Pro-Stitcher for the Terrified: A "Back to Basics" Workshop

Are you feeling completely overwhelmed, or just not confident with your Pro-Stitcher? Does the thought of even switching it on make you anxious? Then this is the workshop for you.

We've designed this "back to basics" workshop for customers with either Pro-Stitcher Premium or Lite systems. It’s specifically for those who need a helping hand. We'll go at your pace, ensuring every step is clear, and provide guidance in a calm, supportive, and judgment-free environment. No question is too silly, and we're here to build your confidence from the ground up.

This workshop is for you if you:

• Aren’t using your Pro-Stitcher as much as you would like.
• Struggle with the absolute basics and lack the confidence to even start.
• Want a patient, step-by-step approach.
• Need help with the initial setup, from switching on the machine to understanding your workspace.
• Dream of quilting your own projects but need help to get started.

What you'll gently learn, step-by-step:

• First Steps & Getting Started:
  • Switching on: Yes, we'll start right there!
  • Setting Up Your Area: Understanding your Pro-Stitcher tablet and machine connection.
  • The Quilt Space: Defining your actual quilting area on the machine.
• Meeting Pro-Stitcher (No Fear!):
  • A tour of the main screen – what are those essential buttons?
  • Choosing a Design: How to browse and select a design from the built-in library.
• Your First Quilting Adventure (We'll do it together!):
  • Edge-to-Edge Designs: Understanding what they are and how to place a simple one.
  • Block Designs: A basic introduction to placing designs within a block.
• Making Designs Work for You:
  • Resizing: Changing the size of a design.
  • Proportion: Keeping your designs looking right when resizing.
  • Cropping: Basic techniques to make designs fit your space.
  • Offset: Simple adjustments to design placement.
  • Drag and Drop: Advancing your quilt.
• Saving Your Progress: How to save what you've set up.
• Bonus Skill – Designs from the Internet:
  • Finding Designs Online: Where to look for quilting designs (overview).
  • Loading onto your Tablet: A step-by-step guide on how to safely download a design from the internet and get it onto your Pro-Stitcher tablet.

By the end of this workshop, you will:

• Feel significantly more comfortable and less intimidated by your Pro-Stitcher.
• Confidently switch on your system and navigate the basic interface.
• Understand how to set up your area and quilt space, and select designs.
• Be able to perform fundamental actions like resizing, cropping, and saving.
• Have successfully worked with edge-to-edge and basic block designs.
• Stitched out some designs and completed some quilting.
• Know the process for getting a new design from the internet onto your tablet.
• Most importantly, you'll leave with a boost in confidence and the foundational skills to finally start enjoying your Pro-Stitcher and finish more quilts!

It's time to say goodbye to Pro-Stitcher panic! Our patient teachers are dedicated to providing the support you need. We'll break everything down into manageable steps, celebrate every small win, and ensure you leave feeling empowered, not overwhelmed.

Spaces are strictly limited to ensure a truly supportive and personalised experience. Book your spot today and let us guide you into the world of Pro-Stitcher

The course cost is £160.

For Handi Quilter Owners Only. If you are interested in purchasing a Handi Quilter our workshops at Festival of Quilts, Try Before You Buy or Showroom Open Days are a great way to find out more about using our Handi Quilter longarm machines. Or you can arrange a Test Drive at our Showroom - please email us at quilt@pinholequilting.co.uk to arrange.

Please note: We will try to match you to the machine that you have but this is not always possible. The majority of our machines are Handi Quilter Amara 20.  However, you will be matched to either a standup or sitdown machine depending on which one you would like to use.

Feedback from previous Workshop Attendees - What they liked...
"The excellent facilities, the knowledge of the teachers, the friendly and relaxed atmosphere they created and the mix of other attendees. The tension issues were covered thoroughly and I finally feel that I know what to do and when. All information was extremely well laid out and the booklet has already been referred to several times already."

"I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, the fact that there were plenty of resources available to use, help when it was needed, optional sessions with a have a go attitude and a watchful eye kept on all participants."

Start Time: Please arrive for 09:15 - we will start at 09:30 prompt
Finish Time: 4:30pm

We take an hour for lunch to enable you to have a relaxed lunch, to browse our shop, to meet other attendees and to step away from the machines! Lunch is a buffet with meat, cheese or vegetarian options (some special diets can be catered for or you are welcome to store your own food in our fridge).

Morning

Break for Lunch 

Afternoon

FAQs

The class may be cancelled with late notice due to circumstances beyond our control. In that event we will rearrange the class for another date. 

We normally send out a confirmation email the week before the class.  

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Our Showroom is located at Unit 22 Highgrove Farm, Seaford, Pinvin, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2LF

Visit our website for more detailed directions as not all Satnavs take you to the correct location!. 

https://www.pinholequilting.co.uk/how-to-find-us

By Plane: Fly into Birmingham International Airport. Trains from Birmingham International to Worcester Parkway take about one hour and run every hour. There is one change at Birmingham New Street. It may be possible to arrange a taxi or by prior arrangement we can pick you up but you must let us know in advance. It is less than 15 minutes to our showroom from Worcester Parkway. We recommend you stay at a hotel in Pershore or Pinvin or at one of the Pub B&Bs in Upton Snodsbury or Flyford Flavell so that we can take you to the Showroom (we live close by).

By Car: It is 10 minutes drive from Junction 6 of the M5. There is plenty of free parking.

By Train: From the new Worcester Parkway it is 15 minutes (7 miles), Pershore BR Station is 5 minutes (1.6 miles). From Foregate or Shrub Hill in Worcester to our Showroom at Highgrove Farm is 20 minutes (10 miles).

Note that Taxis are not always easily available in this area which is very rural. Uber doesn't exist here!

What's the cost of the course?

The full course cost is £160 per day. If you received a voucher with your machine for a free Foundation Workshop please enter the code that you should have received when you check out.

A buffet style lunch with vegetarian option is included. Please let us know if you want the vegetarian option and any other dietary requirements when you book.

Where can we stay?

Pershore is only 3 miles away and there are a number of places to stay in Pershore or in the surrounding villages such as The Oak at Upton Snodsbury, The Boot Pub at Flyford Flavell, The Wood Norton near Evesham.  Note that The Angel Hotel in Pershore is variable in quality.

You could book individual cabins at the Vale Golf Club near Bishampton.

Woodlands B&B in Pershore is well-reviewed as is The Cobblers at Bishampton.

There is a Premier Inn at Evesham Country Park, A46, Evesham WR11 4TP which has been well-reviewed by our visitors. Next door to is is a range of shopping and there is a Beefeater on site.

For more information on accommodation options please visit our Classes Page where we will add to the list based on reviews from customers.

Accessibility All the classroom areas, eating and restrooms are on the ground floor and are wheelchair accessible. 

Cancellation and Refunds

If you have to cancel more than 30 days before the start of the workshop booked we will refund the amount paid in full.  

If you cancel less than 30 days before the start of the workshop then there are no refunds of money paid.

We would suggest that if you have other expenses such as hotels, flights, etc that you take out travel insurance in the event that you are ill or need to cancel etc.

All the machine and material preparation is done several weeks in advance. The machines are loaded for all the classes the week before the class. Lunches are ordered a week before the class.

If there are insufficient numbers to run the workshop or for other circumstances where it is no longer possible, we may have to cancel it.

If we have to cancel because of Covid-19 we will rearrange to another date. You should ensure that any hotels or B&Bs that you book can be cancelled, that you have suitable insurance or that you accept that the course may be cancelled with little notice due to circumstances outside of our control. 

In the event a refund is due it is limited to the cost of the workshop that you have paid.