I love to read. If I’m not sewing I’m probably reading. If I’m not reading I’m probably sewing and if I’m not reading OR sewing it’s probably apple season.
So, when my friend Trish forwarded me a call for bloggers to be on a blog tour book review for her friend, 
Megan Dougherty’s (aka The Bitchy Stitcher), new self-published book, “Quilting Isn’t Funny,” I was IN!
First, I’m going to tell you what I thought of the book and then you’ll find out a way you can win your very own SIGNED copy! The blog tour started at the beginning of December and I’m wrapping it up on my blog.
Megan Doughtery is a quilting humor columnist. This book is funny. It’s satirical and at times a bit raunchy. I personally loved it. If you aren’t into these things and aren’t a fan of a bit of potty mouth this book is not for you.
Side note: Yesterday at coffee with a friend I may have accidently let a few words slip and made the comment that I had to watch my ‘Potty Mouth’. Pip (my two year old) immediately opened her mouth with eyes wide in shock. Then she took her pudgy little hands and opened my mouth to see the potty inside. My friend spit out her coffee.
The fact that this book is comprised of Megan’s humor columns from Quilter’s Home Magazine, from Generation Q, and from her own blog, and two never-before-seen pieces made it an easier read for me. I may have a hard time focusing and need to be doing many things at once. I liked that I could read a chapter, laugh, do something else, and come back to it without forgetting what was going on in the story. This book was perfect for me!
A few things you should know:
- This book is completely self-published.
- You can purchase the book directly through Megan HERE. It is available as a softcover book or as a PDF.
I’ve been skimming the book to try to find just a couple examples of my favorite lines – but of course…I’m having trouble just picking a few!
I’ll admit. I never thought I’d be into Zombie’s but after one episode of “The Walking Dead” I was hooked. I’m typically a multi-tasker but with that show I tend to ignore the other 10 things I’m trying to do at the same time. I could relate pretty well to Megan’s “A Quilter’s Survival Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse”.. I also had to laugh because the number 1 tip is “Work on your hand sewing skills.” She mentioned that “You could, of course, invest in a treadle machine, but since you’ll be forced to walk hundreds of miles to the “virus-free zone”.” This past summer I discovered a treadle at a garage sale that does not need electricity to work it. I was ecstatic because now I could sew even if the power went out! (I haven’t had to do this yet…but I honestly did think this and I probably mentioned it to my husband who just rolled his eyes at me – and ps…I’m not too bad of hand sewer either #allset).
I just have to mention one other chapter – “How to Talk to your Teenager About Quilting”. There are some truly classic lines in this short story…one of my favorite’s is when you teenager has questions like “What is that lady doing with that ruler?” A line toward the end of the story “Explain the joys of having a quilting partner who is an equal – not one who uses your machine and then never calls you but tells everybody else that you’re willing to “stitch in the ditch” on the first date” not only made me laugh but brought back a recent hilarious incident at my local quilt guild meeting. A friend of mine was demo-ing how to add a binding to a quilt that has a faux piping. To finish this technique you use your ‘stitch in the ditch’ foot to help create the faux piping effect. Anyway – the whole point of this story is that at some point as she described how she did this she says, “I just ride that tongue all the way down”. I’ll admit…I started to giggle. The room started to laugh. Everyone calmed down. I started to laugh again and I had to sit down and no longer be my friend’s Vanna – but seriously – what can you expect? I’m honestly couldn’t stop laughing.
These are just a few of the hilarious moments and point of views that Megan shares in her stories. Trust me – you definitely need to read the chapter on “A Quilter’s Last Will and Testament” and of course, “Quilting with Kids.”
Are you hooked? Well – you can win your very own signed copy of Megan Dougherty’s book ‘Quilting Isn’t Funny’ by doing one of two things –
Leave a comment telling me a funny thing that you’ve had happen to you while quilting
OR
tell me your favorite quilt block. I know – two completely different things.
I would prefer a funny story but I realize it’s not always easy to think of them in the five minutes you want to spend when trying to win a prize so I’m giving you an easy out to still enter. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure I can contact you easily. If I have to go searching around for an email address I will just randomly choose a new comment to win the prize.
The giveaway is open until the end of the day on Friday, January 24th.
While I still have your attention – be sure to check out the rest of ‘The Bitchy Sticher’s’ Site.
I personally think the “Don’t Drink and Quilt’ graphic is hilarious and may just have to get a new mug for my collection. 
And Megan put her three favorite things all into a calendar for everyone to enjoy – it’s the calendar that features Quilts, Shirtless Men, and Spicy Burrito’s all at once! You can order your very own HERE – and the profits go for a good cause too!
My favorite quilt block is something i can stitch up quickly.
I once wound my hair onto the bobbin.
Would love to win!
Slightly embarrassing: I was giving a presentation at guild, and you use your ‘stitch in the ditch’ foot … well, you know the rest. 🙂
And I dont want to win a copy of the book, so take me out of the drawing. I just wanted to say thanks for participating in the blog tour!
When some suggested that finger cots (those latex finger coverings that proctologists use during thier exams) worked great when you are hand sewing, to pull the needle through multiple layers of cloth, I went to a local medical supply store and ordered a case of them for our quilt guild. The sales clerk asked me if I worked for a proctologist and I told her "no, these are for my quilt guild". I got some very strange looks, believe me.
Sometimes as experienced quilters we forget what NEWBIES may not know. On the first night of teaching some ladies who wanted to learn quilting, I was yakking away some instructions while the lady's were setting up. A lady named Hilda raised her hand and said, "I can't find any of the buttons your talking about on my machine." Imagine my surprise when I walked up to her machine and saw that it was backwards. I burst out laughing. It was the biggest wake up call for me on dishing out better instructions. Hilda was by far the funniest person I'd ever quilted with as that was just the beginning of her NEWBIE faux pas.
This book sounds awesome!!!!!
love string quilt blocks..
I like paper pieced stars.
While stitching with my bee group in Florida one of the ladies decided to show us her exercises for relieving back strain from sitting at the sewing machine. On her hands and knees, she began waving her posterior and, of course, I has to record her posterior for posterity!! You must remember, we are all over 60! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book 🙂
I would love to tell you a funny story, but am having a hard time thinking of one! Maybe it's because I need to stop drinking and quilting, HA! I think my favorite block is a friendship star. I'd love to read this book!
love quilting
Kim, we need to get Megan to join us at #talknt! I've only recently discovered her and I love her sense of humor. I'd love to win a copy of her book.
I must have a ton funny quilting stories but of course I can't think of a single one right now. (I am enjoying reading everyone's.) My favorite block is the double wedding ring. (Which I still haven't made!)
My funniest story involves a police detective and freezer paper. Too long for here, but if I win, I'll type it all out for you.
my kids do all kinds of exciting things with the scraps… my favorite is that my 5 year old daughter made my 2 year old son into a puppy with a scrap leash for the entire afternoon. 🙂
Also, sewing training pants for boys with fake fly holes was pretty entertaining to do at midnight with a friend… I don't remember WHAT we laughed so hard about… just that the whole… lack of hole thing… lots of fodder for good late night giggles!
I guess my funniest quilt story is the time I jumped out of bed to sketch out a design that came to mind for my Sweetie. It's got a sun on one side, and the moon & stars on the other. I made it, basted it, and we've used it on our bed ever since, even though I've never finished the quilting. It's been 20 years! Ack!!
Churn dash!
I sure would love to win! Thanks for a chance!
I fell in love with the chimney swallow block (have fun researching that one if you are unfamiliar with it!)
At my guilds first sew in I had to bring Anne because I didn't have a sitter that day. I decided not to bring my machine and to only bring some hand sewing project to work on, my theory was that it would be much easier for me to pay attention to her and keep tabs on her if I wasn't distracted bt the whirring of my machine. Well I did a fine job keeping tabs on her but somehow managed so sew my medic alert bracelet into my bag where I keep my hexie's. I'm still not sure how I managed to do that but all the ladies got a good giggle out of it as they seam ripped me loose. 🙂
My favorite block is the Wonky Star 🙂
Hmm, funny or sad? I just finished this 12.5" feathered star block, for a private block exchange. The block takes me about 3-4 hours from sart to fiinish, with breaks for family, eating, phone calls, etc. I made the outside edges extra large so I would have plenty of space to square it up. I go to cut it down and somehow my ruler slips and I go ziiiiip! Cutting off way too much. Now one side has about an eight of an inch background left. So if I leave it as is the points will cut off when it gets sewn together. If I redo just that corner there are about 15 seams to unpick, recut and re-sew, 30 altogether. Sigh.
I'm a fan of wonky stars!
No funny story today. I just returned from my quilt guild's retreat. The things that seem hilarious at 1 am are not that funny in the light of day! My favorite block is improvisational.
Well, I recently started making blocks from Tula Pink's City Sampler book. I was trying to explain to my husband what they were over dinner. I said, they are Tula Pink blocks, from her new book. (I talk about Tula as if we're old friends, of course.) My 5 year old looked at me with a question on his face and asked, "where are you getting Tulips? It's still snowing outside!" Made me laugh.
Sorry, no funny quilting stories here and since I've only made a few quilted items using improv "blocks" I guess I'd have to say improv is my favorite. This book sounds like a fun read!
I still like the old tried and true blocks; log cabin & nine patch.
lol I was hand stitching a small cover top in the heat HA! of our British summer and was way too warm, hot flushes not with standing you understand? So living alone, I stripped down to my bar and pant and legs curled up under me, sat on the settee,
It was far too hot to sit outside and the cool of the house was lovely.
Until my son who had popped by to collect somethign unanounced, used his key and walked in on me!
At his age he didnt need to see his ageing, excess, exposed mother's flesh believe me and I seriously wished I had accomplished way more cover top than I had done!
The 3' square-ish cover wasnt quite enough to preserve either of our dignity's! lol
We dont talk about it now, naturally, it's as if it never happened lol Although he has my permision to mention it at my funeral to raise a laugh if needs be!
christinezigler123@gmail.com
As we waited for the bride and groom to arrive, my mother played "show-and-tell" with some of her latest projects–a bunch of really fun and wildly colorful quilts. We're actually in the process of investigating whether or not she can sell these in my etsy shop, or if she'll have to get a shop of her own (which, let's be real–that's not going to happen). This particular event resulted in Eric saying my favorite quote of the whole weekend.
As all the aunts and female cousins rushed over to ooooh and ahhhh over the quilt tops, Eric turned to me and my Uncle David , and with a twinkle in his eye, said,
"You know, there's just nothing as exciting as a good quilt."short story from my daughter's blog. Now a catch word when we all want to have a good laugh.Thanks
i have quilted for over forty years. all of my quilts are hand pieced, hand quilted, and donated to charity. i am a self taught quilter and when i started quilting my first project, a baby quilt, i was so proud of myself as i hand quilted the top and was making such good time as i watched tv. until i tried to put it aside to eat. i had stitched it to my blouse!! and not only that but i had quilted oppisite corners together!! but with my trusty seam ripper, i finally got it right. thank you for a great giveaway. babscorbitt@gmail.com
No funny stories but my favorite block is anything that can be made with a HST.
I know I have had some funny experiences sewing, but none come to mind right now. I like the wonky log cabin block.
So new to quilting that I have no funny stories. Some sweet moments however with my little girls playing with spools of thread and bright fabric scraps creating whatever their active imaginations dreamed up while I quickly sewed as much as I could for those brief bits of time.
Big stars in quilts draw my eye.
I don't really have a favorite quilt block. I love anything that looks like stars or flowers.
I need some good laughing! I haven't had any real sewing laughing since I went to the Fat Quarterly Retreat and sat at Lu Summers' hand quilting table and listened to all the northerners giggle about what angle to put it in, and so on.. high time for a laugh! My favorite block is the log cabin– so many variations!
When I bought my treadle machine for $25, I was so excited that I could sew without power, which I actually have done when we lost power for a few days after Sandy hit (lost power came back snowed and lost it again).
So when making my bag to send my quilt to Quiltcon last year I ran into a problem. I made a pretty string piece for the front and was trying to decide where to sew the label on. I tried the top, but realized it didn't work when I made the tunnel for the tie. So I took off the tag and made the tunnel. Well, somehow The tag got sewn into the seam I made. So out came the seam ripper. I put the tag to the side and went to fix the bag, somehow I again sewed it into the seam. I was not a happy camper at all. I took it off, put it across the room on the ironing board and then fixed it again. Finally I was able to put the label where I wanted it on the bag, third times a charm.