Machine Sewing: Quilting Foundations (Tuition-Free)
Adult Tuition-Free Class | Registration opens Monday, July 13, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Have you always wanted to make a quilt but didn’t know where to start? This multi-week class is designed for beginners with some basic sewing experience and guides students through the quilting process step by step, from fabric selection to a finished quilt top. Each week, you'll build new skills while exploring the fundamentals of quilting, including choosing and preparing fabrics, cutting accurately, piecing quilt blocks, and quilting techniques. By the end of the course, you will complete a mini quilt suitable for use as a table topper, throw or wall hanging.
Please note: Students should have some basic sewing experience. If you have any questions, please contact adulteducation@fleisher.org.
What You Will Learn:
- How to select and prepare fabrics for a quilt
- Techniques for accurate cutting and piecing of quilt blocks
- How to make bias binding
- Confident use of a sewing machine for quilting
- Step-by-step construction of a complete mini quilt
- Tips for finishing and presenting your quilt
Please note: Tuition-free classes require an active Fleisher membership.
- Students will need to shop for fabric, batting, and thread after the first or second class, we will discuss choosing colors, thread and batting on the first class. All other supplies should be purchased ahead of time.
- Paper and pen/pencil for sketching designs
- Two contrasting quilting cotton fabrics, about 1 ½ yard of each
- ½ - 1 yard of quilting cotton fabric for binding
- Batting
- Backing fabric
- Thread
- Clear gridded ruler or quilting ruler (6 or 6 ½" x 24" is recommended)
- Seam ripper (some are available in class)
- Fabric scissors (some are available in class)
- Pins (some are available in class)
- Rotary Blade (some are available in class)
- Tailor chalk/ water soluble fabric pen
Optional Supplies:
- Sewing clips - and alternate to pins
- Gypsy gripper - a tool designed to prevent rulers from lipping, improve cutting accuracy and keep hands safe when using a rotary blade.
- Sewer's aid - A clear lubricant for needle to prevent thread breakage, skipped stitches and gumming when quilting.
- Quilting roll clips or clamps - Used to secure rolled up excess fabric to keep sewing area manageable.