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Stitch to the Finish Line with Machine Quilting

Stitch to the Finish Line with Machine Quilting

Full Day
Beginner to Intermediate

Dig yourself out from under all those pieced tops and finish them with machine quilting. All aspects of machine quilting and free motion quilting including using a walking foot, a darning foot and working with those tantalizing threads. Practice will include ways of breaking away from using pre-determined quilting patterns and encouraging “you” to become the creator. Whether this is your first experience at machine quilting, or you are ready to branch into free motion, you will gain practical tips and confidence. The class will begin with using practice sandwiched kits, then move to discuss how to quilt a wall sized project you bring from home.

Supply List - Stitch to the Finish Line Workshop by Wendy Butler Berns

Required:
• Sewing machine cleaned in good working order and general sewing supplies
• Walking foot
• Darning foot
• Pen or pencil
  Threads:
  Cotton thread for initial practicing neutral color and a contrast for practicing
  Monofilament thread – YLI, or Mono-Poly brand by Superior Threads, clear
  OPTIONAL : for the student wanting to explore the use of quilting with specialty threads:
  Jeans Stitch thread- 30 weight -heavier thread for more texture
  One spool of rayon and/or metallic thread
  Thread-a color to coordinate with your wall hanging -- if you get to it
  Microtex Sharp sewing machine needles, size # 12(80)
  Schmetz Top Stitch size # 14 (90) sewing machine needles
  
  Optional, but recommended : machine quilting gloves---Machingers- size small or x-small
  Optional Supplies for marking quilt top: blue water soluble marking pen, soap slivers, 1” masking tape
  
  BATTING: I recommend Warm and Natural or (White) batting for machine quilting, Quilter’s
  Dream Cotton or Legacy by Pellon (I do not recommend puffy poly batting for machine quilting)
  

  For beginning practice session:
  Sandwiched machine quilting practice kits: Using muslin, or older light solid fabric(rather than a print), make 3 to 4 sandwiched kits approx. 18 –24” square to use for practice. To make a kit: cut top layer, cut batting and backing layer about 1 1/2” larger, pin baste together with 1 1/2 long safety pins. Pin about every 5.” Sandwiched kits are for making stitch samplers and for confidence building practice.

  Layered wall hanging: Once you have spent time with the practice kits, you may be ready to tackle the layered wall hanging you will bring from home. At Home: Layer and pin-baste (use safety pins every 5” or so) a pieced wall hanging you just have not gotten around to quilting. ( or just bring an unlayered top to talk about) Choose a project that is between approx. 24” and 45” for class. As a group, we will discuss options for quilting the projects you bring.

  WE DO NOT HAVE ROOM FOR STUDENTS TO LAYER AND PIN BASTE THEIR PIECES, SO COME TO CLASS WITH YOUR PRACTICE KITS ALREADY LAYERED.!

Classroom Set Up

• Projector screen and projector table for use with video camera and digital projector
• quilt rack or two if available for instructor to hang display quilts
• 8 foot tables at the front of the class for the instructor
• At least 1/2 of an 8 foot table per student, so there is room for sewing machines, student suppliesetc.
• A flannel board or bulletin board for displaying samples and viewing projects from a distance