I have a stack of quilt tops languishing in my studio. My intention has always been to quilt them myself because they’re small or made with inexpensive fabric or not tops I think are worth the expense of longarm quilting.
So they sit on shelves and in bins, waiting for me to get around to quilting them myself — except I still consider myself something of a machine quilting novice and the thought of tackling the pile intimidates me.
When my buddy Pat Sloan asked me to be part of her Mega-Fun Book Tour for her new book, Teach Me to Machine Quilt, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. Reading it was like having a conversation with Pat — I could actually hear her voice in my head. Her tips and detailed explanation of techniques really makes machine quilting on my home sewing machine more doable.
The weakest part of my quilting game is the quilt basting, hands down. I can manage smaller quilts but anything larger than a throw inevitably ends up with wrinkles and puckers in the backing. Pat’s tips for basting made so much sense! I actually feel like I can tackle the quilt I made for my queen-sized bed now! (A Sassy Sixteen made with Luke Hayne’s Dapper fabrics, backed with Tula Pink Freefall.)

I love that Pat also included projects in her book, broken down by quilting style (walking foot vs. free motion quilting). I’ve already decided I need to make this quilt:
Pat’s Mega-Fun Book Tour includes an amazing line-up of participants (seriously — I can’t believe my name is on the same list as these folks). Be sure to head over and check out all the posts, tips, interviews and more:
Nov 18
- Bonnie Hunter in Wallburg, North Carolina a suburb of Winston-Salem quiltville.blogspot.com/
- Pam Vieira-McGinnis in Livermore, California pamkittymorning.blogspot.com/ and www.instagram.com/pamkittymorning/
- Alyce Blyth in Melbourne, Australia www.blossomheartquilts.com/
- Kimberly Einmo in outside of Washington DC in Virginia (my neighbor!) www.kimberlyeinmo.com/blog
Nov 19
- American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine in Des Moines Iowa, visit with the Editors at www.allpeoplequilt.com/blog
- Mathew Boudreaux in Camas Washington near Portland Oregon visit misterdomestic.net/ and instagram.com/misterdomestic/ be sure to see my Interview at his website, it’s a fun one!
- Moda with Carrie Nelson in Dallas, Texas visit blog.modafabrics.com/
Nov 20
- Amy Smart near Salt Lake City, Utah www.diaryofaquilter.com/ and we did an interview where you’ll learn a bit more about my basting!
- Katja Marek
in fabulous Kamloops,BC Canada.k of www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/ visit www.facebook.com/Katjas- Quilt-Shoppe and www. instagram.com/katja_marek/
Nov 21
- Lee Monroe in Winston Salem, North Carolina, visit www.maychappell.com/
- Jacquelynne Steves from Southern New Jersey visit jacquelynnesteves.com/blog/
- Stephanie Palmer in Austin, Texas visit latenightquilter.com/
- Mary Abreu in Atlanta, Georgia visit confessionsofacraftaddict.comand instagram.com/thatcraftaddict/ <– You are here!
Nov 22
- Sarah Maxwell of Mexico, Missouri www.homesteadhearth.com/ Visit designsbysarahj.wordpress.com/ with a Giveaway!
- Debby Brown in the “Beautiful” Hudson Valley of New York, visit higheredhands.blogspot.com/
- Jane Davidson in Australia visit quiltjane.com/ and instagram.com/quiltjane/
- Linda Thielfoldt in Michigan visit lindathielfoldtthequiltedgoose.blogspot.com/
- Janet Clare in the UK visit janetclare.co.uk/blog/
- Baby Lock in St. Louis Missouri visit them at www.facebook.com/babylocksewing and instagram.com/babylocksewing/
Nov 23
- Cheryl Brickey in Greenville, South Carolina visit meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com/
- Helen Stubbings in Hobart Tasmania at www.hugsnkisses.net/ visit instagram.com/helen_stubbings/ and hugsnkisses.typepad.com/
- Kimberly Jolly in Austin, Texas of www.fatquartershop.com visit fatquartershop.blogspot.com/ and www.instagram.com/fatquartershop/
Nov 25
- Sherri McConnell in Nevada, visit www.aquiltinglife.com/
- Julie Karasek in Elm Grove, Wisconsin at www.patchedworks.com/ visit fabricjules.blogspot.
com/ - Ebony Love in Northern Illinois visit lovebugstudios.com/blog/
- Martingale in Bothell, Washington! visit with the editors at blog.shopmartingale.com/
Nov 26
- Scott Hansen in Sultan, Washington State (the other Washington) visit bluenickelstudios.com/ plus a giveaway!
- Victoria Findlay Wolfe New York, New York of vfwquilts.com/ visit bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
Nov 28
- Amy Friend in coastal Massachusetts, north of Boston visit www.duringquiettime.com
- Heather Valentine in North Carolina, visit thesewingloftblog.com/
- Melissa Corry in Cedar City, Utah, visit www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
- Amy Ellis in Utah, visit www.amyscreativeside.com/
Nov 29
- Aurifil in Milan, Italy, let’s visit the Creative Director Erin Sampson at auribuzz.wordpress.com/
- Christa Watson in Las Vegas, Nevada visit christaquilts.com/
- Nancy Zieman says “Good morning from Beaver Dam WI, Mom!”visit www.nancyzieman.com/blog/ – Sharing a project
- Amanda Niederhauser in Santa Clarita, California visit www.jedicraftgirl.com/
Nov 30
- Kim Niedzwiecki in Spotsylvania, Virgina visit www.gogokim.com/
- Karen Miller in Owego, New York visit karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/
- Wendy Sheppard in outside Washington DC in Virginia visit ivoryspring.wordpress.com/
- Brenda M. Ratliff in Ann Arbor, Michigan of Pink Castle Fabrics visit www.pinkcastleblog.com/
And … YOU can win your very own copy of Pat Sloan’s Teach Me to Machine Quilt from the super talented author herself! Head here to enter to win (be sure to read the details to make sure you’re entered). Physical Copies for US residents, digital copies for all other winners. Be sure to enter by midnight on Dec. 1!