Handi Quilter University

This has been a fantastic week!  My husband stayed home to take care of the boys and I went with my mother to the Handi Quilter University Pro-Stitcher classes.  While I have a sit down quilting machine, my mother has a Handi Quilter Fusion (24 inch) with the Pro-Stitcher (computerized quilting program).  She wanted to learn how to use it and have me go with her.  Handi Quilter is located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah so we didn't have far to go.

On the first day we got to tour the facility.  The machines are manufactured right there.

They moved last July.  So while my Tiara was not built there, it was fun to see where other Tiaras are built.

I learned that Handi Quilter sells more quilting machines than any other brand.  During busy times they can make up to 60 machines a day.

Then we learned about quilting edge to edge designs.

You select an area, program everything, and it does the quilting.  Pretty cool.  (But I did miss the free-motion.)  The second day we learned about blocks, and the third day borders.

I loved taking the class with my mother.  Our machines were side by side.

It was lots of fun, and I look forward to playing with her machine in the future.  My mom is not interested in learning free motion quilting, so this class was perfect for her to use what she has.

Another great part was seeing all of the inspiring quilts.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

While some of the quilts were labeled with names and quilter, not all of them were.  But I can tell you that these were made by Handi Quilter employees.

The classes were great (I highly recommend them), but one of the best parts was getting to know other quilters from across the United States.  I believe we were their biggest group ever.  (One person had to leave before we took this photo.)

The Handi Quilter University included all of our meals, and we all stayed at the same hotel.  So we spent a lot of time together.  By the time we returned to our room, I was exhausted!

Besides my new understanding of my mom's machine, this is what I came home with.

I took the four edge to edge designs and turned them into a simple tote bag.

It is completely reversible.

I wasn't able to finish everything on the sampler quilt in the class.

So I traced the tulips onto gold paper, and quilted them on my machine.

I added a little more quilting and then a binding.  Now it is finished.

Here is my favorite block.

Quilt Stats #135
Name:  Pro-Stitcher Sampler
Pattern:  Class Kit from Handi Quilter
Fabric:  Pink solid and stripe
Amount Used 2.25 yards
Batting:  Hobbs 80/20
Size:  32 x 32 inches
Date:  March 2015
What I learned:

• How to use the Pro-Stitcher.
• The Pro-Stitcher is pretty neat.  

Handi Quilter University has three different courses.  Two are for free-motion quilting, and then this computerized class.  The educators were fantastic, and I highly recommend their courses to anyone who owns a Handi Quilter.  

XX,

Jasmine