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Free Motion Machine Quilting and Design

By Caryl Bryer Fallert

Two day class / all levels
You must know how to operate your machine in free-motion mode.

Classroom Requirements  / 
Preferred Classroom Setup

• How to manage a large quilt with a standard sewing machine
• Needle and thread choice
• How to plan a quilting design after the quilt top is completed
• Contemporary whole cloth designs
• How to avoid physical exhaustion and repeat motion stress injuries when machine quilting
• Basting for machine quilting.
• How to make free-hand filler designs that look complex and are really easy

• Batting choice

Supplies Needed

• Sewing Machine: One that is friendly, well adjusted and that you know how to use. Must be able to do free motion as well as straight stitch. Other options are welcome.
  • You must have at least one free-motion foot for your machine: darning foot (open toed is preferred, but closed is OK), "big foot", quilting foot, etc.
  • Optional: If you already have the following feet, bring them along: Walking foot, Open toed embroidery foot, Open toed darning foot, couching/cording/braiding foot.

• Four yards of muslin, or white or solid light colored 100% cotton fabric. Note: Many people who have taken this class have chosen to make a series of small samples that will fit into sheet protectors in a three ring binder.   If you want to do this you can prepare your quilt sandwiches ahead of time.   They should be about ½" larger than 8½" x 11" or A4 copier paper, so they can be trimmed to fit into standard size sheet protectors. 15-20 should be enough.
• Two yards of fabric for a whole cloth design. This can be plain white, black, or any solid color. It can also be a fabric with surface design, that you or someone else has dyed, painted, printed, stamped, etc. It should not have a busy high contrast design, as your quilting will not show up.
• Batting: Two yards or one twin (or larger) size 100% cotton or 80% cotton / 20% polyester (Fairfield Cotton Classic is ideal). 

Thread:

• 100% Cotton or Cotton/poly sewing thread in several colors. Bring at least one color to match your fabric and at least one to contrast with it.
• Nylon or polyester mono-filament (both clear and smoked) (Sulky invisible (polyester) is recommended)
• Optional: If you have specialty threads you want to try, feel free to bring them. (#30 cotton top stitching thread and #40 poly- neon (Madiera) will both be demonstrated in the class)  (No instruction will be provided in the use of rayons, and metallics)

Needles: Bring a good supply of needles.

• Schmetz #70 & #80 machine quilting needles are recommended
• Schmetz #80 and #90 system 130 N (top stitching) needles may be needed for heavier threads.
• Schmetz Microtex Sharp or "Jeans" needles will be needed if your quilt top is very dense or heavy.

• Safety Pins (available by the bag in most quilt shops) if you plan to make larger samples.
• Optional : Kwik-Klip pin closer or grapefruit spoon.

• Flexible curve
• Ruler
• Pencils: Pencils in both light and dark colors will be needed. (Berol "very thin" white, & silver , or white and grey charcoal pencils are recommended)
• Optional : An Eberhard Faber "Magic Rub" eraser will be helpful, but not absolutely essential.
• Carbon paper (one sheet - dressmakers or regular in a color that will show up on your fabric) Optional if you can't find it.
• Tracing paper: several sheets
• 15-20 sheets of plain white copier paper

• sewing scissors
• small sharp embroidery scissors.
• Rotary cutter, board, and ruler

• Masking tape: one roll (3/4" or wider)
• Iron: Preferably with steam (irons may be shared)
• Table top ironing pad
• Extension cord: Heavy duty with two or more outlets and three prong adapter in needed
• Basic Sewing Kit for hand and machine sewing.
• Seam ripper
• Litter bag

• Small Portable Light Box. If you are driving and already have one.
• Repositionable Embroidery Adhesive or 3M Photo-Mount