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Her Quilting is Our Bliss...

Her Quilting is Our Bliss...

Written by: 
cnelson
Published: 
Oct 5 2017 - 04:00

Teresa Silva.  Longarm Quilting.  Quilting Is My Bliss - or Quiltingismybliss.  (On Instagram.)

This is "Big Bear".  The name is really "Big Sky" but "Big Bear" is more appropriate.  And cooler.  It was made with Big Sky, the debut collection by Annie Brady.  Big Bear the quilt designed by Annie Brady - artist and quilt designer! - and gorgeously machine-quilted by Teresa Silva.

(Note: All images used here are by Teresa Silva and are from her Instagram.)

We've been fortunate enough to have had many quilts quilted by Teresa so we're thrilled and excited that she's adding Author to her list of accomplishments.  Her book Longarm Quilting Workbook was published a few weeks ago by Krause/F&W Media.

This is Teresa - she's as beautiful as her quilting.  (That quilt behind her is Orbit and it's made with Kate Spain's Longitude Batiks.)

The book Teresa is holding is her new Longarm Quilting Workbook.  Despite the title, Teresa has filled this book with so much great information about batting, threads, quilting designs, filling spaces and tips, that there is something for everyone who machine-quilts.  And if you've ever considered purchasing a longarm quilting machine, Teresa has some great advice about that.

So why quilt with - and buy - a longarm machine?  That's the first chapter of the book and a great starting point.  I can't speak for every quilter but I think quite a few of us have thought if we had the time and space... if you're in that group, read Chapter 1.

Materials and supplies... or everything you should know about batting, thread, rulers and markers.  Even if you're never going to own a longarm machine, this is great information we should all know when asking others to quilt our quilts.  If nothing else, you'll understand why your quilter is telling you that something isn't a great batting choice for the look you want.

This is Teresa's gorgeous quilting on a quilt for Thelma Childers.

Motifs - from Stitch in the Ditch to Stippling, Continuous Line to several types of Swirls, Teresa uses diagrams to show the process for a number of quilting motifs, both simple and complicated.  Again, seeing how these designs are "built" is useful to both longarm, mid-arm and home sewing machine quilters.

"Quilting is much easier once it becomes intuitive, and doodling can help with developing that ability."

I think that means that while the practice can be fun, getting good at machine quilting takes time, practice and repetition.  Sharing her own process for doodling, and then including practice projects for specific techniques is my favorite chapter in the book.  From creating a frame and filling the spaces to creating "registration marks" to keep designs straight, the whole-cloth designs-projects are spectacular.

But what if your quilt is pieced - what to quilt where?  There are several quilt projects included in the book - quilt instructions - that provide simple foundations with creative spaces to fill with quilting - room to experiment.

Finally... the Gallery of Quilts.  A little quilting eye candy for inspiration, together with Teresa's insight into how to look at the quilts.  "Remember, the goal in most cases is to use the quilting to enhance, not overpower, the quilt design."

Longarm Quilting Workbook - Basic Skills, Techniques & Motifs for Modern Longarming.  (And machine-quilting.)

Here is a rundown of just a few of Teresa's fans - be sure to visit those from earlier this week and in the coming weeks.

Because we love Teresa, her book and her quilting, we're going to share a copy of Longarm Quilting Workbook and a Fat Quarter Bundle of Bella Solids to make practice pieces!  Just leave a comment telling us if you have a longarm machine, have dreamed of getting one, or love knowing that there are wonderful longarm quilters who will quilt for you by Midnight on Sunday, October 8, CST to be entered to win.

Thank you Teresa!

(Pssst... a couple of quilts are on the way.  Thank you in advance!)

Posted in: 
Books and Patterns
Tagged: 
Longarm Quilting, Patchwork, Quilt, quilting, Sewing, Teresa Silva

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