Thursday 11 February 2016

Craftsy Sweetens Up My Quilting Life Blog Hop



I'm participating in a blog hop. The hop is about all things Craftsy. Craftsy has sweetened my life by offering fabulous classes. My Craftsy class of choice to do a blog post on for the 'Craftsy Sweetens Up My Quilting Life Blog Hop' is by Amy of Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures  she is the class instructor for 'Quilting With Rulers on a Home Machine'.
The blog hop is organized by Sandra of  'Musing of a Menopausal Melon' and Julie of 'Pink Doxies'.

Today's Febuary 11th posts for the hop are:

Cindy of Stitchin At Home you are here now
Vicki of Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Make sure to read to the end of the post, as there are giveaways.



Rulers do indeed rock!! I never would have thought a year ago that I would use rulers to quilt on my 'little girl machine'. I don't have a long arm and as a couple people have pointed out mentioned they have 'big girl machines' for quilting. So I guess I'm a little girl doing big girl ruler work on my little girl sewing machine. But let me tell you if I can do it anyone can, and to boot I'm having fun and enjoying the end results.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, not so sure about that, but I do have a few pics to show you. How about some before and after photos? 

wobbly and uneven lines


Wobbly lines and all. If you look to the bottom right corner you can clearly see some of those wobblies. This block is from my Spring is Sprung quilt, which you can read about here.

first time doing any ruler work
Next up is the first time I tried ruler work, I hope you can see the difference. Lines evenly spaced and wonder of wonders straight. This block is from my Medallion quilt you can read about it here.

I contacted Amy for a few pointers, might as well get them right from the expert. Right? 

Amy's Quotes...

1. My favorite tip for starting with rulers besides practice:
"Relax! Use only light pressure of your hand over the ruler to keep it in place, using the tips of your gloved fingers over the edge to lock the ruler in place on the project. Then only use enough pressure to keep the ruler against the ruler foot. You don't have to push it hard against the foot. If you're having trouble moving the quilt and ruler together, odds are that you're pushing down too hard on the ruler."

2. "If the price of rulers comes as a shock, remember that they don't get used up like fabric and thread and you can do a lot of great designs with a straight ruler and a few curves."

3. And finally, "Learn from a lot of sources and don't be afraid to try something new or think outside of the box. Most of all, find what works best for YOU."

Last but not least her advice is "Practice"! 

Thank you Amy for being adventurous enough to try something new and to teach the rest of us how easily it can be done.

A sample from Amy's Class
How beautiful are those curves!

click for 50% off on this class

You won't be disappointed in Amy's class, she gives you really good instructions in the ease and use of rulers. She clearly explains what you need to get started, the foot, the motion and what rulers to use and how to use them on your home machine. I thoroughly enjoyed her class and it opened up the potential for more quilting designs that can make a quilt pop. Even with a little girl machine.
As a special for my readers, during this blog hop you can get 50% off 'Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine' until February 18 @11:59pm MT! This is an affiliate link, from which I get some $, if you make a purchase. If you are interested in being an affiliate I can send you a link.


mini quilt with lovely straight lines

Practice does indeed help! A few more pictures showing what just a little bit of practice can do. I made this little applique mini, it is an original design, and did straight line quilting using rulers around the outer edges of the design. 

current project with curved lines
Another project I'm working on currently, I'll show the back since the quilting shows up better. Love those curves! Using rulers you can create simple to complex designs. Amy shows you how in her class.

I did mention something about giveaways way back at the start of this post.

I am having my own giveaway. There will be two winners each one getting a 2 ounce sample of  Blue Line Eraser. This is one of my favourite tools for quilt marking and removing those blue water soluble marks is easy. "Blue Line Eraser works on any of the blue water soluble markers out on the market", this is a direct quote from the folks at Blue Line Eraser.

blue water soluble marking on white
I also used the blue water soluble markers and Blue Line Eraser on my quilt Spring is Sprung with no residual marks. It has been laundered several times and the marks have never reappeared.

blue lines are gone with just a spray
A little spray of 'Blue Line Eraser" and those blue markings are gone.

Just fill in the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. It is open from Feb 11 til Feb 17. I will let the lucky winners know via email on the February 18th so make sure I can contact you. If you are a no reply blogger I will not be able to contact you, and will draw another name. I love followers but you don't need to be a follower to win. Of course if you want to follow me that would be great.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for the main giveaway for the 'Craftsy Sweetens Up my Quilting Life' blog hop. The link for the giveaway is below.

The giveaway is open until February 21st at 11:59 MST. On Julie's or Sandra's blogs.

The prizes for the main giveaway are as follows:
2 free Craftsy classes. Two winners will each win one class.
1 fabric package consisting of:
  Boundless Solids Crown Jewels by Amy Gibson Quilt Kit 
  Boundless Solids Clour Theory 6 in Strips Modern Brights
  Boundless Solids Clour Theory 10 in Squares Modern Brights

You can enter the giveaway here!!!


 
Good luck to everyone who enters!

Here is the schedule for the hop:

Wednesday, Feb. 10
Judy at Quilt Paradigm: Review of classes "Design It Quilt It" and "Machine Quilting Wholecloth Quilts" both with Cindy Needham
Helen at Midget Gem Quilts: Review of class "Creative Quilting With Your Walking Foot" with Jacquie Gering
Thursday, Feb. 11
Cindy at Stitchin At Home: Review of class "Quilting With Rulers on a Home Machine" with
Amy Johnson you are here!!
Vicki at Vicki's Crafts and Quilting: Review of fabric purchases:  Stonehenge Strips and Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle
Friday, Feb. 12
Zenia at A Quilted Passion: Review of classes "Start FMQ" with Elizabeth Dackson; "Secrets of FMQ" with Christina Cameli; "Help! How Do I Quilt It?" with Angela Walters
Jayne at Twiggy and Opal:  Review of quilting supplies: Pressing/cutting mat and mini iron
Saturday, Feb. 13
Tish at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland: Review of classes "Dot to Dot Quilting" with Angela Walters; "Shoot It! A Product Photography Primer" with Caro Sheridan
Anja at Anja Quilts: Review of patterns  Postcard from Sweden; 1 Hour Basket; Star Bright; Reusable Handwarmers
Sunday, Feb. 14
Beth at Cooking Up Quilts: Review of Amanda Murphy's class "20 Fresh Appliqué Techniques"
Preeti at Sew Preeti Quilts: Review of fabric purchases:  Kaffe Fassett Classics Design Strip
Monday Feb. 15
Julie at Pink Doxies: Review of class: "Color Play for Quilters" with Joen Wolfrom
Sandra at Musings of a Menopausal Melon - mmm! quilts: Review of Classes "Machine Quilting: Small Changes, Big Variety" and "Free Motion Quilting With Feathers" with Angela Walters; review of fabric purchases: 10-yard bundle and fat quarter bundles; review of patterns: Sea Glass and Snowflake


39 comments :

  1. I am the queen of wobbly and the princess of wonky. Your quilting is so neat, I am jealous!!! Thank you for the giveaway.
    http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved reading this post and seeing the before and after photos really shows a person how much improvement there can be. I adore (and you already know that) your original design bluebirds mini! Very à propos for right about now. Don't draw me for the Blue Line (speaking of adore...); give it to one of your readers. Thanks so much for jumping on to this hop train with us, Cindy! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to win a Blue Line marker. Hope to have my quilt look as nice as yours, someday.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cindy, I do see a big improvement in your before and after photos. I struggle with my domestic as well as my longarm with getting straight lines. One little wobble and it's so obvious. I wish I'd known about the liquid eraser product 6 months ago. I've really struggled with quilt markers this year. One would be fine, then it seemed they would redo the formula and I'd have blue line stains! I will be searching this product out ASAP. Thanks for the heads up on both issues. Advice well taken here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Now you have me even more excited to give rulers a try. I've never tried the Blue Line Eraser, but it sure does sound like something I should get. I use the blue pens all the time. Great review and great ruler work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have never tried the Blue line eraser but have heard of it, so winning would be awesome! I am a longarmer, but, I so admire those who are able to accomplish quilting with their DSM. Big or small machines make no difference to me, the only thing that matters is that you enjoy what you do!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't know which are more wobbly at times , my lines or my thighs ! I didn't know you could ruler quilt . Something for me to try out in the future

    ReplyDelete
  8. I signed up for Amy's class a while back and have watched several lessons. I need to get back to it! She is great, and I'm learning a lot - now to apply it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have never used rulers before, but what an interesting class this is! You have given me one more class to add to my ever growing list!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I haven't used rulers while sewing it's incredible how beautiful Amy Jonnson can create the designs.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm seriously thinking of taking Amy's ruler class after seeing your impressive results. thank you for the giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am new to machine quilting and haven't used any rulers yet. So that's how they get nice looking curves!! Karen kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have taken Amy's class and am loving the results I can get with rulers.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I should hang my head in embarrassment, but... I didn't know you could use rules with "little girl machines" with such success. Now I really want to give it a try- my quilting has a long way to go and these look like a great tool to help with that. Thanks! Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This class is on my wish list. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have not used rulers yet. I thought they would make more work and take too much time. But I am seeing the benefits and will have to give them a try.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I haven't tried rulers on my home machine, or a longarm for that matter. I think it would be fun!

    ReplyDelete
  18. How awesome - Blue line - I did not know about this product! thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Have not tried using rulers to machine quilt..yet! lol Am just in practicing mode with FMQ on my home machine tho... Would love to win..thanks for the chance! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have never used rulers on my machine. I really wouldn't know what I was doing.
    gandn74@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for sharing your ruler work. I love working with rulers. It has opened up a whole new set of quilting designs for me. It does take a little practice, and on some of my work, you can see where I let the ruler slip. But it's going to be like when I first started FMQ, I just kept at it and have gotten better and more confident in what I'm doing. I would love to try some of the Blue Line Eraser, too.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great to see your ruler work. I have been trying it on my longarm and have to say I find it really hard!!! Free hand patterns, feathers, swirls etc all came naturally but ruler work ...... Now thinking about a Craftsy class for it maybe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are a no reply blogger. A Craftsy class is a good way to go. Thanks for stopping by and good luck.

      Delete
  23. Cindy, your quilting is gorgeous! And you know hoe much I loved your little bluebird applique too!
    I've never tried using rulers but after learning your secret for such beautiful quilting, it sounds like it was a great class!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nice job. I too am loving using the rulers.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful work. I have not been brave enough to try ruler work yet.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi there,
    I haven't tried ruler-quilting yet, but I am slowly warming up to the idea. The supplies needed are so expensive though and I will have to spread my purchases out over a couple of months...LOL!
    Thanks!
    Quilty Huggs,
    Jacqueline
    snausages22 @ yahoo.CA

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have taken Amy's ruler class and it was fantastic. I have never tried the Blue Line Eraser but it sure looks interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've never tried ruler work on my home machine, but would love to give it a go!

    ReplyDelete
  29. No ruler work on my DSM yet. This seems like a useful and interesting technique to learn. Quilters are such talented and creative people.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've also taken Amy's Craftsy class and loved it! I haven't tried ruler quilting myself, yet. So far, the cost of the rulers has held me back. But, just as soon as I have a little extra money, I already have the ruler set and foot favorited and waiting for me to add to my cart!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I lve quilting with rulers. They dongreatly simplify the process as well as makingmy lines and curves consistent. I learned from Amy as well, Thanks formthe give-away!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have not tried quilting on my home machine with rulers but it is in my plan to try it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Not yet, but I plan to this next year.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I haven't tried rulers, actually never even thought of it, sounds interesting, but I would be afraid I would hit my needle.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Quilting on a home machine with rulers, now THAT might be something I can handle....!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have not tried rulers, but would love to try them. Love the beautiful designs.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for showing your before and after. I have moved my machine into a different table so trying rulers should be manageable. Looks like fun! Juls in Fl, mathrun1@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have quilted with rulers and love them! I need lots more practice though.
    cathylouwilson@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

I love comments, however if you don't get a reply back from me it is because you may be a no-reply blogger. Hope you have a great day!