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Basics of using the Walking Foot - March 16, Beaver Dam



Are you ready to advance along your quilting journey by progressing from piecer to quilter? This class provides a solid foundation in the skills and strategies used to machine quilt with your walking foot on your home sewing machine. You will learn how to make informed decisions for choosing batting, backing, thread type, thread color, and appropriate needles for the job. Discover various quilting designs, how to transfer them to your quilts, and learn the basics of machine guided quilting while using your walking foot. You will work through a specific process for layering your quilt, joining the layers into the quilt sandwich, marking it if needed and discovering helpful tools used in the process. During class you will practice quilting on quilt sandwiches, and then begin to quilt a wholecloth tablerunner.


Skill Level: Beginner
Skill Details:
Materials Included: Supply LIst
Requirements: CLASS: BASICS OF MACHINE QUILTING with Walking Foot TEACHER: CINDY FENSTER Are you ready to advance along your quilting journey by progressing from piecer to quilter? This class provides a solid foundation in the skills and strategies used to machine quilt on your home sewing machine. You will learn how to make informed decisions for choosing batting, backing, thread type, thread color, and appropriate needles for the job. Discover various quilting design, how to transfer them to your quilts, and learn the basics of free motion quilting and machine guided quilting while using your walking foot and free motion foot. You will work through a specific process for layering your quilt, joining the layers into the quilt sandwich, marking it if needed and discovering helpful tools used in the process. During class you will practice quilting on quilt sandwiches, and then begin to quilt a wholecloth tablerunner. Please bring two quilt sandwiches for practicing these quilting techniques. They will serve as your samples before you begin the tablerunner. Each ?sandwich? includes the following: Two squares of cotton fabric 10 inch squares to be the top and the backing. Feel free to use some of your stash. Muslin is a good choice for this fabric, but any cotton will do. A light solid fabric with no print for the top will make your quilting easy to see. Printed fabric any color can work for the backing, but it is much easier to see your stitches on solid light color fabrics. For the two sample sandwiches, you will need four 10 inch squares. One square of cotton/poly blend batting for each sandwich 10 inch x 10 inch (ex. Hobbs 80/20, Quilters Dream, Warm and Natural, or my first choice Fusible Hobbs 80/20.) The fusible batting is great! No pinning or basting is required in joining the layers of the quilt. It does not gum up your machine. It is a great innovation for quilters. The batting square for the quilt sandwiches will be the same size as the top and backing. You will need two 10 inch squares of batting. It is sold at Mill House off the bolt which makes it possible to buy 1 yard which will be enough for your quilt sandwiches, tablerunner, and extra to make additional practice sandwiches when you get home. For the Wholecloth Tablerunner you will need one yard of fabric that is at least 40 inches wide. This will be enough fabric for the top and back of the tablerunner. Most fabric is 42-44 inches wide. Choose a solid or tone on tone fabric, not a print. You will also need batting measuring 22 inches x 30 inches. I would recommend the fusible Hobbs 80/20 for your tablerunner. Supply List: o Sewing machine in good working order, and it is a good idea to bring along the instruction manual for your machine. You need to know how to operate your machine. o Free motion foot ( also called a darning foot) for your machine o Walking foot for your machine and the guide bar for the walking foot, if you have one. o The free arm extension bed of your machine needs to be as big as possible. The large, plexiglass extension tables are a good investment if you are going to do a lot of machine quilting. If you currently have one, bring it. o If you choose batting that is not fusible, bring safety pins to pin the layers together. For the tablerunner, you will need at least 30 safety pins. If you have to purchase them, buy the ones that are curved. They are easier to use. Ask the quilt shop staff if you need help. o Small scissors for clipping threads o Scissors for cutting paper o Cotton thread and matching bobbin thread (50 wt. is a good choice), but you can quilt with any type of thread. In class you will learn all about the appropriate threads and needles to use in your quilting. The color is up to you. It is good to see your stitches, but a thread that is too dark will show each little wobble. The one thread that is not a good choice is hand quilting thread; it is too thick for your machine. When choosing quilting thread color always go lighter rather than darker. Feel free to bring along a couple of different color threads for experimenting. o Quilting Needle for your machine (New, Sharp needle, Schmetz Microtex, or those called Machine Quilting needles. The size of the needle depends on the thread being used. For 50 wt. cotton, use the size ( #80/12 or #90/14) o Long Ruler (24 inches x 6 inches) for cutting yard of fabric and batting and An acrylic 6 inches x 12 inches Ruler for drawing a straight line and angles. If you have them, also bring a 6 inch or 6 and a half inch square ruler, and a small ruler for measuring quarter, half inch x 6 inches. o Cutting Mat (it does not need to be bigger than 12 inches x 18inches) We do have one or two in the classroom. o Small ruler for drawing straight lines on your quilt top. o Fabric markers: Water-soluble blue fabric marker and/or a Frixion pen (available at Mill House)or marker of your choice. Just be sure that you test it on your fabric so you know it can be removed. o A few sheets of paper for notetaking o Pen or pencil o Quilters? Gloves for gripping the fabric (Machingers Quilting Gloves are great and available at the shop.) If you have a pieced quilt top and want some suggestions on how to quilt it, bring it to class, and we?ll do some brainstorming together at the end of class. Many of these supplies are available at the shop. Be sure to ask the staff if you need any help. I look forward to our time together. Cindy Fenster Class Policies: Classes must be paid for at the time of registration. Double punches will be given for class supplies. If you cancel out of a class more than one week before, you will forfeit 10% of the class fee. If you cancel one week or less before a class, you will forfeit the entire class fee. If the weather is bad, we hold the class/event if the instructor/leader arrives. Mill House Quilts reserves the right to cancel a class/event one week before if there is insufficient enrollment. You may send someone else in your place. Class refunds are given as store credit.
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Includes Supply List

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