10:00 am to 4:30 pm (set-up begins at 9:30, 30 minute lunch break)
Instructor: RaNae Merrill
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate. Must have basic sewing skills.
Description:
Want to learn to do free-motion quilting (FMQ) but don’t know where to start? Can you do a few simple patterns but you want to expand your creativity? Have you taken other classes and failed? Are you afraid you’ll ruin that beautiful top you spent weeks piecing? This is the class for you!
RaNae's unique teaching system and specialized tools guide you step-by-step through simple exercises that will get you moving comfortably at the sewing machine and build your quilting skills as you quilt one block at a time.You'll make a quantum leap in your FMQ skills during the class and go home with a practice plan to continue building your skills. You'll leave class saying "I can DO this!"
In this class you will learn how to:
Pre-train your hands anytime, anywhere, before you sit down at the sewing machine.
Set up your machine for free-motion quilting
Move your hands, your body and the quilt for relaxed, efficient quilting
Quilt the fundamental shapes that are the basis for all quilting patterns
Join pre-quilted blocks to make a quilt of any size
The class is taught on domestic sewing machines, but the principles and exercises work equally well on a sit down or frame-mounted long-arm. The book includes instructions for domestic machines, as well as both sit-down and frame-mounted long-arm machines.
A little bit about RaNae: I published my first book, Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts, in 2008, inspired by a doodle of a spiral I drew while on a temp job. That book was followed by two more books about spiral quilts: Magnificent Spiral Mandala Quilts and Sideways Spiral Quilts.Free-Motion Mastery in a Month, my fourth book, is a shift from quilt design to free-motion quilting. It's based on my experience as a pianist and piano teacher. It has been really fun to see people get excited about this unique approach to learning FMQ! The day I got my first box of books back in October 2008, I walked out the door to my first teaching engagement and I've been teaching ever since. I've taught throughout the USA, and also in South America (where I teach in Spanish).
Here's a page where students can learn more about Free-Motion Mastery in a Month:
Note: We give a 15% discount on all class supply list items. Each time you attend a class your name will be placed in a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate. Drawings will be held at the end of each calendar quarter.
Supply List
See separate document or file for details. The following book and tool kit is available the day of class. The instructor will have several samples to use in class, as well as available for purchase.
