Successful Swirls | Live Chat with Angela Walters

[@tappingterri]

Thank you for reminding me that I need to keep going sometimes, and that we need to look at the big picture, not just the little spot that we are on. I needed to hear this.

[@suem5213]

Angela, I'm 72 and will never be the quilter you are. You are so darn good. Do you quilt on a long arm? I love seeing your new quilts.

[@lindamorris1785]

Angela is the best teacher! She takes the mystery out of the designs and gives us the confidence to succeed.

[@angelastiff450]

I have 3 tee shirt quilts to make for each of my 3 sons! The theme of these quilts will be around the many extra curricular activities they participated in....sports, music, and clubs!

[@catherinearlene2858]

Love! Love! Love! You sharing your doodles! I follow along and it helps sooo much! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Cathy from Southern California!

[@alexisaltergott3660]

I have made 3 cathedral,quilts. They saw mine and then everyone wanted one. So much fun with the sassy swirls❣️

[@ArtsyRVBum]

I watched your video this morning and I couldn't believe it when you said to turn off the stitch regulator, WHAT!!! I can't quilt without the stitch regulator on and I have to follow a pattern for sure, but I thought if you said to do it I would at least try. WOW!! what a difference it made. I am quilting cirles, feathers, swirls, and I can't stop. You ROCK!!! Thanks for the great advice, it has taken my quilting to a whole new level.

[@judygardiner86]

WOW!just WOW!!thank you Angela who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks…

[@penelopebourne7163]

I learned swirls from you about 6 years ago. The first time I used them on a quilt was as a background filler, with the thread matching the fabric. That quilt was juried into a show! Thank you for your excellent, and free, lessons. I wouldn’t be a quilter without you.

[@jolene41062]

I've learned so much from you. Today I was trying to figure out how you did the chain swirl. Then I realized, from this video, that I've already learned that. Come off the top and switch directions. The new one for me is to put a bubble inside the swirl. That'll be fun to try.

[@eliseharper1950]

You and I have made my husband laugh. I am ironing whilst watching your video! Your rainbow panel is a brilliant idea. Thanks for all of your sharing of information. It encourages us to have a go and WOW, how much fun is this? 👏😁🇦🇺

[@eleanorwittering3126]

This is so much fun! Very clever--and, I have white dry eraser boards, but they're somewhere in the recesses of boxes that remain to be unbacked from my recent move! But, emptied cardboard boxes cut into flat boards work very nicely for "practicing!"

[@martaa.masotti473]

Thanks Angela for sharing your knowledge with all of us! 🌎... While you spoke I wrote down your tips, and already started practicing those swirls! I'd love to quilt rhem in a seascape 🌊, or else in the sky, since skies are forever changing! 🌠

[@leilad4366]

bravo Angela et un grand bravo de France

[@lindawalker8500]

Thank you again. I love swirls too. But I didn't at first. For a long time it seems I just didn't like the way they looked. But then after awhile of doing other designs, I tried them again and it was like magic...they looked much better. Practice, practice, practice. :)

[@nanreiley8462]

Great video Angela...you shone a light on swirls for me...broke them down and now I can go play!!!

[@peggycasey5658]

Surprise gifts for neighbors who have not gone out much.

[@cherylholman1207]

Hi Angela, I've been following you for years and just love love love the freedom you teach when FMQ. FMQ has been a passion of mine ever since I started. KZbin has been fabulous for learning the tips and tricks of FMQ for me. Once I found you and your style, there are very few other teachers I follow. I really think it's a personality thing (and there are a lot of us with this personality thing!) When I'm asked about my quilting style, I find myself quoting Angela-isms. I think the reason why is that they really work. They are part of what I do. Thanks for sharing your skill! SWIRLS: I love the elongated swirl. They make an elegant statement!

[@debraanger209]

Your a wonderful instructor I have not started yet but building confidence with doodles I have revamped my quilting space so that I can be comfortable with lots of room and no clutter it’s going to be anew start to a great creative outlet keep it coming I am absorbing everything!😊

[@jessicaolney4900]

I really don't want to be beaten by swirls-and-my-brain issue! I am going to practice with my white board more because whenever I have attempted swirls,(on a home machine) I get started and then I seem to get lost on where to go next...the overall look seems a mess and I give up. I learn well visually so watching you draw and then doing it myself (erasing and starting again) is so helpful--thank you!

[@HouseHuntinginMaineBuxton]

I like the analogy that it is like cursive writing. Practicing on paper does have the same flow & feeling. Pity the younger folks who were never taught that. I worked at a testing center and some 20 year olds literally did not know how to SIGN their names in cursive or WRITE a paragraph (which we required for verification). All they could do was print. Many schools do not teach cursive anymore.

[@1cchuff]

Love your videos; had my long arm less than a year and so much to learn!

[@jbosdachin6]

I ‘m still in “paper mode”! But now encouraged to move onto fabrics! Thank you, Angela!

[@mimiwilson3810]

I am new to piecing (a year now) and have 3 finished tops I have been afraid to finish. I am also afraid to send them in because I don’t want the quilters to hate me. haha One day. In the meantime, thanks to you, Jenny Doan and Donna Jordan I have become really comfortable with piecing. So thanks!!

[@maureenhawkins8771]

I took your suggestion about using manual mode instead of precision mode. It made making swirls & feathers so much easier! Thank you 😊

[@traceyleehenry]

Thank you for all the confidence you provide! Can't wait to try this - i wish life worked the same way-- just add mistakes to your mistakes! LOL.

[@kathygerhart1398]

Love the way you teach. I am POSITIVE I can do this. May not be perfect. But, it will look great.

[@cjshomemadechan5994]

I love swirls they don't have to be precise like other designs and even if they look different you can say it was a design choice ;). Just like I prefer the wonky feathers you showed vs. the real feathers as I have not gotten that good with real feather yet lol.

[@kathijohnson4486]

This is amazing. Thank you for doing this, and thank you for all the encouragement.

[@CAPEBRETONCHICKEE]

Thank you n I love how you teach . You gave me the inspiration on quiting on a long arm n I will try these . So excited to try them next I thank you again 💓

[@pgklowak]

Thank you Angela. I love these instructional videos you are doing. You have really inspired me. I do love swirls and just did a valentine pillow using them. Along with pebbles spattered here and there. I was worried about my swirls looking good, but as you say just keep going. And in the end it looked pretty good. My sister who I gifted the pillow to was impressed that it was me who quilted it. I think I'm going to get a white board to use for practicing. Thanks so much for all you do for the quilting community. I too am interested in thread colour changes.

[@patoleary6171]

Great video !

[@nelwyntorres6020]

I have been dying to learn how to do swirls like you. I love your swirls! Thank you for this and especially the tip about using a defined area. I think that is going to “click” with me. Fat quarters, here I come!

[@sylviawhalen2114]

I too love swirls. I think any free motion is better if you’re a natural ‘doodler’ and love ‘doodling’ before moving to my quilt sandwich and lastly to my quilt. By then I can turn on the music and enjoy the ride! :) You’ve helped me soooo much be adaptable and flexible about it all.

[@marilynh613]

So absolutely stunninging. Love the swirls.

[@annerankin1191]

Watching this video, I was interrupted about 5 times. Finally finished while quilting swirls!!! 😂 Thanks Angela!

[@lynnehrmantraut9167]

One lesson I can reinforce is practice...I did your swirl challenge and used practice sandwiches before I went to the panel every week...I wrote the date on each sandwich - after a few weeks the progress was undeniable!

[@susansinclair3871]

Swirls are hard but I am determined to get them. Tomorrow is a new quilt and I am putting swirls on it.

[@aliciapeacock4662]

Warm? In Adelaide South Australia it is summer and today it is 39 degrees Celsius / 102 Fahrenheit. So warm is not a problem. Love these chats. Thank you.

[@sharonclass4133]

What a great video Angela. Gives me hope!

[@judiththorpe2891]

Hi Angela, I learn so much from you

[@suewoulfe9341]

Thank you so much Angela. Very helpful. I just love how at ease you are and how you help us relax and just enjoy the learning process.

[@lizmiller6507]

I have just started to teach myself FMQ and it’s been a challenge but I think it’s finally starting to click. One design at a time, mine is swirls and circles, but enough for me. Practice practice, and I’m really quite enjoying seeing how I have expanded and the growth, but I think for me it’s also about confidence.

[@AngelaWaltersfmq]

I love that moment when everything starts to come together!! Keep it up, it gets easier and easier!

[@kf2702]

Thanks to your videos, I was brave enough to complete my first quilt on my longarm! Not 'perfect', but DONE! Woohoo!

[@cmarks101010]

Really learned a lot watching this. Thanks!

[@southernamerican5027]

This reminds me of doodlings. Usually I do this on a long telephone call lol I love this.

[@rhodawilliams5577]

Love your quilting. Swirls easy

[@mrob8918]

Super video! You provided so much useful information. I've used swirls before but I feel very confident that I can take them to the next level. Practice. Practice. Practice. And echo. Echo. Echo. Thanks so much.

[@candit4316]

Love your chats. This one is of particular interest to me... I'm so O.C.D., and you free my brain. I'm relatively new to FMQ, but try to apply some of the ideas I learned doing calligraphy - like breathing with the movement... exhale with the downstrokes, never hold your breath. I wish I could connect my breathing to my brain to figure out where I want to go next in an area.

[@susankelley6637]

OMG I LOVE ANGELA WALTERS KZbin QUILTING VIDEOS!!!

[@ellenmaher5451]

I have been watching your tutorials as I am just starting free motion quilting. Really struggling with swirls. I am starting to draw them and it seems to help me before I start quilting. Thank you for your awesome instruction.

[@susanholstein3544]

Thanks Angela for your swirl instructions - you make it fun and exciting! I'm stealing the whiteboard from my grandkids to practice swirls tonight!

[@pxlteacher]

I enjoyed hell you reinforce that there are no mistakes there are just design choices.

[@sharinsherri2558]

Thanks Angela!! Always love your videos and get great inspiration! I would like to make my swirls more elongated like you showed in the video!!! Wonderful info

[@kathygerhart1398]

You may think this is funny, but I practice my designs on patches I put on my husband farm jeans. Did a large flower on 1 patch. I know what the next patch will be. SWIRLS. Haha. He loves it.

[@Thirteenwitch7485]

In your examples with swirls and pebbles there were also cross hatching straight lines. Did you break thread and use a ruler? If so, can you do a video on how to plan out an area using both techniques? Best tips to transition between the two? There are tons of beginner videos but find little on transition to other patterns effectively.

[@caitlinpitchford9960]

I too have a cross hatching question, but I'm wondering about the wishbone/cross hatching technique to fill around an object on all sides. I will continuous line stitch a bird , kind of like Angela's butterfly whole-cloth quilt, then I want to use dense horizontal cross hatching (wishbones) around it to make it pop. As I use wishbone along one side of the bird, working top down, I get to the bottom next to the bird, then how do I fill under the bird, and work my way back up the other side of the bird?

[@joannpenka9201]

I have been doing swirls for years but can always learn new things. You nailed my needs again, Angela! I am going to practice again. I think I thought that I could have too much echoing, but now I know that I didn’t have nearly enough! 🙋🏻

[@kathygerhart1398]

WOW, I looking at the quilt Cathedral Rainbow Raw Edge quilt in a different way. The pictures you showed today made it look like the appliqué was done with a cut out and your rainbow colors were added from the bottom side.

[@JanetLicariQuilts]

I love swirls for fills and the long ones for focal designs as you showed. A shape that gets along with others as you said so well. Great tutorial. I need to practice a bit more but I am getting it together I think. Thank you for your clear inspirations!

[@brendaharder2001]

You have been my #1 mentor in learning machine quilting. I LOVE watching your shows. Swirls are wonderful to work with!

[@siscarmichael2949]

This chat has really helped me with learning to do swirls...you make it sound so easy...your right, I think I’m over thinking it. I’ll be loading up up a quilt sandwich and do some practicing! Thanks

[@rosemaynes7117]

I saw your show on making this 🌈 quilt... I just love it. I will show this to my new daughter in law.. She just told us she is expecting.😊😊

[@welcometocharlotteshousepo8439]

Hi Angela! Referencing the gorgeous quilt you showed, how do you keep the patterns symmetrical in large background spaces? Do you draw grids around the quilt design in the middle, or maybe large concentric circles so that your pattern is the same distance from center of quilt all the way around? Thanks for your videos, you are immensely talented and my machine quilting inspiration!

[@caitlinpitchford9960]

I am also interested in your quilt prep process.

[@anngalloway6089]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL !!! .....LOVE THIS CATHEDRAL QUILT

[@nancyblackriverfallswi367]

I had been practicing swirls and not having much success. Found it humorous that that was your topic this week!!!

[@tonygirl42]

Love the fabric panel.....got mine in the mail yesterday! Keep the multi-panel fabric coming👍🏻

[@lesleydrury1240]

U r the best teacher.. and the best at helping us to accept our quilting where it is now. Thank u so much for believing in us!

[@annapatterson2142]

Swirls have always been such a challenge for me. They tend to look square and yucky. You always make me feel brave about trying to keep on. I will try doing it without a stitch regulator. I used to have such trouble doing touch back feathers but thanks to you I think I have finally conquered it. I really love the look of touchback feathers, and now I am not afraid of them anymore. I hope I don't have the same result with swirls because they are so beautiful.

[@user-mp9ur3bj1f]

I live swirls it gives me such a freeing feeling. I did not realize all those years of doodling in the class surgery meetings that I was actually creating future Quilt designs who knew thank you for giving me the courage to feel that I can tackle any quilting endeavor.

[@katherinehoeppner9889]

Thanks Angela for all the great tips on quilting swirls!!

[@annasummach182]

Swirls are the first design I needed to master! Not there yet, but I love them. Nothing makes me happier than quilting swirls 😍

[@maryritter5311]

Love Love a rainbow! My mind is racing with ideas on expanding the design.

[@lorraineschloss9703]

I’m new to free motion quilting Learned a lot thanks

[@annatjievanstaden252]

I'm new at quilting and just started my daughter's quilt and tried swirls, learnt a lot from this video. Thank you so much. You answered a lot of my questions. Love your teaching

[@dianen420]

OMG! Your Rainbow Cathedral Quilt is Soooo Beautiful. Thank you for a wonderful tutorial and demo, Angela.

[@odilepeloquin2040]

I have a Christmas tablecloth waiting for quilting and I have been having a hard time deciding on a pattern. At first I thought stars but I like the idea of swirls. I just need to practice them on something less special first. Thanks for the tips.

[@sweetibbies]

Your direction instructions for swirls makes me want to do swirls Thank you

[@rachelrohrer8976]

These working videos are super helpful!

[@mainacht3509]

Love the video, Angela. You’re a great teacher.

[@mwdavid48]

Thanks for all that you share with us so generously. You are such a inspiration.

[@Deeloveshergoldies]

I love that panel so much but it ends up being about $65 Aust with the postage. I need to get to the USA,I need to go quilt supply shopping. I bought one of your books in the hope that I’ll get good at something soon 😂 stay safe. Thanks for sharing your talent

[@leighgaskill1893]

This video chat was very helpful. I'm a beginner at FMQing and you really helped clarify some of the questions I've had with my swirls! Thank you!

[@merriewoodward8579]

Swirls are so versatile! Love your advice to "Just keep going."

[@beckykorell3699]

Can't wait to see another Tee Shirt Quilt....graduation is around the corner!

[@amandaschoonover5654]

Mid Century Modern! Hilarious! I love your perspective on things and letting us know that, no matter what, it’s all good.

[@debbyneuland2150]

Thank you for all the wonderful videos

[@beverleybrowning3480]

Another great chat and excellent tips! I came on at 3pm but didn't see your chat, so ended up watching your rainbow quilt again. Forgot that your chat is here at 4pm lol! I use swirls often, but still have to work on consistency. I only have a domestic machine so perhaps you could talk about how to make them a little bigger on a domestic? Thanks for all your wonderful teaching! I look forward to next week & will set my timer! 😃 🇨🇦🍁

[@raquelgoyen2788]

Angela, I am brand new to LA quilting and I just have to say thank you for the amazing instruction you share with us! I am one of those who finds herself in perfection paralysis, but you always make me feel like I can do it, and maybe even have fun! Just thank, thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. 💕

[@maggiehallinan1771]

Love your videos and live chats Angela!! Feels like spending time with a friend! 🥰😉

[@rachellemccann7506]

I just started making swirls, and I absolutely love them. I also added hearts to it, and it is so cute.

[@pewlady]

Excellent lesson. Thank you!

[@darlenewolf2092]

Love this video... I had a quilt on frame and was trying to figure out what pattern to play with and chose to do swirls and was perfect... I'm not got spacing down yet but as you said in the whole of it you don't really notice... after doing this I realized that there was a similar pattern in the background fabric of the quilt...

[@Flatshader]

I have decided to concentrate on my free motion and ruler quilting. I will buy one new ruler every two weeks. Thanks for your talks.

[@nancyvaccare7635]

Love your chats!

[@annmiller4183]

I love her too! She’s a queen of FMQ!

[@katebrown4890]

I’m comfortable with swirls, and now I’ll work on elongating them! Thank you. And you gave some great tips for traveling, and filling in spaces. You mentioned ribbon candy........I cannot do that. My brain simply won’t wrap around that movement.

[@LTDQuilting]

Swirls are an absolute favorite! I've used them a lot since I bought your first book and learned how to do them. That has been many years, and practice does make "close enough to perfect."

[@karenlea5292]

I love how you accented the fabrics with your thread colors and beautiful quilting!

[@dorisjacques5791]

Replay, Thank you for all the info you provide to this newbie. I have learned so much from you

[@caroldworschak3031]

Now I want to make swirls... you made it look real easy - great explanation

[@craigboyd5724]

thank you so much. i use my boyfriends email so his name comes up but i enjoy watching your videos so much i have bought one of your practice panels and the new one i want so bad love the strip panel you made also to make the cathedral quilt.