Quilting from A to Z

Gina Perkes

Tuesday, March 17, 2026
9:30 am to 4:30 pm MST (Arizona Time)

$50 for members

Discover the world of free motion and ruler quilting in this comprehensive, skill building class. Gina will guide you through everything you need to confidently quilt your own projects.

This step-by-step course covers essential foundations including:

• Machine setup
• Threads
• Marking tools
• Batting
• Trouble shooting
• Ergonomics
• Proper hand positioning
• and more!

From there, Gina walks you through a wide range of exercises designed to help you build techniques that can apply to any style of quilt. Each design is broken down into manageable components so you can build muscle memory and develop smooth, consistent stitches.

Along the way, you’ll learn:

• How to develop fluidity in your movements

• How to conquer spatial concepts

• How to flip and rotate simple designs for
   useability and interest

• Basic ruler quilting concepts

Whether you’re brand new to free motion quilting or looking to refine your skills, this class provides structure, inspiration, and expert guidance to help you quilt with confidence and joy.

Gina’s classes are taught in a stress-free encouraging environment.  

About Gina Perkes

Gina Perkes is an internationally known, award-winning quilter. In 2015, she received the Best Longarm Machine Workmanship award at the AQS Paducah show. Her quilt Nostalgia is now part of the American Quilter’s Society collection displayed at the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky. Gina has been quilting for nearly two decades and has developed many tools for machine quilters including ruler templates and stencils for longarm and domestic machine quilting. She has appeared on several quilting shows and is the author of: Mastering the Art of Longarm Quilting, Appliquilting, Guide to Grids, and Tips for Longarm Quilting. She operates her shop, The Copper Needle, a quilt shop  BERNINA sewing machine and longarm dealership in Payson, Arizona. Gina loves working with other quilters, sharing her techniques and helping them find inspiration and gain confidence. She teaches both domestic and longarm techniques and believes that quilting is therapeutic and strives to create a stress-free, fun learning environment for her students.

TheCopperNeedle.com

Registration

• Members: 

• Log into your account on AQG's website to register for this event!
• Eligibility to register for this event is part of your membership.

• Non-members may attend for an additional $15.

Registration is required for admission.

Registration ends March 14, 2026

Registration is limited to 35.

Cancellation Policy: 

• Cancellations must be made online (no emails).
• Cancellations 5 days (120 hours) or more before the scheduled event will receive an account credit.  The credit can be used for future AQG events.
• Cancellations less than 5 days before the event are not eligible for a credit.
  
• Refunds are not offered.

Zoom Details

• The reminder emails will contain the ZOOM link to the event. 
  Be sure that you have the link. We cannot guarantee monitoring of our email on the day of the meeting.
• The lecture will begin promptly at the listed start time.
  Please join 15-30 minutes early and ensure that your full name appears in the bottom left corner of your photo in the Zoom meeting. If you don't know how to change that, click on the three dots next to your name or ask for help in the waiting room chat.

• A PDF is available under the HELP! tab for AQG Members. https://arizonaquiltersguild.org/resources/Documents/HELP%20DOCUMENTS/ZOOM%20Instructions.pdf
• Video training is available on the Zoom website. You may wish to watch "Joining A Meeting" and "In-Meeting Navigation".  
  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials