Machine Quilting on the Grid

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Award-winning quilter Gina Perkes-Tidwell makes quilting designs come to life with her grid-based designs. While the designs look elaborate and intricate, the application of grids makes the quilting simple! Learn how to do straight-line quilting, free-motion quilting, and quilting fills—all using grids that make the process so easy. Gina shows all of the techniques on a home sewing machine and then on a longarm machine. Really, no matter how you quilt or what style of quilting you prefer, this approach to quilting design will open up a world of possibilities for you. She even has a special lesson on grid-based designs for sashings and borders and demonstrates how to use a longarm ruler on a home sewing machine. Gina encourages you to play, experiment, and have fun and she provides you with practice sheets and a practice quilt pattern to get started. Quilt along with Gina and build your grid-based skills with this informative and easy-to-follow class.

Course Curriculum

Machine Quilting on the Grid by Gina Perkes-Tidwell

Lesson 1. Introduction 0 Hours 6 Minutes00:06

Lesson 2. Marking the Grid 0 Hours 24 Minutes00:24

Lesson 3. Ruler Work on a Domestic Machine 0 Hours 26 Minutes00:26

Lesson 4. Ruler Work on a Longarm Machine 0 Hours 22 Minutes00:22

Lesson 5. Free Motion Designs 0 Hours 29 Minutes00:29

Lesson 6. Blocks, Sashings & Borders 0 Hours 26 Minutes00:26

Lesson 7. Grid-Based Fillers 0 Hours 30 Minutes00:30

LIST PDF

Books: (Optional)

Tips for Longarm Quilting
eBook Tips for Longarm Quilting
The Guide to Grids Book by Gina Perkes
eBook The Guide to Grids by Gina Perkes

Fabric (Options for fabric are given for both longarms and home sewing machines. Choose the one you prefer.)

Longarm:
Top: 3 yd. solid medium dark cotton
Backing: 3 yd. cotton
Batting: 3 yd.
Home Sewing Machine:
Top: 1⅔ yd. solid medium dark cotton
Backing: 1⅔ yd. cotton
Batting: 1⅔ yd.
Cut into 12" squares and make (15) practice quilting sandwiches.

Thread:

Silk 100 wt.
Cotton 40 wt.

Sewing Machine Foot for Home Sewing Machine

Free-motion ruler foot or open toe free-motion foot with a thick lip edge

Marking Tools:

Dry erase pen
Erasable marking implement
Chalk pounce pad
Bohin mechanical pencil
Air erasable pen, purple

Rulers:

2" x 12"
¼" thick straight edge quilting ruler, approximately 3" x 10"

Pins & Needles:

Self threading needle
Straight pins

Other Supplies:

Plastic sheet protectors
Straight line stencils
June Tailor® Grid Marker
Nylon mesh 1" stencil
Hairspray
Small pieces of grip shelf liner
Template plastic
Scissors

Home Sewing Machine Quilters Need:

Gripping stickers for underneath side of ruler or small pieces of grip shelf liner
Quilting gloves or finger cots

Optional

Iron
Electric Quilt® 8 quilt design software (EQ8)
Ironing Surface

Is this class for longarm or home sewing machines?

Both, and those who quilt by hand will also gain a lot of design information from this class. She shows how to mark quilts and quilting paths to take. Even better, she demonstrates the lessons on both a home sewing machine and a longarm so you can learn both techniques. Then, she provides practice sheets so you can practice right along with the class!
What type of quilting lends itself to grid-based designs?

The techniques in this class translate into any style of quilting. Whether you lean toward traditional, modern, art, or any other type of quilting, grid-based designs are useful. This class includes straight line, free motion, and filler designs using grids.
What are grid-based designs?

Designs are grid based when there is a repetition of shapes. We see them all around us, and Gina encourages us to look for and use them as inspiration in our quilting.
What if I have questions?

We recommend that you watch the class in its entirety and become familiar with the downloadable materials. At that point, if something is unclear, go to the tab that allows you to ask a question and Gina will get back with you via email. Please do not contact iquilt instructors by telephone.
When can I start the class?

We know you are excited to get started. After you have purchased the class, you can enjoy it anywhere and anytime you have the Internet. The class belongs to you, so watch it as many times as you like!

Instructor Gallery

Student Gallery

JEN QUESTED – May 26, 2018:

What a wonderful course in learning to quilt easier. The grid work makes the sewing more accurate and fun. I've learnt a great deal, thank you Gina.
Millie Shenton – May 19, 2018:

For the most part, I have used an edge to edge pantograph quilting machine. I have been trying to switch to free motion and I must admit, I am still "finding my way". This class is quite helpful BECAUSE of the grids. I don't know, maybe it syncs more with the way my mind works, but for the first time, I feel like I can tackle an entire quilt top on my domestic machine, which is the direction I …

want to be taking now. While I love my Mega Quilter, I want to be done with that 9 foot frame in the room and I have no interest in another long arm setup! I like Gina's "divide and conquer" method and I feel pretty confident that this can work for me. Thank you, Gina, for including your domestic in the lessons. I get it that some instructors, using a long arm, tell us that it all can be translated to a domestic, but whether you know it or not, you do give "little gems" that pertain only to those domestic machines when that is what you are pushing the quilt top through during your instructions. I love the clean appearance of your grid work and can't wait to try it. My free motion straight lines leave a lot to be desired...having trouble finding that ruler you used. Any suggestions where to get it? Thank you.

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Pia Lindegaard – May 24, 2017:

Very, very boring. Grid and grid. Talk and talk. Who do need a course on drawing a grid on a domestic and drawing a grid on a long arm machine. I know you are an excellent quilter but you dont want to show anything. Why?
Colleen Champlin – March 5, 2017:

Gina does a great job of explaining and demonstrating many quilting techniques. I would love for her to do more design classes online. Thank you.
Vimla Govender – September 10, 2016:

I am quite disappointed. It is not what I expected. This is really for beginners and it was a waste of my money. I did not learn anything new, not even one iota of information.... I thought she is an award winning quilter and I would at least learn something from her but this was not the case. I have done classes with Lisa Calle and her classes are really informative compared to this one. And you…

also get to complete a project. well I think more information needs to be given in regard to the class, so that we are not enticed to buy something which is a waste of our time and money. thank you.

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Carol Abbett – August 18, 2016:

Not my favorite class...it's probably great for beginners. A lot of time is spent on basics of using a longarm or domestic machine, drawing the grid, etc. I thought this would be more of an intermediate class on designing with grids and it's not what I expected. Feel like I wasted money on this class. Not nearly as good as the other classes I've purchased.
Elizabeth MacKay – July 28, 2016:

Great techniques, very innovative. Lessons complement other iquilt classes with unique methods.
Love the way to use 1/4" rulers with the BERNINA Stitch regulator.
Hope to see more classes with Gina. Very personable and professional approach.
Thanks
Janice Allen – July 9, 2016:

This was a very informative class on how to use grids to improve my quilting. She was very precise with instructions, showing how to incorporate the design on paper and on fabric. It was helpful to see her draw the motive on the grids and then how to stitch around it, completing the design with marking pencil so it would look consistent. Being a mid arm quilter, it is hard to find classes that …

focus only on mid arm quilting. This was a good blend, as it helped me see how to quilt on both the domestic and long arm. A mid arm uses a little of both (at least the way I quilt). Using the ruler reference at the 45 degree line was very helpful, as it gives one more way to insure accuracy. Thank you for your helpful and creative information.

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Molinda Lauxmiller – June 21, 2016:

I enjoyed the helpful information, but unfortunately Gina does not respond to questions. I have been waiting these weeks. 🙁
Betty Jo Tatum – June 10, 2016:

This is an excellent course. I am excited to add grid work to my quilting process. Gina presented her concepts and techniques in a wonderfully clear way. Well done!
Marguerite Nehring – June 8, 2016:

Loved the course! Many valuable tips that I am able to incorporate in my quilting today. I have been free motion quilting for awhile on a domestic machine and was delighted to learn some new techniques. Very enjoyable class. Thanks Gina. Can't wait for the new book!
Barb Saunders – June 6, 2016:

I loved this class and Gina's technique for quilting open spaces. I have taken face-to-face classes with her and have to say this was just as much fun! She is a fabulous teacher and I love that she takes the time to help the beginner as well as the more experienced quilter learn her intricate techniques. I can't wait for more classes by Gina. Thank you!!!
Kim Mccloskey – May 29, 2016:

This class is rich with information. I really appreciated getting insight into Gina's thought processes as she quilts which has helped me know how to make necessary decisions in my own quilting. I am in the process of transitioning from a long-arm sit-down to a longarm stand-up machine and the tips on ruler work has helped me learn how to master my quilting on each machine. Thanks Gina.…
Barb Saunders – May 27, 2016:

Gina has given me so many ideas on how to complete the tops I have waiting to be quilted! She has given me the confidence to start with a small area and build on it. I love taking classes from Gina - both in person AND now online, too!! Thanks for your gentle spirit and inspirational lessons! I can't wait for more!!
Jim B. – May 4, 2016:

I have been considering getting a longarm for over a year now and have been quite intimidated with where to start. Gina has really helped eliminate the anxiety I've felt as she was able to take the complex task of quilting a quilt and break it into bite size pieces that I have no problem digesting and extrapolating to my ideas where I know "I can do that!". She also pays great attention to ergon…

omics and gives tips so that you can do the quilting longer and not be sore. She's a wonderful and gifted teacher as well as a quilter. Thanks Gina.

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Vicki Nardone – April 17, 2016:

I was delighted to see how grids can aid the design process, but felt the bulk of the content was anything but how to design. Alot of repetitious material on non- design things such as holding rulers and domestic machine setup. At some point, the instructor has to design the course with some basic assumptions about the learners level of expertise and just go based on those assumptions. Otherwise,…

the course gets filled with extraneous content. For absolute beginners, it is probably great. For those of us who are already quilting and just needing techniques for improving design generation, its a bit slow. For a strong, well-designed course on design, I loved Lisa Calle's Mastering the Mini and recommend that.

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Wendy – March 29, 2016:

Thank you Gina for the great class using grids. The simple idea of stitching a design within a grid makes replicating the design easier. You have given lots of examples of how to change traditional designs just a little to make them your own. It was valuable watching you work on the domestic as well as the long arm machine. As a quilter who uses a domestic machine, the ruler work discussion and de…

monstration shows we can achieve beautiful results too. I have found the practice grids great for drawing the designs before stitching and also for auditioning my own designs.

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Cristina ARCENEGUI Bono – March 26, 2016:

I enjoyed this class so much that I look forward to more classes with Gina. I have always admired her intricate quilts and wondered how she did those tiny fillers. Now I feel confident to try.
Thank you Gina