How Machine Quilting Changed My Life

Machine Quilting is in my blood. It didn't used to be but several years ago Kathy from KathyQuilts.com wanted to buy a longarm machine quilting frame. I had seen one in a quilt shop once and it looked awesome. Kathy has been sewing since she was a little girl and had made a living sewing night gowns, or sewing for people. It was her passion but not mine. I loved it when she would make me bike shorts, board shorts, shirts, or other items but it still was her hobby and not mine.

About 15 years ago Kathy's aunt told her that once she started quilting it would take over her life. She was right! What I didn't know was that it would change my life too. We started a business venture with one of the local quilt shop owners and it has blossomed into KathyQuilts.com

After all of these years I ask myself what is it that KathyQuilts.com does? Are we in the machine quilting frame business or is it more than that? Sure we sell Grace Quilting Frames but it goes deeper than just trying to make a living. We are passionate about quilting.

I get the chance to take pictures of every quilt Kathy quilts. Whether it is for a customer, a family member, or who ever, I get to take all the pictures. Kathy has quilted nearly 4,000 quilts in the past 15 years so that is a lot of pictures. When I see the quilting that Kathy does and then look at the quilts in many of the quilting magazines it makes me wonder why would someone ruin such a beautiful quilt by just stippling it? Those feathers... are those feathers? What were they trying to do? Wow that is horrible quilting and this is in a nationally published magazine? What is the publisher thinking?  I know how much quilting fabric costs. It makes buying diesel for my Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax seem almost a good deal. Why would someone want to spend all that time piecing a gorgeous quilt and ruin it? Don't they know that quilting is much more than just taking a quilt top, quilt back, and batting and sewing them together? I wonder if the same people call a quilt a blanket? Look at all those open spots they didn't quilt!

I don't mean to sound so harsh but I do want to say that with a little more effort that a mediocre quilt can become a work of art. What is comes down to is learning what your quilt is saying and help to showcase the personality of your quilt. The quilting on your quilt should help to bring out that personality and not detract from it. There is a better way to quilt that doesn't always involve meadering or stippling.

Kathy and I want to help any quilter that would like to see their quilts turn out better. All you need is a good quilting frame like the Gracie King or Majestic machine frames for machine quilting, or a Z44 Pro for hand quilting, from the Grace Company, and the desire to learn to freehand quilt. It isn't hard but it does take a lot of practice. Please visit KathyQuilts.com or call (888)826-0222 and get started today.

Thanks,

Lynn
KathyQuilts.com