New skills for 2017
 

This year I didn't get to sew too much, but my main focus was on mastering borders, for me it's so easy to just pass by quilts with borders in favor of the borderless ones and call it a day. I finally downloaded and watched the 2 Craftsy classes for quilt borders and I must have watched them at least 5 times each, it gave me the confidence to comeplete my first ever king size quilt with a big border. While I still have a ways to go to be proficient at it, I'm at least on my way and looking forward to perfecting it this coming year. I would also like to do appliqué so I can have some hand work in the evenings and I want to use my poor neglected embroidery machine as well. I will not being doing anymore tops until I get the 6 I have waiting to be quilted done, I want to improve my freehand skills with my longarm as well and become more comfortable doing pantos. What skills are you looking to master, start or try for the new year??

Since I now have a "spare" sewing machine, I'm planning on utilizing my embroidery machine for just that - embroidery. I want to try the "quilt in the hoop" that I'm seeing so much about, and I have a embroidery/applique pattern for a Mariner's Compass quilt that I really want to try!

I am anxiously awaiting the newest book from Judi Madsen, to help me improve my longarm work - more from the "design" standpoint, rather than the motor skills. I'm expecting it in the mail this week.

For the first time this year, I entered two quilts into a show (MQX Midwest). The feedback was terrific, even though I didn't win anything - to me, just getting accepted was thrilling. So, I have challenged myself to submitting at least one quilt to another show this year. Don't know which show, or even which quilt, for that matter. I've just promised myself that I will continue to try to conquer that "fear" of criticism.

As a new quilter I relied on quilt kits. Now that I have been quilting awhile, I want to draw my own patterns and select fabrics for my quilts. It is outside my comfort zone, but I am ready to expand my skills.

I want to add some new binding techniques to my skill set-- things like adding piping, prairie points, decorative stitching and binding quilts that have wavy or curved edges and corners that aren't 90 degree angles.

Rob

I really want to improve my FMQ on my DSM. I think my piecing skills are good enough for entering in a quilt show but my quilting always making it unexceptable. I need to get it down right before my next goal... entering in a show!

Rob, you really should get Beth Nemesh's book, "The Devil's in the Details". She does some really spectacular finishes that are way beyond "every day". It made my eyes goggle out of my head. I haven't done any of her stuff yet... it's still a little intimidating to me.

I want to try (and get good at) a couple of techniques on the long arm--"ghost"quilting and better design work (meaning more marking on some parts than I've been comfortable with). I also want to get 2 quilts ready for the KCRegional Quilt Fest--my total focus for the next 2 months.

And I have 2 bag patterns that I want to do--and do a good job---I stink at bags!

ive been looking for this book since you mentioned it, but haven't been able to find it. Could you help?

Here's a link to her webpage
 

http://www.whitearborquilting.com/store/index.html.

It looks really good

I purchased on of the Farmer's Wife books last year and started a few paper pieced blocks so I would really like to work on improving my pp skills in 2017.

I always make a list of goals on a large piece of poster board for the new year which is posted in my sewing room, practicing FMQ is always on the list along with any UFO's I have hanging out there.