Natalia Bonner has been passionate about piecing quilt tops for over twenty years. She started on her home machine and later invested in a longarm machine to elevate her skills. In 2007, while pregnant, Natalia quit her day job to become a full-time longarm quilter, purchasing a Gammill machine and diving into the world of longarm quilting.
Her love for quilting and creativity has only grown. From show quilts to simple baby quilts, Natalia is truly addicted to the art. She teaches at guilds and shows, has filmed TV shows, and her award-winning work has been featured in magazines and books. Natalia is also the author of several quilting books and the creator of the innovative Sway machine quilting rulers.
Every Monday, Natalia shares a new video on YouTube, offering a behind-the-scenes look at her custom machine quilting process.
Website: www.piecenquilt.com
Instagram: @nataliabonner
Facebook: Piece N Quilt
PNQ Academy: PNQ Academy
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Natalia Bonner
Today we start quilting with the Sway rulers, and this is your reminder: trust the curve.
I designed these rulers so you can mark and quilt using the same tool, making curved ruler quilting feel more intuitive and approachable. Slow down, use gentle pressure, and let the shape of the ruler guide your hands.
This first scalloped design is just the beginning. Once these curves start to click, you’ll see possibilities everywhere—different spacing, flipped designs, repeated patterns, and layered texture. One ruler, endless options.
Confidence comes from understanding the tools—and you’re building that right now.
🧵 Happy quilting, friends
👇 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you more info
18 hours ago | [YT] | 18
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Natalia Bonner
One of my favorite ways to elevate a simple free-motion swirl is by alternating directions.
This small change adds so much movement and keeps the texture from feeling flat—without making the design more complicated.
For today’s strip, focus on smooth curves, relaxed hands, and letting the swirls wander a bit. You don’t need perfect spacing or matching shapes. You just need flow.
This is a great design to slow down with, breathe through, and really enjoy the quilting process. The more you practice, the more natural it feels 🤍
If you’re following along with Strip by Strip, today’s light and breezy swirl is such a good one to come back to again and again.
👇 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you the info
🧵 Happy quilting, friends
1 day ago | [YT] | 20
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Natalia Bonner
Day 8 of Strip by Strip 🧵✨ and it’s ruler quilting time!
Here’s a reminder I wish someone had told me sooner: ruler quilting doesn’t require a death grip or a locked wrist. Letting your ruler pivot just a bit as you quilt gives you smoother lines, better flow, and a whole lot more confidence—especially when designs change direction.
This strip is all about control without stiffness. Slow it down, breathe, and let the ruler help you instead of fighting it.
If you’re quilting along and loving this series (or want to jump in), comment STRIP and I’ll send you all the info 💌
Happy quilting, friends 🤍
2 days ago | [YT] | 25
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Natalia Bonner
Day #7 of Strip by Strip 🌸
Today we’re quilting flowers—and this is your reminder that quilting is not about perfection.
No two flowers are the same. No two stitches need to be either.
Relax your shoulders, keep your machine moving, and trust the process. Confidence grows with every pass.
We all start somewhere. Practice is progress.
✨ Comment STRIP below and I’ll send you all the info
💬 Share this with a quilting friend who needs permission to let go
Happy quilting 🤍
3 days ago | [YT] | 34
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Natalia Bonner
One of my biggest machine quilting tips—especially for improv quilting—is this: stop overthinking it.
When you’re mixing ruler work and free-motion quilting, choose one focus (spacing, direction, or texture) and let everything else flow naturally. You don’t need a perfect plan to create beautiful texture—you need movement, practice, and a little trust in yourself.
This is exactly what we’re doing in Strip #6—playing, experimenting, and creating bold, modern texture without rules. Remember, quilting isn’t about getting it “right,” it’s about learning what works for you.
We all start somewhere. Keep stitching 💛
👇 Comment STRIP for all the info
4 days ago | [YT] | 18
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Natalia Bonner
Before you stitch, doodle the design. Practicing the motion on paper helps your hands relax and flow once you move to the machine — especially in small spaces like 2-inch strips.
The Strip by Strip companion design workbook makes this easy. Every design is illustrated to scale so you can trace it, and there’s open space included for doodling and practice.
In my free Strip by Strip class, we focus on building confidence one strip at a time — no rush, just progress.
👉 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you all the info!
5 days ago | [YT] | 19
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Natalia Bonner
When it comes to ruler quilting, gentle pressure is everything. If you’re pushing, gripping, or forcing the ruler, things start to feel harder than they need to be. Light hands, relaxed shoulders, and let the ruler markings guide you.
I promise—when you relax, your stitches smooth out and your confidence grows.
This is exactly what we’re practicing in Strip #4 of my free Strip by Strip series 💛
👇 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you all the info so you can quilt along.
🧵 Happy quilting, friends
6 days ago | [YT] | 22
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Natalia Bonner
Day 3 of 99 days of machine quilting tips ✨
Today’s reminder is all about free-motion quilting and letting go of tension.
A light, gentle touch helps your stitches smooth out and your confidence grow. For me, quilting with just one hand is the most relaxed and natural way to move — but the key is finding what works best for you.
We’re practicing this one strip at a time inside my free Strip by Strip class, and it’s the perfect place to experiment, relax, and build confidence without pressure.
👇 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you all the info so you can quilt along with us 💛
1 week ago | [YT] | 24
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Natalia Bonner
✨ Same quilt. Completely different results. ✨
I just added a brand new PNQ Academy video where I’m custom machine quilting a Double Wedding Ring 2.0—and this one is quilted in a totally different way than the last Double Wedding Ring I shared.
We’re diving into: 🧵 Quilting paths
📏 Ruler quilting
✨ Free-motion quilting
…and how changing how you quilt can completely transform the final look—even with the same quilt design.
If you love seeing ideas come together in real time and want fresh inspiration at the machine, this video is waiting for you inside the PNQ Academy 💛
Oh—and we’re also on Day 2 of Strip by Strip, and you can still jump in, catch up, grab your rulers, and quilt right along with me. This is NOT a race—just learning, one strip at a time.
👇 Comment ACADEMY below and I’ll send you all the info!
1 week ago | [YT] | 28
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Natalia Bonner
Day 2 of my 99 days of machine quilting ✨
Today we’re talking ruler quilting and learning to trust the tool in your hands.
The markings on the 4-N-1 ruler are designed to guide spacing and keep your quilting consistent. Relax your grip, slow your movements, and let the ruler help you create confident, even lines.
We’re practicing all of this one strip at a time inside my free Strip by Strip class — perfect for building ruler quilting confidence without overwhelm.
👉 Comment STRIP and I’ll send you the info so you can quilt along with us 💛
1 week ago | [YT] | 27
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