Karen McTavish

I am so excited and honored to have been chosen for the MQX Teacher of the Year Award. Thank you to Janet-Lee and Mary (founders of MQX) and to everybody who voted. I especially thank those who wrote in such wonderful comments. The following paragraph is a composite of many people's words:

Karen's signature stitch, McTavishing, has changed the way machine quilters think about background quilting. You can see her influence at any quilt show. Just walk down the aisles and count all the quilts with McTavishing in them. She spearheaded the development of wholecloth design and quilting by machine, which resulted in the creation of a new wholecloth machine quilting category in judged shows. Karen also serves as a model and mentor through her passionate dedication to teaching and supporting other long arm quilters. Her books with included DVDs have brought teaching into motion, making quilting instruction available to quilters around the world. She recognizes that there are no limits in quilting and allows her students to create and soar.

For more information about MQX and the Teacher of the Year Award go to: www.mqxshow.com/newhome.html.

I have a new page on my website called Quilt Sale where I will be offering some of my quilts on the open market. I've had many requests to buy certain pieces so I am finally starting to offer this option. I'm just getting started so check back for more quilts.

Whitework Quilting.

Whitework Quilting by Karen McTavish is BACK IN PRINT (Limited Edition - Spring 2008)

Whitework Quilting combines the best of how-to, history and art. It is the comprehensive guide for designing wholecloth and adding trapunto to your quilts. Over 60 quilts showcase this historic style in clear photographic detail. Hardcover, 192 pages and comes with a satin marker ribbon.

Whitework Quilting was originally published in 2004. In 2006 this book went out of print. Recently, interest has been increasing and there has been a steady stream of quilters requesting that the book be brought back into print. My publishers decided to do a limited edition reprint.

This hardcover, square-backed book with a satin marker ribbon, features over 60 quilts, is 192 pages, full color and retails for $39.95.

Order Now!

(P.S. - The Secrets of Elemental Quilting is a great companion workbook for Whitework Quilting. Check it out on my products page.)

Overseas and out of country shipping will be recalculated to reflect actual cost and invoiced.

Check out my UTube video...

Karen's new headshot

Come to Duluth and visit my APQS showroom and quilting/teaching studio.

I am taking reservations for students who wish to have a smaller class setting from beginner to advanced longarm machine quilting. My Studio is located in Duluth, Minnesota, near the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus. I'm offering private classes at my studio with flexible scheduling. Both Custom Heirloom One Day Classes and Wholecloth Trapunto Extravaganza Two Day Classes are available. You decide what is right for you and email me at kmctavish@designerquilts.com to schedule your private class. Or give me a call at 218-391-8218. See my teaching page for Private Workshop descriptions, available dates for private classes and pictures of my studio.

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

APQS logo

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 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 have authored four books in the last 4 years. My first book, Quilting for Show, which was self-published, has been re-released (spring of 2007) with On-Word Bound Books. For information on my other books and products please see my products page.

Storm at 16 months.

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: Storm at 16 months on the right.

Karen's New Tat's

Karen's new tattoo

I mentioned using my designs for tattoos in The Secrets of Elemental Quilting and now I've gone ahead and done it. These feathers are my own designs. My right arm is still being worked on.

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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