What’s in Your Stash? 

Using Traditional and Contemporary Fabrics with Confidence

A one or two day class, 6 hours each day, Instructor fee: $450/ day. Class size limit: 20

 

Description of Workshop

 

Ever wonder how to make the fabrics in your collection work together? We will take a good look at getting more bang from the yardage as we combine and recombine, punch up and tweek what might be a dull palette, using a block that will test our power to turn up the fabric volume. Whether working with traditional or contemporary fabrics, we will take on color, value, line, proportion, and a whole host of issues we are faced with when choosing a palette. The goal: No more timid quilts!

 

Materials and Supplies

 

Come with your sewing machine de-linted and oiled. Iron and multi-plug power strip suggested. Rotary cutter, straight edge, cutting mat, scissors, pins, threads, etc. The mainstay of the materials will be varied cotton fabrics, large and small prints in as many kinds of fabrics as you can carry. Prints that will work well include batiks and tonal designs, as well as hand-dyes and textures. Bring three pieces (fat quarter or so) for the “store” (to be traded with others) and at least 24 half-yard pieces for our study; we will be using about 16 of them in the finished quilt.

 

 

 

Slash and Burn Workshop  

Techniques for Improvisational Quilts

A one or two day class, 6 hours each day. Instructor fee: $450/ day, Class size limit: 20 

 

Description of Workshop

 

Learn to compose using spontaneous fabric design. We will combine and recombine a set of fabrics, using the resulting design as a springboard for contemporary quilt making. This class will show you techniques for adding to the composition, in floating areas, cutting curves, and piecing, as well as a quilt-as-you-go process for building the design. Be prepared for quick and active spontaneous design. You will learn how to compose in a direct way. This workshop focuses on how to read elements for line, contrast, repetition, and value. You will be using the skills that you have; no special talent required, so quilters of all stages are welcome to enjoy this workshop.

 

Materials and Supplies

 

Come with your machine de-linted and oiled. Iron and multi-plug power strip suggested. Backing fabric, batting (at least 4’ x 4’), Rotary cutter, straight edge, cutting mat, scissors, pins, threads, (the usual sewing supplies) and so forth. The mainstay of the materials will be varied fabrics, large and small prints in as many kinds of cotton fabrics as you can carry. Prints that will work well include batiks and tonal designs, as well as hand-dyes and textures. Bring three pieces (fat quarter or so) for the “store” (to share). Choose 5 different fabrics ahead of the class, strip in widths of 2” to 5” and pre-sew in a strip set. Your made-up fabric should be at least 3/4 yard in width for our start. 

 

Four-Square Workshop

Using Photographs to Jump-Start Composition

A one or two day class, 6 hours each day. Instructor fee: $450/day. 

Class size limit 20

 

Description of Workshop

 

We will look earnestly at how to zero-in on the graphic nature of a selected photograph and use this as a starting point for the quilt design. Using a square section of the photograph as our basis, we will “slash and burn” to build a quilt from that starting point. Not a technique class, this workshop focuses on composition, how to read elements for line, contrast, repetition, and value. You will be using the skills that you have; no special talent required, and if there is time, we will introduce some new ideas for working.

 

Materials and Supplies

 

Please arrive with your machine de-linted and oiled. Other supplies: rotary cutter, straight edge, ruler, pencil, transparent tape, glue stick, cutting mat, paper-cutting scissors, fabric scissors, pins, thread, etc. Bring fabric in “solids” such as hand dyes or textures. Prints that work well, such as will batiks and tonal designs are fine. Bring three pieces (fat quarter or so) for the “store” (to share). Photographs that are your own (you own the copyright) or have the copyright to use. Bring 5 to 7 different images, each printed in three different sizes. In total, you should have 15 to 20 different prints of the set you choose. Keep in mind that you can print 4 to a page, and so forth .