As quilt making becomes more and more artistic and complex, the need to learn more efficient methods of finishing our work with machine quilting becomes more important. Heather Thomas is an accomplished machine quilter who understands the value of the quilt line as an element of design. In this class, she will introduce you to new ways of seeing machine quilting, both as a valuable design tool and as a means to add longer life to your fabric, as well as your stitch-based art work. She will also dispel many of the myths that perpetuate the quilting world as far as free motion quilting is concerned. After taking this class, you will have the skills to create quilts using the machine with ease. This type of quilting doesn’t require special machines or tools, nor does it require special talent. It simply requires practice that will quickly become skill.
In this class, Heather will not only help you see what learning to quilt your own quilts will do for you artistically, but she’ll also include lots of brilliant information on the following:
Products and tools for machine quilting
Helpful information on stitch out design choices
Ergonomics for pain free quilting & easy basting techniques
The importance of learning to doodle freely
Nine basic stitch outs including design motifs and fills
If you’ve had a desire to learn to free motion machine quilt or you’re struggling with poor results, then come on, join Heather on this journey of learning to dance with your machine.
Also included are downloadable and printable bonus materials sharing more of Heather’s knowledge, including a sketchbook.
NOTE: You’ll receive this Class video instruction in two forms: As on-demand streaming video (in your NQC Account); and as a physical DVD, mailed to you.
Class Sessions
Session 1: Introduction
19:41
Meet quilt artist, Heather Thomas, and join her on a fabulous excursion of learning to free motion machine quilt. Along the way, you’ll begin to understand how the quilted stitch line affects the quilt and what tools you’ll need, as well as how to combine different stitch outs to achieve visually appealing results.
Session 2: Products & Tools
22:05
This segment includes vital information about just what you need to execute wonderful machine quilting. From thread weights to needles and presser feet, Heather will tell you why size and color matter, and she will help you understand how each decision you make will affect the final outcome of your quilts and provide them with a long life of beauty and usability.
Session 3: Design Choices
25:48
In this segment, Heather will show you many various design choices and the benefits to each. You will have the opportunity to learn all about different designs from flowers and vines to circles and asterisks. Here is your chance to learn about angled and curved stippling, heavy quilting vs. all over quilting and more. Not all designs are for everyone; find the perfect one that is sure to add style to your next quilt.
Session 4: Ergonomics & Basting
16:59
If machine quilting has left you with a sore back and aching shoulders, then this segment is just what you need. Heather will show you how to approach your machine from a chiropractic standpoint. This will be vital information to help you quilt for hours and never hurt again. She’ll also introduce you to a new way of basting that will give you more freedom of movement and accelerate the process.
Session 5: Doodling
4:23
Free motion quilting is simply doodling on the surface of your quilt using thread and needle instead of a pencil and paper. Once you understand that the quilt is your pencil and the machine needle is the paper that you work that pencil against, you will be amazed at how easy doodling on your quilts will become.
Session 6: Nine Basic Stitch Outs
1:02:20
From curvy to angled stippling to flowers and other fills and motifs, this segment is filled with nine different stitch outs for you to practice and perfect. You will learn everything you need to know in order to keep your creations “neat and tidy”, an ideal you can find in all of Heather’s projects. No more striving for perfection; simply practice until you’re comfortable, and then quilt to your hearts content.
Your Instructor
Heather Thomas
Heather is a mixed media fiber artist with a passion for color and a dedication to teaching. After a decade of making original yet traditional work, she began venturing out toward art quilting, embellishments, and mixed media work. With more than 12 years of studying and teaching color and design under her belt, she wrote her second book, A Fiber Artists’ Guide to Color & Design, which came on the heels of her very popular first book, Fabric Embellishing: The Basics & Beyond.
In 2011 Heather was a guest writer for Quilting Arts magazine with a multi-part feature on Free Style Machine Quilting. She also participates in group and individual instructional DVDs produced by the Creative Crafts Group. You can visit Heather’s blog at heatherthomasblog.blogspot.com.
Bonus Material
Class Resource PDF
Use this guide, written by Heather, to gain even more of her machine quilting knowledge.
Class Resource PDF
Reference this Sketchbook for a sampling of over 20 of Heather’s sketches.
Meet Your Expert Video
Download this video to listen to Heather share more about her passion of free motion quilting.
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
FAQs
How do I know what the Class covers?
Every Class has a free Preview video you can watch, to give you a flavor of the Instructor and the skills or project that will be covered. In addition, the Overview tab includes a thorough written description of the Class. And finally, each Class Session has a brief written summary of the content in that Session, including the length of each Session video. You will get a good feel for the Class content by reviewing these resources.
Do I have to be a Member of National Quilters Circle to purchase a Class?
No you don’t. While Premium Members will receive regular offers for special deals on NQC content, Classes are not reserved exclusively for Members. If you buy a Class as a non-member, we’re sure you’d also enjoy having access to our full library of great quilting videos and articles as a Member, so give it a try.
How do I purchase a Class?
First you should decide that the Class is what you want. Review the Class Preview video and the various written descriptions of the Class and each Session before you purchase, so you have a good understanding of the Class content. When you’re ready to purchase and gain access to the Class, simply click the “Add to Cart” button, and proceed through the Checkout process.
How do I access/view my Class?
Once you’ve paid, you can access/view your Class by going to the MY ACCOUNT section of National Quilters Circle. The MY ACCOUNT link is in the upper right-hand area of the website. Within your MY ACCOUNT, a section labeled “My Content” is where the class you purchased will appear, including a link to watch the video of your Class. You’ll also receive an email confirmation after your purchase, which will include a link to view your Class. You can access your Class as many times as you wish, and you’ll never lose access to your Account information. Just be sure to “Log In” for access to MY ACCOUNT.
Do I have to take the Class right away?
No. Any Class you buy will be accessible to you always. You can view your Class whenever you want, and you can view individual Sessions in whatever order you like.
Is there a limit on the times I can view my Class?
No. Your access never expires. You can view any Class you purchase as many times as you want, whenever you want.
Can I view a Class on my tablet device or mobile phone?
No problem. Most newer-model smartphones or other mobile/tablet devices with an internet connection are able to play the Class videos. Simply Log In on National Quilters Circle, and you can view any Class you’ve bought through the MY ACCOUNT section. Or, you can click on the “View Class” link within the email confirmation you’ll receive upon your purchase.
How do I get access to the Bonus Materials for the Class?
Until you purchase a Class, the Bonus material (any extra videos, download materials, etc.) will not be accessible. Once you purchase a Class, and go to view your Class, each individual Bonus element is accessible by simply clicking on each item. You’ll find the Bonus Materials directly below your main Class viewer frame. You can access the bonus materials as many times as you like and/or save them to your device.
Can I print out Class details?
For any Bonus Material that is a PDF Download, yes you can. Just click on the icon/button for the Bonus element you want, and print with your local printer.
What are PDF downloads?
These are simply documents, plans, or written materials that are formatted in a way to print out and retain for reference. By simply clicking on the icon/link for any PDF Download that is included with a Class, you can print that document on your own printer or simply view the contents on your computer/mobile device.
Are there any system requirements to view the Class video content?
Your Class video content is best when viewed on a computer manufactured in the past couple of years with a good broadband Internet connection (not dialup). We also highly recommend using the latest version of Firefox, Safari, or Chrome as your Internet Browser, though recent versions of Internet Explorer will work as well. The recommended screen resolution is 1024 x 768 or larger.
Why do you need my email?
We need it to acknowledge your purchase of a Class, and send you a confirmation of your transaction. Also, in order to maintain your permanent access to the Class videos, you’ll need to Login to www.nationalquilterscircle.com. We guarantee that we will not share your email with any third parties. You may receive email updates from NQC from time to time, with details of new Classes and updates. You can easily unsubscribe when you receive any email.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like the Class?
Because you’ll have full access to all the materials and content that is presented in the Class immediately, we can’t offer a refund after purchase. Please review the Class Preview video and the various written descriptions of the Class and each Session before you purchase, so you have a good understanding of the Class content.
How do I contact National Quilters Circle?
If your question is about the Class content, please use the Contact Us Link – and you'll receive feedback from the Class Instructor. Even your fellow Class participants may jump in to offer tips and advice from their experience. If you have other questions or need help, you can email us at nationalquilterscircle@program-director.net or call us toll-free, at 1-855-253-0822. Service Representatives will be available Monday-Friday, from 8:00AM to 4:30 PM Central time, excluding normal holidays.
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