Hi all -- Happy Sunday!  I'm excited to be guest posting a new Free Motion Quilting tutorial on the Bear Creek Quilting Company blog today!

When I saw this sweet panel "Undersea Adventures", by Linda Ludovico for the Northcott Stonehenge Kids Collection, I couldn't wait to stitch it.  

The panel provides ample background area and objects to practice free motion quilting.  You can find the panel on sale at the Bear Creek Quilting Company  
** Update: This panel is SOLD OUT but there are other great panels available ** 
Panels are an inexpensive way to improve your FMQ skills, the bonus being you're not practicing on a quilt that you spent months piecing.  If you make a few mistakes -- it's no big deal!

 In the tutorial I share a bit about choosing the right threads and quilting motifs, and I give you a few tips to stitch it all up on your domestic machine.  

I had fun digging through my #Aurifil Mako Cotton thread stash to try out the heavier weight threads (28Wt and 12Wt) to accent objects while relying on the trusty 50Wt thread for dense free motion quilting.   
I'm thinking it's time to increase my 12Wt and 28Wt Aurifil thread collection - I just love how they machine stitch! 

Here are a few images to highlight how the different weight threads look when quilted.
Around many of the objects I free motion quilted with Aurifil Mako Cotton 28 Wt thread -- It put the prettiest accent on the undersea creatures!

In the background I stitched some dense free motion quilting using Aurifil Mako Cotton 50Wt thread.  The 50 Wt thread is fine enough that backtracking goes unnoticed and pretty background motifs can be stitched with out thread buildup. 
 In this image the 50Wt thread in Color #2250 (Red) blends perfectly.
You can see that I used a 12Wt thread to put a bead of white down the outside border (with my walking foot) and the yellow/green coral was done in a 28Wt thread -- Love how the 28Wt looks when machine quilted. 
 Please hop on over to Bear Creek Quilting Company Blog to read all the details and peruse the full tutorial.

*** The Giveaway is Closed *** 

To celebrate the tutorial, Bear Creek Quilting Company is sponsoring a giveaway on this post for a $20 gift certificate from their shop!  Woot - Woot! 

 With $20 you can buy the panel and backing fabric to finish the piece -- OR -- you can buy some awesome spools of Aurifil thread!  Oh Yeah!  -- OR -- you can buy anything else you find on their great online shop.  
 
*** The Giveaway is Closed *** 

Chances to Win:

The giveaway is open to domestic and international participants.

Gain one chance to win by signing up for the Bear Creek Quilting Company Newsletter (old or new). Did you know that all folks that sign up for Shari's Newsletter are eligible for a monthly Bear Creek Quilting Company $25 Gift Certificate drawing?  
Click here to sign up and then come back and let me know you did!

Gain one chance if you "Like" Bear Creek Quilting Company on Facebook.  Click here to see and "Like" their page, leave a comment and be sure to come back and let me know you did.

Gain another chance when you click over to the Bear Creek Quilting Company blog and peruse the "Free Motion Quilting Fun" tutorial.  Leave a comment there letting Shari know what you like about the tutorial and then come on back here and let me know you did.

Gain one chance each for "Liking" Aurifil Threads or Northcott Fabrics on Facebook!!

As always, if you follow Redbird Quilt Co. on Facebook, Pinterest, Craftsy, Twitter, Instagram, or the blog - leave a comment letting me know all that you follow for another chance.

Also -- share, share, share and get the word out about the Tutorial and Giveaway !  Think about the great karma if one of your friends win!!   Leave me a comment if you shared.

The giveaway is open until 8:00 pm EST Sunday, October 19th  *** Giveaway Closed ***
 Thanks for stopping by all -- and please let me know if you have any questions about the tutorial. 
Enjoy!

Karen