Karen McTavish

I began machine quilting in 1997. I love this art form and have developed my own signature techniques such as Mctavishing, Scrollwork, Shadow and Color Trapunto, and of course Wholecloth/Whitework and Victorian Feathers. I teach all of these techniques in my workshops and classes.

My goal continues to be excellence in machine work, and teaching students how to improve their own machine quilting. I travel frequently offering classes, workshops, and lectures - check my teaching page for a location near you. If I am in your area I might be able to extend my trip to visit you. If I am not in your area and you would like me to visit, email me at kmctavish@designerquilts.com or give me a call at 218-391-8218 to schedule me to teach at your studio, guild or other event. If you want to see examples of my work please browse my gallery. If you are interested in my books (4 books currently in print) or other products please visit my products page.

Thanks for visiting. Looking forward to working with you. ~ Karen

I am a representative for APQS!

For those interested in a machine, you can come to Duluth and pick out the machine of your dreams and get FREE training in all areas of the longarm quilting world from Karen McTavish - as a bonus of coming to the studio. Get started on your longarm journey with Karen McTavish as your instructor; dedicated to helping you establish your business, your craft and your passion!

If you are interested in starting your own Longarm business or in using a longarm machine for your own personal use, please call and set up an appointment for a demonstration and a chance to Test Drive the APQS Longarm Quilting Machines. *Financing available. For more information about APQS machines look at their website: www.APQS.com

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Wild Women Quilting Tour

Wild Women Quilting Tour.

Karen McTavish and Sue Patten are offering special teaching tours around the country. They are teaching, lecturing, and making you laugh out loud. In addition, they are offering longarm maintenance and repair.

Look for this logo: Wild Women Quilting Tour. on Karen's teaching page to see where the talented duo will appear next.

Contact them at kmctavish@designerquilts.com to schedule an event in your area! Or, if they are going to be in your area why not contact them to plan an additional event with you and your group?

Karen's Bio

Karen with her family.

Longarm machine quilting allows me to combine my two passions: Wholecloth and Trapunto. I specialize in crafting award-winning heirloom quilts using techniques which allow machine quilters to replicate traditional hand-quilted effects. I have been featured on PBS’s Quilt Central, and HGTV’s Simply Quilts. My work has appeared in Joanne Line’s books, Quilts from the Quilt Makers Gift #1 and #2, Helen Squire's Mix and Match Patterns and numerous national magazines and journals. I authored four books in four years with On-Word Bound Books. For information on my books and other products please see my products page.

I have been a full-time professional longarm quilter since 1997. I work and teach from my studio and travel all over the country teaching McTavishing, Trapunto, Wholecloth Design and advanced longarm machine quilting workshops. If you are interested in taking in a class please contact me at any time. I live in Duluth, MN with my family.

Check out my links to see information about my products, teaching schedule, awards, gallery plus McTavishing pics, and my favorite links.

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