Introduction to Free Motion Quilting - Beaver Dam

This class is an introduction to the skills and techniques you can use to machine quilt your quilts on your own sewing machine. We will work on both machine guided quilting using the walking foot for your machine and free motion quilting using a free motion or darning foot on your sewing machine.

INTRODUCTION TO FREE MOTION MACHINE QUILTING CLASS
TEACHER: Cindy Fenster DATE: ______________TIME:_____________:
Mill House Quilts in Sun Prairie: 972 W. Main Street ph. 608-849-6473
OR
Mill House Quilts in Beaver Dam 116 Front Street ph. 920-356-5021
The classes meet inside the shops. No steps to navigate.
SUPPY LIST FOR FREE MOTION QUILTING CLASS

This class is an introduction to the skills and techniques you can use to machine quilt your quilts
on your own sewing machine. We will work on free motion quilting using the free motion or
darning foot on your machine. You will stitch many different free motion designs on the quilt
sandwiches you will bring to class.
Please bring eight quilt “sandwiches” for practicing these quilting techniques. They will serve
as your samples when you get home. It is important to have enough for all the designs we will
be learning.
Each “sandwich” includes the following:

Two squares of cotton fabric 12” squares to be the top and the backing.
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 solid makesnit is easier to see your quilting. For
the eight sample squares, you will need 16 – 12” squares.
One square of cotton/poly blend batting for each sandwich 12” x 12” (ex. Hobbs
80/20, Quilter’s Dream, Warm and Natural, or my first choice Fusible Hobbs 80/20.
The fusible batting is great! No pinning or basting required. It does not gum up
your machine. It is a great innovation for quilters. The batting square will be the
same size as the top and backing.

Here are some quick and easy steps to prepare, cut and assemble your eight quilt sandwiches.
Gather or purchase 2 yds. of muslin or solid color cotton fabric and 1/2 yard of Fusible Hobbs
80/20 off the bolt at the shop. Cut the muslin in 12” inch strips and then sub-cut into sixteen
12” squares. These will be the top and backing for each practice sample block. Purchase 1/2 of
a yd. of Fusible Hobbs 80/20 batting off the roll. It is 96” wide so you will be able to cut 8 – 12”
squares from the one strip of batting. The batting is folded, so you can pull layers apart and get
twice as much batting. This takes the guesswork out of it, and there will be some extra batting
for additional blocks for practicing at home. It is fusible on both sides. Place the backing, wrong
side up on ironing board, and then lay the batting down. Next place the top on the batting with
the backing underneath. Press the layers together with your iron counting to at least 5 seconds.
Pick up iron and press another space until you have pressed the entire top. Avoid ironing by
pushing iron across the block. It will cause the fabric to stretch. Press and then re-position the
iron. When you have pressed the top, flip it over and press the backing in the same way.

Supply List: Introduction to Free Motion Machine Quilting- p.2
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 If you have a Walking foot for your machine and the guide bar bring it .
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 Small scissors for clipping threads
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 and is coated
with wax for hand use only.
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 #75/11, or #80/12.
o Ruler for drawing a straight line at least 12” long
o Fabric markers: Water-soluble blue fabric marker and/or a Frixion pen (available at
Mill House), or chalk markers
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.)
o Supreme Slider (if you have one). They will help you easily move your quilt across
the bed of your machine while doing free motion quilting.
o Teflon Applique Sheet (if you have one) This sheet is used to keep fusible material
off your iron or other surfaces. Use it for making quilt sandwiches. Fuse backing to one
side of the batting by placing applique sheet over the fusible batting, and batting is over
backing. Press with iron. Hold iron in place, count to at least 5 before picking up iron and
setting in next spot. With one less layer it fuses faster to the back. Then remove Teflon
sheet and put the top piece directly on batting and press on sheet. Hold iron in
place,count to at least 5 before picking up iron and setting in next spot.
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.
Many of these supplies are available at the shop. Be sure to ask the staff if you need any help.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at email cindyshugsandstitches@gmail.com
Or call me at 608-572-1830
I look forward to our time together.
Cindy Fenster
Mill House Quilts 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

January, 2023