Writing with your Sewing Machine

A free-motion sewing class
If you’ve ever fancied writing with your sewing machine adding an extra layer of interest by adding words, prose or poetry to your textile art work, projects or confidently create your own personalised quilt labels this workshop is for you!
We will spend a day developing our current free motion sewing skills to create a fun sampler using different techniques, tools and hacks to write with confidence with our machines. We’ll cover all the basics for writing clearly and with control. 
Using your own sewing machines you will grow in assurance, pick up handy hints and tips and trouble shoot previous issues and problems. Beginners are welcome.
Requirement List:
Essential:
Sewing machine – Please ensure that your sewing machine is able to drop its feed dogs, these are the ‘teeth’ that help feed the fabric through the machine. If it doesn’t please check that it comes with a cover for the stitch plate.
Please make sure your machine has a free machine embroidery foot to sew with, (these are normally spring loaded and have a circular foot, it can be open or closed, plastic or metal) check with manufacturer for the suggested foot if you don’t have one.
Your machine’s operation manual & sewing table extension if your machine has one, both are really handy. Don’t forget your power cable!
Basic sewing kit:  Scissors, spare machine needles, bobbins etc
A small range of coloured machine threads, something that will be clearly seen against your fabric colour.
Calico/plain coloured fabric – medium weight. Approx ½ metre – 1 metre please use what you have in your stash! 
A small amount of bondaweb is useful, a piece approx A3.
Any air, water or iron erasable pens you might have, even dress makers chalk. Cat will have a range for folk to try and play with.
Useful, but not essential: if you have any of the following do bring them along.
An embroidery hoop – Do bring one if you have one but please do not go out and buy one especially, I will have a selection for people to borrow. 
For the quilters in the class, if you’d like to bring some batting to try behind your work this can be a fun experiment.
Likewise, Stitch n Tear or Iron on Vilene are also useful materials to try out. We’ll explore these and Cat will have a little of each for everyone.  
If you have a pair of quilter’s gloves or similar tool for gripping your work pop them in your bag.