Please note this project needs a sewing machine with a free motion and a zig zag foot, the venue will have a few loaner machines to share. You may bring your own if you live locally.

Let me confess, I do not have a background in quilting. I failed 8th grade home economics because I couldn’t master the straight line. That has not, however, dampened my love of fabric. When I began making fabric collages it was clear I would have to learn free motion stitching. To say I was intimidated is an understatement. Luckily for me, I do not aspire to traditional, precise lines. I want to make lines that are gestural, full of movement and whimsy. I want my lines to add to the story. Once I learned to relax into the process, I discovered that I actually love this part of fabric collage. I discovered there is, almost without exception, no wrong line. My favorite stitched lines have the immediacy and energy of a sketch, which means they are not “perfect.” In this class you will learn how to set up your machine for free motion stitching. You will learn which machine feet and needles to use and I’ll share tricks and techniques to make your free motion stitching more successful and stress-free. Most importantly, you will learn to embrace the unexpected stitch. You will leave class more confident, adventurous, and empowered to adventure into the world of free motion stitching. This is a hands-on class and you will spend much of the day at the machine stitching. You will design and practice simple repeat patterns and you will stitch a detailed project ‘sketch’ that can be finished with acrylic inks or raw edge applique.   

Materials Fee $25 paid at beginning of class includes:

Cotton Batting
Cotton Fabric
Sodium Alginate and/or Jacquard No Flow for Prepping Fabric to be Stitched
Sketch Paper
Pencils
Sharpie Pens
Tracing Paper
Heat Erasable Pens
Silicone Mat for Transferring Your Pattern to Fabric
 

Supplies Needed  to bring for Class:

Fabric scissors
Black Thread
Bobin with Black Thread

Optional:

11x14 Sketch of Your Design
Thread clippers
Serger tweezers