Supply List

More Machine Quilting

Carol Miller, Instructor

Flower in the Forest - thread drawing

Fabric and Batting

In Lesson One, you can make 1-4 craft size samplers (36" x 46"), using a different fabric color on top (all cotton) and a different batting inside. You also need a cotton backing fabric for each sampler.  Choose batting types that you normally use or would be likely to use, such as:

• Warm and Natural - needlepunched cotton
• 100% cotton 
• 80/20 Cotton with a polyester scrim on both sides
• Fairfield Bamboo - 50/50 cotton and bamboo
• Quilters Dream Poly - different from most other polyester batts, this has a consistency more like cotton
• 100 % wool

In Lesson Two, you will need two sets of fabric squares and batting at least 16" square.  In addition, you will need EITHER two layers of cotton or one layer of high loft polyester batting to create the trapunto on each sample.

In Lesson Three, you will need 2-3 sets of fabric squares and batting at least 16" square.

In Lesson Four, you will create a wholecloth quilt.  You may choose craft or crib size batting in your choice of material (cotton, poly, wool, bamboo or a blend) and solid fabric (white or your choice of pale color) for the front and back. 

Thread

You will want a good selection of threads to play with.  Lesson One will let you practice with as many as you wish, checking tension and the appearance on fabrics.  Try solids and variegated in metallic, cotton, rayon or trilobal polyester. 

If you do not own a large variety of threads, consider purchasing sampler packs from places like Superior Threads. 

For dense quilting, stippling and thread painting, it is a good idea to use a bobbin thread such as Bottom Line.  Cream or pale gray will blend with most light colors, the medium gray will work with most bright or dark colors.

If you want to work with invisible thread, MonoPoly by Superior is a fine polyester rather than nylon.  Nylon melts at high temps and becomes brittle with age.

For machine trapunto, you will need water soluble thread.  I recommend the Vanish thread by Superior but use what you have.

Other Supplies

• Sewing machine in good working order
• Free motion foot
• Sharp scissors for trimming trapunto.  Nice if one blade has a rounded tip.
• Markers
  • permanent pen for marking paper
  • quilter's chalk pencils
  • erasable or washable pens for marking fabrics, such as
    • blue washable quilter's pen
    • Crayola™ Washable Markers - available in office supply stores with school supplies
• Lightweight tracing paper or Golden Threads paper
• Needles
  • Topstitch, sizes 14 and 16
  • Quilting, sizes 11 and 14

If you have other needles you like to use or want to try, use them in the sampler and see how they stack up against these two types.

Detail of wholecloth quilt

OUTLINE

Lesson One

You will start by testing all the supplies your normally use in quilting (batting, thread, needles) and check how they perform together by making a permanent sample to use as reference.  You will then learn to make free motion feathers and other variations on free motion designs.  We will

• make one to four samplers
  • using different batts
  • using different color fabrics
  • divide the sampler into sections
  • trace a design in at least one space
  • starch at least one backing
• choose a needle and stitch a variety of threads to check tension
• choose a thread and fill one grid space with a series of free motion designs
• learn to make free motion feathers
• explore the visual impact of doubling the design

Lesson Two

Using water soluble thread, you will learn to create Trapunto by machine by making two small samples.  We will

• mark simple design
• add batting for Trapunto
• sew, trim and batt sandwich
• complete quilting on first sample
• evaluation results
• prepare second piece with new design
• add additional colored fabric for shadow quilting
• adding more batting for narrow stems or borders

Lesson Three

Learn to make simple outline drawings with thread.  Create two or more small samples to practice the techniques.  We will

• look at the concept of drawing with thread
• explore finding inspiration - botanical sites
• talk about where to use thread drawing
  • as a stand alone design on wholecloth
  • as detail work on a pieced or appliquéd quilt
• look at the appropriate kinds of threads for wall or bed
• address the importance of detail
• learn how to change colors
• learn to create shadows by quilting shapes in the background with blending colors

Detail of wholecloth quilt

Lesson Four

Incorporating the techniques learned in the first three lessons, you will design a small wholecloth quilt, casual or formal.  We will

• look at the difference between casual and heirloom
• balance the design elements
• fill in the background
• prepare the quilt top
• test your marker
• practice your motifs
• custom size border motif
• check compatibility of background with main motifs
• practice sewing your quilting designs before committing to a large project

You may check the Class Supply Glossary in the Library for generic descriptions of products that may be sold under various names in different countries. 

If you have trouble finding your supplies locally in the US, many of our items are available online at Batiks Etcetera & Sew What Fabrics.  International students can check our Class Supply Sources.