Meet Jenny K. Lyon | Free Motion Quilting Encourager-in-Chief

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny K. Lyon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny K., how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Ottawa, Illinois, a small town in north central Illinois. I am a fourth-generation quilter, as my Mother, Maternal Grandmother and Great Grandmothers all quilted. All three hailed from the Carmen, Manitoba area and warm quilts were a necessity. My Mother lost her thumb as a young girl and could not hand quilt. Her quilts were sent to the local Amish women for hand quilting. The quilting was beautiful! It was expected of young girls at that time to learn the needle arts. I was the youngest and I remember telling my Mom at around 6 years, “Don’t you think it’s about time I learned how to sew?”. We sewed on an old Singer, in a “sewing room” that was about 4’ square. I loved sewing garments and made quite a few of my own clothes.
I didn’t start quilting until my late 20’s and was living in Houston. It was so exciting to me to be able to make a quilt! Rotary cutters were new and The Thing at the time.
Life got busy with marriage and children, so I did not make another quilt until we moved to northern California in 1999. I call that my “Re-Entry Quilt”. It unleashed a passion that has not faded since!
I could not afford to send my quilts out, so I quickly realized that I would need to learn to quilt my own quilts, I did not have a choice. Because I made that commitment from the get-go, I quickly became adept at free motion quilting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I work in two bedrooms of my home, formerly occupied by my boys, who have left the nest. I took their rooms over the nano second they left:-) One room is primarily dedicated to the business side of things, as I travel to teach and lecture.

The other room is my studio, complete with a lovely view of my yard. I work on a regular domestic machine (BERNINA) and of course I have more that one (um, actually I have 4, plus some specialty machines if you really want to know).

I should be ashamed to admit that I listen/watch vapid tv while quilting; you know, the kind of “reality” tv you see on Bravo. In all fairness, I also am entertained by The Shark Tank. Go figure. I’m just looking for something mildly entertaining that I can listen to while enjoying my quilting. Anything too edifying would break my concentration.

Bottom line, I am entirely content when I am in my studio creating and quilting.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
May I add another section about Business?

I love to travel to teach and lecture about my work. I love meeting new people, whether it be students, guild members, strangers while traveling, you name it. I enjoy the adventure of new places, whether they be small towns that are not known as destination locations, or beautiful areas of our country. I have traveled to nearly every section of the country and there is something wonderful wherever I go.

When I visit a guild or shop and have extra time, I will usually want to either go to some art venue or hike while I”m there. That really gives me a feel for the area. I’ve learned so much from the traveling that I do.

I also teach and lecture virtually which has its own advantages. I do love having the extra time to create. There is a huge advantage to virtual classes for both students and teacher. I enjoy both virtual and in-person teaching!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people have encouraged and informed my journey! Two come to the forefront: my local quilt guild and Diane Gaudynski.

I have been a member of the Folsom Quilt and Fiber Guild since 2000. I have been inspired by the many national level teachers that have visited our guild, and been encouraged by the show-and-tell of members. I learn so much every year from our quilt show. Seeing my quilts and garments hang among others is enlightening.

I think local guild shows are the bedrock of the larger quilting community, encouraging and educating members in a non-intimidating environment. I have met lifelong friends through my guild and working on various committees for the show.

I was definitely influenced by Diane Gaudynski. Diane has influenced an entire generation of free motion quilters that use domestic machines. She innovated, created precise yet exquisitely beautiful work. She pushed the limits of what could be done on a domestic machine.

I was blessed to be able to learn from her, first through her books and then in seminars at Empty Spools and Paducah. She is a font on knowlege, an artist, the best of instructors and a lovely person. You can still see her influence in my work.

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