HandiQuilter Event - Tigard

Day 1 – Morning: Getting Started with Longarm Quilting!

Class Description: Does longarm quilting interest you, and you’d like to learn more about it? Or do you just want a review of longarm quilting basics? This class removes the mystery of longarm quilting by explaining machine and frame elements and features, how to load a quilt, and vital facts about thread, needles, and tension. Handi Quilter longarm machine and frame systems come in various sizes for every budget and are user-friendly because they are designed by a quilter, for quilters – just like you!

Topics include:
The basics of machine and frame maintenance
Tensioning bobbins and longarm quilting machines
How to load a quilt onto a frame
Quilting pantographs, Groovy boards, and stencils
Rulers, basic free motion, and Handi Gadgets

 Day 1 – Afternoon: Free Motion Quilting. You Can Do It!

Class Description: Quilters everywhere LOVE the excitement and fun of free-motion quilting – and it’s easier than you think! Create flowing designs by connecting simple design elements with continuous lines, traveling across the quilt or filling in a specific area. Learn how drawing and muscle memory contribute to beautiful free-motion quilting, and how you can create stunning designs.

Topics include:
Drawing basic free-motion designs in a continuous line
Scaling fills for backgrounds
Creating your own edge-to-edge designs
How to fill borders evenly
Micro quilting and using different feet

 Day 2 – Morning:  Introduction to the Pro-Stitcher

Class Description: Pro-Stitcher is an intuitive computer-guided quilting system designed especially for use with Handi Quilter longarm quilting machines. User-friendly and simple to operate, the step-by-step process for each function is easy and fun. Whether finishing your own quilts or consider a quilting business, come see the elegant and precise quilting you can accomplish with Pro-Stitcher. New users – start here!

Topics include:
Overview of support resources available online
Overview of menu and basic functions and design catalog
Place a block design using Skew, Resize, XForm, and Align
Demonstration of the Pro-Stitcher Simulator
Overview of PS Designer

Day 2 – Afternoon: Can't Have Enough Rulers!
Class Description: If you love precision and consistency in your quilting rulers, you will love using design rulers and templates! These handy tools assist in placing designs accurately and stitching them out precisely. Learn to handle rulers and templates safely with the ruler base and Sure Foot, and how to achieve accuracy with the markings. The wide variety of Handi Quilter rulers will inspire you to new design heights.

Topics include:
Ruler basics: the right foot, ruler base, and ruler
Point-to-point quilting using the markings on the rulers
Using a ruler for a design base on an entire quilt
HQ VersaTools: stitch in the ditch, cross hatch, piano keys, clamshells, and arcs
Quilting around applique or embroidery with rulers