A Quilter's Choice - APQS West

06/20/2026

Feathers make people nervous and that is fair. They have a reputation.

But once you understand the spine, the shape, and where your hands need to go, they get a lot friendlier.

If you'd like to learn with me, join us!

Less Stress Feathers teaches you how to stitch elegant, formal style feathers without the stress of backtracking. If you love the classic look of traditional feathers but struggle with the backtracking they require—or if you want to stitch feathers in a contrasting thread without visible retracing...

06/19/2026

When I am helping a quilter troubleshoot tension, I do not just look at the top thread. I look at the bobbin too.

The bobbin, bobbin case, backlash spring, and bobbin tension all play a part in how your stitch forms. In this video, I walk through what those parts do and why they matter on a longarm machine. If your stitches are not looking right, the bobbin area is always worth checking.

Follow along as APQS retailer and educator, Myrna Fi**en, shares helpful information about longarm machine bobbins, bobbin cases, backlash springs and bobbin...

06/18/2026

Ruler work starts before the ruler ever touches the quilt!

Look at the quilt. Mark what needs marking. Give yourself a plan. Guessing is allowed, but it is not usually the best teacher.

If you need help, give me a call.

06/18/2026

If your pantograph quilting feels harder than it should, check your posture before you blame the pattern.

Your shoulders, hands and table height all matter. Quilting should take focus, not a chiropractor!

06/16/2026

Come see me July 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m! If you have been thinking about a longarm, come spend some time with the APQS machines!

You can test drive different models, look at table options, ask questions, and learn what might fit your quilting space and goals.

Road Show discounts will be available. Space is limited, so each person attending needs to register separately with their own email address, please.

06/16/2026

This class introduces a collection of simple, versatile freehand designs perfect for borders and sashings. You’ll learn how to place and space these motifs so they fit your quilt beautifully, along with easy marking techniques that keep the process quick and approachable.

Overview This class introduces a collection of simple, versatile freehand designs perfect for borders and sashings. You’ll learn how to place and space these motifs so they fit your quilt beautifully, along with easy marking techniques that keep the process quick and approachable.

06/15/2026

When I load a quilt and I am not floating the quilt top, I use pins on my APQS Deluxe frame.

This is the full load process, and it is one I like quilters to understand because loading affects the whole quilting experience.

If the quilt is not loaded well, you can fight it all the way through.

In this demonstration, I show how I pin the backing, batting, and quilt top so everything is ready before I start quilting.

APQS retailer and educator, Myrna Fi**en, demonstrates loading a qu...

06/14/2026

Keep learning. Your quilts are worth it.

06/13/2026

Throat space is one of those things that sounds like a simple measurement until you are quilting a real quilt! More room can mean fewer advances and more space to work your design.

That can make a big difference on larger quilts. If you are comparing APQS machines, I can help explain what the different sizes mean in real quilting terms.