Combining an inspirational story of overcoming adversity and discovering a hidden talent with award-winning quilting techniques, this guide chronicles one woman's evolution into one of the world’s top quilters. Beginners and advanced quilters alike will learn intricate free-motion threadwork that fuses colors, fabrics, and design into one quilt. Her prized techniques are thoroughly discussed, including the basics for machine quilting, tools, specialty threads, bobbin quilting, trapunto, and free motion work. Included are five original quilt designs complete with patterns and step-by-step photographs for simple re-creation.