Linda Franz

Linda Franz 2021

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Linda Franz is an award-winning Canadian quilter and the inventor of Inklingo. You may recognize her from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson & Ricky Tims (#2911) or Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson (2002), or from her appearances on QNNTV. Her first hand pieced bed quilt (Dear Jane) won a First Place ribbon at the AQS show in Paducah (2000), among other awards.

Thanks to her first website in 1998 (with the famous instructions for a scalloped binding), quilters usually associate Linda with hand piecing even though Inklingo is ideal for machine piecing and appliqué too.

Thousands of quilters like you have learned hand piecing with freezer paper templates from Linda’s Quilted Diamonds books and workshops. Many quilters love the idea of a hand piecing project but are unable to do it accurately or find it too slow. Like most quilters, Linda enjoys sewing more than measuring and cutting—all the things we need to do to get ready to sew. Printing on fabric is the answer although Linda still uses freezer paper templates when printing is not an option.

Hand piecing was Linda’s inspiration for Inklingo, a method of printing on fabric that means you never have to worry about shapes fitting together and you never need to feel limited to “fast & easy” designs.

Like you, Linda did not want to have to buy a special printer and ink for printing quilt shapes on fabric, so that was the starting point. Inklingo is so innovative that it is patented. (US Patent 7,814,832). Printing quilt shapes on fabric makes it easier for everyone to start quilting and for experienced quilters to sew complex designs with confidence.

Linda prints shapes on fabric with Inklingo to sew quilts by hand, by machine, or with a combination of both in a hybrid.

Printing on fabric with Inklingo is simpler than many quilters imagine and eliminates many traditional tools that used to clutter up her sewing room.

Thanks to Inklingo, quilters who love Jane Austen’s novels, Lucy Boston’s Patchworks, Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts, and hundreds of other designs print the shapes on fabric and finish quilts in the amount of time they want to spend without worrying about getting discouraged with measuring, templates, trimming, and other extras that can sadly result in a UFO (un-finished object).

Today, tens of thousands of quilters in more than 65 countries have discovered Linda’s self-published CDs, DVDs, books-on-CD, downloadable books, and books. Quilters like you follow her printing, sewing, and pressing techniques on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and the Inklingo IO group.

Learn everything you need to know about printing on fabric with Linda and sew your best quilts!

July 1999 Best in Show, Vermont Quilt Festival

April 2000 First Place, AQS Show, Paducah Kentucky with her first bed quilt, hand pieced and hand quilted, with a scalloped binding.

March 2002 Self-published Quilted Diamonds: Jane Austen, Jane Stickle & Friends, book with CD, which has sold many thousands of copies around the world—a classic. Reviews

March 2002 First publisher to offer patterns in EQ format on CD as an option with a book. A few years later, Electric Quilt published CDs for Dear Jane TM and other quilt books.

June 2002 Taped episode #837 of Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson in Burbank California for HGTV.

August 2003 Wrote and produced one of the first full-length DVD quilting lessons—to include FREE with every copy of Quilted Diamonds 2. Behind the Scenes Photos

March 2004 Published Quilted Diamonds 2: more Austen-tatious diamonds to hand piece with the DVD and optional CD. Chosen one of the top 10 new products of 2005 by Quilter’s Review. Reviews

2005 Nominated for Teacher of the Year Professional Quilter (Teacher of the Year for 2005 was Ami Simms!)

February 2005 Published Jane Austen’s Writing Table Quilts—another first—a 60-minute DVD lesson included with the patterns!

May 2005  Linda’s QD2 DVD lesson was one of the first videos on QNNTV, founded by Sue Ann Taylor. This was the first online quilting network and it caused a sensation, especially for quilters outside of North America who were not used to seeing quilting teachers on TV.

May 2006 Published Inklingo Shape Collection # 1, and a  free Demo Video. Inklingo (patent pending)  is a revolutionary way of printing lines on fabric, which eliminates measuring and makes new stitching methods possible. The book-on-CD format is an innovative approach, turning a book into a tool that prints on fabric.

August 2006 Published Inklingo Shape Collection # 2, another new book-on-CD to print 50 different triangle shapes on fabric. Stitching triangles will never be the same!

September 2007 Published Inklingo Shape Collection # 3, the first Inklingo collection to be included in a pattern book-plus-CD.

October 2007 Charter sponsor of the Quilter’s Club of America, providing thousands of Inklingo demo CDs to new members.

September 2008 Published THE INKLINGO HANDBOOK, 128 pages of instructions for new Inklingo methods for appliqué, machine piecing, and hand piecing. The new loose-leaf format was chosen in response to requests from online quilters.

September 2008 Published four new downloadable Inklingo Shape Collections. Inklingo is using cutting edge technology, which will make it possible to add new shape collections at a fast pace, giving quilters more choice and immediate delivery. It is also a green solution, a responsible choice with low environmental impact.

September 2008 Introduced the first FREE downloadable Inklingo Shape Collection. Download it today and see what the excitement is all about!

December 2008 Published the Jane Austen Patchwork downloadable shape collection and pattern—the first comprehensive, accurate pattern for the Jane Austen Patchwork, with the assistance of the Jane Austen Memorial Trust. 

January 2009 Introduced Inklingo Lite and published two downloadable shape collections for new sizes of hexagons and diamonds.

February 2009 Published the first Inklingo Drunkard’s Path downloadable shape collection.

April 2009 Published the first Inklingo Double Wedding Ring downloadable shape collection.

April 2009 Published the Jane Austen Patchwork Mystery book (book-on-paper).

April 2009  Published the second version of The Inklingo Handbook (bound edition, book-on-paper).

June 2009 Published Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses (book-on-paper) and the companion downloadable Inklingo shape collection.

June 2009 Started the All About Inklingo blog.

July 2009 Published the first Tumbler downloadable shape collection.

August 2009 Published three new downloadable shape collections for Triangles, Hexagons, and Octagons (KISS)

October 2009 Published two new downloadable shape collections for Hexagons and Diamonds.

November 2009 Published four new downloadable shape collections for Triangles and Hexagons.

December 2009 Published two new downloadable shape collections for Orange Peel and Alabama Beauty.

January 2010 Published the Dresden Plate Design Book (free download) and three downloadable shape collections for Dresden Plate Applique, Dresden Plate Basic Pieced, and Dresden Plate Fancy Pieced (Farmer’s Fancy and others).

January 2010 Published the Winding Ways Design Book (free download) and three downloadable shape collections for Winding Ways.

March 2010 Published the Storm At Sea Design Book (free download) and five downloadable shape collections for Storm At Sea.

May to August 2010 Published 7 different Clamshell and Clamshell Pickle Shape Collections in 5 sizes.

August 2010 Published the Inklingo Hexagon Quilt Design Book (free download, value $20).

October 2010 Published 3 Appliqué downloads.

October 2010 US Patent 7,814,832 issued!

December 2010 Published the Feathered Star Design Book and 3 Feathered Star Shape Collections.

January 2011  Published the Rainbow Flower Shape Collection

February 2011 Published the first Circles Shape Collection to match Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect Circles®, plus the Pie and Tarts Shape Collection from a pattern by Sue Daley of Busy Fingers Patchwork.

March 2011  Published the first Log Cabin Shape Collection, the Sunflower Quilt Design Book, and two Sunflower Shape Collections.

April 2011 Published the second Log Cabin Shape Collection, Bigger Circles, and the first School House Shape Collection.

May 2011 Published the third Log Cabin Shape Collection and a Yin Yang Shape Collection.

June 2011 Published the first Joseph’s Coat Shape Collection.

July 2011 Published the Inklingo Smart Shopper’s Idea Book, which will be updated when new shape collections are issued.

August 2011  Published the Inklingo Drunkard’s Path Design Book and 6 Drunkard’s Path shape collections.

October 2011 Published two shape collections for setting 4.5 and 6 inch blocks on point.

November 2011 Published Squares 00B for Square in a Square blocks. 

December 2011 Announced the “Love the lines. Quilt more!” Contest. Quilters enter by designing quilts with Inklingo shapes in Electric Quilt software.

January 2012 Published 3 Rose Dream Shape Collections.

March 2012 Published 4 Drunkard’s Trail shape collections.

April 2012 Published the first in a series of New York Beauty shape collections.

April 2012 Published 60° Triangles 2 and 4 inch shape collection.

May 2012 Published the second and third New York Beauty shape collections.

June 2012 Published three Leaf Sashing shape collections.

July 2012 Published two Rose Star shape collections.

August 2012 Published Spool Block shape collection.

August 2012  Published four new 60° Hexagon shape collections.

October 2012  Published three new Hunter’s Star shape collections and the Inklingo Hunter’s Star Design Book.

November 2012  Published major update to the Inklingo Smart Shopper’s Idea Book.

November 2012  Published new 60° Hexagon shape collections.

December 2012 Published new videos on YouTube.

January 2013 Published New York Wheel shape collection.

February 2013 Published new 60° Diamond shape collection.

February – March 2013 The first Inklingo Mystery on the blog, The Case of the Secret Garden (COTSG).

April 2013 Published new Periwinkle Octagon shape collection with detailed lessons on the All About Inklingo blog.

April 2013 Published two new 60° Star Point shape collections.

May 2013 SEVEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY Published new 60° Diamond shape collection and video of 300 Pieced Hexagons on YouTube.

June 2013 Published 300 Pieced Hexagons

September 2013 Published new 60° Diamond shape collection.

October 2013 Published 3 Basket shape collections.

November 2013 Published Bonnie Hunter’s Celtic Solstice shape collection for Bonnie’s 2013 mystery.

December 2013 Published new lessons and videos for Bonnie Hunter`s Celtic Solstice Mystery.

January 2014 Published 3 new Castle Wall shape collections.

February 2014 Published 2 new On-Point Triangle Shape Collections.

March 2014 Finally became active on Facebook!

April 2014 Published LeMoyne Star 9 inch shape collection and expanded LeMoyne Star 6 inch, originally published in 2009.

May 2014 Published new Star Point Add-On shape collection.

May 2014 Expanded 90° Hexagon 1 inch shape collection.

June 2014 Expanded 90° Hexagon 1.5 inch shape collection.

July 2014 Published two new hexagon shape collections for small Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses.

August 2014 Published new Inklingo Star shape collection.

December 2014 Published 3 new shape collections for Judy Martin’s Waltzing Matilda.

January 2015 Published Colonial Garden shape collection.

February 2015 Published two shape collections for Willyne Hammerstein’s Passacaglia, the quilt on the cover of her Millefiori Quilts book, with permission from Quiltmania.

March 2015 Reprinted Quilted Diamonds 2 (book and DVD), which had been out of print for years.

April 2015 Published Inklingo for Quilted Diamonds shape collection.

May 2015 Published LeMoyne Star 3 inch shape collection.

July 2015 Published Midnight Fireworks shape collection for the design in Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts (first book).

July 2015 Published new 60° Diamond and 60° Hexagon shape collections.

August 2015 Published Valse Brillante shape collection for the design in Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts (first book).

September 2015 Published two Ballet with Kaffe Fassett shape collections for the design In Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 2 (second book).

November 2015 Published new 60° Diamond shape collection.

December 2015 Published 3 Key West shape collections.

January 2016 New Mystery Quilt, The Case of the Stranger in Margaritaville on the All About Inklingo blog.

February 2016 New Intro to Inklingo Video

April 2016 Published 3 Cleopatra’s Fan shape collections and Cleopatra’s Fan Design Book.

May 2016 Ten year anniversary of first Inklingo shape collection.

September 2016 Published 4 Clamshell shape collections.

October 2016 Published Clamshell Edges and Clamshell Rose shape collections.

January 2017 Published 4 Curvy Hexie Star shape collections.

February 2017 – May 2017 New Mystery Quilt. The Case of the Diamond Necklace on the All About Inklingo blog.

June 2017 Published new Ribbon Flower shape collection.

September 2017 Published new Clamshell Edges shape collection.

September 2017 Published 3 shape collections for Celestial Star from Sharon Burgess’ Quilting on the Go book.

October 2017 Published 2 shape collections for Capriccioso from Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 3 book. 

November 2017 Published 4 shape collections for La Tarantella from Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 3 book. 

December 2017 The first three LIVE Inklingo videos on Facebook.

December 2017 Published 2 new shape collections for Silent Garden from Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 3 book. 

January 2018 Published new shape collection for Le Moyne Star (and Lucky Stars), more LIVE Inklingo videos on Facebook.

February 2018 More LIVE Videos

March 2018 Published Starlit Star shape collection and more LIVE videos on Facebook.

April 2018 Published shape collection for Ietsie Pietsie Pizzicato from Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 3.

May 2018 Published shape collection for Flower Power from Willyne Hammerstein’s Millefiori Quilts 3.

June 2018 Published update to the Smart Shopper’s Idea Book.

September 2018 Published 2 shape collections for Golden Wedding Ring and the Golden Wedding Ring Design Book.

October 2018 Published 4 shape collections for Le Grand Désert by Willyne Hammerstein. 

November 2018 Published shape collection for Can Can by Willyne Hammerstein. 

January 2019 Published shape collection for Starry Path.

February 2019 Published 2 more Starry Path shape collections. 

March 2019 Published 2 more Yin Yang shape collections.

April 2019 Started the Austen-tatious Quilted Diamonds Group on Facebook.

May 2019 Published 3 Mariner’s Whirl shape collections, a beautiful Jinny Beyer design.

July 2019 Published new shape collection for hexagons with 1.75 inch sides.

November 2019 Published new shape collection for Apple Core 3 inch.

December 2019 Published new shape collection for Joseph’s Coat 4 inch.

January 2020 Published 3 new videos for Patchwork of the Crosses.

January 2020 Published 2 new shape collections for Fiesta Gitana from Millefiori Quilts 4.

February 2020 Published new shape collection for Confetti quilt from Millefiori Quilts 4.

February 2020 Published new shape collection for You Are My Sunshine quilt from Millefiori Quilts 4.

February 2020 Published new shape collection for Swinging Old Lady quilt from Millefiori Quilts 4.

February 2020 Published 2 new shape collections for Last Flowers After a Hot Summer quilt from Millefiori Quilts 4.

March 2020 Published new shape collection for Les Fruits de Mer from Millefiori Quilts 4.

March 2020 Published new shape collection for Raindrops Are Fallling on My Head from Millefiori Quilts 4.

April 2020 Published new shape collection for Nocturne from Millefiori Quilts 3.

October 2020 After a long, happy summer break in the garden, published three new shape collections and a design book for Pine Cone.

November 2020 Published a new shape collection for a larger size of Willyne Hammerstein’s Passacaglia from Millefiori Quilts 1.

March 2021 Published Winding Ways Quilting the Inklingo Way – hardcover book

April 2021 Published four new shape collections for Winding Ways (3 inch, 12 inch).

May 2021 Published another new shape collection for Winding Ways (6 inch) and published expanded version of the original Winding Ways shape collection (2010).

June 2021 Published another new shape collection for Winding Ways (9 inch) and published expanded version of the original Winding Ways shape collection (2010).

August 2021 Taped a show for The Quilt Show in Texas, to air later this year.

September – October 2021 Updating website to new format. Participated in 30 Year Anniversary celebration of Electric Quilt Pearls of Wisdom.

November 2021  Debut on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, episode 2911.

January 2022 Published new Cleopatra’s Fan shape collection in a larger size.

January 2022 Published new Hexagon shape collection with petal shapes.

February 2022 Published new Diamond shape collection.

February 2022 Published new Add-on shape collection for Hexagons with Petals.

April 2022 Published downloadable version of Winding Ways – Quilting the Inklingo Way.

May to August 2022 Major updates to the website!

September 2022 Published 5-Pointed Star 4 inch shape collection.

October 2022 Published Springtime 9 inch shape collection.

January 2023 to ??? Expanding the website after a major upgrade. It is taking a long time!

April 2023 – Published Six Simple Steps with Scraps PDF. Everything you need to know about printing on fabric.

May 2023 – Published new shape collection for Willyne Hammerstein’s Let’s Twist Again from Millefiori Quilts 5.

July 2023 – Published new shape collection for Willyne Hammerstein’s When There Is Shadow quilt from Millefiori Quilts 5.

July 2023 – Published new shape collection for Willyne Hammerstein’s Gracias a la Vida.

October 2023 – Published new shape collection for Willyne Hammerstein’s When Neckties Could Talk

January 2024 – Published new shape collection for Willyne Hammerstein’s Dance the Night Away.

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Linda has a BA in English Literature and graduated from the University of Toronto Law School with an LLB. She lives with her husband, Russ Bays, in Burlington Ontario Canada.

Linda’s lovable sidekick Monkey is a hand piecing snob.