Two years ago I purchased my Handi quilter long arm machine. I didn’t get the fancy computer for it, I didn’t want to rely on it. Of course, straight lines were a breeze, the stipple and basic swirl: easy peasy. Oh, and you can’t forget the trusty squiggly lines. But that was about it. I tried some other free motion stuff, and it just wan’t at the level that I wanted for my quilt tops that have so much time and money invested in them.
I signed up to participate in Angela Walters’ (Quilting is My Therapy) Negative Spaces free motion quilting challenge. Although she calls it a challenge, it truly feels more like an engaging and inspiring class! I forgot the best part: it’s all free!! This course was the exact thing I was looking for to sharpen and broaden those quilting skills!
How the Free Motion Quilting Course is Set Up
You watch videos tailored specifically for either a domestic machine or a long arm. Additionally, you have the option to purchase a panel that replicates the exact quilt used in the teaching, which is the choice I made. Since the course itself didn’t require any upfront investment, it felt worthwhile to spend a little extra to ensure I had everything needed to fully focus on the lessons. I’m very glad I did. It allowed me to concentrate solely on the quilting process without worrying about preparing materials to reach that stage. I wasn’t sure how the project would turn out, so I preferred not to spend too much time on setup.
Each row features a unique style of free motion negative space quilting for you to learn and practice. Within each section, stars provide opportunities to practice quilting around blocks as well as experiment with various designs. The stars on the panel include printed stitch lines to guide you, while all the backgrounds remain blank for creative freedom.
This was the first free motion/custom quilted quilt that I have made on my long arm where I feel like it was clicking.
The Quilting Finally Began to Click
On my social media, you can watch a real time clip of me quilting some feathers. Learning to quilt feathers was one of my biggest goals, and I’m excited to say mission accomplished! Check that box, I’ve officially added feathers to my skill set!
I have since applied these newly acquired skills to other quilts. While I may not yet have the confidence or experience to offer custom quilting services to others, I am confident that I can elevate my personal quilts to an entirely new level!
Making this quilt made me so eager to quilt all my quilts. I now have the confidence to just start. I still have a lot of practice that I need to do, but….
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