Gina Perkes is an internationally 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, 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. https://thecopperneedle.com
Level: All Levels Class Type: Hands-on Category: Serger / Domestic Machine Sewing Machine(s): Not required BERNINA L890 Overlocker/Serger Machines in this room are provided by Going Batty Quilt Shop
Learn how to create a stylish and functional boxy zipper bag using a serger machine! In this hands-on class, you'll discover how sergers can be used beyond garment making to construct a fully finished, professional looking pouch. This project will help you gain confidence with zipper installation, boxed corners, and neat serged seams. You'll leave class with a finished bag and skills to make many more at home!
Kit/handout Fee: $30 (Paid to the teacher in the classroom). Kit includes: Supplies to complete your Boxy Zipper Bag
Student supply list: Thread snips Fabric scissors Pencil for note-taking
The BERNINA L890 Overlocker/Serger Machines in this room are provided by Going Batty Quilt Shop.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Custom quilting doesn't have to mean complicated quilting on every inch of your quilt. Gina demonstrates approachable ways to add custom touches, including outlining, ruler work, block designs, borders, and background fills. Learn how to combine simple techniques to create a quilt that looks highly customized without becoming overwhelming.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Hands-on Category: Serger / Domestic Machine Sewing Machine(s): Sewing Machine required
Discover the fundamentals of free-motion quilting on your home machine. Whether you are a novice or intermediate quilter, this skill-building class will help you gain confidence and improve your machine quilting techniques.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sewing machine in good working order. Sewing machine manual Open-toe free-motion foot 10- quilt sandwiches: dark solid fabric with cotton batting Light colored thread Machine quilting gloves Erasable marking pen Pencil for note-taking Sketch pad
* SEWING MACHINES ARE NOT PROVIDED IN THIS CLASS. Bring your own machine in good working order, pedal and cord.
Sewing Machine and Supply storage: For your convenience, we have available, free of charge temporary and overnight storage at the class registration desk located at Nevada Office 1, across the hall from classroom N5 on the lower level of the hotel.
Level: All levels Class Type: Hands-on Category: Domestic Machine Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room.
Discover how to create a variety of creative free-motion quilting designs. Gina will cover many tips for executing designs with precision. Designs covered will include block, border, sashing, edge-to-edge, and filler designs will be explored.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: 10- quilt sandwiches: dark solid fabric with cotton batting Light colored thread Machine quilting gloves Erasable marking pen Pencil for note-taking Sketch pad
Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
A perfect introduction to the longarm quilting process. Gina will walk through everything that happens from preparing your quilt top and backing to loading the quilt, choosing thread, design ideas, and getting started. She will demonstrate the basic functions of a longarm machine and share tips that can make your quilting experience easier and more successful. Discover simple exercises that are designed to help you improve your fluidity and spatial awareness.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Hands-on Category: Domestic Machine Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room.
Discover the joy and ease of machine quilting with rulers! Rulers provide "training wheels" for your machine quilting experience. Gina will help you build confidence with your ruler quilting technique and inspire you with new designs for your quilt tops. This is a fun and stress-free class filled with skill-building exercises and creative ideas.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: 10- quilt sandwiches: dark solid fabric with cotton batting Light colored thread Machine quilting gloves Erasable marking pen Pencil for note-taking Sketch pad
Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Ready to take your ruler work to the next level? In this lecture/demo, Gina demonstrates how to combine rulers and stencils to create more intricate, polished quilting designs. Learn how to use stencils as a roadmap for your quilting, combine marked designs with ruler work, and create beautiful borders, blocks, feathers, motifs, and background fills.
We’ll explore ways to turn simple shapes into more complex designs while maintaining balance, symmetry, and consistency. Gina will share her favorite techniques for transferring designs, using registration points, combining multiple rulers, and making your quilting look intentional and beautifully finished.
Perfect for: Quilters who already have some experience with ruler work and want to expand their design possibilities and confidence.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Join Gina for a collection of her favorite longarm quilting tips, shortcuts, and techniques developed through years of quilting and teaching. From getting comfortable at the machine to making design decisions and avoiding common mistakes, this class is packed with ideas to help you quilt with greater confidence, creativity, and enjoyment.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: Intermediate Class Type: Hands-on Category: Domestic Machine Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room.
Take your ruler quilting to the next level. Gina Perkes will show you how to customize your ruler quilting and make the most of your tools. Discover how to customize your ruler shapes to fit the size and style of your quilt tops: borders, blocks, and more.
You will also learn how to spruce up the basic shapes by adding secondary free-motion details. Rulers will be provided for students to use in class.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: 10- quilt sandwiches: dark solid fabric with cotton batting Light colored thread Machine quilting gloves Erasable marking pen Pencil for note-taking Sketch pad
Sierra Sewing, Quilting, & Vacuums provides Janome Sewing Machines in this room
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Take your quilting beyond free-motion stitching with rulers. Gina demonstrates how to safely and confidently use rulers on a longarm, including how to choose the right ruler, maintain consistent spacing, and create beautiful straight lines, curves, arcs, and inside designs. You’ll leave with ideas you can immediately apply to your own quilts.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Edge-to-edge quilting can be beautiful, efficient, and surprisingly versatile. In this lecture/demo, Gina demonstrates how to choose an edge-to-edge design that works with your quilt, how to plan the quilting, and techniques for achieving a polished, balanced look. She’ll also discuss when an edge-to-edge design is the perfect choice—and when you may want something more custom. A variety of freehand edge-to-edge designs will be demonstrated and explained.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Level: All Levels Class Type: Lecture/Demo Category: Longarm Quilting Machine(s): Not required Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Thread and tension can make or break your quilting—and knowing how to troubleshoot common problems can save you a lot of frustration. Gina demonstrates thread choices, needle selection, tension adjustments, and common issues such as thread breakage, eyelashes, loops, and skipped stitches. This is a practical, problem-solving class designed to help you feel more confident at the machine.
Kit/handout Fee: None
Student supply list: Sketchpad/pencil or pen
Sew So Shop is providing the Innova Longarm Quilting Machine in this room.
Gina Perkes is an internationally 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. 
