Big crowd at Heirloom Quilting workshop!

No foolin'! What a crowd we had at Hyderhangout yesterday (April 1) for the Heirloom Quilting by Machine mini-workshop! I was so busy meeting, greeting and teaching that I didn't have time to take any photos. Here is an heirloom work-in-progress for which I am now rejuvenated and inspired to get back to because of teaching this class.

Heirloom machine quilting using vintage linens and antique quilt blocks.

We had quite a few free-motion quilting newbies, so Susan, the shop owner, and I will be checking our calendars to schedule a full-day Intro to Free-motion Quilting class to get the beginners off on the right foot (literally and figuratively). Let Susan know that you are interested so we can accommodate as many students as possible.

Heirloom quilting (back view).

Thanks to everyone for coming out last night! You have recharged my engine and excitement for this technique!

Here is a link to one of the quilts, Pi E2 [Exponentially Embellished], that I brought for Show and Tell. Several of the students asked about threads and free-motion time for this quilt. They are provided in this post.

Detail: Pi E2 

Heirloom Quilting Superior U workshop

Have you tried heirloom machine quilting? I've learned so much from working on this little sample and preparing for a Superior University mini workshop that I'll be guest teaching at Hyderhangout this evening. 

Heirloom machine quilting with silk thread and wool batting.

I'll be talking about the ingredients used for Heirloom Machine Quilting—like silk thread and wool batting—what I've discovered through this fun little project, pointers for free-motion quilting and I'm bringing some of my quilts for Show and Tell. Susan at Hyderhangout mentioned there was one last-minute cancellation, so if you are interested in experimenting with a new free-motion quilting technique, contact her right away to snatch up that class kit! We'll have a fun group of quilters at the shop... hope to see you there.

Free-motion heirloom quilting with Silk Thread workshop

Happy first day of Spring! Brush away the cobwebs and open your mind to the possibilities from trying a new quilting technique. For me, it was sampling Kimono Silk Thread by Superior Threads with a few heirloom machine quilting tips from Joanie Zeier Poole.

Free-motion heirloom quilting sample (approximately 6" x 6").
Kimono Silk Thread and wool batting.

Susan Hyder over at Hyderhangout Quilt Fabric and More asked me if I would be interested in teaching this project through her Superior University monthly program. (Free-motion quilting… silk thread… how could I not???) Absolutely!

This wholecloth mini quilt is a small project that is a perfect introduction to several techniques and supplies:

• free-motion quilting with 100 wt. silk thread
• heirloom quilting by machine
• quilting with wool batting
• using cotton sateen fabric for a wholecloth quilt

and I will be presenting it as a guest teacher for a Superior U workshop at Hyderhangout next month on Tuesday, April 1. Call Susan at (423) 715-2908 to reserve your kit. Yes, you get everything you need to make this project—fabrics, batting, pattern and silk thread!

The silk thread was a dream to work with and the sample quilted up beautifully. This 100 wt. thread is excellent for small, tight background fills and stippling—providing a luscious texture without thread build-up. I usually use 60 wt. Bottom Line by Superior (a poly) for stippling and the silk is just as wonderful... it also feels a little exotic to be quilting with silk. Joanie recommends using Bottom Line in the bobbin, which I did.

The wool batting and cotton sateen also elevated this quilting experience. It was a new adventure for me to try heirloom wholecloth quilting using a design that I marked on the quilt top. My usual free-motion quilting is more intuitive and spontaneous with no or minimal marking.

So, if you're interested in experimenting with silk thread and wool batting with your free-motion quilting, come and join me on April 1. Diane Gaudynski (the Queen of free-motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine!), Joanie Zeier Poole, Gina Perkes and other quilting gurus use silk thread for their machine quilting—come and see for yourself what it's all about.