Tag: antique quilts

quilt, quilt design, quilt patterns, quilting, quilts

Inspired Free-Motion Quilting Blog Book Tour

Patty Murphy

I was really excited when Mandy asked if I wanted to be on the blog book tour to promote her new book, Inspired Free-Motion Quilting, and I tore into the book like a kid in a candy store when it came across my desk! Like the book cover says, there are antique designs for todays quilter. The quilt designs are from a carefully curated selection of beautiful, antique quilts from Bill’s collection were reinterpreted for free-motion quilting. It’s really all very perfect…

I’ve spent the majority of the past 26 years really honing my piecing skills and, while I’m definitely gaining confidence with my free-motion quilting, I’m not entirely there yet. Mandy asking me to participate in this book tour challenged me to go a little out of my comfort zone. Truth be told, I’ve been wanting to work on my free-motion quilting but needed a project to really motivate me. 


A year or so ago I made a Kansas Dugout quilt from scraps but never. managed. to. quilt. it….convinced that I would one day. Well, one day arrived. 


After pouring over the designs in the book again and again, I settled on the posey. I just loved it! I think part of why I prefer flowers and leaves and things organic when I do quilt is that they aren’t perfect so I’m not concerned about everything being perfect when I FMQ. I mean, I know some people (ahem, pot meet kettle) say that perfection is overrated, but I definitely have issues (see also: how I feel about perfect piecing).

Here’s the quilt from the book that inspired the posey:

And a detail:

Here’s my quilt. Basted. On my basement floor.

I marked the block before quilting it.

What I really like, is that I can take a modern quilt, incorporate an antique motif and it completely works. Plus, this design is quick, easy, and FUN!

Here’s the rest of the line up so you can win a copy of Mandy and Bill’s book:

January 8: Amanda Murphy of Amanda Murphy Design, Kim Lapacek of Persimmon Dreams

January 7: C&T Publishing, Bill Volckening

January 9: Teri Lucas, Lynn Harris, Debby Brown of Debby Brown Quilts

January 10: Robin Koehler of NESTLINGS by Robin, Patty Murphy of Patty Murphy Handmade, Mary Abreu of Confessions of a Craft Addict

January 11: Joanna Marsh of Kustom Kwilts, and Amanda Leins of Mandalei Quilts

To win your very own copy of this incredible book, be sure to follow me on Instagram and leave a comment. I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, January 11th. You will receive an e-copy of the book so the giveaway is open internationally!

quilt, quilting, quilts

Vintage Gone Kaffe

Patty Murphy

I’ve posted about this quilt a few times over the last several months. I thought I’d have this top finished before now but, alas, that wasn’t in the cards. I finished it yesterday and I’m beyond thrilled!

This quilt was fun to piece, and I enjoyed working with colors that aren’t typically mine. I love bright and fun and all but even I admit that it’s a change of pace for me.

I went to my favorite local quilt shop  to find a border but nothing worked. I contemplated a blue inner border, piano keys, a spotted outer border and combinations thereof. I played with prints I used in the quilt. I added some black and white for contrast. Nothing quite work and I decided if I have to work that hard for a border then the quilt doesn’t need one. Besides, the original doesn’t have a border, either.

vingate gone kaffe

I plan to mimic the quilting on the original. There are a few changes I’m going to make so quilting will be easier. The original quilt was hand quilted and since I plan to quilt this on my machine the changes will make quilting more fluid for me.