Hello , 

 

This week I'm needing something easy to piece. Seriously easy and fast!

 

So of course, I decided to share a Rail Fence block. This simple, traditional block is cut from rectangles and pieced in just seven seams. 

 

Learn how to piece this fun block in this new Mini Block Monday tutorial:

Remember, all of the patterns for Mini Block Monday tutorials are included in the video itself. Here is a screen shot of the pieces you will need to make one Mini Rail Fence Block:

Of course, after piecing one, you might as well cut out more pieces from the same fabric and try it again, but with the colors flipped! It's a fun way to create a different look just by turning the units around.

 

This month Grace Company has put the Qnique 15 longarm on sale and it's a terrific deal. Save $750 on any Qnique 15 - the 15M, 15R, or 15PRO! Click Here to check out these machines and compare features.

 

These are excellent entry level longarm that will give you up to 10 inches of quilting space on either the Q-Zone Hoop Frame or Continuum Quilting Frame.

 

If you're not sure if longarm quilting will be for you, the Qnique 15 is a great starter machine. It's smaller and less intimidating, but can still stitch faster than a home machine and when mounted on a frame, will definitely speed up and simplify your machine quilting process.

 

Are you wondering if a longarm is right for you? Here's a podcast where I shared all about the different types of machines (and my beef with "midarms") with lots of advice on how to think about this investment for the long term:

This is definitely a machine purchase that needs to be considered carefully. Do you want to quilt multiple quilts a year and quilt them for bed / curling up on the couch?

 

Or are you happiest quilting one quilt a year and with denser quilting for show or for your walls?

 

I definitely don't think a longarm is right for everyone. It was only right for me after quilting for more than 10 years! I knew it was time to change because I felt bored quilting on my home machine and frustrated that I couldn't finish more than one or two quilts a year.

 

I wanted to quilt more quilts and I wanted it to feel easier and with less strain on my body, and having a longarm on a frame did exactly that.

 

Of course, it's not a perfect adjustment. I'm still learning how to control the longarm as well as I controlled my quilt on my home machine. That's a continual process of practice and quilting lots of quilts to build the skills and muscles to move the machine smoothly.

 

And of course rulers definitely help!

 

So if longarm quilting sounds like the solution to your machine quilting struggles, definitely check out the Qnique 15 longarms while they are on sale!

 

Qnique 15M - Manual longarm and the most inexpensive at only $2749.95.

 

Qnique 15R - Stitch regulated longarm with 1800 stitches per minute.

 

Qnique 15PRO - Stitch regulated longarm with 2000 stitches per minute and a touchscreen monitor.

 

Which Qnique 15 is right for you? Click Here to contact me for help! Let me know what you're wanting to quilt and how you're wanting your quilting craft to change and I'll share my honest advice on which machine and frame is best for you.

 

So that's it for this week! Yes, this month is going to be a bit light on videos and I've decided to take a small break on podcasts as well. Hello My Quilting Friends podcasts will resume in June. Mini Block Monday tutorials will continue.