Handi Quilter Academy

Want to know a basic rundown of your itinerary? Look no further! We’ve organized classes into skill- and education-focused paths to help you make strides toward your desired destination. These classes are available to quilters of different skill-levels but are designed to make sure you’ll leave HQ Academy 2022 with stronger skills! Choose the path that best suits your skill-level.

Free-Motion Quilting Paths:

Free-Motion Quilting – Stationary Machine (Beginner)

If you’re a beginner and the thought of transitioning from a domestic machine to a frame-mounted machine scares you, don’t worry. You’re not alone! We’ve got an easy path for you to take to give you a solid quilting foundation on a stationary longarm machine. On this journey, we will give you an all-inclusive tour of a longarm machine and show you how to manage large quilts, use free-motion techniques to fill negative space, and quilt with rulers. We’ll also create a fun project or two!

Free-Motion Quilting – The Next Step – Stationary Machine (Advanced Beginner and Beyond)

So you’ve mastered the basics of free-motion quilting on a stationary machine. Are you ready to take a few steps outside your comfort zone and venture into some new terrain of free-motion quilting? Let’s do it! We will be going through a variety of hands-on, lecture, and demo classes focused on free-motion skills and quilting with rulers. If you’re ready to take your free-motion quilting on a stationary machine to the next level, this is the track for you.

Free-Motion Quilting – Frame-Mounted Machine (Beginner)

Are you ready to take a few steps outside your comfort zone and venture into the terrain of free-motion quilting on a frame-mounted machine? Let’s do it! We will be going through a variety of hands-on, lecture, and demo classes focused on free-motion skills and quilting with rulers. If you’re ready to take your free-motion quilting to the next level, this is the track for you.

Free-Motion Quilting – The Next Step – Frame-Mounted Machine (Advanced Beginner and Beyond)

So you’ve mastered the basics of free-motion quilting. Let’s take some more strides using a frame-mounted machine for free-motion quilting. We will be going through a variety of hands-on, lecture, and demo classes focused on free-motion skills and quilting with rulers.

Pro-Stitcher Tracks:

Pro-Stitcher – Basics (Beginner)

Cruise your way to the wonderful world of computerized quilting on the Pro-Stitcher path. You will be amazed at the things that this program and machine can do for your quilting. There will be a combination of hands-on classes and lectures with Simulation Mode. This track will also include an intro class for PS Designer.

Pro-Stitcher – The Next Step (Advanced Beginner and Beyond)

If you are well on your way and comfortable using Pro-Stitcher, quilting edge-to-edge designs, repositioning designs, and using the tools Pro-Stitcher offers, then join us in the intermediate group. The courses will be split between hands-on classes and lectures, where you will be working with your computer in Simulation Mode. This group will be full of tips and tricks for using Pro-Stitcher. In addition, there will also be a class teaching you how to edit basic designs in PS Designer.

This class will NOT cover Pro-Stitcher basics. If you do not have the skills outlined in the Pro-Stitcher – Basics class, you will be moved into that track to better suit your needs.

A personal laptop with a trackpad or wired mouse (too many wireless mice in one room can cause interference), laptop charger, and USB stick will be required for this track. Design files will also be available to download.

PS Designer – Basics (Advanced Beginner and Beyond)

Are you looking to make some headway in the PS Designer software? This is the place to start. First, we’ll take you on a guided tour of this standalone software. Next, using the available tools, we’ll show you how to create and edit designs by making a sampler. Finally, we’ll show you how to audition designs using backdrop photos. You’ll be coasting through quilts in no time!

A personal laptop with a trackpad or wired mouse (too many wireless mice in one room can cause interference), laptop charger, and USB stick will be required for this track. Design files will also be available to download.

Additional Information:

• All paths will include hands-on as well as lecture- and demo-style classes.
• The free-motion, frame-mounted machine classes are hands on and taught on an HQ Amara with two people per machine.
• The free-motion, stationary machine classes are hands on and taught on an HQ stationary machine with two people per machine.
• The Pro-Stitcher hands-on classes are taught on an HQ Amara with the latest version of Pro-Stitcher and two people per machine.
• Skillbuilder mini classes will be held for more hands-on opportunities.

Shop Hop (optional)

The best way to travel is to make sure you’re checking out all your destination has to offer. Enter the Shop Hop! On the final day of HQ Academy, we’ll go out to lunch and then to a couple of different local quilt shops. Your final destination will be the Handi Quilt headquarters where you will get a guided tour by a studio educator and a catered meal to finish off the night. It’s going to be the perfect way to wrap up your trip!