Now Touring: Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book – Amanda Murphy

teri • November 03, 2015 • 86 Comments

Free Motion Quilting Idea Book Amanda Murphy

Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book – Amanda Murphy, Stash Books $19.95 (book), $13.99 (e-book)
Free-Motion Quilting Idea Sampler e-pattern, $9.95 companion book

Amanda Murphy is a graphic designer and an accomplished machine quilter on both the home sewing machine and long arm. And she’s a BERNINA Ambassador and Spokesperson for the BERNINA Q Series of longarms. And she has designed fabric with Benartex (Carina) and created an app that will be available soon. (Yeah, we feel tired just writing all that!)

The very talented Amanda hits on that one note essential in the q-niverse: quilting ideas that strive to get quilters’ creative juices flowing. The Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book is a starting place, a here’s-how-to kind of book with page after page of well thought out steps to achieve a great variety of machine quilting motifs. By framing the motif planning process around a sampler quilt outlined in the book and a separate e-pattern, Amanda gives the frame work for solid machine quilting technique and patterns.

amanda murphy the bascs

She took the time to carefully draw the patterns in a couple of ways. The first is on a sample table runner offering several options for quilting. The second is with blank pages/quilt sandwiches showing the motifs drawn on (stitched out). Amanda then gives references where each of the motifs are used for us to see the potential of the motif. In “The Basics” chapter, she also gives great tips for prepping quilts for stitching on our machines. Prep work is key to great success in any quilting endeavor and certainly makes the job easier.

Amanda Murphy shows how

One of our favorite features of this book is its spiral binding, which allows us to leave the book open and flat while we’re working. And it offers a second option: Lay a clear piece of plastic over the page and using an erasable marker, trace over the lines of the motifs to get a feel for how they are stitched out, or use a stylus or finger to create the same muscle memory.

Amanda Murphy Pinwheel

Learn more about Amanda’s book in the coming days during her book blog tour. Here’s where your daily blog journey will take you:

11/2 – C&T
11/3 – Generation Q Magazine
11/4 – A Quilting Life
11/5 – Pat Sloan
11/6 – Mandy Leins
11/9 – Sew Sweetness
11/10 – Christa Quilts
11/11 – Cherry Blossom Quilt Studio
11/12 – Amanda Murphy

Of course there’s an opportunity to win a hard copy of the book if you’re in the U.S. or a digital copy if outside the U.S. Just answer this question: What is the quilting motif that you really want to try? We will draw a name on 11/13.

Find out more about Amanda by visiting her website, instagram, facebook group, twitter, pinterest.

And now to announce the winner of the Samarra Khaja Sew Adorkable Book Tour: CONGRATULATIONS Tina Jeo!

Quilt. Sew. Live. Breathe.

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86 Comments

  • sillyandrea • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #1

    I just bought this book last month!

  • Garnet Underwood • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #2

    I really want to learn the swirling feather design. Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Tessa Van Vulpen • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #3

    I would love to make all her designs but the special one would be the feathers

  • Donna A. • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #4

    I love the look of feathers, but they are a little intimidating.

  • Tiffany • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #5

    I’m always on the lookout for interesting designs to fit a specific quilt block. Stars are particularly hard for me. I also would love to get better at paisley designs!

  • goonyburd • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #6

    I would like to try a feather motif

  • Debbie M • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #7

    I’d like to try something with waves, cables, or feathers.

  • Lise Dostie • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #8

    I really want to try her feathers……..it’s been on my bucket list for way too long now. It’s time. lol

  • Sue singer • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #9

    I want to learn simple feathers

  • LINDA • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #10

    Hi, I’m a beginning quilter, so any motif that is simple would work for me! Maybe petal shapes from corner to corner. Thanks for sharing a neat giveaway!

  • Rochelle • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #11

    Would really love to do paisleys.

  • becky moyer • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #12

    I’ve recently been doing more of my own quilting. I’m interested in learning everything, but would definitely like to work on feathers. Love what Amanda does and can’t wait to see more of the book.

  • fgrischkowsky • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #13

    I want to try the feather designs.

  • Kathie • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #14

    I really want to try scrolling.

  • Sarah J. • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #15

    I love the look of pebbles- but need to work up the nerve to try them! This book looks fabulous- I wish all quilting and craft books had spiral bindings!!

  • Lisa Marie • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #16

    I want try try feathers. Well, try them again. I’ve made a few attempts but so far haven’t practiced enough for them to be pretty.

  • Kaye Mattson • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #17

    The swirling feather motif looks beautiful and I would love to try it!

  • Jen B • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #18

    I really want to give feathers a try.

  • teri c • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #19

    I love the pinwheel designs but would also like to try stars.

  • Carol Broughton • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #20

    I want to learn swirls.

  • gcot • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #21

    Looks like a good, helpful book. I love feathrs and am always looking for new kinds to put on my projects.

  • Dawn Jones • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #22

    So far I’m only doing straight lines, so anything that isn’t straight.

  • kitblue • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #23

    I would like to learn how to free motion quilt with a spider web motif.

  • Sharon Stull • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #24

    I really want to try feathers – I am fearful to them!! So I guess I just need to jump right in and this book would likely help me!

  • Marian • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #25

    I would love to learn feathers, I am such a new quilter!

  • duchick • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #26

    Feathers! Every shape, style, and form of feathers! I am just getting the scrolly design down, but it will be a while til I attempt feathers. Someday…

  • Béatrice • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #27

    Feathers are always beautiful and in so many styles.

  • Ann Ireland • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #28

    I would really like to master the feather design.

  • Anita • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #29

    I would love to try feathers.

  • Anna Lee Dilley • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #30

    I want to learn the swirling feather motif .

  • Elaine • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #31

    Would like to try feathers but am intimidated. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.

  • mmcgloth2 • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #32

    The quilting motif that I would really like to try is feathers.

  • Ashley • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #33

    I would love to try feathers one day!

  • Jen Beatty • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #34

    A spider web in different variations.

  • Jane Hill • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #35

    I would like to learn any design but I love the moving hearts design

  • Cecilia • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #36

    I want to get better at making feathers.

  • Joanna Hobson • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #37

    I would like to learn feathers, they always look so good but I feel a bit intimidated by them!

  • Kim Johnson • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #38

    I would love to master feathers in a circle and paisleys.

  • mumbird3 • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #39

    Great book – love the feather ideas!

  • quilterpt • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #40

    I think I would like to try a variation of her feather designs.

  • Shari • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #41

    Paisley sounds fun

  • Liz Horgan • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #42

    I’d really like to try the pinwheel design and I like the design in the triangles—so many great ideas!

  • Karen Seitz • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #43

    I want to try any fmq design. I’m not sure why I am afraid to try. Feathers are definitely my favorite pattern.

  • Tamie • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #44

    I’d love to try the swirling feathers but I’m sure that there are more options in this book.

  • Donna Small • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #45

    Something simple. All I have done is straight, in the ditch & meandering.

  • kaholly • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #46

    Those fanciful feathers look like lots of fun!

  • Anita Jackson • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #47

    I would love to try the feathers, so beautiful!

  • Karen in Breezy Point • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #48

    I would love to be able to do pretty feathers!

  • Noreen Trotsky • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #49

    I really want to learn how to do feathers!

  • Kathie L • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #50

    I would like to try spirals.

  • Dawn Frisch • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #51

    The Feather motif looks very challenging and I would love to learn it one day. Looks like Amanda’s book is going to be a great resource!

  • springleafstudios • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #52

    I need to learn it all since I’m still intimidated by FMQ. Moving around from area to area is still something I need to improve on.

  • Avon • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #53

    I would love to do feathers! Thanks

  • Susan Tuttle • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #54

    Very new to free motion, would love to do feathers

  • Alesha Klein • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #55

    I really want to try the swirling feathers and learn to make my loops more uniform.

  • Sharon Chmara • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #56

    feathers, scrolls

  • Nancy N • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #57

    Wine glass or pumpkin seed, those curves get me.

  • Nancy Hilderbrand • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #58

    I am a new quilter and would love all free motion but feathers would be exceptional to learn.

  • Susan Coulter • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #59

    I am also intimidated by the feather design and would love to master it!

  • Donna • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #60

    I just want to learn an easy overall design, swirling, or cross hatch.

  • Cheryl McGee • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #61

    Loop-d-Loop

  • Lori Morton • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #62

    I haven’t done alot of FMQ…mostly practice (Have lots of potholders! lol) I would love to do Pebbles! And any other simple patterns…then work way up to feathers..soooo pretty…& I am sooo Chicken!! : /

  • Lori Morton • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #63

    Very new to trying FMQ….such a Chicken!…like doing Stippling pretty well. Thank you for chance to win this AWESOME book! 😀

  • Cathie • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #64

    I like meandering the most so far. I would love to win this book. Thanks!

  • Linda B in TX • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #65

    Something to fill in an area like a block besides scribble and straight lines! Please

  • Julie Edison • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #66

    Feathers……….I want to make better feathers!
    Juls in FL

  • Renata • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #67

    Swirls. I need to learn swirls.

  • Jane • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #68

    I’ve never done a swirling feather so I’d try it. Thank you!

  • Darlene B • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #69

    I need the inspiration that is in this book! Please save me from just stippling….

  • Sherrye B • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #70

    Feathers!!!!

  • Inge Lise Hansen • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #71

    I like features but I do not liket mine. Mabye I can learn to do a love feather, I hope?. I would love to ave this book

  • mindi • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #72

    Thanks for a chance to win this great book! The variety of ideas is incredible. I want to learn to fit the best design with the block or with the quilt. Whatever works best to enhance the overall look of the project. I have trouble with the curve 🙂 and, like almost everyone else, I want to get better at feathers.

  • Rhonda • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #73

    I’m just starting so I tend to just meander. I would love to branch out and this book would be very helpful.

  • Sue Nugent • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #74

    I would like to learn how to pair the design with the quilt top. I am just starting to free motion quilt, but one thing I would like to learn is feathers.

  • Lesley • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #75

    I have never tried feathers and I think it is time!

  • Cathy Wilson • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #76

    The feathers I’ve tried have been very wonky so I definitely need help with them. Deciding what to quilt where is the hardest part for me so I really want this book!

  • Karen • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #77

    I’d love to learn how to make consistent loops–you know, the kind that look like they belong next to each other 🙂

  • Mom C • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #78

    I need to learn to use rulers and do more dividing of squares. Thanks

  • Summer • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #79

    I like the square spirals and other derivatives. I can do curves, but I would like to learn how to get sharp angles down.

  • Diana@RedDelciousLife • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #80

    I can do bump-out feathers but I really need to learn how to make classic feathers and combine them with other motifs.

  • Kathy • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #81

    I’d like to learn feathers. They’ve always intimidated me.

  • EmilyS • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #82

    I would love to learn ANYTHING. I’m petrified of free-motion, but SO want to learn. I’d love to learn pebbles, swirls, and wood-grain.

  • Diane • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #83

    FEATHERS!!! Would also love to begin using rulers and learn ways to quilt inside of triangles.

  • Barbara • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #84

    This looks like a great book! I would love to win and add to my arsenal of FMQ motifs

  • Kelley Likes • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #85

    I would love to try a pedal motif.

  • Joan • 8 years ago
    COMMENT #86

    Beautiful book! Love to get this

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