Karen McTavish

Hi, I'm 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 and more in my workshops and classes. I teach on Domestic and Longarm sewing machines, and also offer classes which do not need machines, just table space.

My goal continues to be excellence in workmanship, and teaching students how to improve their own quilting. For information on guild lectures, classes or convention proposals, please email me directly at kmctavish@designerquilts.com. Check my teaching page to see my schedule.

Notice: Private classes are unavailable at this time.

To see pictures of my studio visit my studio page. To see short video demonstrations of McTavishing and Victorian Feathers visit my links page and scroll down to the bottom of the page. If you want to see photo 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 C. McTavish

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. APQS logo

*Financing available. For more information about APQS machines look at their website: www.APQS.com

Quilting+Cello+Poem+Wedding

This is video is from the last wholecloth I was commissioned to do for the wedding couple you will see in the video. It's a nice video set to cello music by Kathy McTavish. It's also set to a poem done by the Duluth Poet Laureate, Sheila Packa. The three of us plus Lee Zimmerman are doing a project together with DAIP (Domestic Abuse Intervention Program) in October.

Silk Painting+Cello+Poetry+Quilting

Facing Truth and Reaching for Hope featured Lee Zimmerman (silk painter), Kathy McTavish (cellist), Sheila Packa (poet) and Karen McTavish (quilter). This event celebrated the thirty year anniversary of the Domestic Abuse Intervention Program (DAIP). This event was held in the Clyde Iron Works Building / 2920 West Michigan Street / Duluth, MN, 55806 / (218) 727-1150. Visit the website for more details: Brave Performers

Karen's Bio

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 several books including, 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. I am currently working on my 5th and 6th book. 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 and domestic machine quilting workshops. If you are interested in taking in a class please contact me at any time. For information on where I am teaching, please see my teaching page for a location nearest you.

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

home: :awards: :gallery: :links: :mctavishing: :products: :studio: :teaching