What to Expect at a Handi Quilter Event

Thinking about signing up to go to a Handi Quilter event? But not quite sure what to expect? Well, I’m here to fill you in!

Education is our top priority at Handi Quilter. We know you can only enjoy your longarm machine if you know how to operate it. And we want you to have fun and finish more quilts! Our education programs extend to events around the country, in-person retreats at our corporate office, and digital education with an extensive library of instructional videos and printable tutorials and a big annual Academy. We hope you’ll take advantage of everything!

I’m going to describe our retailer events that happen all around the country. There are 2 kinds of events at our retail shops: lecture/demo classes and hands-on classes. The classes are given by our talented team of National educators. The educators are experts at longarm quilting and Handi Quilter machines and accessories.

Lecture/Demo Events

Lecture/demo classes are a wonderful way to increase your knowledge about longarm quilting. The educator takes a deep dive into a particular topic and can demonstrate exactly what they are explaining using the machines in the shop. You can ask all your questions and get expert answers.  The classes usually run 3 hours and there are chairs, but you can also get up close and personal to see what is being demoed on the machine.

Hands-on Events

At hands-on events you get to actually put into practice the techniques that are being taught. We have 2 kinds of hands-on events so you might see them referred to as a van event or a truck event.

Van Events

We have 3 vans that travel around to our retailers’ shops. The vans carry 6 Amara machines with Pro-Stitchers that are set up on our education frames. That means you get the opportunity to quilt right along with your educator. Usually the classes have 2 students per machine. The educator does a bit of lecturing about the topic at hand and then you go to the machines to try out what you just learned. Your educator is there to give you tips and pointers to help you. You’ll alternate between sitting and listening and standing at the machines to stitch.

Truck Events

Our 2 Handi Quilter trucks take machines to the large national quilt shows. They carry our booth machines and accessories. Handi Quilter also  supplies machines to set up longarm classrooms at the major shows such as the AQS Quiltweek shows. Classes at the shows are taught by renowned teachers in the longarm quilting world.

In between shows, the trucks make stops at local retailers so that they can offer even bigger classes with 12 Amara machines with Pro-Stitchers! Spots in these hands-on classes fill up quickly, so having more machines means more opportunities for quilters to participate. The classe run similarly to the van events.

Perks

There are other perks to taking a class at your local retailer’s shop besides what you learn. You’ll get to meet other longarm quilting enthusiasts from your area. You’ll make lots of new friends who are as passionate as you are about quilting. And you’ll create a network of others who can help you out when you need it.

Are these classes for me?

Yes!

They are perfect for someone who is longarm curious. That’s someone who does not own a longarm and wonders if it would be a good investment. You’ll get a taste of just how easy and fun it is to finish your own quilts. Warning! You will be hooked.

They are perfect for those who have purchased a machine and are just getting started. These classes will give you the best foundation in longarm quilting basics. And you’ll learn so many little tips and tricks to get the most from your new machine.

They are perfect for anyone who wants to expand their skills or learn new techniques once they feel confident with the basics.

Where to find out about classes near you

Go to our website at handiquilter.com/events to see upcoming events all throughout the country. From there you can get contact information for the retailer to get all the details.  You’ll also want to sign up for your local Handi Quilter retailer’s newsletter or follow their social media to learn about upcoming classes.

If you get a chance to take a class near you…JUMP ON IT! You’ll be so glad you did.

Remember to Quilt Every Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil