Classes

Designing with Log Cabin blocks

Carolyn Beam

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Take the Log Cabin block to new levels. This class will cover how to create original quilt designs by adding piecing to the block centers, piecing the logs to create new designs and new block arrangements. The first part of the class will be spent designing and the second part will be sewing.

Skill Level: All Levels

Bring these Supplies to Class: sewing machine, basic sewing supplies, rotary cutter, mat and ruler, fabric to sew (variety of fat eighths or similar size in a range of colors and values will work).

Feathers and Fillers—Conquering your Freehand Quilting Fears

Dawn Cavanaugh

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Are feathers a dream of yours, but you don’t know where to begin? Has the thought of tackling freehand overall filler designs with your sewing or longarm machine paralyzed you? Do you resort to the same old meandering design or stitching in the ditch because you are stuck in a quilting rut? It’s time to move past your fear of freehanding and discover the fun you’ve been missing!

This demonstration and drawing class will help you learn simple approaches to creating beautiful feathers and overall fillers on your quilts. Whether you quilt with a domestic sewing machineor a mid-arm or long arm, you'll take home plenty of designs to keep you busy for years to come. You'll use a white board to draw Dawn's designs to help hone your skills as you create new, exciting designs to use on your quilts. If you can draw it, you can quilt it! When you return home to your sewing machine, you'll be armed with nearly two dozen new designs to try, along with newfound skills with feathers.

Feathers are one of the most sought-after designs for quilts today. Move past meandering and discover new and different designs including leaves, swirls, chocolate curls and more to enhance your quilt. Then Dawn walks you through the basic “rules” for feather quilting, and introduces several different stitching methods so that you can find a feather technique that suits your style and skill level. New and experienced quilters alike will have fun learning how to easily turn a border corner with a feather, how to create swags and split feathers, and even how to fill an entire quilt with one gigantic feather! Learn how to change your “ugly duckling” feathers into graceful “swan” feathers and let them take flight.

Skill Level: All Levels

Bring these Supplies to Class: Please bring a sketchbook and pencils, you'll do lots of drawing!

Nothing But Triangles

Jean Nolte

CLASS DESCRIPTION: This scrappy quilt features two sizes of equilateral triangles. Learn tricks for piecing this shape and assembling the quilt top. This design is perfect for any style of fabric, and can be scrappy or planned. It would be great for a two-color quilt as well. Learn to use a special triangle template (available from Fons & Porter) or make your own from template material. Finished size of this quilt is 76” x 100”, but could easily be made larger or smaller to fit your needs.

This quilt is featured in July/August 2010 issue of Love of Quilting.

Nothing But Triangles – designed, pieced, and quilted by Jean Nolte.

Skill level: Intermediate

Size: 76" x 99"

Bring these Supplies to Class:

17 fat quarters* assorted light prints for triangles
17 fat quarters* assorted dark prints for triangles
¾ yard light print for inner border
17/8 yards dark print for outer border
Fons & Porter 60° Triangle Template (optional) or template material
*fat quarter = 18" x 20"

To complete this quilt you will also need:

¾ yard stripe for binding
6 yards backing fabric
Queen-size quilt batting

Double Handle Baskets

Jo Morton

CLASS DESCRIPTION: A tisket, a tasket, come make this basket! This block was taken from an antique crib quilt. You will love making these wonderful basket blocks so much you won't want to stop making them!

Come and learn Jo's easy rotary cutting and piecing methods to make accurate blocks and receive pressing tips. The curved handle will be needleturn appliqué using the back-basting prep method.

Skill level: Beginner, intermediate
Size: 35" x 35"

Bring these Supplies to Class:

• Sewing Machine and 1/4” foot. Make sure to bring your good sewing machine, the one you usually sew on and do your best work on.
• Basic sewing supplies: scissors, pins, seam ripper (who knows), extra needle for machine, full bobbin.
• Ott light (optional) but you might want extra light.
• Pins and thimble, needle threader (to hand appliqué handle)
• Thread - 100% fine cotton thread like Presencia 50 wt. in a neutral shade such as tan, taupe or light brown for machine piecing, and in a blending color to appliqué your basket handle.
• Rotary cutter with good blade, small ruler (4” x 4”, 6”x6” suggested - important that one has a 1/8” grid for squaring up) and a small mat, 12” x 18” is a good size for workshops where table space is a premium.
• Instructor will furnish the needles and the heavy thread for back-basting the handles.

Fabric: this quilt is made with Jo’s ‘Indigo Berries‘ and ‘Seneca Shirtings’
• 1 yard for outer border
• 1/4 yard for sashings
• Fat Quarter for cornerstones
• 9” x 9” square from an Indigo for border cornerstones
• 1 yard of assorted Indigos (16 pieces total) for piecing the baskets and handles
• 1 yard of assorted Shirtings (16 pieces total) for piecing the backgrounds
• 1/4 yard or a Fat Quarter for Single Fold Binding
• 1 1/4 yards for backing

Daisy Vines

Nancy Mahoney

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Class begins with creating the checkerboard strips featured in the quilt center. Then we'll focus on the simple appliquéd daisies. Nancy will share all aspects of her fusible machine appliqué techniques to help you prepare, layout, and stitch the daisy vines. This sunny project is the perfect class if you're looking for a little variety in your quilting life, even if you've never appliquéd a stitch! Pattern included for each student.

Finished size: 43" x 53".

Bring these supplies to class:

Fabrics

1 to 1¼ yards total of assorted beige prints for background
¾ yard of green print for vine and leaf appliqués, and border squares
1⅞ yards of dark blue print for flower appliqués, outer border, binding
⅝ to 1 yard total of assorted medium blue prints for sashing and inner border
1 fat quarter of medium blue mottled print for border flower appliqués
11" x 11" square of yellow mottled print for flower center appliqués

Other materials

2 yards of light‐weight fusible web (Lite Steam‐A‐Seam2 recommended)
⅜" bias bar for making stems
Thread to match for appliqués
Beige thread
Template plastic
Ultra‐fine point Sharpie permanent marker for tracing shapes on template plastic
Parchment paper (18" or larger piece) or Appliqué pressing sheet

General sewing supplies

Sewing machine with zigzag stitch and appropriate presser foot
Sharp scissors for cutting fabric
Paper scissors for cutting fusible web
Pencil or other marking tool for tracing shapes
Any other favorite tools you like to have on hand when sewing

Before class: From the assorted beige prints, cut a total of 48 rectangles, 4" x 5"

Cotton Conundrum — A Mystery Quilt

Sherri Bain Driver

CLASS DESCRIPTION: Spend a fun day with Sherri as she guides you through the steps to piece a lap-size quilt. You'll enjoy Sherri's positive, easy-going nature as you work at your own pace and learn some piecing tricks along the way. What, no description of the project? Well, it's a mystery!

Skill level: All Levels

Bring these Supplies to Class:

Fabrics:

Fabric A (very light or white) 3/4 yd.
Fabric B (light color #1) 7/8 yd.
Fabric C (medium color #1) 1/2 yd.
Fabric D (dark color #1) 7/8 yd.
Fabric E (medium color #2) 7/8 yd.
Fabric F (dark color #2) 7/8 yd.
Fabric G (dark color #3) 2 3/4 yd.
Binding (not needed for class) 3/4 yd.

Other Materials:

5" square of template plastic
Pencil for marking on fabric
Neutral sewing thread

General sewing supplies:

Sewing machine in good working order with 1/4" patchwork foot
Basic sewing supplies-pins, seam ripper, etc.
Rotary cutting supplies-cutter, ruler, mat