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"How do you avoid a buildup of knots when you have to start and stop so much (without tying off and burying threads)?" Listen, you can call me a lazy quilter, but I don’t bury my threads. 🙈 Instead, I credit smooth starts and stops to using awesome thread—SoFine! and SuperBobs are my go-to! 💕 I also try to stop and start as little as possible, and yes, I totally travel over previous stitch lines. Do I break all the quilt police rules? Probably. But when the thread blends so beautifully, no one will ever know! 😆 Want to see exactly how I do it? I share my full process + everything I wish I knew when I started quilting in my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting! 🎉 Drop a 'beginner' in the comments, and I’ll send you the link! 👇✨ Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #freemotionquilting #quiltingtips #longarmquilting #quiltinglife #quiltingfun #quiltersofinstagram #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingclass #quiltinglove #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #sofine #superbobs #quilttips #quiltpolice #quiltingproblems #lazyquilter

"How do you avoid a buildup of knots when you have to start and stop so much (without tying off and burying threads)?" Listen, you can call me a lazy quilter, but I don’t bury my threads. 🙈 Instead, I credit smooth starts and stops to using awesome thread—SoFine! and SuperBobs are my go-to! 💕 I also try to stop and start as little as possible, and yes, I totally travel over previous stitch lines. Do I break all the quilt police rules? Probably. But when the thread blends so beautifully, no one will ever know! 😆 Want to see exactly how I do it? I share my full process + everything I wish I knew when I started quilting in my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting! 🎉 Drop a 'beginner' in the comments, and I’ll send you the link! 👇✨ Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #freemotionquilting #quiltingtips #longarmquilting #quiltinglife #quiltingfun #quiltersofinstagram #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingclass #quiltinglove #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #sofine #superbobs #quilttips #quiltpolice #quiltingproblems #lazyquilter

Why does your quilt look so stiff on the machine? It’s like it’s on a board! Great observation! But looks can definitely be deceiving. While you do want your quilt to have some give or play when loaded onto a longarm, what you're seeing in my videos is actually my ruler base at work. I use a ruler base on my machine because I do ruler quilting on about 99% of my quilts. This base creates a large, flat working surface under the quilt, which helps with control and precision while quilting. Since I use it all the time, I just leave it on my machine—it’s an essential part of my ruler quilting process! Have another machine quilting question? Drop it below, and I’ll create another video! 🎥✨ www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #LongarmQuilting #RulerQuilting #QuiltingTips #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltBetter

Why does your quilt look so stiff on the machine? It’s like it’s on a board! Great observation! But looks can definitely be deceiving. While you do want your quilt to have some give or play when loaded onto a longarm, what you're seeing in my videos is actually my ruler base at work. I use a ruler base on my machine because I do ruler quilting on about 99% of my quilts. This base creates a large, flat working surface under the quilt, which helps with control and precision while quilting. Since I use it all the time, I just leave it on my machine—it’s an essential part of my ruler quilting process! Have another machine quilting question? Drop it below, and I’ll create another video! 🎥✨ www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #LongarmQuilting #RulerQuilting #QuiltingTips #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltBetter

Do you ever wish you went with the 26" or 30" model, or is the 22" more than enough? Such a great question! And hopefully, my answer makes a little sense. When buying a longarm machine, I think the most important thing is understanding your purpose—why you’re buying it. 18 years ago, when I bought my first longarm, my decision was based on space, budget, and purpose. At 25 years old, pregnant, and buying my first longarm, I thought it would be a hobby, maybe even something I could do from home to earn a little extra money. I quilted on that 18" machine for over a decade—it’s what I could afford, and I didn’t know how big I really needed. But guess what? I wrote my first book and quilted thousands of customer quilts on that machine! Fast forward five years ago—I finally upgraded. At that point, I knew exactly what I wanted, and after testing different sizes, I chose the 22" model. Why? Because I do so much hand-guided quilting, and this size is perfect for me. It’s not too heavy, I can comfortably reach the entire throat space, and most of the time, I can fit an entire quilt block in one pass. Would I change it now? Nope! But that doesn’t mean it’s the right size for everyone. If your quilting goals are different, a larger or smaller machine might be perfect for you! Have another machine quilting question? Drop it below—I’d love to create another video! 🎥✨ www.piecenquilt.com #LongarmQuilting #QuiltingTips #MachineQuilting #QuilterLife #HandGuidedQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltBetter

Do you ever wish you went with the 26" or 30" model, or is the 22" more than enough? Such a great question! And hopefully, my answer makes a little sense. When buying a longarm machine, I think the most important thing is understanding your purpose—why you’re buying it. 18 years ago, when I bought my first longarm, my decision was based on space, budget, and purpose. At 25 years old, pregnant, and buying my first longarm, I thought it would be a hobby, maybe even something I could do from home to earn a little extra money. I quilted on that 18" machine for over a decade—it’s what I could afford, and I didn’t know how big I really needed. But guess what? I wrote my first book and quilted thousands of customer quilts on that machine! Fast forward five years ago—I finally upgraded. At that point, I knew exactly what I wanted, and after testing different sizes, I chose the 22" model. Why? Because I do so much hand-guided quilting, and this size is perfect for me. It’s not too heavy, I can comfortably reach the entire throat space, and most of the time, I can fit an entire quilt block in one pass. Would I change it now? Nope! But that doesn’t mean it’s the right size for everyone. If your quilting goals are different, a larger or smaller machine might be perfect for you! Have another machine quilting question? Drop it below—I’d love to create another video! 🎥✨ www.piecenquilt.com #LongarmQuilting #QuiltingTips #MachineQuilting #QuilterLife #HandGuidedQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltBetter

How did you decide to quilt full-time, and when did you know the timing was right? This is such a great question! Honestly, I never planned on quilting full-time. One day, I’ll write a book and share all the stories the world has never heard, but for now, here’s the short version... When I bought my first longarm machine, I thought it would be just a hobby—maybe something that could bring in a little extra money. I never imagined I could build a career in the quilting industry, and I definitely never thought I was smart enough to write a book. But life happened, and the last 18 years have been a journey beyond anything I could have dreamed. There was a point where machine quilting had to become my full-time job, and I’m forever grateful that this world exists. We all start somewhere, and the sky really is the limit! If you have a dream, go chase it! ✨ Need some machine quilting inspiration? Check out one of my free machine quilting classes today! Free Machine Quilting Class by Natalia Bonner – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingLife #DreamBig #QuiltingCareer #LongarmQuilting #QuiltYourPassion #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity

How did you decide to quilt full-time, and when did you know the timing was right? This is such a great question! Honestly, I never planned on quilting full-time. One day, I’ll write a book and share all the stories the world has never heard, but for now, here’s the short version... When I bought my first longarm machine, I thought it would be just a hobby—maybe something that could bring in a little extra money. I never imagined I could build a career in the quilting industry, and I definitely never thought I was smart enough to write a book. But life happened, and the last 18 years have been a journey beyond anything I could have dreamed. There was a point where machine quilting had to become my full-time job, and I’m forever grateful that this world exists. We all start somewhere, and the sky really is the limit! If you have a dream, go chase it! ✨ Need some machine quilting inspiration? Check out one of my free machine quilting classes today! Free Machine Quilting Class by Natalia Bonner – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingLife #DreamBig #QuiltingCareer #LongarmQuilting #QuiltYourPassion #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity

Drop a 'blend' in the comments if you love quilting without extra stops! 👇 "Do you cut the bobbin thread at the end of every line of quilting?" No, not necessarily! I love using SoFine! and SuperBob bobbins—they’re super fine and blend beautifully—so I always try to quilt as much as possible without stopping and cutting my threads. Less stopping = smoother quilting! 🧵✨ This quilt I’m working on is actually the sample from one of my favorite classes, Visual Guide to Machine Quilting Quilt Blocks! Speaking of quilting classes… have you checked out PNQ UNLIMITED yet? 🤩 When you enroll, you get instant, on-demand access to all 160+ PNQ Academy videos + all 30 of my machine quilting classes—it’s actually a steal of a deal! PNQ UNLIMITED WITH NATALIA BONNER www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #quiltingfun #customquilting #quiltinglove #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingcommunity #pnqacademy #pnqunlimited #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

Drop a 'blend' in the comments if you love quilting without extra stops! 👇 "Do you cut the bobbin thread at the end of every line of quilting?" No, not necessarily! I love using SoFine! and SuperBob bobbins—they’re super fine and blend beautifully—so I always try to quilt as much as possible without stopping and cutting my threads. Less stopping = smoother quilting! 🧵✨ This quilt I’m working on is actually the sample from one of my favorite classes, Visual Guide to Machine Quilting Quilt Blocks! Speaking of quilting classes… have you checked out PNQ UNLIMITED yet? 🤩 When you enroll, you get instant, on-demand access to all 160+ PNQ Academy videos + all 30 of my machine quilting classes—it’s actually a steal of a deal! PNQ UNLIMITED WITH NATALIA BONNER www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #quiltingfun #customquilting #quiltinglove #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingcommunity #pnqacademy #pnqunlimited #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

When marking your quilts, do you mark where your ruler edge is going to be or where you want your stitches? Great question! I actually do a bit of both—it really depends on the quilt and what I’m quilting. For some quilts, I’ll just mark simple reference points to guide my stitching, while for others, I’ll mark out the entire design in detail. It’s all about what works best for each project! In PNQ Academy, I share real quilting scenarios just like this. When you enroll, you’ll gain access to over 160 machine quilting videos, with two new ones added every month. It’s like hanging out with me in the studio as I walk you through my actual quilting process—marking, planning, and stitching in real time. Want to see how I approach marking for different quilts? Join PNQ Academy today! ✨ Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltMarking #QuiltingEducation #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #PNQAcademy

When marking your quilts, do you mark where your ruler edge is going to be or where you want your stitches? Great question! I actually do a bit of both—it really depends on the quilt and what I’m quilting. For some quilts, I’ll just mark simple reference points to guide my stitching, while for others, I’ll mark out the entire design in detail. It’s all about what works best for each project! In PNQ Academy, I share real quilting scenarios just like this. When you enroll, you’ll gain access to over 160 machine quilting videos, with two new ones added every month. It’s like hanging out with me in the studio as I walk you through my actual quilting process—marking, planning, and stitching in real time. Want to see how I approach marking for different quilts? Join PNQ Academy today! ✨ Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltMarking #QuiltingEducation #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #PNQAcademy

"Do I Quilt in Regular or Manual Mode?" Such a great question! Honestly, I think this comes down to personal preference. When I first taught myself how to machine quilt years ago, my machine only had two settings—manual or stitch-regulated. Every time I tried manual mode, I felt like I was totally out of control, so I never really practiced with it. But stitch-regulated mode? I loved how it felt from the start, and it just worked best for me. So I guess I’m an old dog—I stick with what I know! 😂 I know machines now have so many more features and settings, but I still go back to my stitch-regulated quilting, and most often, I’m quilting with my stitch length set at 13 SPI. By the way, how incredible is this quilt I’m getting ready to quilt for Errolyn? I can’t wait to get started! Of course, I’ll be sharing my full process soon in the PNQ Academy! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #LongarmQuilting #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #StitchRegulated #QuiltLife #PieceNQuilt #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltInspo

"Do I Quilt in Regular or Manual Mode?" Such a great question! Honestly, I think this comes down to personal preference. When I first taught myself how to machine quilt years ago, my machine only had two settings—manual or stitch-regulated. Every time I tried manual mode, I felt like I was totally out of control, so I never really practiced with it. But stitch-regulated mode? I loved how it felt from the start, and it just worked best for me. So I guess I’m an old dog—I stick with what I know! 😂 I know machines now have so many more features and settings, but I still go back to my stitch-regulated quilting, and most often, I’m quilting with my stitch length set at 13 SPI. By the way, how incredible is this quilt I’m getting ready to quilt for Errolyn? I can’t wait to get started! Of course, I’ll be sharing my full process soon in the PNQ Academy! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #LongarmQuilting #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #StitchRegulated #QuiltLife #PieceNQuilt #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltInspo

Want to learn more? Drop a 'Monday' in the comments, and I’ll send you the link to my latest tutorial! 🎥👇 "Do your videos help if you're not using a longarm machine?" Absolutely! 🙌 I’ve designed all my videos, classes, books, and even rulers so that anyone on any machine—as long as you can do free-motion quilting—can join in and quilt along! 🧵✨ We all start somewhere! Did you know I drop a brand new free video tutorial every Monday? 🎉 These weekly videos are packed with quilting tips, tricks, and inspiration—and they’ll give you just a tiny glimpse into my teaching style! https://www.youtube.com/nataliabonner www.piecenquilt.com #freemotionquilting #quiltingtips #quiltingfun #quiltersofinstagram #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #fmq #longarmquilting #quiltinglife #modernquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingclass #quiltingvideos #quiltinspo #quiltingeducation #learntoquilt

Drop a 'pin' in the comments if you’re team no-float! 👇 "Do you ever float your quilt top? Why or why not?" Nope, I never float my quilt tops! Even if I’m quilting something small—like a table runner—I still pin it to my leaders. Yes, call me old school, but I’ve found that by not floating, I can keep my quilt off the floor (huge win!) and keep it flat and square as I quilt. I truly think it’s personal preference, and the best thing you can do is try different methods to see what works best for YOU! Speaking of quilting methods… have you checked out PNQ Academy yet? With 160+ videos, it’s kind of like hanging out in the studio with me while I custom quilt gorgeous quilts! I share my process, plus tips and tricks on all aspects of quilting—so the inspiration is endless. Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingtips #machinequilting #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingfun #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingcommunity #pnqacademy

Drop a 'pin' in the comments if you’re team no-float! 👇 "Do you ever float your quilt top? Why or why not?" Nope, I never float my quilt tops! Even if I’m quilting something small—like a table runner—I still pin it to my leaders. Yes, call me old school, but I’ve found that by not floating, I can keep my quilt off the floor (huge win!) and keep it flat and square as I quilt. I truly think it’s personal preference, and the best thing you can do is try different methods to see what works best for YOU! Speaking of quilting methods… have you checked out PNQ Academy yet? With 160+ videos, it’s kind of like hanging out in the studio with me while I custom quilt gorgeous quilts! I share my process, plus tips and tricks on all aspects of quilting—so the inspiration is endless. Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingtips #machinequilting #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingfun #fmq #modernquilting #quiltingcommunity #pnqacademy

Comment "motivate" and I'll send you information about my FREE machine quilting classes! "How do you stay motivated?" For me, the variety of quilts I get to quilt is a huge factor in keeping me inspired! I truly love the quilting process, so even though machine quilting for clients is my "job," it still feels like something fun to do every day. ✨ I also make sure to squeeze in time to quilt for myself—that’s when I let my creativity run wild! Quilting just for fun keeps me excited and helps me avoid burnout. I know it’s easy to feel stuck or unmotivated sometimes. If that’s where you’re at, check out one of my free machine quilting classes—a little fun and inspiration might be just what the doctor ordered! 🧵💖 #longarmquilting #quiltingmotivation #machinequilting #quiltersofinstagram #freemotionquilting #quiltingfun #quiltingcommunity #fmq #customquilting #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro #quiltinglove

Comment "motivate" and I'll send you information about my FREE machine quilting classes! "How do you stay motivated?" For me, the variety of quilts I get to quilt is a huge factor in keeping me inspired! I truly love the quilting process, so even though machine quilting for clients is my "job," it still feels like something fun to do every day. ✨ I also make sure to squeeze in time to quilt for myself—that’s when I let my creativity run wild! Quilting just for fun keeps me excited and helps me avoid burnout. I know it’s easy to feel stuck or unmotivated sometimes. If that’s where you’re at, check out one of my free machine quilting classes—a little fun and inspiration might be just what the doctor ordered! 🧵💖 #longarmquilting #quiltingmotivation #machinequilting #quiltersofinstagram #freemotionquilting #quiltingfun #quiltingcommunity #fmq #customquilting #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro #quiltinglove

Drop a 'thread' in the comments if you love playing with color! 👇 "Do you change thread color for each section of the block, especially with contrasting solids? Do you keep the bobbin consistent?" This is such a great question, and honestly, there’s no one right answer—it totally depends on the quilt! In PNQ Academy, I share over 160 real quilts I’ve quilted for clients, and you’ll see that sometimes I quilt an entire quilt with just one thread color on top and bottom, and sometimes I’ll use 20+ different colors! It really just depends on what I’m quilting. A lot goes into deciding—things like the fabrics used, whether I want the quilting to stand out or blend in.. If a quilt has bold solid colors, sometimes one thread color just won’t work, and I’ll need to switch it up. But other times, using a neutral thread that blends across the quilt just makes the whole process smoother. As for the bobbin, I usually keep it consistent, but if I’m changing top thread colors a lot, sometimes I’ll switch bobbins too. There’s no perfect formula—it’s all about what looks best on that specific quilt! If you want to see my full process and how I make these decisions in real-time, PNQ Academy is the perfect place to dive in. You’ll get to see tons of real quilts and how I choose thread colors for each one! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingthreads #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingcommunity #fmq #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

Drop a 'thread' in the comments if you love playing with color! 👇 "Do you change thread color for each section of the block, especially with contrasting solids? Do you keep the bobbin consistent?" This is such a great question, and honestly, there’s no one right answer—it totally depends on the quilt! In PNQ Academy, I share over 160 real quilts I’ve quilted for clients, and you’ll see that sometimes I quilt an entire quilt with just one thread color on top and bottom, and sometimes I’ll use 20+ different colors! It really just depends on what I’m quilting. A lot goes into deciding—things like the fabrics used, whether I want the quilting to stand out or blend in.. If a quilt has bold solid colors, sometimes one thread color just won’t work, and I’ll need to switch it up. But other times, using a neutral thread that blends across the quilt just makes the whole process smoother. As for the bobbin, I usually keep it consistent, but if I’m changing top thread colors a lot, sometimes I’ll switch bobbins too. There’s no perfect formula—it’s all about what looks best on that specific quilt! If you want to see my full process and how I make these decisions in real-time, PNQ Academy is the perfect place to dive in. You’ll get to see tons of real quilts and how I choose thread colors for each one! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingthreads #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingcommunity #fmq #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

Worried about fabric shifting while quilting on a sit-down machine? Let’s talk about it! 🤔✨ This is a great question! I’ve designed all of my classes and videos so that anyone—on any machine—can quilt along with me! The key is making sure your machine lets you drop the feed dogs and move the fabric freely. In my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, we start with the basics—batting, thread, and basting—so you’ll feel totally prepared before you even start stitching! As for temporary spray adhesives like 505, if it’s not gunking up your machine, go for it! But there are other great options too, like thread basting, pin basting, and even fusible battings designed specifically for this. No matter what method you choose, we all start somewhere—and I’d love to help you on your quilting journey! 💕 Check out Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting today! 🎉 Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #FMQ #FreeMotionQuilting #QuiltingBasics #QuiltTips #QuiltingLife #NotBoringQuilting

Worried about fabric shifting while quilting on a sit-down machine? Let’s talk about it! 🤔✨ This is a great question! I’ve designed all of my classes and videos so that anyone—on any machine—can quilt along with me! The key is making sure your machine lets you drop the feed dogs and move the fabric freely. In my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, we start with the basics—batting, thread, and basting—so you’ll feel totally prepared before you even start stitching! As for temporary spray adhesives like 505, if it’s not gunking up your machine, go for it! But there are other great options too, like thread basting, pin basting, and even fusible battings designed specifically for this. No matter what method you choose, we all start somewhere—and I’d love to help you on your quilting journey! 💕 Check out Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting today! 🎉 Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #FMQ #FreeMotionQuilting #QuiltingBasics #QuiltTips #QuiltingLife #NotBoringQuilting

Do you use the same color thread on the back as you do on the top? Great question! The quilt police might say you have to—but I used to believe them too. Over time, with lots of practice, I’ve learned that it really depends on the quilt, the quilting design, and the thread colors I’m using. Sometimes, I’ll use multiple thread colors on the top and just one on the back. But on a quilt like this one I’m working on, I’m using black thread on the border (top and bottom), and white thread on the body (top and bottom). It all comes down to what works best for that quilt! Want to see real quilting decisions in action? Inside PNQ Academy, I share over 160 videos where I walk you through my process, plus I add two new videos every month—so the inspiration never stops! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltingThread #FMQ #QuiltingDecisions #QuiltBetter #PNQAcademy

Do you use the same color thread on the back as you do on the top? Great question! The quilt police might say you have to—but I used to believe them too. Over time, with lots of practice, I’ve learned that it really depends on the quilt, the quilting design, and the thread colors I’m using. Sometimes, I’ll use multiple thread colors on the top and just one on the back. But on a quilt like this one I’m working on, I’m using black thread on the border (top and bottom), and white thread on the body (top and bottom). It all comes down to what works best for that quilt! Want to see real quilting decisions in action? Inside PNQ Academy, I share over 160 videos where I walk you through my process, plus I add two new videos every month—so the inspiration never stops! Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltingThread #FMQ #QuiltingDecisions #QuiltBetter #PNQAcademy

"How long did it take to gain control of the machine?" To be completely honest, I’ve been machine quilting full-time for 18 years—I’ve literally quilted thousands of quilts—and I’m still improving with every single one. My creativity grows, my skills and control get better, and my confidence in my quilting continues to build. It’s a journey, and it never really stops! If you’re looking to build your skills, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting—in both the book and the class, I walk you through over 50 free-motion quilting motifs and share why consistent practice is everything. The movement may feel different when quilting on different machines, but the paths you follow remain the same—so keep practicing, even just 20 minutes a day. You’ll never improve without practice, but I promise, the progress is worth it! 💕 Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #FMQ #MachineQuilting #KeepQuilting #PracticeMakesProgress #QuiltingLife #FreeMotionQuilting #NotBoringQuilting

"How long did it take to gain control of the machine?" To be completely honest, I’ve been machine quilting full-time for 18 years—I’ve literally quilted thousands of quilts—and I’m still improving with every single one. My creativity grows, my skills and control get better, and my confidence in my quilting continues to build. It’s a journey, and it never really stops! If you’re looking to build your skills, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Free-Motion Quilting—in both the book and the class, I walk you through over 50 free-motion quilting motifs and share why consistent practice is everything. The movement may feel different when quilting on different machines, but the paths you follow remain the same—so keep practicing, even just 20 minutes a day. You’ll never improve without practice, but I promise, the progress is worth it! 💕 Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #FMQ #MachineQuilting #KeepQuilting #PracticeMakesProgress #QuiltingLife #FreeMotionQuilting #NotBoringQuilting

comments if you love quilting applique! 👇 "Why do people rarely quilt over applique? I see you did, but most of the time, it gets left unstitched." Honestly, this is 100% personal preference and really depends on the quilt! 🧵✨ Some quilts just scream for quilting over the applique, while others look perfect without it. A few things I consider when deciding: ✔️ Size matters – Large applique pieces sometimes need quilting to secure that area. ✔️ Bulk & fusible – Some appliques create too much thickness for smooth quilting. ✔️ Overall look – Some quilts just don’t need the extra stitching! I actually go over this in several PNQ Academy videos, showing real quilts and exactly why I quilt the way I do! If you haven’t enrolled yet, now is the perfect time—you’ll get to see all the decision-making behind my custom quilting in action. ✨ Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingapplique #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingcommunity #fmq #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

comments if you love quilting applique! 👇 "Why do people rarely quilt over applique? I see you did, but most of the time, it gets left unstitched." Honestly, this is 100% personal preference and really depends on the quilt! 🧵✨ Some quilts just scream for quilting over the applique, while others look perfect without it. A few things I consider when deciding: ✔️ Size matters – Large applique pieces sometimes need quilting to secure that area. ✔️ Bulk & fusible – Some appliques create too much thickness for smooth quilting. ✔️ Overall look – Some quilts just don’t need the extra stitching! I actually go over this in several PNQ Academy videos, showing real quilts and exactly why I quilt the way I do! If you haven’t enrolled yet, now is the perfect time—you’ll get to see all the decision-making behind my custom quilting in action. ✨ Piece N Quilt Academy www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingapplique #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #customquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingcommunity #fmq #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

Drop a 'relax' in the comments if you’ve ever gripped too tight while ruler quilting! 👇 "When I do ruler work, I have a hard time moving the longarm but have to keep tight so the ruler doesn’t move." I totally get it! When you first start ruler quilting—whether on a longarm or a sit-down machine—it feels natural to grip everything really tight. But trust me, the secret to smooth ruler quilting is actually relaxing! When gliding the ruler foot along the side of the ruler, you should be using gentle pressure—both on the ruler pushing against the foot and on your hand guiding the machine. If you're gripping too tight, you're actually making it harder to move the machine smoothly. This is so important that in some of my ruler quilting classes, I’ve actually told my students to grab a sharpie and write "GENTLE PRESSURE" on their hands. 😂 So take a deep breath, loosen up, and enjoy the process! If you want to dive deeper into ruler quilting and learn all the basics to get started like a pro, check out my book Visual Guide to Creative Straight-Line Quilting—it’s packed with everything you need! Visual Guide to Creative Straight-Line Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #rulerquilting #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #longarmquilting #quiltingfun #quiltingtools #fmq #modernquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingclass #learntoquilt #quiltingeducation #quiltlikeapro

Drop a 'relax' in the comments if you’ve ever gripped too tight while ruler quilting! 👇 "When I do ruler work, I have a hard time moving the longarm but have to keep tight so the ruler doesn’t move." I totally get it! When you first start ruler quilting—whether on a longarm or a sit-down machine—it feels natural to grip everything really tight. But trust me, the secret to smooth ruler quilting is actually relaxing! When gliding the ruler foot along the side of the ruler, you should be using gentle pressure—both on the ruler pushing against the foot and on your hand guiding the machine. If you're gripping too tight, you're actually making it harder to move the machine smoothly. This is so important that in some of my ruler quilting classes, I’ve actually told my students to grab a sharpie and write "GENTLE PRESSURE" on their hands. 😂 So take a deep breath, loosen up, and enjoy the process! If you want to dive deeper into ruler quilting and learn all the basics to get started like a pro, check out my book Visual Guide to Creative Straight-Line Quilting—it’s packed with everything you need! Visual Guide to Creative Straight-Line Quilting – Piece N Quilt www.piecenquilt.com #rulerquilting #machinequilting #quiltingtips #freemotionquilting #quiltersofinstagram #longarmquilting #quiltingfun #quiltingtools #fmq #modernquilting #quiltinglove #quiltingclass #learntoquilt #quiltingeducation #quiltlikeapro

How do you quilt right to left without your thread breaking? Any tips? Great question! One little trick that has really helped me is rotating my needle. I actually turn it just slightly so that the eye of the needle is in about the 5:30 position—just a tiny tilt to the right. This small adjustment can make a big difference! I also use SoFine! Thread, which is super strong and has definitely helped reduce thread breakage. ✨ Want more quilting tips & tricks? I drop a brand new FREE video tutorial every Monday! Hit that follow button so you don’t miss it! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgIWNdo08B4fP_cl74fWKQ www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #ThreadBreakage #QuiltBetter #FMQ #QuiltingCommunity #QuiltingTutorials

"How do you handle ergonomic issues?" Such a great question, and honestly, this might be the most important part of machine quilting—taking care of your body! Over the years, I’ve found a few things that have helped me quilt at a high volume for so long without injury. The first thing I did when I got my longarm was raise my machine way up. This simple adjustment made a huge difference in my posture and comfort. I actually have a free video where I talk all about this! The next thing is to listen to your body. I never quilt for more than 30 minutes at a time. I quilt for a bit, then take a break, stretch, work on something else, go for a walk, and repeat this cycle all day long. And lastly—my favorite—I lift weights and stretch every single day. When I was 25 and a new longarm quilter, I was going to physical therapy multiple times a week from the strain quilting put on my body. That was my wake-up call. If I was going to do this long-term, I needed to take care of myself. For more than a decade, I’ve been lifting weights at least five days a week, and it has made all the difference! Did you know I drop a free video every Monday? Some include tips and tricks, like why my longarm is so high, and others are full free-motion quilting tutorials! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgIWNdo08B4fP_cl74fWKQ www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingErgonomics #LongarmQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingTips #QuiltStrong #TakeCareOfYourBody #NotBoringQuilting

"How do you handle ergonomic issues?" Such a great question, and honestly, this might be the most important part of machine quilting—taking care of your body! Over the years, I’ve found a few things that have helped me quilt at a high volume for so long without injury. The first thing I did when I got my longarm was raise my machine way up. This simple adjustment made a huge difference in my posture and comfort. I actually have a free video where I talk all about this! The next thing is to listen to your body. I never quilt for more than 30 minutes at a time. I quilt for a bit, then take a break, stretch, work on something else, go for a walk, and repeat this cycle all day long. And lastly—my favorite—I lift weights and stretch every single day. When I was 25 and a new longarm quilter, I was going to physical therapy multiple times a week from the strain quilting put on my body. That was my wake-up call. If I was going to do this long-term, I needed to take care of myself. For more than a decade, I’ve been lifting weights at least five days a week, and it has made all the difference! Did you know I drop a free video every Monday? Some include tips and tricks, like why my longarm is so high, and others are full free-motion quilting tutorials! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgIWNdo08B4fP_cl74fWKQ www.piecenquilt.com #MachineQuilting #QuiltingErgonomics #LongarmQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingTips #QuiltStrong #TakeCareOfYourBody #NotBoringQuilting

"Do you have a ruler plate on your machine?" Yes! And honestly, this might be one of the only things I’m the quilt police about. If you look at my machine up there on the screen, you’ll see my Gammill ruler base—the OG version I’ve had for 18 years, and it’s still going strong! When it comes to ruler quilting, having the right tools isn’t optional—it’s essential. Trying to quilt without a ruler base can damage your quilt, your machine, and even yourself. And please, don’t try using a rotary ruler just because you have one. If you’re like me, you’ll probably break it—and that’s a sad day. Machine quilting rulers are thicker than regular rulers because they’re designed to glide next to a ruler foot, which is also thick. You need a large, flat base to gently hold the ruler as you move the machine along the edge. I say this from experience—I’ve messed up my timing, broken rulers, and even quilted through my fingers trying to do it the wrong way! Looking for more machine quilting inspiration? Did you know I release a free video tutorial every Monday? Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and techniques to help you quilt with confidence! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgIWNdo08B4fP_cl74fWKQ www.piecenquilt.com #RulerQuilting #MachineQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingTools #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltWithConfidence #NotBoringQuilting #QuiltLife

"Do you have a ruler plate on your machine?" Yes! And honestly, this might be one of the only things I’m the quilt police about. If you look at my machine up there on the screen, you’ll see my Gammill ruler base—the OG version I’ve had for 18 years, and it’s still going strong! When it comes to ruler quilting, having the right tools isn’t optional—it’s essential. Trying to quilt without a ruler base can damage your quilt, your machine, and even yourself. And please, don’t try using a rotary ruler just because you have one. If you’re like me, you’ll probably break it—and that’s a sad day. Machine quilting rulers are thicker than regular rulers because they’re designed to glide next to a ruler foot, which is also thick. You need a large, flat base to gently hold the ruler as you move the machine along the edge. I say this from experience—I’ve messed up my timing, broken rulers, and even quilted through my fingers trying to do it the wrong way! Looking for more machine quilting inspiration? Did you know I release a free video tutorial every Monday? Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and techniques to help you quilt with confidence! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgIWNdo08B4fP_cl74fWKQ www.piecenquilt.com #RulerQuilting #MachineQuilting #FMQ #QuiltingTools #QuiltingTips #LongarmQuilting #QuiltWithConfidence #NotBoringQuilting #QuiltLife

Drop a 'height' in the comments if you’re all about quilting comfortably! 👇 "What is the best height to set up your longarm so you don’t get body aches?" Well, I can tell you from experience—longarm quilting is VERY physical! While I hope you never get any body aches, taking care of your body is just as important as setting up your machine at the right height. I personally have my machine set really high, and I think that’s helped me tremendously! Not only does it keep me from hunching over, but I also feel like I have more control when my machine is up higher. I actually have a free video where I chat all about this—want the link? Drop a 'height' in the comments, and I’ll send it your way! 👇 https://youtu.be/-zWQhtQAJWw #longarmquilting #quiltingsetup #quiltersofinstagram #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #fmq #quiltinglife #customquilting #quiltingfun #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro #quiltingergonomics

Drop a 'height' in the comments if you’re all about quilting comfortably! 👇 "What is the best height to set up your longarm so you don’t get body aches?" Well, I can tell you from experience—longarm quilting is VERY physical! While I hope you never get any body aches, taking care of your body is just as important as setting up your machine at the right height. I personally have my machine set really high, and I think that’s helped me tremendously! Not only does it keep me from hunching over, but I also feel like I have more control when my machine is up higher. I actually have a free video where I chat all about this—want the link? Drop a 'height' in the comments, and I’ll send it your way! 👇 https://youtu.be/-zWQhtQAJWw #longarmquilting #quiltingsetup #quiltersofinstagram #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #fmq #quiltinglife #customquilting #quiltingfun #modernquilting #pnqacademy #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro #quiltingergonomics

"How do you decide which quilting setup is right for you? I'm looking to get a longarm!" There are several factors to consider when choosing a longarm that’s right for YOU! I personally had only heard great things about Gammill—the size, the quality, everything just worked perfectly for me. But finding the right setup is all about what fits your space, budget, and quilting goals! Here are a few things to think about before investing in a longarm: ✨ Space – Do you have room for a full-frame setup, or would a sit-down model work better? 💰 Budget – Longarms are an investment! Consider financing options and what features are most important. 🧵 What do you want to quilt? – If you plan to do custom quilting, ruler work, or heavy-duty edge-to-edge quilting, you might need different features. 🚀 Test it out! – If possible, visit a dealer, try different machines, and get a feel for what works for you. At the end of the day, the best machine is the one that fits your quilting style and goals! ✨ And once you decide, come back and check out PNQ Unlimited! It's actually a steal of a deal—you’ll get all of my machine quilting classes plus 160+ PNQ Academy videos included in the Unlimited plan! It's everything you need to start quilting with confidence! 🎉 PNQ UNLIMITED WITH NATALIA BONNER www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingsetup #quiltersofinstagram #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #fmq #quiltinglife #customquilting #quiltingfun #modernquilting #pnqacademy #pnqunlimited #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

"How do you decide which quilting setup is right for you? I'm looking to get a longarm!" There are several factors to consider when choosing a longarm that’s right for YOU! I personally had only heard great things about Gammill—the size, the quality, everything just worked perfectly for me. But finding the right setup is all about what fits your space, budget, and quilting goals! Here are a few things to think about before investing in a longarm: ✨ Space – Do you have room for a full-frame setup, or would a sit-down model work better? 💰 Budget – Longarms are an investment! Consider financing options and what features are most important. 🧵 What do you want to quilt? – If you plan to do custom quilting, ruler work, or heavy-duty edge-to-edge quilting, you might need different features. 🚀 Test it out! – If possible, visit a dealer, try different machines, and get a feel for what works for you. At the end of the day, the best machine is the one that fits your quilting style and goals! ✨ And once you decide, come back and check out PNQ Unlimited! It's actually a steal of a deal—you’ll get all of my machine quilting classes plus 160+ PNQ Academy videos included in the Unlimited plan! It's everything you need to start quilting with confidence! 🎉 PNQ UNLIMITED WITH NATALIA BONNER www.piecenquilt.com #longarmquilting #quiltingsetup #quiltersofinstagram #machinequilting #quiltingcommunity #fmq #quiltinglife #customquilting #quiltingfun #modernquilting #pnqacademy #pnqunlimited #learntoquilt #quiltlikeapro

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