Every once in a while I think it is important to just draw and sew with nothing in mind other than to see what creativeness flows out. This is one of those times with a sample quilt sandwich loaded on my frame. Enjoy! michaelquilts.com
This was so helpful to see how you filled up this space with beautiful designs. Thank you for sharing this. You’ve taken some of the fear out of coming up with designs.
I am so glad it provides that much needed peace and relaxation! It kinda mezmerizes me too when I watch - not so much when I am actually quilting ,thank goodness....LOL. Thanks again! Michael
It is so mesmerizing to watch you work! Thank you for your content. I just got a long arm so I’m studying your work…hoping I can eventually do it well. Thanks again!!
Absolutely loved watching you fill the space with your imagination of shapes & designs! A great inspiration for someone like me who is struggling & thinking that you must follow the rules. Loved every minute of it!! Cheers from Western Australia. 😊🥰💕😍😘❤️
Exquisite quilting to magical music. Only wish the thread color was more of a contrast to the fabric. Had to work my peepers pretty hard to follow your beautiful lines. Thank you so much, Michael , you are a TALENT!
Thanks, Val! I will sometimes use higher contrasting thread for teaching, but also like to show what I would really use on a project. Next time, I'll go for more contrast to make it easier on eyes! Happy Quilting! Michael
@@michael.quilts Thank you so much Michael for your kind reply. I'm loving watching you on RU-vid! Am working on a baby quilt panel that has leaf pictures: I will definitely try some fronds ( not that the baby will know ...)
magnificent...i so needed this video today, I put your ruler to the side today, warmed up to the organic flow of free motion ...keep them coming, its OK to use both:)
thank you for this free flow quilting ..love the idea of drawing with thread. I am in the process of quilting a William Morris quilt designed by Michele Hill of Australia. I need this to help me vary my background quilting as I get bored by too much of the same style. I am using a domestic Bernina 440Q.
Have you tried "doodle quilting" on your domestic yet? That is something I still haven't done much of since getting the longarm - but I am sure it's just a matter of practice and not being too critical of yourself. Happy Quiting! Michael
@@michael.quilts I do different things including what I call improv quilting and high contrast quilting. FMQ and ruler quilting as well. Simply some things work differently and look differently on DM
I enjoy your quilting and the music perfect. However the reflection of the lighting made it challenging to watch. But inspired free motion nonetheless. 🥰
Hi Bobbie! Thanks for your comment and note taken. I think sometimes the combination of fabric and thread requires me to turn off a light or two. Sorry for the reflection in this one. I'll keep my eye on that next time. Happy Quilting! Michael
You quilting is stunning. Every time I see you do a feather I hear you say "I split the difference". That one line has help me a great deal. Keep up the good work.
Hi Stephanie! I am so glad that that "split the difference" line has stuck with you. I have to say it to myself so many times, so it's good to know someone else is saying it too...LOL. Thanks so much for your comment! Happy Quilting! Michael
Thank you I love to watch you quilt! So relaxing! I need to put some whole cloth on and play, now that I have gotten more comfortable with my quilting!
HI Dana. Thank you so much for your comment and for watching. It makes me so happy to be able to inspire and bring joy or relaxation to viewers! Michael
Very gifted you are .... beautiful work! I wish I could doodle like that... I need a pattern to follow! I will continue watching and hope to be brave someday!
Thank you so much, Sandra. You know what - I could not do this when I first got my longarm. I could not do much of anything. I am still just getting comfortable with certain things and still not comfortable with a lot of things. But the more I quilt, the better I get (I think). Keep at it, if that is a goal of yours. But nothing wrong at all with using patterns, templates, rulers, and everything else we have at our disposal. Don't judge yourself too harshly - just let it be what it is today and what it is tomorrow and the next day. Eventually you'll see that today was better than yesterday and the day before! Happy Quilting! Michael
Love the beautiful flow on this doodle work! Michael for those of us beginning, how do you advise working up to this level of expertise? Practice the individual elements and then just go for it? Also, how does quilting like this affect the "drape" of the quilt ie. is this kind of lovely design better for wall quilts or does it work for a snuggle up tv quilt as well?
@Westernwilson - That old encouragement to doodle on paper first is the key. When we are talking about free motion quilting, we need to be as free with our machine quilting as we are with drawing and doodling. There is a percentage of muscle memory from drawing that translates to quilting. If you can get good at drawing a daisy, chances are you can get good at free motion quilting a daisy. It really is just as simple as that. The more you quilt a motif, the easier it gets and the "better" it gets. So when first starting out with free motion, try drawing and doodling on paper first. There will come a day when you skip the paper and can just natuarally doodle and free motion with your machine - I promise! Practice! Happy Quilting, Michael
Thanks for sharing!! That's really beautiful. You've inspired me to put down all my work and quilt just what comes to me without any restraints. Now just to make time and space!
Thanks Anna-Maria. So glad I inspired you! I know about that making time thing. Seems I am always setting things aside and saying I am too busy. Which I usually am, but it was so nice to just quilt for 20 minutes or so. Hope you can find the time for your peace of mind! Happy Quilting! Michael
Michael, this is the first time I’ve seen your work and it was worth watching! I truly enjoyed watching your quilting spring to life. Sometime your best work comes just playing around to see what pops up. Very inspirational! Excellent background music too! I do most of my quilting with my music going. The last quilt (for a three y/o) was completed to the tune of Survivor’s greatest hits. I told her mother if her daughter suddenly develops a fascination for Survivor, that might be why! 😂
This was so fun to watch! Thank you 😊. I have been putting off my daughter’s quilt (it is 90” square and half of the quilt is background). Now I know what to do, just play 👍. I love how you vary the scale as well as patterns throughout, it looks like so much fun 😊
I have started today to play with a couple of rulers I just got for my Janome domestic machine. Loads of respect for you and other ruler quilters!!!! It’s a LOT harder than you’ll make it look! I will be looking for some kind of side light for my hq simply sixteen machine to help me see the stitching better. Thanks again for your helpful suggestions.
HI there. Good question. I try out all different combinations actually. Most times when sewing, we will use a 60 wt thread for bobbin (Bottom Line for example) and 50 wt for top (Aurifil for example). It has sometimes been used to help reduce bulk when pieceing and also gives you more bobbin thread on a bobbin, so less bobbins to change. For longarm quilting, I started by using the exact thread on top as in bobbin. I personally do not like the look of very thin thread for quilting. However, I started exploring pre-wound bobbins - avail in various weights, but the standard first pre-wound bobbins were 60 wt. Anyway - I decided to try 60 wt in bobin for longarm and all of the sudden, I was getting great tension without much adjustment. When using one color bobbin thread on a quilt back with lots of print and color, it blends in very well and makes it so that you cannot see the quilting too much. While I prefer the look of 40 wt thread in both top and bobbin, I most often use this 40/60 combination because I think it looks fine and I get good tension. So there's the long answer to your short question.
Hi Terri. Thanks so much for your comment. I have several cameras and set-ups. The one I use for most "on machine mounting" that follows along with the longarm is a GoPro Hero attached with handle bar mount. There are tons of mounts available these days - though none of them talk about mounting to machines, many are marketed towards helmets, harnesses, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. Find which is best to attach to your machine. Happy Quilting! Michael
Hi Jayashreee! Thanks for the comment! I can't remember which music track this is, but I can find out soon. I use a service that I have to pay for and select tracks within my paid plan. but perhaps when I get the name of it to you, you could find a free version. Thanks for Watching! Michael
Hi Donna - congrats on your new longarm! I mostly stitch in regulated mode, but often switch to manual for circles, pebbles, swirls when I have fairly large spaces to fill. Hope you try all sorts of things and see what works best for you! Happy Quilting! Michael
@@michael.quilts thank you. I didn't think of switching back and forth depending on what I'm doing. I'll play a bit with that to see what works. I have to be careful not to get discouraged when I watch you quilt as I have to remember that I'll get better with experience. It is really fun though 😁
I love watching you work. I would like to see you show us how to do these designs on a printed fabric. When I’m quilting I can’t see where I’ve been and it comes out a mess.
Thanks so much for your comment. Good point you bring up! Quilting on printed fabric versus solid. Obviously it is easier for me to quilt demos for you on solid so you can see a bit better. And of course solid fabric and wide open spaces lends itself to custom quilting. But reality is that we need to quilt over printed fabric as well. I probably would do less intricate quilting on printed fabric, but still do interesting designs. My eyes aren't great. One thing that helps me when quilting on printed fabric is to turn my lights off and just have a light from one side - this helps show the texture more and sometimes that is a life saver. Try that! And I will try to show that in a future video too! Happy Quilting! Michael
Thanks so much for your quick response. I’m 70 and also have trouble with my sight. I usually use MORE light. I never thought about your solution. I’ll try it on my next quilt!
I know it is taking me forever. But the answer is almost a Yes! I have an applique quilt going on the frame this week and I will be using FOOT CONTROL to stitch around the shapes and film it. So hopefully will have it posted by end of week! Thanks for reminding me! Happy Quilting! Michael
Hi Wendy. Thank you for your comment and question! The music is called "Romantic Wedding" by ULB Production. I had not heard it until I found it. Glad you like it as much as I do. Happy Quilting! Michael
