Today is our day on the Quilters Take Manhattan Blog Hop! Our friend Chris of made by ChrissieD had the idea to help promote this fundraising event through a blog hop, and of course we were game because it’s a wonderful idea!
But let’s back up a minute… you are probably thinking, “what’s Quilters Take Manhattan?”
Quilter’s Take Manhattan
Quilters Take Manhattan (QTM) is a weekend-long quilting event held annually in NYC. It includes talks, walking tours of the garment district, museum tours, and more. You can see the full QTM schedule on the Quilt Alliance website here.
This year’s Main Event speakers are Kaffe Fassett and Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi, and the emcee is Mary Fons.
Check out the amazing list of past QTM speakers:
2011: Marianne Fons and Jay McCarroll
2012: Denyse Schmidt and Jennifer Chiaverini
2013: Hollis Chatelain
2014: Amy Butler and Mark Dunn
2015: Ricky Tims and Victoria Findlay Wolfe
This year, we’re particularly excited to watch two of our friends (and fellow NYC Metro Mod Quilt Guild members!) Chris Dodsley and Aleeda Crawley compete with Mary Fons (yes, the Mary Fons!) in the Heavyweight Quilter of the Worrrrrld Quilt Match!
The Quilt Alliance
QTM is a fundraiser for the Quilt Alliance, a non-profit whose mission is to preserve the stories of quilts and quilters. Watch this video to get an idea of what they do:
To learn more, visit their website and click on “projects” to see more of their videos. And do consider joining them! Find out more about Quilt Alliance membership here.
Gotham Quilts and QTM
Gotham Quilts is supporting QTM by being a sponsor of the event, and by donating a quilting fabric bundle to the silent auction. You’ll see our ad in the program and a little something extra from us in the goody bag.
How can you participate?
Ok so, after all that talking up, here’s the bad news: QTM is sold out.
I know, I know, you’re thinking we’re such a tease with this blog hop right?
BUT WAIT!
QTM has a “Moda Home Ticket” option! A “home ticket” lets you join in the fun without being physically in NYC. Here’s the description of the ticket from their website:
The QTM Moda Home Ticket provides a chance for those who can’t make it to the Big Apple to experience their own home slice of the event. Value of $35 ($30 for QA members). Holders of the Moda Home Ticket will receive a QTM Goody Bag stuffed full of samples and treats from our sponsors by mail, and email links to footage of the Sunday with Sponsors event, the Quilt Match Manhattan challenge and more.
Home Ticket holders play an important role in supporting the work of the Alliance – thank you!
That’s pretty awesome right?! I love the idea of being able to take part in this fundraiser from wherever you are. You can support the Quilt Alliance and see the events without even leaving home!
If you’re wondering what the goody bag is like, here’s a picture of last year’s QTM goody bag:
And this year’s bag is even better, because it features a quilt made by Margaret Cibulsky… another one of our friends and also a Mod guild member! (our guild is pretty rad, you should come check us out!):
Win a Moda Home Ticket!
As part of the Blog Hop, we’re giving away a Moda Home Ticket to one lucky winner!
To enter the giveaway:
Step 1: Leave a comment on this blog post and tell us what quilting technique you want to get better at or want to learn in the next year.
Step 2: Sign up for our email list here:
Join our mailing list
You’ll receive a 10% off coupon code for signing up!
The rules of the giveaway are simple:
- Entries close on Friday, September 10th, 2016.
- Drawing is open to all, but international winners are responsible for any customs fees that may be charged when shipment enters their country.
We’ll pick a random winner on Saturday morning and let you know via email that you’ve won. Then the Quilt Alliance will ship your goody bag to you by the end of the month.
Want more chances to win?
Every stop on the blog hop will be giving away a Moda Home Ticket. Here’s the full list if you want to enter to win one from them too:
Full Blog Hop Schedule
Day 1 – Monday, September 5
Chris Dodsley of made by ChrissieD
Pat Sloan
AccuQuilt
Day 2 – Tuesday, September 6
Victoria Findlay Wolfe
Erin Sampson of Auribuzz
Freespirit Fabric
Day 3 – Wednesday, September 7
Moda Fabrics
Denyse Schmidt on Instagram @dsquilts
Debbie Jeske of A Quilter’s Table
Day 4 – Thursday, September 8
Jacquie Gering of tallgrass prairie studio
Jessica Skultety of Quilty Habit
Gotham Quilts — that’s us!
Day 5 – Friday, September 9
Kim Niedzwiecki of my go-go life
Leslie Tucker Jenison
John Kubiniec of Big Rig Quilting
Oh and by the way: If you don’t win a Home Ticket, you can purchase one here!
I want to learn how to FMQ on a domestic machine. I have the foot but I’d like my machine to be level with my sewing table. Working on getting that done first. I also get your newsletters. thanks for the giveaway. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
I am following the blog hop! What a fantastic organization! I would love to learn more about free motion techniques in the next year to come! I am practicing now!
I would like to learn a technique for making diamond stars. I think they are so beautiful but I’m afraid to try to make one. Thanks for a chance to win.
Free-motion quilting. Practice, practice-not ready to take the plunge yet, but this year I will grit my teeth and go for it! But not today.
I would like to get better at making free motion feathers.
I’m working on improving my needleturn applique. I just took a class with Becky Goldsmith.
I took an applique class this year, need to practice and get better at the blanket stitch.
I’d like to improve sewing free form curved seams and sewing circles.
would like to learn to paper piece — just well enough so I can tell what the block is supposed to be
Free motion quilting and paper piecing are on my list.
Signed up for newsletter.
I would really like to learn applique. I’ve shied away from it for so long, but there are so many beautiful patterns to try. Thanks!
I’m interested in learning more applique techniques.
I need to improve my free motion quilting skills and my applique ability just sucks big ones!!! 🙂
I do want to get better at the quilting process and to weigh the pros and cons of FMQ versus walking foot quilting for each quilt I attempt. This is a steep learning curve. But practice makes progress, so practice, i will.
I am interested in making more art quilts and am always looking for inspiration!
I’m always looking for help with my free motion quilting. I’ll take any little tidbits of advice!
I would like to learn to quilt on my home machine.
I’ve been to QTM, and it was fun. I’ve recently started doing foundation piecing, and more of my own designs, so I think I want to work on that next year.
I have to improve and utilize myFMQ !!! It still intimidates me!
I have to practice !
Thank you!
I want to do FMQ on more than practice pieces! (Have plenty of potholders now…giggle)
Thank you for chance to win such an exciting Give-a-way!! Just the Bag is Gorgeous!! 🙂
I wan to improve my FMQ skill. Subcribed.
Something I want to learn to do with my quilting is trapunto and couching. I like these techniques to add detail and extra texture. Looking forward to the Gotham newsletter!
I am trying to do my own quilting on smaller quilts.
I want to learn to quilt free motion feathers.
I could use more help on FMQ skills on a domestic machine – especially a queen size quilt.
i want to learn to do more intricate designs with my long arm.
Oh my gosh, there are so many techniques I would love to learn in the next year! Now that I’ve gotten more comfortable with piecing curves (my previous goal☺️) I would love to learn more about quilting with the different thread weights (especially 12) and bobbin work while improving my free motion skills in the process! ?
I would love to learn more about trapunto.
I want to improve on my FMQ skills.
I need to improve my FMQ skills.
I want to work on free motion quilting. Mostly I echo quilt when machine quilting
I want to learn needle-turn appliqué. I have a small project ready to go. I’m going to be brave, almost immediately. And I am already on your mailing list.
I would love to get better at applique.
I’ve been playing with applique on some projects. Some are good; some not so good. I would love for my applique work to be more consistent.
Would love to free motion quilt and get better at applique, thanks for the chance to
win a goodie bag.
Well, FMQ and one day getting a hang of hand applique ar on my list. Thanks so much!
Barb, you’re the winner! I’ve just sent you an email, congratulations!!
I want to learn to quilt on my home sewing machine. I hand quilt now but have so many quilts in the works. Just sent off a quilts for Pulse quilt. I get your newsletter. Thank you.
Would like to master Needleturn Appliqué and Trapunto
I would like to get better at needle turn appliqué this year.
Hmm, I’d like to be more confident with hand quilting, it always seems herculean. I’d like to be more disciplined when it comes to practicing free motion quilting. And, I think I’d like to join a guild, maybe…I think…maybe.
I love hand work but I’ve got a long way to go with that big stitch quilting technique! Maybe it’s the thread I choose or the needles or who knows what, but I need more practice for sure.
I would like to get better at fmq on my home machine.
Free motion quilting
I have to improve and be adventurous with fmq!!!
Thank you .
I want to get better at FMQ on my domestic machine. I also want to learn to use a longarm quilting machine. One of the LQS gives lessons so I will be taking some soon.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Feathers!!! I just need to do it over and over and over for hours and hours and hours.