Longarm University
Your source for machine quilting education, tools and supplies
Late March / April 2018 Newsletter
Happy Spring - Almost!
In just a few days Spring is officially here, well, almost here!
Here is the Northwest there have been a few days of sun (what is that strange glow in the sky during the day?) but the air has been cool. Some early spring plants are starting to grow and bloom, such as Crocus. Even some trees are starting to blossom. But it is still cool and wet and the furnace is still running.
Daylight Savings time has begun and it has taken me a while to adjust to having more light at the end of the day. Now, instead of quilting, I want to start working outside, but it is still a little early to do anything major outside.
I know that many of you live in the North East and you have had a brutal last few weeks. I hope you are staying warm and safe and that really, truly, Spring will be here!! Who knows, by next week it may be in the 70's where you are! Any you WILL be ready for it!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
On March 17th, everyone is Irish!!! I hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day, and with St. Patrick's Day being on Saturday, there will be a lot of parties!
I don't have a specific "Irish" quilt, but my Countless Cables
quilt looks a little Celtic.
Click on the photo for a larger view.
This quilt is one of my online classes and you can view more information about this quilt by Clicking Here
If you have ever wanted to learn how to make cables, this class is for YOU!
ALL the quilting on this quilt is done with templates, with only a little bit of "stitch near the ditch."
For details on the Countless Cables class Click Here
Templates of the Month - Curved Cross Hatch Template
After two years of testing, designing, quilting and more quilting my NEW CURVED CROSS HATCH template is ready!!! And I am SOOO excited!
You will NOT believe all the wonderful designs that this template can make!! Every time I use this template, I find more ways to use it.
Here are three designs that can be made with this template. Click on any photo for a larger view.
Traditional Curved Cross Hatch 1 inch and
1-1/2 inch spacing
Diagonal Traditional Curved Cross Hatch 1 inch and 1-1/2 inch spacing
Diagonal Quarter
Curved Cross Hatch
1 inch spacing
And here is a photo of all three of these designs in a table runner.
For information about the Curved Cross Hatch template Click Here
I have even put together TWO, FREE online video classes on how to use this template.
For a FREE Mini Class on the Curved Cross Hatch template Click Here
For a longer, more detailed, FREE online class on the Curved Cross Hatch template that includes a 9 block Sampler Quilt - with a different curved cross hatch design in each block - and an awesome border design Click Here
And I KNOW there will more videos to come on how to use this amazing template!
For information about the Curved Cross Hatch template Click Here
Cool Stuff for Quilters - and Knitters!
From time to time in my "wanderings" I find things that I think are of interest to other quilters. I am also a (slightly obsessed) knitter so I also look for knitting things that would be of interest to other knitters. I recently found mugs for both quilters and the knitters.
For more photos and details on these mugs Click Here
Here are some other things I have found that may be of interest to other quilters -
Longarm Quilter
Car Decal
Clear Frosted Shopping Bags
Great for customer quilts
and your own quilts!
For more information on these items Click Here
Traveling Classes
Longarm U will be traveling to Avon, NY (which is near Rochester, NY) on May 8 & 9, 2018.
For information on my New York classes contact the Class Coordinator, Joyce Blowers, joyce.blowers@yahoo.com
I will be teaching Free Hand Sampler on Tuesday, May 8, and Basic Free Hand Feathers on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
On the evening of May 8 I will giving a lecture class on the Business of Longarm Quilting.
I am going to be East of the Mississippi River in May for a family event and this would be a GREAT time to host my traveling classes.
For information about hosting my Traveling Longarm Classes contact me at longarmu@aol.com
Upcoming Workshops
If your goal this Spring or Summer is to learn how to use your quilting machine, then this is the time to plan on attending a Longarm U workshop!
Just the Basics, Two Day Workshop
June 2 & 3 , 2018 OR August 18 & 19, 2018
This workshop covers the basics of using your quilting machine - working from the back of the machine to quilt pantographs (the easy way), border and block patterns, and working from the front of the machine creating free hand designs. Note: no business information is discussed in this class. For more details on this two day workshop Click Here
The Basics of Machine Quilting, Four Day Workshop
July 20, 21,22, 13, 2018
In this workshop you will learn the basics of how to use your quilting machine (see above) AND we talk about how to start a machine quilting business. There are two other instructors in this class and you get to see a variety of quilting styles and learn how they run their businesses. We also do some fun quilting projects too! For more information on this four day workshop
Free Hand Weekend
June 23, 24, 2018
Are intimidated about working from the front of the quilting machine and doing free hand quilting? Are you afraid of feathers? Do you have trouble choosing which free hand designs will look "right" on your quilt? If you answer YES to any of these questions, or you just want to learn more about free hand quilting, the Free Hand Weekend is what you need!
This class is two days of intense quilting! You will learn MANY new quilting designs and how to use them on your quilts! For example, did you know that you can do a free hand blanket stitch with your quilting machine? Attend this class and you will learn how!
For more information about this class Click Here
American Hero Quilts
My favorite charity is American Hero Quilts www.AmericanHeroQuilts.com
This project makes and distributes quilts to wounded service men and women. I have machine quilted many quilts for this great organization and over the last few weeks I have pieced several quilt tops which I hope to quilt very, very soon. American Hero Quilts are always looking for machine quilters - this is a great way to practice your quilting skills AND contribute to a worthy cause. If you don't have the time to piece or quilt for them, they could use your financial support.
My son-in-law is a career soldier and we are very fortunate that he has not been injured during his many deployments overseas. Please, if you have some time, consider making, or quilting, a quilt for the American Hero Quilt Project www.AmericanHeroQuilts.com
Our wounded soldiers, both men and women, need YOUR quilts and your quilting skills.
Machine Quilting Business Blog
If you have a machine quilting business or are thinking of starting one, you NEED to check out this Blog and feel free to leave comments and suggestions for topics to discuss. Feel free to subscribe to this blog and you will receive an email every time something new is posted.
In my last blog post I challenged quilters to "time" themselves when they are working on quilts. Read the post and learn the details about this challenge.
I have been, and will be, updating the Machine Quilting Business blog and sharing my thoughts and what I have found about my quilting - and business - when I time myself when working on customer quilts.
To view the Machine Quilting Business Blog Click Here
Cindy Roth has her own personal blog. To check out what is happening in Cindy's world Click Here
Machines for Sale
The Machines for Sale page has been updated with many new listings. If you are looking for a used longarm quilting machine, please check out this page by Clicking Here
You can sign up to receive an email alert when a new Machines For Sale ad has been posted.
To sign up for this Free service Click Here
My Thoughts
Spring is almost here and Winter is almost over. Woo Hoo!!! I know it is early, but Summer will be here before we know it.
This is going to be a busy Spring for me. In April, I will be visiting with my parents and other family members in the Midwest.
My Dad turns 91 in April and my Mom is 87. I will be helping them while my sister and her husband have a well deserved vacation to celebrate their 40th anniversary! (Way to go Sherree and Jim!!)
While I am visiting with my parents, I will be sewing up a few quilt tops - maybe there will be a Mystery Quilting Event this summer!!! Or, maybe a few new online classes. Or maybe some new knitting patterns. I can never tell when the "creative bug" bites and what will happen after it does bite!!
In May, after teaching class in Avon, NY, I will be traveling to North Carolina where my oldest Granddaughter will be graduating from college. Not only is she graduating, she has a degree in Physics!! I am SO proud of her! It seems like almost yesterday she was a newborn and here she is, finished with college and ready to start her adult life!!
And, as always, there is yard work and house work and other home projects that need the be planned out and (hopefully) completed!
Yes, it is going to be a busy Spring!
I hope that your Spring is not too busy and that you will have time to enjoy the sunshine and warmth - when it gets here. Spend some time outside, take a walk, do some gardening, plant some seeds and watch them grow.
And after all of that, KEEP ON QUILTING!!