FMQ Swirls
Five Swirl Designs You Can Quilt on the Machine You Already Have
FMQ Swirls teaches five swirl-based free motion quilting designs-basic, hooked, smoky, square, and swirl chains-using video lessons, doodle practice, and hands-on stitching, so you can quilt your own quilt top instead of sending it to a longarmer.
If you’ve already tried free motion quilting once, scrolled past quilters online who make it look effortless, and decided the problem was you instead of the fact that you were comparing your first attempt to someone’s hundredth, that quilt top still sitting in your stack is exactly why this class exists.
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Imagine Picking the Right Swirl for Every Inch of Your Quilt Top
Picture that quilt top from your stack, the one you’ve been putting off, finished. Not with one design stretched across the whole thing because it’s the only one you know, but with hooked swirls filling the busy print fabric, smoky swirls softening the background, and swirl chains running clean down the border. You already know how to sit down and quilt. This is about giving yourself more than one tool to reach for.
There's just one problem
You Already Tried Free Motion Quilting Once
Maybe it was a meander, maybe it was your own attempt at a swirl, and it came out a little wobbly, a little uneven, not what you pictured. So you did what most of us do: you pulled up Instagram and watched someone stitch out a feather so smooth it looked like it wasn't real life. That’s not a fair fight. You were looking at someone’s hundredth swirl and comparing it to your first, and it convinced you the problem was you.
Here's the truth
It Was Never About How Steady Your Hands Are
The wobble wasn’t a sign you can’t do this. It was a sign you’d only ever tried one design, cold, with no doodle practice and no plan for where it belonged on the quilt. Swirls aren’t one skill, they’re five, and each one is built to solve a different problem on your quilt top. Once you know which swirl goes where and you’ve drawn it enough times that your hand isn’t guessing anymore, the wobble goes away. That’s the whole class.
"It was such a fun class and taught me so much about FMQ on my domestic machine. I was ready to advance my skills and improve my confidence, especially on bigger projects. I'm so happy that I stuck with it and finished a 60" x 60" quilt. I got a blue ribbon at my local fair! Joni is an excellent teacher and was so willing to make sure we all 'got it.'"
Terry, past student
Welcome to FMQ Swirls
This isn’t a class where you watch five videos, nod along, and hope your hands remember what to do at the machine. I teach with a method I call Learn Doodle Quilt, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: you learn how each swirl design is built and where it belongs on a quilt, background fill or border or sashing, you doodle it on paper first so your hand knows the movement before your machine does, and then you quilt it for real, stitching it into a practice sandwich so nothing’s on the line yet.
By the time you sit down at your machine for each design, you’ve already drawn it a dozen times. And remember, the only part of the quilt that matters while you’re quilting is the four inches between your hands. Worry about that four inches, not the whole quilt at once, and every one of these five designs gets a lot less scary.
I’ll be right here with you through all three steps, for every one of the five designs, not just handing you a video and disappearing.
What's Inside
Your FMQ Swirls Syllabus
Lesson 1
Basic Swirl
The foundation for every other swirl in this class. Once your hands understand its smooth, continuous motion, every other variation makes sense fast.
Lesson 2
Hooked Swirls
Hooked swirls add a hook in between swirls, giving the design extra movement and direction. They’re perfect for filling spaces while keeping the quilting soft and fluid.
Lesson 3
Smoky Swirls
Smoky swirls add dimension and movement as they travel across the quilt, creating a relaxed, flowing texture. This design is ideal when you want movement without a rigid or structured look.
Lesson 4
Square Swirls
Square swirls add a touch of geometry and masculinity for a more modern, graphic feel. They work beautifully in blocks, borders, and quilts with bold colors and geometric piecing.
Lesson 5
Swirl Chains
Swirl chains link individual swirls together in a continuous path, making them great for borders, sashing, and long spaces. They add rhythm and movement while helping you travel smoothly across the quilt.
Ready to start quilting?
Meet your teacher
Hi, I'm Joni
I've been quilting for over 20 years, and the only thing I love more than quilting is sharing what I've learned with you. Quilting is my favorite step in the process, and my courses teach you how to FMQ in quick and compact lessons. From getting your quilt ready to go under the needle to developing a quilting plan so you never approach your machine with doubt, I have a proven method of learning that ensures you can quilt your own quilts on your own machine.
But it wasn't always this way...
My entry into quilting was a disaster! I started with the ugliest fabrics and a cardboard cutting mat. I had no idea what I was doing, and it was the grace and patience of a mentor to get me through my first two quilts. By then I was hooked and tried to learn as much as I could about this craft I loved so much.
If I can start with this as a first quilt, surely you also have it in you to learn and master the art of quilting on your own machine. I'd be so honored if you let me be your guide on that journey.
I guarantee your happiness
Try FMQ Swirls Risk-free
I know how frustrating it is to buy a class only to be disappointed when you get into it. If you go through the lessons and don't walk away ready to quilt five new free motion quilting designs, I don't want to keep your money. Simply send me an email, and I'll give you a full refund.
This is for you if:
- You have a domestic sewing machine that allows you to lower your feed dogs and install a darning foot.
- You've been sending your quilts out but are getting tired of the expense and lack of creative control.
- You're ready to say, "I did it!" and show off your new skills.
This is not for you if:
- You're content sending your quilts to a longarmer.
- You don't have reliable access to a domestic sewing machine.
Are you ready to start your free motion quilting learning journey?
Join me and other quilters just like you who are ready to take control of the creative process, save money by quilting your own quilts, and who are ready to start learning free motion quilting.
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