Breaking Boundaries with Blended Quilts , Fall 2023

Blending Background Quilting and Improvisational Piecing

This exciting quilting class breaks all boundaries!

Improvisational piecing and free-cut curves are introduced with five exciting projects, each designed to progressively build your confidence. Then, go ahead and bust more boundaries by breaking free of “classic quilted backgrounds” and the bossiness of the quilt block. Learn 100+ fresh backgrounds, bridge elements and transitions with Bethanne’s creative Blended Quilt Texture techniques and designs. By mixing and matching, create quite literally hundreds of unique textures.


What will class look like?

Students will have the unmatched experience of more than 24 hours of instruction presented in both pre-recorded and live classes with additional live question and answer sessions. You will own your class FOREVER.

Start your three hour Improvisational Piecing Workshop immediately with pre-recorded lessons and 5 lovely small quilts designed to teach comfort with free curve piecing and beginner improv work, with a bonus lesson of foundation machine appliqué! . These projects are the perfect non-traditional canvas for your quilting projects later in class, but ultimately are completely optional. If they don't appeal to you, change them, or skip them! See the projects below as part of the curriculum preview.

From September 15 - December 15, students will begin to access 7 quilting classes and learn Bethanne's unique blended background quilting motifs and techniques. Classes are pre-recorded with personalized followup in a 1:1 supportive experience with Bethanne in a dedicated Facebook group where the education builds further with each student sample, allowing for students to learn from feedback, and each other. Master the techniques of moving between quilting designs, using them to create focus, imply pictorial qualities, even consider their emotional impact on the viewer through scale, and action. Class culminates with a live design class, where Bethanne demonstrates on student samples the ideas and themes of class, which helps solidify class concepts on real world quilts with a range of styles.

Work from home in the comfort of your own studio with whatever machine suits you for free-motion machine quilting! All class material will be demonstrated on a longarm, sit down domestic, and sit down longarm using state of the art photography, sound, and lighting. Students are encouraged to be knowledgeable free-motion machine quilters who feel comfortable with the idea of some backtracking.


Plus access to AMAZING BONUS class material immediately with purchase!

  • Thread talk, tensioning, starts and stops with machine quilting mini class
  • Longarm ergonomic safety and control mini class
  • Sit down quilting quilt management discussion
  • Batting and Marking resource guide
  • Craft idea videos for using your practice fabrics

Explore the public curriculum and expectations below! Be sure to click the down arrow to see the full content of Improv class, Bonus materials, and 7 quilting courses, including the dates the quilting classes become available starting on September 15!

Course Curriculum


  Hello and Welcome
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Improvisational Piecing Retreat
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt Texture: Bridge Elements
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt Texture: Encircle Me
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt Texture: Wave Me Down
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Live Q and A 1
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt Texture: Clamming Up
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt Texture: Fantastic
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Blended Quilt texture: Down the Line
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Live Q and A 2
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Designing With Blended Quilt texture
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Bonus Content
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The Improv Quilting Workshop starts NOW and the Quilting class units start on September 15. The 1:1 feedback session ends on December 15, but you have full access to all class materials FOREVER.
Are classes live or recorded? What if I have questions?
All of the above!! The educational parts of this course are all pre recorded with professional video, sound and lighting. The designing class is presented live, as are planned question and answer sessions, but they are saved and can be re-watched any time, so you don't need to attend them. Your questions are answered every day via a private group setting or email...no question is out of bounds within the parameters of class content. It's Bethanne speed dial for the full 3 months of the "interactive" portion of class, September 15-December 15.
Are kits required?
No, kits are imported specialty fabric, and sold separately for $35. You can just as easily use fabric from your stash if the kit does not appeal to you.
I see there is tax on this digital class...why?
Tax laws are complex and rapidly changing in regards to digital products. This format keeps track of state by state and country by country taxes/ VAT and takes care of them for me, preventing me from making costly mistakes. Each state in the USA has a different law and only about 1/3 of them DO charge tax on digital things.
What if I hate the idea of a Facebook group, but want personalized feedback?
No problem. You will simply be emailing me, but not see questions and my answers to others...which many find enriching.

Lorie Quinn...What can I say about Bethanne Nemesh? One of the best teachers I’ve ever come across. I took her Breaking Boundaries workshop and was amazed and delighted in the attention to detail in her teaching — the way she is able to break things down in manageable chunks that build with every class. The shear amount of thought and time she puts into her classes is incredible and is worth far, far more than the price she charges. She was always available to answer questions or help with problems and that in itself is worth the price of admission! I was trepidatious at first, but I can say that the amount of information, knowledge and material that I received far exceeds the price of the class. It is an absolute bargain. Bethanne is a delightful person, a wonderful teacher, an amazing artist and I can’t wait to take her next class. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Karin Vorrath...I loved the class. Never had done any improvisational piecing before but was able to follow along with the pre-recorded class. What impressed me was Behanne’s attention to detail and the well thought out step by step approach which ensured that each project turned out fabulous.
The filler designs were well organised and discussed in a lot of detail. As I am at the other end of the world, I watched most of the classes using Teachable and sometimes on FB after the live event. No problem with either. The set up Bethanne has in place allows for easy watching and was very reliable. There were of course too many designs to mention but if you concentrate on a number of designs you like and practice them you will find that even as a beginner you will be able to stitch the designs. What I also liked were the discussions about design and Bethanne’s gentle nudging to make a design your own.
And lastly, feedback was always prompt and highly relevant…you are definitely going to be extended and will grow as a FMQ student.
Overall, a great experience and highly recommended.

Qurrat Thakur...I would highly recommend this class for anyone wanting to expand their repertoire of quilting motifs. Not only do you learn 100s of different motifs, but Bethanne also helps you understand how and when to use them for maximum impact. I am a pretty accomplished free motion quilter but I can honestly say that this class is the best investment I have made in my quilting journey. Bethanne breaks down how to sew the textures with as minimal of backtracking as possible. Then she goes over how to seamlessly move from one motif to another using bridging techniques. My quilting vocabulary has expanded greatly. I also appreciate that I have access to all her videos and instructions forever.

I am deeply invested in your happiness and quilting confidence!! I am thrilled to connect you to a quilting ambassador...a past student of mine who will talk to you about their experience in class and ease any concerns you may have about investing in your quilting journey with this class, outside of a "sales" email with me. Please reach out with any questions or to request an ambassador email contact! [email protected]

Your Instructor


Bethanne Graves Nemesh
Bethanne Graves Nemesh

Teaching others the joy and passion of quilting making is my favorite thing! The quilt world is full of possibilities for those willing to follow their own creative path and find what works for them. My goal is to empower my students with all the knowledge they need to become creative and confident free motion machine quilters, and fiber artists! Join me!


This course is closed for enrollment.