Chris’ Wedding Signature Quilt

Chris made this beautiful quilt for her daughter and son in-law, who got married last fall.  

She used a block from a sampler quilt, that she’s done in the past.  This is one of the most beautiful signature quilts that I’ve seen!! 

These soft pretty colors, were her daughters wedding colors.   

I used my favorite Winline 8020 cotton poly blend batting and Dyed Natural 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread.  A hint of cream, was the prefect thread color, to blend so nicely.  

Chris picked Marci Gore’s Orange Peel design for the quilting.  It’s a great design, quilting out an entire row all at once.  Lines up pretty great.  Sometimes there are spots here or there, that don’t...so I have a couple quick tips, in the video below, on how to deal with designs that don’t line up the best when computerized quilting.  While you’re there please subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/QuiltingIt

Sometimes it’s the little tips that make everything look this beautiful...I love this design.  

Yes. That is navy minky/cuddle on the backing from Shannon Fabrics.  It comes in 90” wide...you have no idea how grateful I am as a quilter, that they offer this length.  I certainly quilt a lot less pieces minky, which makes me sooo happy! 

thanks for stopping by!!!  Have a great weekend.

- Leisha  

New machine quilting designs...

Recently Patricia Ritter and I released these two designs, Breeze©️ and Orchard©️.  I shared them on Instagram and Facebook, but I haven’t shared them here.  Both are available in paper and digital formats.  

This is Breeze and it’s available at https://www.urbanelementz.com/breeze.html

This fun leaf design...looks as though the leaves are blowing in the breeze.  Haha!!  This is called Orchard, and is available at  https://www.urbanelementz.com/orchard.html

To check out all my designs that are available at Urban Elementz go to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Leisha+Farnsworth

We have a wide variety of designs, from flowers...to feathers...to stockings...to geometric...a snowflake...and so much more.  This time of year a favorite is Cupid©️ - https://www.urbanelementz.com/cupid.html

And, of course...an all time favorite...Marmalade©️ -  https://www.urbanelementz.com/marmalade.html

If you’re familiar with my designs...which one is your favorite?!?!?!!  Comment below.

thanks for following along.  I’m quilting, and getting behind in blogging.  Excited to share with you some of the fun quilting I’ve been doing.   

Until then...happy quilting! 

- Leisha  

Hearts...hearts...hearts!

I have tons of pictures and videos to share in this post...  it’s all about love!!  Not just valentine’s...  but all the quilty textures!!  💗 

These bench pillows were made by Sherry...she made 4, so we double up two using the width of the fabric from selvage to selvage.  I baste the first one onto the fabric, then quilt...roll, and baste the second one onto the fabric and quilt.  It’s so slick, and saves so much time when doing multiples...to use one backing.  The pattern for these bench pillows is by Kimberbell Designs.

I love creating a variety of textures, so I’m sharing lots of pictures so you can catch all those fun textures.

I love the hard lines in the hearts with the softness of the pebbles in the background.  I used one of Linda from www.thequiltedpineapple.com green Edge rulers to quilt the lines in the squares along the border, and inside these hearts.  Her straight rulers are my favorite!!   

Awhile back I had some requests to video me quilting some of my freehand or freemotion designs.  Below is a video of this fun to quilt pebble design.  Adding the circle inside the other circles, adds interest to the design and more texture to the background.

I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline, on all of these bench pillows.

I love adding a simple orange peel to the border on this pillow front.   

Below is a video of me quilting the orange peel curves continuously with one of my Circle2™ rulers...the 3”/9” ruler.  Sorry my camera mount shakes while filming this one.

I have these rulers available in a set of 6....in both clear: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/circle2-longarm-ruler-set-clear-acrylic 

and in green: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/circle2-longarm-ruler-set-green-acrylic

For more information about my rulers go to: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/10/10/introducing-my-circle2-longarm-circle-ruler-set 

I also have my rulers individually listed...  here is the clear 3”/9”: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/circle2-longarm-28-ruler-clear-acrylic-lm6md

Check my shop for all the other sizes:   https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/

I also quilted a 1/2” diagonal lines along the vertical border on each side, using Linda’s Edge ruler.  

Sherry also made a couple of these super cute table runners!

The pattern is by Cynthia Muir from “Ahhh Quilting” .

Once again, I wanted lots of fun texture...the background, inside each heart...and the border.  I also used 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread white thread on these...as well as their black thread for the border.  

Below is a video of me quilting the border.  This lovely design is great inside appliqué...as pictured in the biggest polka dot heart above, to a border...like what I videoed below, to even an entire quilt.  I’ve quilted this design on so many quilts, it just adds such a fancy touch.  To see more quilting videos, head on over to my YouTube channel and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/QuiltingIt

I hope you’ll try this design when you quilt sometime!!

I just love how the light picks up all that quilting!!

Funny thing...two of my clients were making these, and brought them the same time.  This one without borders, was made by Barbara.  I quilted it the same as the ones I did for Sherry.  

It’s so awesome to know what I can quilt something like...because I’ve done it once or twice before.   

Thank you for being here, and letting me share all this quilty goodness with you!!  Hope that you have a great week! 

- Leisha  

Barbara’s Quilts!!!

Barbara made both of these amazing quilts!!  This first quilt pattern is by Bonnie Sullivan and is called Color Wash.  Its such a cool quilt!!  The front is made up of flannels.

I know for some computerized quilting doesn’t seem a worthwhile thing to blog about, however...for me, this is my quilting design and I love seeing it on a variety of quilts.  Which is why I keep blogging all sorts of quilts with this Squared design on it.  To share it’s versatility.  Also, it’s a great way to see new quilt patterns, that you haven’t seen before, and how they were quilted.  I do hope you find these blog posts enjoyable and helpful!!

I thought my Squared©️ design would look awesome on this plaid quilt!!!  Love how it turned out. Squared is available on my website at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/squared (in several different digital formats) or at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/squared.html (available in paper and digital formats).

I can’t quite remember what size I quilted this design, but if I remember right it was between 5”-6” in height.  I did the quilting design size larger than I normally do because of the size of the large quilt blocks, but also most importantly because the back is minky.  I don’t love overquilted minky backings...otherwise they lose some of the coziness.   

I used an 8020 cotton poly blend batting and an Oxford gray color of 30 Tex A&E Perma Core thread, to quilt it.   I typically don’t like thread when it is darker than some of the fabrics.  But this gray oxford color blended perfectly on the black, red, gray, and white fabrics.   Plus the minky backing was gray as well. 

I just can’t get over how awesome the texture is on this quilt, the diagonal of the quilting design with the square plaid, is just an awesome combination. 

Isnt this traditional Log Cabin quilt stunning?!?!!!  I love the black centers, they pop right off the quilt and make it look soooo striking.  

I love the movement of this quilting design across the quilt!!

This lovely quilting design is one of Patricia Ritter and my designs, it’s called “Viola”©️ and is available at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/viola.html the great thing about this design, it comes with a variety of different blocks and even a petite version this edge to edge design.  To see all the variations of this design, head over to: https://www.urbanelementz.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Viola

This design has such a fresh take on the traditional quilting feather.  If you notice on the quilt, as well as the picture above, the individual feather petals are spread apart more, also some variety in the design...that you don’t see in traditional feathers.  I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but Urban Elementz has a suggested size on their website.  I did go a little smaller, and set this design up a little less than 9” in height.  The height of a design consists of the highest and lowest points of the motif.  

I love a good close up picture on a quilt...showing the fabrics, which helped me choose this design for this quilt, and to see that beautiful quilting texture.   

Thought I’d even share a little of the quilt backing, with that beautiful feathery vine.  

Thanks for coming by!!  

I had a recent request to have my blog made audible for those who have a hard time seeing/reading.  There is a audio button at the top left of each blog post, and in several other parts on my website.  I’m not sure if the audio button will be an option in my emails, if not go directly to my posts by clicking the link at the bottom of the email that says “read in browser”.  It will take you to the blog post on my website. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.   

Happy quilting!!  - Leisha  

Courtney ‘s Hexie quilt!

Isn’t this quilt so amazing!!!  This is Courtney’s first quilt...I’m impressed.  Now I want to make one...it’s a jelly roll friendly quilt, too...more details on that in a minute.  First, I think we ought to pause in amazement....  

When I saw this quilt, I knew it was one of Emily Dennis’ brilliant patterns...no Y seams either.  Emily’s patterns can be found on her website quiltylove.com and she has some pretty amazing ones.  My Ombré Gems quilt, that I recently quilted and blogged about...is one of hers.  She’s awesome!!  She loves her patterns to be precut friendly.  It’s hard to find great jelly roll patterns...she has quite a few.  This particular quilt is called Hexie Framed quilt, and can be found...right here... http://www.quiltylove.com/introducing-hexie-framed-quilt-pattern/

For the quilting I used Patricia Ritter and my Arrowhead©️ digital quilting design.  I quilted the design at 3 7/8” height for this particular quilt, because that’s a great scale for these cute hexie blocks.  Arrowhead is available at... https://www.urbanelementz.com/arrowhead.html

I suggested this pattern to her because of all the fun southwest looking fabrics...I think the angles of the Arrowhead design just flatter all the work she put into this quilt.  

I used 8020 cotton poly blend Winline batting, and white 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread.   

A quick tip...I use the Lightroom app, and it’s free in the apple store.  It should be available on Android too.  Anyways, I use this app to get these fabulous colored and sharpened pictures.  Sometimes pictures are just horrible and nothing can really help them.  It’s all about light!!  I try and get great, well lit pictures, but at this time of year it’s just hard with the overcast wintery sky.  I use the sharpening and exposure features the most.  Sometimes I’ll change the color, too.  I take my photos and a lot of my videos on my iPhone X... it’s handy, I use Lightroom, and then my photos are ready to blog and share.  

This picture is the original, and the edited picture is posted above, can you see how amazing this app is?  It’s free...what are you waiting for.  You’re welcome!!  

I hope if you’re in the part of the world that it’s cold/rainy/and snowy...that you’re enjoying some extra sewing time.  For those who are enjoying warm temps and sunshine...enjoy every minute!  Here’s to hoping for warm days and plenty of sunshine for us all!!

- Leisha  

Quilt of Valor

Recently I visited a quilt guild in my area, and they mentioned in their announcements that they were going to try and make as many Quilts if Valor, that they could.  I learned last night they made 5 in one day.  That’s awesome!!  This is one of them.   

My dad served 30 years in the military and my brother served as well, he was even deployed.  So, I love to quilt one of these a year...knowing they will go to someone who fought for our freedoms.  For those of you who aren’t sure what a quilt of valor is click here and read more about it: https://www.qovf.org/make-a-qov/

I chose to use Patricia Ritter and my Liberty quilting design, to quilt it.  I love how it turned out!!!  Liberty©️ Is available in paper, digital, self print and design boards... go here: https://www.urbanelementz.com/liberty.html

This design is a take on our Marmalade©️ design.   

I used my favorite 8020 cotton poly Winline batting and 30 tex Dyed Natural A&E Perma Core thread.  

The quilting texture looks awesome!! 

Here is a better view of this design on this backing!!   

Thank you for stopping by!!  Happy quilting!! 

I’m off to quilt something that is getting published in a magazine...excited to share, someday.   

- Leisha  

Quilting Fabric

Also before Christmas, my sister wanted me to quilt some fabric, so she could make her and my brother in-law some stockings.  She didn’t get around to making any before Christmas because of all the fun parties they were going to.  Even though I don’t have a stocking to share, I want to show you this amazing quilty texture on this Bells Solid the 97 or 98 fabric.  She had me quilt 3 yards, for future kiddos...then their stockings will match.  The backside is the super cute trees from Zen Chic’s White Christmas line...with the gold tree randomly throughout. (See last picture)  These fabrics were found at https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters or https://www.sistersandquilters.com/

They chose my Starlight©️ design for the quilting.  It’s available in my shop at in several different digital formats: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/starlight or at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/leisha-s-starlight.html

I quilted this design at 3” high.   which is definitely great for what my sister wants.  

I used Antique Cream 30 tex Perma Core thread from A&E and 8020 cotton poly blend batting.  Because of the fold creases that can happen with 8020, I rolled this up until she makes her stockings.  

When my sister finishes their stockings, I’ll be sure to share.  Another reason I’ve wanted to share this, I’ve always wanted a quilted bedspread...just solid fabric.  Even more so now.  So, now I just need to decide on a design to quilt out.   

hope you have some fun projects going on!!  Happy Quilting! 

- Leisha  

Florence Flamingo and her friends...

My mom made this quilt for my sister and brother in-law, for their wedding quilt.  They have a slight obsession with Flamingo’s!!!

My mom and aunt own a fabric store online, https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters or https://www.sistersandquilters.com/ they have a great selection of a wide variety of fabrics, as you can see.  This pattern is available in their shop, it’s called Florence Flamingo and is by Elizabeth Hartman.  I love it!!  The ombré look to each flamingo is so much fun.

I gave my sister and brother in-law quilte a few designs to choose from, for the quilting...they chose my “The Climb”©️ design, which is only available at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/the-climb

I quilted this design at 2.5” height.  That seems small, but it’s the most perfect size.  Especially with all the negative space in the design.  I love it with these fabrics and the flamingos.   

So...let me introduce you to Florence Flamingos friends, yes...we named them.  Haha!  Not only do we want to remember their names, but I want to show you a close up on all the fun fabrics they picked for this quilt...  note...these names are random and were chosen over a facetime call with my other sister and brother in-law...you know, as a gift or added personal touch to this quilt.  Haha!  

In all seriousness as you scroll through these pictures, notice the trianglular theme in the fabrics, which makes the quilting very fitting.

This is Guyus...

This is Francene, isn’t she lovely! 

Crabby, fitting for sure.  

Gaquille, perfect spelling by my bro in-law... 

Gringo... 

Dalas, aka Salad (they are reversible I learned) 

Aquafina...she’s quite possibly my favorite! 

Steven (inside joke between the bro in-laws...from some funny video) 

Shaniqua   

 ...have you ever had fun naming your animal quilts???  

I used my favorite Winline 8020 cotton poly blend batting, and 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread.  I bound it in the pink, because it’s just like the pretty pink flamingo legs, plus that pop of color is fun!!

This was the last quilt I quilted before Christmas!!!  Love how it turned out.   

- Leisha  

Honest Fabric

During fall 2018 International Quilt Market, Karlee Porter...Renowned Longarm Machine Quilter and creator of Graffiti Quilting...announced that she started a fabric company.  Not just any fabric company, but a one of a kind, custom printed quilt top company.  She has a three fold mission, to give you great quilt tops that are fair trade, eco friendly, and USA made.  Go to https://www.honestfabric.com/ to check it out.  I thought it was an amazing idea!!  I’ve quilted several quilts that are custom printed onto fabric...some of you may be shocked which ones they are...but to be fair to those I quilted for, I won’t tell you which ones.  My point, you wouldn’t know the difference.  Not everything would be easy or possible to piece.  AND, if you’re like me...you don’t love appliqué, yet you love the quilt.  So...with Karlee’s debut of Honest Fabric, she decided to do a giveaway.  To win you had to tag someone in the comments, and you both had to be following Honest Fabric on Instagram.  So...of course I entered, and tagged some quilty friends who I knew would love one, too!  And guess what!!!!  I WON!  I hardly ever win anything.  My quilty friend Molly from Molly Lovely Threads was the lucky person that I tagged.  Yay!!  Thanks Karlee for such an awesome giveaway!!!  

So, I was talking to Molly about which design she was going to choose, and she told me her sister Bonny Steele was designing some designs.  I saw this yummy striped orange peel in the most wonderful colors, and knew this is what I wanted to pick!  This design is available right here... https://www.honestfabric.com/shop/modern-orange-peel-2/

Now let me tell you about this fabric...  Karlee said it will be printed on the most soft colorfast polyester fabric, and that’s the absolute truth!  I’ve quilted polyester before...not my favorite, but this fabric is seriously so soft and yummy.   

To make this quilt even better...I used Hobbs wool batting in it...oh the texture is fabulous!!!  The first time that I’ve used only wool in one of my quilts...love love love it!!  I’ve used wool for other people’s quilts, or done a double batting in some of my own quilts...never just wool.  Now, I may need to do it in every quilt.  Haha!!  I used a white 30 tex Perma Core A&E thread.  I quilt on a Gammill 22” longarm machine, with a Statler. (Computer)

Funny thing... the quilt top is polyester, the backing/binding fabrics are cotton, the batting is wool, and the thread is poly wrapped poly.  Lots of different kinds of materials, and yet it turned out this beautiful!!  

This quilting design is one of Patricia Ritter and my oldie but goodies...  it’s called Bubble Wrap Double Take and is available at  https://www.urbanelementz.com/bubble-wrap-double-take.html

This design is so versatile, and it’s available in paper...digital formats...self print...design board...and tear away.  All at Urban Elementz.

When I use digital designs, I’m going to try and remember to share the height of the design.  I quilted this design at a 1” height.  Because each row is only half of the design, it’s a great size.  

So, why did I pick this design?  I wanted something fresh, modern, curvy like the backing fabric and orange peels on the quilt top...but really, the underlining reason I pick any particular design for a quilt, it’s harmonious.  This design fits well with the fabrics and designs, yet doesn’t take away from or compete with the quilt itself.  Quilting should always enhance a quilt, not fight for attention.  That is my major rule of thumb.  What is going to look great now, and still look great in 10...20...30 years.  Quilts are treasures and last forever, I think the quilting should too.  

I found my perfect backing fabric and binding at https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters or https://www.sistersandquilters.com/ Same shop, they just have an Etsy as well as a .com

And...if you read my long post about my Ombré Gems quilt, then you saw my quilt tags.  I LOVE THESE!!  Custom Labels 4 U made them for me...  I got tons for a great price!  https://www.customlabels4u.com/

If you want to change it up and order a custom printed quilt top, I highly recommend it!!  I look forward to getting more.  In fact there are a few that I’ve been eyeing.  It’s nice to have something done and ready to quilt.  Plus, if you haven’t already taken a look, Karlee has some amazing artists and designers with such an incredible variety.  There is something for everyone!! 

Happy Quilting!! 

- Leisha  

Thanks to you!!!

I just wanted to thank each of YOU for being here with me!! I’m constantly blown away by the incredible support that I’ve been given with everything I’ve designed over the years!!  First my machine quilting... my designs with Patricia Ritter from urbanelementz.com ...to my circle machine quilting ruler set (Circle2™) ...to my own digital designs ...to teaching machine quilting classes!!  I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve gotten over the years, especially this past year.  2018 was professionally the best year I’ve had.  I didn’t quilt as many quilts as I have in years past, but I got to reach outside of what I normally do, and design things that I’ve wanted to do for awhile and teach machine quilting classes.  I have some exciting new things in the works...I’m so excited to share with you!  But until then... a very grateful thank you to you, from me!! Here is to 2019!!!  Let’s make it another great one.  

 - Leisha 

For details about this quilt, check previous post here: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2019/1/3/my-ombr-gems-quilt

For more about my designs and rulers, go to: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/

Quilting Tutorials

Hello friends!! 

I’ve had some requests for some freehand quilting tutorials.  I’m going to do them as I have the opportunity to quilt designs on my clients quilts.  I’m also hoping to keep them short, like this one.  If there is anything you’d like me to video as I quilt, let me know.  Check out my recent blog posts to see if there is anything you’d like me to video:  https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2019/1/1/beckys-nursery-rhyme-quilt and https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/11/17/cindys-raincheck-quilt-including-28-different-background-quilting-designs

If you’d like to subscribe to my YouTube channel, I would appreciate it!!  Go to: https://www.youtube.com/user/QuiltingIt

Thanks for following along in my quilting journey!! 

happy quilting! - Leisha  

My Ombré Gems quilt!!!

This is one of two quilts that I started and finished last year.  I quilted tons of quilts, however I don’t sew a ton of quilts, because I sew so slow.  I try and enjoy the process.  I’m thrilled to share with you my Ombré Gems quilt!!!  You have no idea how excited I am about this quilt.  I loved this pattern the first time I saw it from Emily Dennis...  go here to get the pattern: https://quiltyloveshop.com/collections/featured-products/products/ombre-gems-pdf-quilt-pattern

I got all the fabrics from https://www.sistersandquilters.com/ my favorite online fabric store!!!  Or they have an etsy... https://www.etsy.com/shop/sistersandquilters 

So, beginning of last year Emily said she was going to do another Ombré Gems sew along, and I totally jumped right in, even though I had a ton of work stuff going on at that moment and didn’t know how I was going to fit it in.  I started and loved it sooo much!  One thing that really helped is to have the blocks precut and clipped together, with the color name written on paper.  Once you cut off the selvages, it’s hard to know what some of those colors are.  It was the first time I had used Vanessa Christensen’s Ombré fabrics, so I was wondering how I was going to get that great fade from light to dark in my blocks.  No worries, Emily shows you exactly what to do to cut the right piece in the right spot, so you can have awesome blocks, too.  Like I mentioned above, the fabrics are by Vanessa Christensen from V and Co by Moda Fabrics.

The little red clips I’m using are called Wonder Clips, they are a life saver in so many ways.  The bottoms are flat so it’s easy to sew until you get to the clip, then of course you can’t sew over it like a pin.  They are great for binding, English paper piecing, sewing bags or zipper pouches and trying to keep all those layers together, and of course for keeping all your pieces together.  The best price I’ve found is amazon, and yes...you’ll want the 50 pack.  click here: https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Wonder-Clips-Red-50-Pack-x/dp/B004ZKPX8A/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546708234&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wonder+clips&dpPl=1&dpID=51fJgM4kdRL&ref=plSrch

I finished this quilt in May, and thought I knew what I wanted to quilt on it.  In the mean time, I had client quilts to quilt.  Come December, when I was about done quilting for clients, I counted how many quilts I had quilted for the year and I was a few short from doing the same amount last year.  So I looked in my closet and my beautiful Ombré Gems was sitting there.  The dilemma, I had no idea what I should quilt on it.  Seriously went back and forth soooo many times.  I even did an Instagram poll in my stories with three options.  The funny thing, I was totally going to quilt a triangle design on it.  I actually started to and it was too big, so I unpicked it.  Thankfully I only had two triangles quilted.  I decided to do and poll and sleep on it.  The triangles were a definite no...haha!  Actually there were some who voted for all three designs.  I know that any one of them would have looked great.  But since I LOVED this quilt, I wanted to LOVE the quilting too, and not just quilt it to quilt it and then regret what I did later on.  So, I eliminated the triangle design as an option.  Which left me with my Squared©️ Or Beaded Clam©️ design.  Squared won the poll hands down, and I was sooo close to quilting it.  I even spent a few hours thinking out loud, just trying to decide.  My mom was listening...haha!  I actually decided to do Squared, and then changed my mind.  Let me tell you a few reasons why.  I wanted to first and foremost soften up the quilt.  This quilt is beautiful and has a lot of hard lines, and I knew my Beaded Clam design would be great at softening it up.  Second, I have two other quilts that I really want to do, and they both need to have Squared quilted on them.  I love my Squared design, but I want to use a variety of my designs on my quilts, instead of using the same one over and over.  I also, quilted Beaded Clam on a client quilt back in August, right after I released it, and I really wanted it on one of my own quilts.  Now, I just hoped I was going to LOVE it as much as I LOVE the quilt.  And, I do!!  So much!!!  You may be wondering why I went into great detail telling you about my thought process.  The funny thing, most times I can look at a quilt and know exactly what to quilt on it.  Especially if it’s an edge to edge design.  I usually draw inspiration from the fabrics or the quilt pattern.  The hard thing about this particular quilt, it’s all solid fabric...well except for the backing fabric.  (Look for it below)  Which is another reason I chose this design.  I quilted this design at a height of 3”, and that is a perfect size.

Here is a look at my Beaded Clam©️ design, not to be confused with my Beaded Clam Take Two.  Beaded Clamb is available only in my shop at: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/beaded-clam-1

Urban Elementz picked up my Beaded Clam Take Two design, and it’s available in paper and several different digital formats...if you’re a paper pantograph quilter check that out.  https://www.urbanelementz.com/beaded-clam.html  

These aqua, pink, magenta, greens, and red...are my favorite combination of color on this quilt!!

Look at all that awesome quilty texture!!!  Love love love it!!  To create this texture I actually used two layers of batting.  I’ve done that before on a few of my custom quilts and on a client quilt...but never on a quilt I was going to just do an edge to edge quilting design on.  The base layer is my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline out of Ogden Utah.  Then on top of that I used a layer of Hobbs wool.  I tell you, this combo is heavenly!!!  I haven’t had any problems with the batting bunching or anything weird, but as I roll I check to make sure everything is still flat and straight.  Especially when quilting a quilt that is pieced on the bias.  Sometimes batting likes to bunch on me, with blocks sewn on point...I don’t know why, when I’m advancing the quilt on the machine.  The reasoning behind using two layers of batting, is to add extra loft and help the quilting POP!  I actually rubbed my hand on this quilt dozens of times to feel the texture.  Haha!  I used a white 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread.

I’ve been sleeping with this on top of my bedspread, and it’s been so cozy and warm in the freezing northern Utah winter we are having.  

See...here is the backing fabric!!  Does it make a little more sense why I wanted to quilt this design on this quilt???  The dots have a rounded top and bottom mimicing the scallop in the quilting.  I think they pair nicely together.  This quilting may not be your favorite, that’s okay.  I also love this grayish bias pinstripe for the binding.  It’s a Bonnie and Camille basic by Moda.  The backing fabric is from one of Vanessa Christensen’s old fabric lines, Color Me Happy by Moda.    

This is also my first quilt that I was able to put my custom made label on!!  I love these!!  Of course I went for Navy/Aqua, with white...they are my favorite color combo!  So many of my quilts have navy and aqua in them, so I thought it would complement them nicely.  I also love the clean simple look and the cute font they did my name in.  

Custom Labels 4 U, did them for me.  They are awesome to work with, and I got a ton of labels for a great price!!  Here is their website...  https://www.customlabels4u.com/mobile/custom-woven-labels.htm

If any of you are wanting more specifics about my labels...size, fonts, colors... comment below, and I can dig up the emails with all the details.  I had these made awhile ago, so I can’t remember everything off the top of my head.   

Thanks for following along and reading my story!!  When I was teaching my longarm quilting classes, deciding on which patterns to quilt, was something they all wanted to learn more about.  So, I hope you learned a little something about the process I use.  I definitely want to include the “why I chose this design” in my posts, in hopes that can help those of you who are new to quilting.  

Hope you’re having a great day!!   Happy quilting!!

- Leisha  

Becky’s Nursery Rhyme Quilt!!

Okay, so there is sweet and then there is super sweet.  This quilt that Becky made for her grand baby is such a treasure.  Some of you may have seen the header image to this post, on my Instagram.  It definitely got some wows!!  Let me know if you are interested in me videoing any of these designs being quilting...  I already have plans to video me quilting a crackle design.  Which I’m going to quilt on the next quilt, I quilt.  

Becky requested something custom and different in each background!!  I’m so glad she did, I think it’s just what this quilt needed.  It’s so fun to freehand and use rulers, on a quilt like this.  I actually went back to my post on Cindy’s Raincheck quilt, where I quilted 28 different backgrounds on the umbrellas, to get some ideas for this quilt.  It was great to refer to.  Check out the post here: https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/11/17/cindys-raincheck-quilt-including-28-different-background-quilting-designs

I want to show you close ups of each block, so you can see them better.   

I love this random pedal design, it’s not like a regular feather with a spine, just randomly dancing around in the background.  This is one of my new favorite designs to freehand quilt. 

My arch echo design, this is fun around these facing characters. 

I love the mixture of hard lines with the other softer curvier designs.  I used Linda from thequiltedpineapple.com Edge ruler to quilt all the straight lines in this quilt, which also includes in the sashing.  I love her rulers, the lines are perfect so I don’t have to mark anything when I quilt.  

This is always a fun background filler.  Especially on a snowy or Halloween quilt, but I even think it’s cute on this particular square!

A little swirly feather seemed fancy and sweet, with Mary and her little lamb.  I went around the outside of each embroidered character, so they would pop! 

I don’t know why but bubbles (or pebbles) just seemed like a great fit for Jack and Jill.  For this one it was about adding the right texture. 

When I saw this quilt, and knew Becky wanted different backgrounds, there was no question what I should do on this particular square...grassy hay was a fun combination with the embroidery.  The texture in this block is my one of my favorites. 

The overlapping swirls on this one are just fun and perfectly girly with Little Miss Muffet.

Years ago I saw a quilt someone quilted on their sewing machine with tiny loops close together, I saved that picture on my phone for inspiration for a long time.  I can’t remember who it was...but I love it when an oldie but goodie can come back.  This is simple, but I prefer it to bigger loops that are more spread out.

Okay...I don’t know about you, but I’ve never heard of Lucky Locket before.  These fun little leaves seem to dancing all around her.   

Some pinstripes fit this young man pretty well, never heard of this nursery rhyme either. 

Okay, so this one is my absolute favorite texture on this quilt.  That swirly wind behind Little Bo Peep, is just sooo much fun to quilt!!

Becky brought a nice Hobbs Polyester batting with her.  I’m not typically a polyester batting fan, maybe it’s because I think most of them aren’t made very well.  The Hobbs Polyester is awesome!!  It’s bonded and doesn’t pull apart as you lay it out to cut/measure/put onto the machine.  Great job Hobbs!!  If you want the extra loft from a polyester batting, don’t get the cheapest thing you can find.  Polyester can go super lumpy as it’s used/washed.  If it pulls apart when you touch it, that’s a good indicator you don’t want it.  Get yourself some Hobbs Polyester, and you’ll be happy you did!!  Bonded batting’s are important when you’re getting a batting with a high loft, you’ll know it will keep its shape.  I also used 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread.

Becky requested a straight line down the middle of the sashing, which I used Linda’s Edge ruler on.  Then I did a freehand pebble around the outside border.

So, you may be wondering where Becky got this pattern???  She said she thinks she got it at Walmart.  Well, the pattern for the nursery rhyme characters.  She decided to do the striped sashing.  She cut the sashing strips at 1.25” .  If she remembers for certain, I’ll edit this post.  I love the 30’s fabrics Becky used with this quilt!!

I certainly hope that this post will also become a great resource for quilting a variety of custom backgrounds.  It’s great to see what works together.  

Have a great week!!   

- Leisha  

Angela’s Star Wars quilt!!!

Angela made this awesome Star Wars quilt for her son.  Seriously so cool!!  She used a variety of Star Wars squares to mae the border, but the real focus is the awesome planet she created.  It felt like a few different layers of fabric, which made it more dimensional than the rest of the quilt, but it was easy to quilt through.  (The best picture of the planet is the header for this post, and you have to go to my blog to see it.  The post header pictures don’t show up I. The emails.)

I used white 30 Tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.

Anglea asked if I could do a design that has squares in it, so I suggested my “Squared”©️ design.  I think it turned out great, and added some fun texture to the quilt, especially all the background fabric.  

Squared is available on my website: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/squared in several different digital formats or at Urban Elementz: https://www.urbanelementz.com/squared.html in paper and several different digital formats.  This design needs to be offset every other row.  I have an option on my gammill machine, and it offsets it for me.  Check if your machine does that too.

Those space ships are pretty cool, too!!  I’m bad, I don’t know what they are called.   

This is what I love about my job!!  I get to see such an amazing variety of quilts.  It’s fun to add my little touch to help finish them.   

Hope you have a great day!! 

- Leisha  

Laurie’s t-shirt quilt!

Laurie made this for her son for Christmas!!  It’s such a cool t-shirt quilt.  Such an awesome variety of shirts.  One thing I love about this one, and the last one I quilted...the nuetral sashing between the shirts.  It just frames the shirts so nicely!!  Without competing color wise.  

I also love the variety of t-shirt sizes.  

I used a white 30 tex Perma Core A&E thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.

When I saw this quilt I knew that I wanted to quilt my Squared©️ design on it.  Laurie agreed, and I love how it turned out!!!  Squared is available on my website in several different digital formats.  Go to: https://www.quiltingit.com/shop/squared and also in paper and digital formats over at https://www.urbanelementz.com/squared.html

One thing I’m always looking for, is a great masculine design...without it being too juvenile or out there.  I think this design is perfectly awesome!  I’ve used it quite a few times, and have seen it on a variety of different quilts.  I have a couple of my own quilts to put it on.  I guess I have to make them first. Haha!!

If you’ve never made a T-shirt quilt, and have wanted to, and don’t know where to start...check out the post I shared when I made one for a customer.   https://www.quiltingit.com/blog/2018/3/26/t-shirt-quilt-a-first-for-me?rq=T-shirt

Look at the minky texture!!!   

I hope you had a great holiday season and have some amazing this in store for you this year!  Happy 2019!!

- Leisha  

Jana’s “Mario Brothers” Quilt!!

Wow!!  Just wow!!  When Jana messaged me a picture of this quilt I was impressed for sure, but when it came for me to quilt, I was in awe.  This entire pixelated quilt is 1” squares, and this quilt is quite big.  I posted a picture of this before I started quilting it, on my Instagram...and it got a fun response.  Now...I’m sharing the quilting.  

The quilt pattern is by Nicoles Nerdy Knots, and used to be available on Craftsy.  I heard recently Craftsy was taking some patterns off of their website, I’m not sure if this was one of them.  I couldn’t find it anywhere.  If you google pixelated Mario quilts, you may find some quilts that are similar.  

I suggest to Jana the Good Vibrations design by Patricia Ritter, which is available at urbanelementz.com, for the quilting.  Jana wanted to keep it simple, and not take away from the quilt itself.  I love it!!  The quilting was perfect at creating some texture and enhancing the quilt design.  That is what I want with each quilt.  Plus...I don’t know about you, but it reminded me of the old TVs back in the day, that sometimes had lines on them as you play Nintendo.  Haha!!  

I want to share these close ups, just so you can see all those 1” squares.   

I used white 30 tex poly wrapped poly Perma Core A&E thread and 8020 cotton poly blend batting.  The white thread blends nicely over all the dark fabrics.  When I’m quilting an edge to edge design, I prefer lighter threads on darker fabrics than darker threads on lighter fabrics.   

When it comes to quilts, this is seriously one of the coolest that I’ve ever quilted.   

Have a super day!!   

-Leisha  

Skye’s Half Square Triangle quilt

I love this quilt that Skye made for her son!!  So much so, I have some solid fabrics leftover from my Modern Building Blocks quilt.  So I just might have to make this, if my scraps are big enough.  

I love the random layout of the blocks and colors.  If I remember right, these blocks are 5” or 6” big.   

Skye loves strait line quilting, and asked that I do the line 1.25” apart.  There is navy minky on the back, so she wanted to keep it soft.  I also used the channel locks on my machine, instead of a line created in the computer.  I had better accuracy as I advanced the quilt in each section.

I used a white 30 tex A&E Perma Core thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting.

What quilts are you planning on making this coming year?  I’ve been working on two different quilts for awhile, that are quite involved.  So maybe I should sneak in a quick one like this.   

Happy Quilting!!  Happy New Year!! 

-Leisha  

Maria’s Cheer Quilt

My aunt Maria made this cheer quilt for her daughter who is a senior in high school.  She’s been on the cheer team all three years.  I love the fabrics she chose. 

Maria had a local embroidery shop (The Logo Shop) do all the embroidery, and they always do an awesome job!!  They have great options for all of the local schools.  

Maria chose this freehand swirly feather design that I do, for the quilting.  Yes, it’s done freehand.  I even videoed it while I was quilting so you can see how I do this design randomly.  It’s all about filling each space.  Quilting tip: for those of you wanting to try freehand or enhance your freehand quilting skills...give this design a try.  It’s very forgiving.  So, for the tip, think ahead.  Where are you going to quilt next and where do you need to quilt so you don’t leave any spots unquilted.  Once you start doing that, it will become second nature to you.   

Give it a try sometime, you’d be surprised how fun it is!!!

Here is an angled and close up view.   

I used white 30 Tex Perma Core A&E thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting. 

Love when I get to quilt for family!!  My grandma even helped Maria do the binding.   

If any of you are strictly computerized or paper pantograph quilters, don’t worry...Patricia Ritter and I designed a pantograph after this design.  It’s called Venice Too and it’s available at  https://www.urbanelementz.com/venice-too.html

Happy Quilting!!

-Leisha  

Liz and Pat’s quilt and runners...

Liz and Pat made this mini quilt and runners together.   

This beautiful unicorn pattern is Lisa the Unicorn by Elizabeth Hartman.  Fabrics are Ombré Confetti by Vanessa Christensen from Moda.  

I was excited to quilt this one custom because of all the quilty textures I wanted to create.  I love how it turned out!!! 

I love the look of the hard lines in the mane and horn, with the softer swirls in the background and grassy texture on the horses face.  I used white 30 Tex A&E Perma Core thread and my favorite winline 8020 cotton poly blend batting. 

With a little border around it, ribbon candy was just the thing to frame this quilt off nicely.  I used a couple of different Edge rulers from Linda at thequiltedpineapple.com to quilt the lines in the mane and on the horn.  Those straight rulers are my favorites!! The lines make it easy to quilt without having to mark a thing.  

Pat and Liz each made one of these Halloween runners...one with black borders, and one with orange.   

It’s from a Halloween panel.  I’m not sure who the fabrics are by, sorry!! 

Pat requested the Haunted Web quilting design by Apricot Moon Designs, it’s available at www.urbanelementz.com/haunted-web.html

I used a Dyed Natural 30 tex Perma Core A&E thread and Winline’s 8020 cotton poly blend batting for both of these.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday break!!  Happy New Year! 

- Leisha  

Jeanne’s Lone Star Quilt

Jeanne made this lovely quilt for her mother in-law for Christmas, she lives by the ocean.  The pattern is called Lone Star Quilt by Donna Jordan from Jordan Fabrics, and it’s free at: https://jordanfabrics.com/pages/lone-star-jelly-roll-pattern

Jeanne made her star bigger and added the on point squares at the top and bottom, so the quilt wasn’t square.   

I love the batik fabric she used, the purpled are a perfect addition to all the blues.   

Jeanne choose Patricia Ritter and my Opal©️ quilting design for the quilting.  I love it!!  She thought it reminded her of shells.  Opal is available at  https://www.urbanelementz.com/opal.html in both paper and several different digital formats.  

I love the quilty texture on the cream background as well as the lovely batik fabrics. 

I used my favorite 8020 cotton poly blend batting from Winline and Dyed Natural A&E Perma Core 30 tex thread.   

The backing picked up all that texture, too!!  Hope you enjoy seeing this quilt and the many more I’m going to share over the next several days.  Happy holidays!!

- Leisha