Free Motion Quilting for Newbies!

Free Motion Quilting for the Absolute Beginner

Marlous Carter - marlouscarter@gmail.com

This class is geared for those of you who have wanted to learn how to free motion quilt
but just haven’t gotten the nerve to sit at your machine and just DO IT! In this class we’ll
cover correct quilt sandwich prep and basting, needles, tension, several beginner friendly
fmq designs and more. The hope is that this class will get you motivated and on your way
to becoming a successful free motion quilter.
Supply List
· Machine in good working order (clean and free of lint)
Sewing machine must be able to lower feed dogs or allows stitch length to go down to ‘0’)
· Needles - universal 80/12 and 90/14
· Free motion quilting foot, darning foot or open toe embroidery foot
· Extension Table that came with your machine and/or a portable Plexiglas extension table. (You need
to have a larger flat surface to work on and your sandwich to lay flat on)
· Thread that thread contrasts enough with your fabric so you can see what you are doing - NO red, black
or navy blue threads.
· Wound bobbin (with same thread as the top thread)
· Thread snips or scissors for thread trimming
· Seam ripper, scissors
· Tweezers
· 1’’ (1 1/2’’) x 12 1/2’’ ruler and a 12 1/2’’ x 12 1/2’’ square ruler
· Rotary cutter with new blade
· Wash away marking pen - blue
· Dry erase pen and eraser (can get these at the grocery store or office supply stores)
· Painters tape
· Spiral notebook pencil/pen (we’re gonna doodle!) this is going to become your FMQ reference book
· Any other supplies you think you may need for a successful day of sewing
· Lunch and other sustenance to ease you through the day
Optional Items
· Sew Slip (you really, really, really will be happy if you invest in this item, it will make your free motion
experience oh so much better—guaranteed!!
· Quilting Gloves - Accugrip quilters gloves (my absolute fav), machinigers, wonder grip gloves, or lite
weight garden gloves with grip, steady betty hand wraps or anything that helps you hold/control your
fabric)
· Curved quilt safety pins
Prep before class:
Fabric sandwiches: top fabric, batting, bottom fabric
6 - 10’’ x 10’’ square sandwiches
2 - 12’’ x 12’’ square sandwiches
1 - 18’’ x 22’’ (fat quarter size) sandwich
Important: Do not use fabrics with any type of motif on them for your top fabric - you will not see your stitching. Use muslin or a solid fabric for your top.