makes the topic and execution so easy to understand and for the bits you might miss just “hit rewind” and watch again!
Of course I think all of this would be SO much more fun if I gave away from thread don’t you ??? Â After all if you are going to be quilting your own you need some thread to do it with!!
So leave a comment to be in the drawing. Tell me why you are quilting your own quilts and if you are not.. why not???  The winner  will get a very sweet 4-pck of Aurifil big spools in a warm 
neutral colorway that will go with so many projects!
Keep on hopping!
Thursday 18th December:           Maddie Kertay                 https://www.badassquilterssociety.com
Friday 19th December:                 Svetlana Sotak http://sotakhandmade.blogspot.com
Saturday 20th December:           Julia Wood                         http://thehexieblog.blogspot.com
Sunday 21st December:        Laura Wasilowski             http://artfabrik.com
Monday 22nd December:           Pokey Bolton                    http://pokeysponderings.com
Tuesday 23rd December:       Catherin Redford        http://catherineredford.com
I quilt my own, mostly on my long arm. Some smaller projects with my domestic machine.
I have made several small quilt projects on my own machine. I enjoy seeing the project to completion.
I’m fairly new to the art of quilting and determined to learn it myself! That said, there’s a lot to learn! So far there have only been smaller quilts, but they are growing in size!
I quilt my own quilts because I want to feel honest in saying, “I made this.” If someone else did the quilting, I would never completely feel like it was my project.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally get not quilting your own tops. I’m not a great quilter, and I know my tops would look much better with a professional quilter finishing them off. But for me, doing it myself is the choice I’m making right now. The future may be different. I don’t know how long I will be able to wrestle with those large tops!
I quilt my own (except for the huge ones) because I like the feeling it gives me to know that I’ve done the entire quilt, not just the quilt top.
I decided to quilt my own quilts so that it would be all my work even if it wasn’t the best. Still learning but I do love and use only Aurifil thread. Thanks for giveaway.
I like being able to quilt my own quilts but find it very difficult. I only attempt to quilt lap quilts or smaller and would love to be able to make them more interesting. And can always use more thread!!
I quilt any of my quilts that are baby quilt sized or smaller. I find it difficult to handle anything larger using a domestic machine.
I quilt smaller projects, and I’m gaining confidence in my work there. But curves are hard, and free-motion work is scary! Practice makes perfect, and practice takes time.
i’m too “chicken” to try quilting my own. I’ve taken a couple of classes but haven’t taken the time ti practice,practice, practice!
I’m one of those with lots of tops that need to be quilted. Why?, because I’m afraid. It’s kind of silly because I’m a confident woman in the rest of my life. So in 2015 I’ve decided that I need to get over my fear and just quilt! The tops I have are not perfect, they are not headed to a quilt show, they are to cover the beds, walls and tables of people that I love and that love me back! Sounds like Catherine’s DVD is just what I need to get started!
I quilt smaller items that I’m not fussy about myself. Anything that is larger than a twin, or is important that it look really good goes to my longarmer. As I gain confidence, I do larger and more complex quilt designs. It takes a lot of practice!
I quilt my own. I enjoy it, by hand and by machine.
i still quilt most of my minis on the domestic machine…..love both!
Thanks for hosting the giveaway! Aurifil Is amazing!
I have always quilted my own, no matter the size, as I LOVE the whole process. My advice would be to not be so critical of your work. Practice does make perfect! Aurifil is FANTASTIC!
Yep, you nailed me. I am one of those quilters with stacks of tops and I don’t know how to machine quilt anything but channel stitching. I’ve tried and made a mess of things. I am a hand quilter, but there are too many quilts, fabrics, and ideas in my head and room to hand quilt them all. I hadn’t heard of Catherine’s dvd until this week and I so wish I had it right now!!! I am trying to get a quilt finished by the weekend. Last minute Lucy here. 🙂 So, off to let the walking foot do its thing in boring straight lines. I know it wants to play.
The BIG ONES go the Longarmer, I can handle most of the other ones.
I would love to learn more about quilting the ones that I already do. I do send out my queen and larger ones due to the restriction in space to sew. Awesome give-away! Thanks BAQS!
I quilt my own quilts so that I can say “I made this” -and probably because I can’t afford to have someone else do it.
I started with piecing and was frozen thinking that I’d have to pass my projects on to someone else to finish, so I’m learning how to quilt things myself. I have to do several more projects though before I can think about finishing those original projects – but when they are done they will be all done by me! Thank you for the chance in your drawing!
I would like to be quilting my own quilts more. The one I need to work on now, my husband requested I quilt it, and he wants straight lines! So why haven’t I quilted it yet? Lack of confidence! I need this training!
Necessity. Plus I like it.
I quilt anything up to a twin size on my domestic, with the exception of my Quilts of Valor because they are fussy about how they want those done (no stitch in the ditch or all over meander) plus they have a network of volunteer longarmers I can tap into.
I started with stitch in the ditch, then diagonals, and am now getting braver and braver. Now I will do an all over meander, outline/echo quilting, and have even stenciled designs onto a few tops and followed those. In my last one or two I have even free handed a few vines.
I have been learning how to machine quilt because I simply cannot finish all of the quilts I want to make by hand quilting (which I’ve been doing for over 20 years). Two years ago I was unable to help a charity project due to a lack of machine quilting skills. That needed to change, and last year I started teaching myself how to do it. So far the largest quilt I’ve tackled on my basic sewing machine is a large throw size t-shirt quilt I made with a friend. Most of my machine quilting projects so far have been kid’s quilt size or smaller. I have two medium-size quilt tops (and their backings) waiting for me to finish my Christmas projects so I can get working on them!
So far, I have only tied my quilts, but I’m ready to jump in and hand quilt my next one. Handwork is always so calming and peaceful for me.
Well — first thing is I have to make a quilt top to start with. It’s on my long to-do list of projects! Many of them are, in fact! But then — yes — I want to try some free motion stuff! I think I might actually start some free motion experiments on the pockets of a purse.
I really enjoy that final step, after all the other designing and making steps, in creating the quilting stitches that make it all come together. I have a home machine and LOVE using aurifil thread to quilt. I like watching ‘how to’ stuff on my computer, and learn new stitching designs and techniques that way.
I quilt my own quilts….Watching the design, texture, color and piece come together in it’s final stages is very satisfying for me. Creating a quilt is like giving birth, you can’t just stop working it half way through!!!
I always quilt my own quilts — mainly because it is part of the total creative package. I’m not outstanding so can’t compete with a longarmer but it’s my quilt and I’ve been living with it for a while and it has spoken to me about what it needs!
thanks
I sew straight lines on the smaller lap quilts on my home sewing machine. But, for the bigger ones I reserve time on a longarm. I make a lot of mistakes but they usually lead to unexpected & pleasant results.
ive always quilted my own quilts on my domestic unless they were queen size or bigger. Recently, my eyes have been opened by having learned to use my girlfriends long arm and I’m feeling paralyzed by using my domestic and limited by straight line designs. I will definitely check this class out!
i quilt my own quilts. It’s so satisfying to see something that I have made from start to finish, and it gives you a chance to really get to know the fabric close up.
I quilt my own because I like the process of seeing my ideas translated to fabric.
I am trying to machine quilt small projects with my walking foot and having success. Will look into the C.D. More help is always great.
I gotta’ conquer my fear!!! I have done two lap quilts with meander and I really need to get over my fear of other quilter’s disdain!!!
I quilt my own quilts on my domestic machine because it feels like cheating to have someone else finish it for me. Besides, it expands my mind to learn new techniques and I get that little thrill of accomplishment when I see my FMQ get incrementally better each time I try it. Sometimes ya just gotta go for the gusto!
I feel I have to quilt my own quilt when I make them for my daughters, so I can say I made this for you.
The quilting part is the most difficult for me. To try and figure out how to bring the final step to life. What I have seen and read through the blog hop is inspiring. I want to learn how to do it right and the modern ideas look fantastic!
I had sent out most of my big quilt to be quilted. It is expensive and I would like to try doing my own quilts and save the money to buy more fabric.
I like being able to say I made this myself…the whole process of making a quilt.
I can’t afford to send my quilts out, so I quilt my own. I usually stipple or outline.
I’ve got my very first quilt (at 66)–a table runner for my daughter–all ready to quilt–but. . . I’ve got a walking foot and good thread and a ton of questions–Do I alternate edges I start at? How do I know if I’m getting wrinkles on the back (should I check after each line of stitching)? Will my lines be straight enough? Should I go down the runner–fear of keeping long lines straight or should I go across–more turning? Yikes! I suspect I DO need to get this DVD!!
I have tried numerous times to start quilting my own quilts. I have done some stitching in the ditch but that is the only thing I have braved. I love the way it looks on the back. I guess I am still a little intimidated by it. This DVD is definitely on my list to buy in the new year so the thread would be a huge help. Thanks for the chance to win and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Lisa
Love to quilt on my own DM with the walking foot and free motion. Once in awhile I’ll hire a LAer when I have too many tops and not enough time. Both methods fill a need in my quilting journey. Thanks for the opportunity to win a great prize to help with my travels! 🙂
I use my domestic machine for quilting. It’s not easy for me; I like challenges. i like picking out/creating my own designs and selecting threads. I also get satisfaction when I’m finished.
I have only quilted small quilts, and I have someone else do my bed size quilts as they have been wedding gifts and I haven’t yet tried a bed size. I do have two quilts to practice on I just need to get myself mentally ready.
I have a longarm because I want to quilt my own quilts! I love the whole process of quilting. I also love aurifil thread!
I have only made one quilt and one quilt top. I quilted my first with a walking foot and thought it was a lot easier than I imagined, but the learning curve is still there. I’m wanting to continue to learn and quilt my own quilts for the gratification of doing the whole process on my own.
Even if it’s not perfect, I feel like adding the quilting just makes my projects comfy and my own!
I’m quilting my own because it’s cheaper (I make for magazines and it would eat up all my earnings) and quicker than adding to a long armer’s crazy length waiting list!