Towards the end of last week, I received a newsletter in my email Inbox from one of the local LQS. As I usually do I clicked through to their website to check out their latest class offerings. Lo and behold, what did I see but non other than a beginners Free Motion Quilting class being held on Sunday (yesterday) and next Sunday. And the price for the class couldn't be beat.
I figured by that late date that the class would be full but was very pleasantly surprised when I called to learn they had one open spot left. Yippee skippee! A quick giving of my credit card number and I had a play date all scheduled. Other than the really quick tidbit I learned during the end of my Quilting 101 class over 3 years ago, this would be my very first foray into Free Motion Quilting.
The LQS is 45 minutes away so at noon I headed out. It was a lot of fun to leave hubs with the chicklets and get in a few hours of Me time.
The instructor was really nice and I had a great time. She explained all the basics that we needed to know, talked about needed and recommended products even one that I had never heard of before (Vanish thread available from Superior Threads that is actually corn starch which dissolves away when it is spritzed with water).
After practicing with the walking foot by sewing a grid on our class sandwich, we switched to our Free Motion (or darning foot) and practiced on the panel samples she provided. My piece had a ton of really small features and I had to go very slow in many areas but since this was all about getting the feel of the machine and the movement of my hands along with speed control, it didn't have to be perfect. Given the time, there was no way I would have been able to get all of this completed but I made a decent dent in it. Here is the front. I had a Maroon thread because that is what contrasted well with the practice pieces that I brought but it doesn't show up well for the outlining on the front of this piece.
This is how the back looks. I don't think it looks too horrible. And so that you know scale, the panel block is only 8" square so you can see just how tiny some of the features on the front really are.
I enjoyed this class and I can't wait for the 2nd session this coming weekend. My hubby laughed when I told him that I have homework to do. He's out to a firehouse meeting tonight so I won't make any progress on the homework today but tomorrow and Friday are non-work days for me this week so I'll have plenty of time to get it completed. I wouldn't want to get in trouble with the teacher.
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7 Comments:
Lookin'good Michele! Sounds like you had a great time.
Take as many classes as you can.from as many teachers as you can. You will always learn something new, Kwilt On!
Wow - a day out to play! Sounds like you had fun and you have made great progress.
That's awesome! There's so much detail in that small piece. Glad you got out for some play time. Loved today's post about the snowman too! Cute cute.
That's beautiful, Michele! Have you thought of selling your craft online? Sell it here: http://www.tripleclicks.com/12133487/ECA . Just sign up and place your products!
Wow, it looks awesome!!
You're doing great! Just keep at it! It's very cute. I'm glad you could find a local class. I would love an in-person class, but I'm self taught out of books and videos.
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