Fluff & Stuff Machine Quilting with Paula Reid

Is that stack of quilt tops getting higher and higher? Have you always wanted to take your machine quilting skills beyond the “ditch”? Do you want to learn free motion quilting? Have you seen Paula demonstrating machine quilting on Simply Quilts and wished the episode was longer?

Now you can learn the basics and more in this class as Paula walks you through batting choices, the types of needles and thread, how to pin baste correctly, choosing stencils, quilting, and moving those BIG quilts through a standard size home sewing machine.
Paula quilts approximately 100 quilts a year for her customers. About 75% of those quilts are at least double bed size. She uses her Fluff & Stuff method to move those big quilts through the machine and she will show you how to start Fluffing & Stuffing too! According to Paula, this is an excellent class for beginning machine quilters! If you have been intimidated by doing a large quilt on your sewing machine, then this is the class for you.

Bernina Sewing & Design Center will be offering a 2 Day Workshop with Paula Reid. She will be teaching her Fluff & Stuff Machine Quilting Techniques. This workshop includes Lecture/Demo as well as hands on experience. The class is May 14 & 15, 2010 from 9:30am-4pm both days. The class fee is $125.00. Class size is limited to 18, so sign up now.
 
FLUFF & STUFF
Workshop Materials List

IMPORTANT: Your quilt top must be pin basted when you bring it to class. There is neither time nor space to baste in the classroom!

STRAIGHT STITCHING:
Lap or twin size quilt, prebasted with small (size 1) safety pins, using a low-loft batting such as Warm & Natural or Quilters Dream Cotton. For ease of basting, make sure that your batting and backing are both at least 4" longer and 4" wider than quilt top. Do not mark quilt top for quilting.

Even feed foot (walking foot): If you have not used your foot before, install before class and get your machine technician's help, if necessary, to learn how to install it and to make sure that it is the right foot for your machine

Thread in colors compatible with your chosen piece, plus monofilament (I prefer Wonder by YLI) in clear and/or smoke

FREE MOTION STITCHING:
Muslin "sandwich" (2 pieces of muslin approximately 18"-20" square with a piece of low-loft cotton batting between them) for practice stitching. Instructor will provide stencils to mark designs on practice piece. If you are a fast sewer, bring 2 or 3 of these sandwiches so you won't run out of sewing space.

Darning foot: There are several different styles on the market. Make sure the foot fits your machine and get a technician's help if necessary. If you can find one, an open toed foot provides excellent visibility. If you have a Bernina machine with BSR capability, bring the foot and all the sole plates that came with it.

Matching or contrasting thread (your preference, although dark thread on light fabric is somewhat humbling)

Water soluble marker such as Wonder by Collins

GENERAL SEWING SUPPLIES:
Straight pins
Seam ripper
Small scissors or thread snips
Extra safety pins — use small ones; large pins tend to poke holes in fabric
Extra sewing machine needles, size 80 (Schmetz denim needles work very well)
Owner's manual for your machine for reference
Sewing machine — cleaned, oiled and ready to sew!
NOTE: Most machines come with a tray, sometimes called an extension table, that converts, the free arm of the machine to a larger flat surface. It is important to bring this to class. If you have a larger extension table and the shop where you are taking this class has the space, bring the larger table.