Good Morning and welcome to my blog for the Book tour of Classic Modern Quilts! If you are new here let me introduce myself. I am Tia Curtis. I am a long arm quilter. If my name sounds familiar I have another blog and business making bags (Camp Follower Bags and Quilts) but I am focusing more on long arm quilting instead of bag making. At any rate Welcome!!!!! I am so excited you are here and I am thrilled to participate in this book tour.
I quilted Tammie's Diamonds in the Rough quilt this summer right before taking off for the beach. I had such a great time quilting it. I love the combination of traditional strip pieced diamonds in various sizes but with lots of open background and sunny modern tones.
Before quilting for someone I always ask 3 questions. The first one to the client "How do you want it quilted?" Typically they tell me to do whatever I want. That is a great answer, but it takes me onto my next 2 questions….
"How would I quilt this quilt if I was going to hand quilt it?"
I really look at the structure of the quilt and what was important to the quilt maker. Some quilts really sing with an edge to edge design, but others need special treatment. How can I add strength to the quilt with my stitching but both reinforcing the piecing and defining the design elements?
my third question is….
"If I lived back in the early 1900s and was a quilter…but magically I had access to a modern long arm as well as the knowledge to operate it…how would I quilt this quilt?
Obviously I decided to quilt this quilt with swirls and straight lines the cherries on top are the tiny pebbles that are mixed into the swirls. Pebbles go with just about any type of modern quilting.
OK, that is enough of my babbling. Next time when you are stuck on how to quilt a quilt ask yourself my 3 questions and see if you gain any perspective.
Soooo who wants a book? The good folks from Kansas City Star quilts and My Stars blog are giving away copies of Classic Modern Quilts! I would love to choose you. To win tell me another question you ask yourself (or your quilter) before quilting your quilts. Let me know down in the comments and I will choose the winner on Sunday the 24th of november by random selection.
If you don't win you can order the book from the Pickledish Store. It is a great little book with some lovely quilts inside.
Have a great day and good luck!
Tia Curtis
Be sure to check out Tammie's Blog today and Amy's blog tomorrow for another chance to win
Nov. 11: Lisa Calle, www.vintagemodernquilts.com
Nov. 12: Lynne Goldsworthy, www.lilysquilts.blogspot.com
Nov. 13: Lauren Hunt, www.myauntjune.blogspot.com
Nov. 14: Heather Kojan, www.heatherkojan.blogspot.com
Nov. 15: John Kubiniec, www.bigrigquilting.blogspot.com
Nov. 18: Adrianne Ove, www.littlebluebell.com
Nov. 19: Trisch Price, www.hadleystreetquilts.com
Nov. 20: Tammie Schaffer, www.craftytammie.com and Tia Curtis, tiacurtisquilts.blogspot.com
Nov. 21: Amy Smart, www.diaryofaquilter.com
Nov. 22: Susan Strong, www.strongstitches.wordpress.com
Thanks so much for participating in the blog tour!
I ask myself how can I quilt this on my home machine? thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI ask myself "Would this benefit from a more linear/geometric pattern or a curvy/irregular pattern?"
ReplyDeletei always make sure to tell any quilting that i really really really dont like the heart shape quilted into my quilts...so i guess, im focusing on the negative, but i really like your questions! this book looks great!
ReplyDeleteI usually ask 'Can I manage to quilt this myself?' then I choose between straight lines or squiggles!!
ReplyDelete"Where am I going with this?" ha, ha..... Thanks :-)
ReplyDeleteI ask how the quilt will be used. For instance, will it be a casual, everyday type quilt, maybe taken to picnics and football games? Then quick, edge to edge quilting may work. Will it be hung on the wall, closely looked at and seldom washed? Then something more custom and complex may be a better choice. Thanks for the tips, the quilt and the quilting are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have never had a quilt professionally done but I have one in the works that I will send off to be quilted. So the question for me to make that decision is "How important is this quilt to me and will it be on disply on a bed or folded in a closet?"
ReplyDeleteMy long-arm quilter is great at looking at my quilt and giving me ideas on how it should be quilted. We then discuss how much quilting I want done and what the quilt will be used for (also price!).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
k.castanette@hotmail.com
"How much do you want the quilting to show?" This dictates the density and the thread color choice.
ReplyDeleteOur MQG had a sew in on Saturday and we were discussing the thing we most disliked about quilting. I don't know that I dislike anything but said that deciding how to "Quilt as Desired" was the hardest thing for me. In my past I was exclusively a hand quilter (old school I know) but am now trying to learn about machine quilting and give it a try. So I guess the first question might be- am I just trying to finish the quilt or is it more of an heirloom (or important) quilt.
ReplyDeletebeautiful quilting, i need much more practice lol. but the question i ask myself is how much texture do i want.
ReplyDeleteI ask myself what the fabric looks best with...busy fabric needs less busy quilting in my opinion. :) but usually I leave it up to the experts like yourself. Haha!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of the 3 questions. I usually ask myself what is special about the quilt already and what will really make it either 1) stand out after quilting or 2) blend into the background so that the pieced top can really shine. Of course, we all know that the quilting does the beautiful finishing.
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the quilt, but piecing is really the part I enjoy the most...if I could afford it I would send them all out to be quilted by someone like you who can work magic on it!
ReplyDeleteTia, your quilting on Tammie's quilt is great! I also love your quilting questions. I look at my quilts and ask what kind of quilting would add just a touch more interest to it.
ReplyDeleteI ask myself, "What does *this* quilt need?" I try to choose a pattern or style that reflects the top itself, not just always go to the same one or two patterns because I like them. Sometimes a quilt calls for a design I might not immediately appreciate, but when it is paired with the quilt's design and the fabric, it is absolutely right and they magnify each other. I love your questions, though!
ReplyDeleteI'm very new to FMQ, so I ask myself what I am capable of. :)
ReplyDeleteThis book looks amazing! I've only done simple quilting myself like stitch in the ditch. As I see so many talented quilters online I'm really noticing what I see when I look at the quilt. Sometimes all I see is the quilting and simetimes it just enhances. I'd really like to learn hand quilting as well. I think I'd ask your three question after I'd asked how much they charged, hehe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a super giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I always have a debate with myself about the thread ... do I want it to stand out from the fabric, or blend in leaving lots of texture but no more colour? Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteI ask what color thread will wrk best with the fabric, and if I want custom quilting or an all ver design. Love the way you quilted the quilt of the book!
ReplyDeleteI ask the client what is their favourite part of the quilt & why. This gives me insight on what they may have been thinking during the creation, which usually leads to specifics of what they like to see. It's very telling. :-) Lovely job you did on Tammie's quilt, btw. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity. When choosing what to quilt, I look at the quilt, but I also test out things to make sure I can do it well enough for a whole quilt, or a whole part. Still learning here. :)
ReplyDeleteI question the design I will be using over and over, drawing after drawing, dream after dream before I make a decision. Thanks for a chance to win
ReplyDeleteI ask myself where my phone is, so I can look up a quilting tutorial. I'm currently working on my first quilt and haven't quilted one yet. :) You can contact me at elsiesgeekery(at)zoho(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteWhat would compliment the piecing or aqqlique in the quilt and go from there. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI usually ask what about the piecing needs featuring, then I try something a little new on each quilt just to expand my skills. I don't have the long arm, so anything I think up has to be done on my regular machine, which limits things a bit. My last quilt I didn't cross any piecing seams for the stained glass window to pop. Great job Tia!
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of test runs on tracing paper over my graph paper sketch to get a feel for how everything will look. I quilt on my home machine so it's never super complicated. I love the quilting on your quilt.
ReplyDeleteI like to use a clear paper where I can draw different designs to see how they will look on my quilt. So, I ask quite a few questions about how much I want the quilting to show or the piecing to show. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book. I really like the quilting designs you used on the quilt.
ReplyDeleteWowsa- your quilting is stunning! I stare at the quilt with fear, then I say " what are you afraid of, just do it!" I am so rudimentary in my quilting, but I am gratified I at least did it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new quilter with two young sons so when I have free time, I just go for it and enjoy the process!
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of questions I consider before I quilt - which batting (how lofty) and which thread. I mostly use variegated cotton threads because I like the changes in colour on a scrappy quilt - which most of mine are.
ReplyDeleteI have a really tight budge, so I ask myself if my large quilts I send out for quilting are "worthy" of something more than just an overall quilt design. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI think about how much quilting it needs or if the fabric color and pattern are the dominant part. Thanks!
ReplyDelete