Fri, Jun 20 (700) Classes

#701 CLUE ME IN

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This class is from Rita’s book, Mystery Quilts.

Join us for a few hours of mysterious fun as Rita helps you follow the clues to a beautiful solution! Each sleuth will choose a pre-cut kit from the huge variety of kits available for the class. All kits will be different - different patterns and different fabrics. Kits will complete a lap size (approx. 60" x 70") quilt top and include the binding fabric. This class is geared for any skill level, and is particularly great for beginners or those who want to have fun with no stress and instant gratification! The mystery needs to be "solved" before you know which pattern you have chosen! Kit fee $64.95.

Supplies: BSS.

#702 DOLLHOUSE QUILT

Use Billie's technique of paper piecing to create your own doll house.  Decorate in your own colors, pick your furniture and rugs to create a special home for you!!!!!  Embellish with beads, lace and buttons.  And there is a sewing machine for the quilter!!  Based on Billie's "Quilts In A Row" pattern. House on Maple Street book required and available in class at a discount.

Supplies: Fabrics - fat eighths and fat quarters to start; think of wallpaper, furniture (table, chair, shelves), rug, etc.; Add-a-Quarter ruler; scissors; straight pins; plastic-coated paper clips; colored pencils; glue stick.

#703 SURFACE DESIGN TECHNIQUES IN THREAD

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This exciting intensive workshop explores the different stitching techniques of machine embroidery. Students will develop a sampler of the many techniques, suitable for a purse or small quilt or can create individual samples. Learn to enrich your quilt or garment surfaces with beautiful thread techniques that add surface design and texture. We'll use many weights of threads and decorative yarns that are available in the market today, your sewing machine bobbin to stitch bold, decorative designs and discuss fabric, thread choices and preparing fabric for embroidery. The techniques included are: beautiful bobbin drawing; couching and couched fabric strips; free machining; satin stitching and satin stitch cords; free cutwork with lace filling; double needle; garnet stitch and more.

Supplies:
Threads: various weights of rayon, cotton, poly or acrylic and bright colors for matching and contrast with the fabric, invisible thread and some thick threads and decorative specialty yarns such as metallic, variegated, Sliver and Perle cottons, cords (or more.)
Bobbin Threads: Bobbinfil, Aerofil, Superior, Metrolene, Superior, Clotilde, YLI in white or a dark color
Machine embroidery needles: #90/14 Topstitch, #90/14, #80/12 & #70/10 Metallic and or Metafil, #2.0/80 or #2.5/80 twin needle size or any size, #80/12 Microtex, Jeans or universal
Fabric: One fat quarter sized 18" x 22" for the sampler or eight to ten 12" - 14" (approx.) cotton fabric squares in solid colors, batiks or small prints (or both). Include at least one very dark or black and a bright. (We will be trimming these samples later to fit into sheet protectors in a 3 ring binder, for your reference and storage.); Three fabric scraps, about 11", to coordinate with your other fabrics;
Stabilizer: Iron-on tear away stabilizer or freezer paper; 8" or 10" wooden machine embroidery hoop with adjustable screw, or Susan Bates brand plastic hoops with adjustable screw (available at craft stores);
BSS: including scissors and appliqué scissors, straight pins, permanent fabric pen, pencil, note/sketch paper, chalk marker, litter bag; Extra light
Optional: Three ring binder with lightweight sheet protectors, for display and storage of stitched samples; Machine quilting gloves and cushion for chair.

#704 COME PLAY WITH ME

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Need to lighten up? Not having any quilting fun? Tired of prissy little piecing? Then, this workshop's for you. Improvisational and intuitive, we'll play liberating games at your sewing machine, allow creative juices to flow. We'll slice fabrics, trade slivers of blocks, hunt for bright colors just begging for a place to land in a quilt. Return home with a few oxymoron blocks, in random order.

Supplies: Click here for supply list (PDF).

#705 QUICK TRIP QUILTS

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This is truly a Quilt in a Day! Easy Strip methods make this quilt a breeze to complete. To complete this lap quilt choose nine fabrics with a variety of pattern that blend together. Kit required $70. Kits will be available in class.

Supplies: Quick Trip Quilts book by Quilt in a Day; rotary Cutter/new blade; 18" x 24" Cutting Mat; neutral thread; 4" trimming scissors; 6"x 12" ruler; Shape Cut by June Tailor; stiletto; pins.

#706 SUPER STARS WITH STYLE!

Explore design possibilities and learn to foundation piece unique off-center stars with precise points and no templates. Create your own, any size, with a simple design format - no math, no protractors - or work from several 10" block designs provided. This is the format used for the 1999 Houston IQA Raffle Quilt.

Supplies: Neutral or matching thread; pins; several sheets plain white paper if drafting your own project; scissors (fabric + paper); optional - small craft or X-acto knife; glue stick; sharp mechanical pencil; eraser; rotary cutter; mat; rulers: 1" x 12" and/or 3" x 18"; optional, but helpful - 12" square-up (can be shared); small sharp scissors or seam ripper; scotch tape; freezer paper approx. 18" square; a few colored pencils.
Fabric*: background - total of 1/2 yard (avoid strongly directional prints); 6-8 fat quarters for star points - include dark, med, and lights that provide contrast to background; small amounts of various "accent" colors and/or stripes, checks, etc.; optional - fat quarter border fabric.
*If planning a larger piece, increase fabric accordingly.

#707 BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE MYSTERIES OF MACHINE APPLIQUE

We will be working on a series of samples in the workshop. If you have any queries on Machine Appliqué, do please bring them with you and we can discuss the "how to" in the class. If you like you can make the samples into a bag, cushion or machine cover.

Supplies: 1 packet of machine embroidery needles in varying thickness including a 100 and a metal thread and a machine embroidery needle; Approx. 8" embroidery frame with inside ring bound with bias binding to hold the fabric firm; Unpicker, tweezers, pin, tape measure, scissors, big and small, cutting board and rotary cutter and ruler; 1 yd of washed homespun cream color; 12" of curtain sheer or similar; small pieces of other fabrics to use as appliqué - cotton, silk, and glitzy pieces; 5 sheets of typing paper; selection of threads suitable to use i.e. machine embroidery threads, knitting threads, embroidery threads, knitting ribbons, lace, just what you think you would like to applique with the machine; orange sticks (chemist); roll of baking paper - this is non-stick paper (Glad); 1/2 yd double-sided bonding (Vliesofix, not Aileen's Tacky); notebook and pencil; small piece of batting and small amount of Dacron filling (fluffy).

#708 MIXED MEDIA EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES

Explore different embroidery techniques used for embellishment. Work a punchneedle floral design and experiment with silk and metal threads, beads, overdyed floss, perle cottons, and silk ribbons. Learn to make unique stitches including the bullion knot and the Japanese ribbon stitch. You will leave class knowing how to give your embroidery a professional look!

Kit fee $15. Kit includes 12" square fabric; designs; perle cotton; overdyed floss; silk thread and ribbon; metal thread and beads, beading thread, and needle; instructional guide sheets and stitch illustrations.

Supplies: Bring an assortment of embroidery needles for thread (large eyes) and fabrics to use for the perimeter of the center patch (some available in class); a 6" embroidery hoop with super-grip lip; small, sharp scissors. Optional: light and magnification, if needed. Punchneedles will be loaned in class (If you have one or more, bring them for Q&A session and clarification of their use.).

#709 FANTASTIC FERNS

Individual creativity workshop based on Mickey's "Ferns" series of quilts. Students will learn how to create movement and depth in their own version of a "Ferns" quilt. Color choices and combining fabrics for texture will be discussed. Materials fee $5 includes photocopies, drawing paper, and a fat quarter of hand-dyed fabric.

Supplies: Cutting mat; rotary cutter with a new blade; wavy or pinking rotary cutter blade; rotary ruler - 6" x 24" is best, 6" x 12" will work; scissors - fabric and paper; small iron and ironing surface; pins - flat or appliqué work best; pencil and pen sharpener. Fabric: border - 1/2 yd (fat quarter for project, 1/4 yd for binding); background (hand-dyed piece); 7-15 10" squares for "ferns"; 5" square yellow/orange/gold for sunspot; 12" square for stems - dk. brown, blue or black
Notions: 1 yd Pellon Décor Bond; 1.5 yds Steam-A-Seam (works best) or 1 yd Pellon WonderUnder (not Heavyweight); Sharpie markers - medium point - at least 2 colors, 3 is best - black, red, blue. Instructor can supply Décor Bond if unavailable in your area.

#710 HAND PIECING: SUNFLOWERS

Follow one 8" block from Darlene's book while learning to make and use accurate templates and sew patchwork by hand anytime and anywhere. Curved inset seams such as those found in the Mariner's Compass pattern will be covered.  A variety of settings will be shown.  A PowerPoint presentation shows the step-by-step process followed by hands-on practice.

Supplies: Thimble and misc. hand sewing tools. Small - sharp scissors for threads, 100% cotton 50/3 sewing thread - medium grey, Fiskars brand small scissors [chisel tip], wallpaper knife [found in the wallpaper department of a handy man store for $1.98], plastic template material [opaque – rigid], appliqué sharp needle #11, fine silk pins, one full new sheet of fine sandpaper or a sandpaper board, any mechanical pencil, Sharpie brand ultra fine permanent marking pen, one zip loc bag.
Fabric: Accurately cut 9" square of background, 6" square [approx.] center circle, one eighth sunflower points [darker or bolder], one eighth background to sunflower points [lighter].

#721 THE FINE ART OF ECHO QUILTING

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Most of the techniques in free motion quilting depend on echo quilting to enhance them, create them, and to make them work. Start with a marked design and learn how to echo quilt around it, then work on freehand motifs and even straight line fills. Your quilting will go to a new level if you learn how to echo quilt and where to include it in your designs.

Supplies: Layer two sandwiches, 20" square of medium or light colored solid or "almost solid" cotton fabric with batting and similar color backing cut a bit bigger than the top. Pin baste (no fusible batt or spray adhesives) with batt (Hobbs' Heirloom Wool or Tuscany wool or silk recommended; or soft cotton e.g. Quilter's Dream, or QD wool); Thread should match or be in the same or lighter value range as the top fabric, not darker. Choose from #60 Mettler 2-ply cotton; #50 Aurifil cotton; Superior MasterPiece cotton; YLI #100 Silk, #50 YLI silk; #50 DMC cotton, Kinkame #50 silk, YLI Soft Touch #60 cotton; A neutral thread in the above choices for bobbin, or match the top thread color; blue washout marking pen, small sharp scissors; needles - Schmetz #70 Microtex Sharps; Berninas provided; owners of newer Berninas bring #24 foot.

Please do not wear perfume or highly scented toiletries to class, or use chemical products or sprays in class. if you have concerns or questions.

#722 SO, YOU THINK YOU WANT TO BE A LONGARM QUILTER

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Where do we start - how do we end - and what is supposed to happen in-between? Linda starts at the beginning and carefully shows how the quilting process is completed efficiently. Techniques covered in this class include: proper quilt setup, basic pantograph quilting, freehand meandering, basting for hand quilters, and an overall view of why the longarm machines are so efficient. If you have been dying to try one of the machines, here is your chance to do so under expert direction. Kit fee $20.

Kit includes: small quilt prepared and ready to quilt, thread, large drawing pad and pen, handout for class project, small scissors for cutting threads and book to go along with the class.

All Gammill longarm classes are hands-on; 2 students per head max.

#723 TWICE THE THREADS, TWICE THE FUN

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Completing a quilt top is only the beginning. Beautiful stitching is essential to finish a quilt. In this class Vikki teaches her technique for free-motion quilting using two or more strands of thread through a single needle. Students learn how to stitch many of Vikki's unusual design motifs and play with making up some of their own personal designs. Students play at using the machine needle for "sketching" a simple freehand picture or scene. Students will experiment with water-soluble stabilizer and create an open web using free-motion stitching techniques. A desire to relax and have fun is required!

Supplies: Prepare four "quilt sandwiches" about 15" x 15" for practice. A sandwich includes a top layer fabric, two layers of stabilizer, batting and a bottom fabric. Pin the sandwich together with safety pins. For sandwiches #1 and #2 use muslin or other inexpensive fabric for surface and bottom. For sandwich #3, make the surface layer from a loose or flowing watercolor style floral print OR any Bali or batik-style print design, esp. one with flowing lines. For sandwich #4, a favorite solid dark color on the surface plus two additional layers of stabilizer (4 total). Pellon Stabilizer is necessary in these sandwiches to secure good stitch tension. Buy the "regular" style stabilizer - don't use tear away or iron-on stabilizers. Any weight is fine. Needles: topstitch, 90/14 - bring several; thread snips or small scissors for clipping threads; needle threader - may be helpful for you; reading glasses - don't forget these if you need them!!

** If you already own a multiple threads spool holder, or something that might work as a multiple spools holder, please bring it. Bring something such as a small baby food jar or whisky shot glass to use as a spool holder (so the spool doesn't flop around while sewing). A drinking straw that will fit over the spool holder will sometimes work. Bring one if you have it.

During the second half of the class, we will experiment with making an open web from decorative threads using free-motion techniques and water-soluble stabilizer. Please bring: *Miscellaneous decorative yarns, narrow ribbons, and threads in short lengths (approximately 18" or so). *If you have wool roving, bring a small amount (do not buy). *Aqua Mesh soluble stabilizer (if you already have it). Do not buy this product ahead of time if you do not have it. Aqua Mesh is expensive to purchase as packaged by the roll. Vikki will have Aqua Mesh available for sale in small amounts for you to experiment with. Aqua Mesh Plus is not the same product, nor is it suitable or recommended for this technique.

#724 HAND APPLIQUE: THE INVISIBLE STITCH

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Learn how to make your appliqué stitch work for you and not against you. Thought invisible stitches were impossible? Not so with Sandra's expert instruction. Learn how the proper threads and stitch technique can help you to improve the finished appearance of your needleturn appliqué.

Supplies: Fabric: 12" sq. of neutral color for background; a small (5-10) variety of approx. 6" sqs. of different colors. Supplies: Cotton sewing thread to match the 6" squares of appliqué fabrics (60 wt. is preferable such as Mettler, or DMC 50 wt. 2 ply); 12" sq. of clear upholstery vinyl 10–12mm thickness; appliqué needles (#11 sharps or personal preference); small embroidery scissors; 1/2" appliqué pins (Clover pins are preferable); 12" sq. of freezer paper; White chalk pencil (Roxanne's, Pat Campbell, or General's recommended); pencil sharpener for marking pencil; black fine line Sharpie® marker. Optional: Small sharp (to the point) scissors for cutting freezer paper if you don't want to use the embroidery scissors to cut the freezer paper. Sandpaper, or a quilter's sandpaper board (helpful, but optional); Fray Check; thimble; pencil & paper to take notes.

Curved piecing has never been so easy using Linda's no-agonizing method.  Learn to rotary cut convex and concave curves, an easy way to prepare templates, and of course, how to set in those curves for a smooth finish.  This is a technique-oriented class.

Kit fee $2.  Includes several copies of paper pattern and color copies of several different design layouts. Quilt to the right is one possible setting.

Supplies: Fabric: 45-50  9" squares of assorted fabrics (Batiks, Asian prints and Collections work great) OR 32 Fat Eights; Rotary Stuff - cutter with sharp blade, mat and small square - I use a 28mm rotary cutter and 9-1/2" square. Thread: Neutral color cotton or cotton covered for piecing. Other Stuff : 12" square of plain template plastic, glue stick, scotch tape and paper scissors; Straight pins (suggest long thin Iris pins). Optional: Portable design wall or digital camera to audition layouts. Bonus: Bring a cheap page protector and a dry erase marker to class to learn how to audition quilting  designs. OPTIONAL:  Instructor will have a limited amount of acrylic template sets available for optional purchase. If you have EQ6, you may ahead of class to receive by return email an EQ file containing numerous layout options.

#726 BASIC RUG HOOKING

Learn the old-fashioned art of wool rug hooking. Pat teaches the basics of selecting wool, hooking foundations, finding supplies, and basic hooking and finishing techniques. Students get a start on the project.

Kit fee $45. Kit includes pattern, wool required for project, monks cloth and rug hook.

Supplies: Scissors, Sharpie pen, Rotary cutter, mat, ruler, freezer paper (a 12" piece is long enough), hoop for hooking (This should be a sturdy rug hooking frame or quilt hoop. The hoop is important because the cloth must be tight while you hook. Pat does not recommend an embroidery hoop because the cloth for rug hooking is thick. If you bring a quilting hoop, the best kind is on a stand since you need both hands to rug hook and can't be holding the hoop).

#727 FRIDAY MORNING MEDLEY CLASS

See class description on Special Events page. Note: Class price is $15.

#731 EXQUISITE PIPED BINDING

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Learn to make and apply a fabulous, unique piped binding that's sure to attract attention - and it's all done by machine. Sherri has used this method for finishing many of her award-winning quilts. Every time she shows her quilts, people want to know all about the binding technique. This class is geared to quiltmakers already familiar with making double-fold binding with mitered corners.

Pre-class preparation: Small quilt or pre-quilted fabric (at least 24" square) and trimmed with precisely squared corners. Straight-grain binding strips cut 3" wide x appropriate length for your quilt. Join strips with diagonal seams pressed open. Then press binding in half lengthwise with wrong sides together. For the piping, straight-grain strips cut 1" wide the same length as binding. Join strips with diagonal seams pressed open.

Supplies: threads to match quilt back and binding fabrics, and invisible (monofilament) thread; pencils or markers that will show on the wrong sides of your binding and piping fabrics; size 3 perle cotton - available for purchase from instructor (or similar size cording to fit the channels of your pintuck foot); small cutting board, rotary cutter, and ruler with 45 degree line; glue stick; BSS (seam ripper, thread snippers, extra needles, etc.).

#732 ADVANCED LONGARM FREEHAND

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Each student in this class will quilt a wall-hanging designed by Linda. It is a star sampler with a gorgeous peacock fern medallion in the middle surrounded with new freehand background designs and fancy feathers. If you've ever wondered what Linda's hands-on classes are all about, don't miss this one. You'll be proud to go home with the proof of what you can do! Kit fee $20.

Kit includes: small quilt prepared and ready to quilt, thread, large drawing pad and pen, handout for class project, small scissors for cutting threads and book to go along with the class.

All Gammill longarm classes are hands-on; 2 students per head max.

#733 FAST FINISHES FOR ODD-SHAPED QUILTS

Have you envisioned creating an exciting quilt with odd shaped perimeters but weren’t sure how to finish it? In this class Vikki offers fast and easy alternatives to the traditional binding finish. Students will make samples of each technique to take home.

Note: Supply list has been updated 4/7/08.

Supplies: Before class: Prepare three "quilt sandwiches" about 15"x15" for practice. A sandwich includes a top layer fabric, a layer of stabilizer, batting and a bottom fabric. Quilt the sandwich with a straight machine stitch. You only need to quilt it enough to hold the layers together. Use inexpensive cotton fabric for surface and bottom.  Color does not matter.  Stabilizer - Three yards of Pellon regular lightweight or mid-weight stabilizer (not iron-on or tear-away); Freezer paper 1 yd; Stitch Witchery (By Dritz) on a roll (5/8"); needles (for sewing machine) use regular 80/12 for piecing; batting - approx 1 yd; scissors - paper and fabric; flex curve (if you have one); spray bottle for water (moistening fabric for pressing); straight pins (sharp!); fabric marking pencil; plastic corner (for smoothing turned seams); threads - bring a variety, for matching or blending the fabrics; eraser, pencils, ruler, notebook.

#734 FOCUS ON FLORALS: ROSES

In this class using the wild rose as an example, you will learn to bring your appliqué flowers to life with this hand embellishment workshop. We will focus mainly on French knots, straight stitch and stem stitch hand embroidery embellishment techniques that you can learn to apply to your own quilts. You can create roses that look as though you could pick them right off of the surface of your quilts! This series will also discuss how thread weights, colors and various stitches can be used alone, or in combination, to add stunning and painterly detail to appliqué. Kit fee $12.

Kit includes: a completed appliqué block, embroidery threads, needles, and pattern.

Supplies: 4" embroidery hoop; embroidery scissors; white chalk pencil (General's is good as well as an artist's white pastel (chalk) pencil); needle threader if needed. Optional: Pencil and paper for note taking.

#735 MITERED BORDERS THE EASY WAY

This method requires no complicated measurements or math. Quick and great looking, these mitered borders are the perfect frame for any quilt.

Supplies: Any size finished quilt center OR $3.00 for a practice kit; enough fabric for a border (add 1/4 yard just in case); long, heat-proof straight pins (flower heads are best); spray sizing; thread to match the border fabric; scissors; rotary mat and cutter.

#736 ROSES, ROSES, ROSES

Spin, twirl and gather silk, organza and French wire ribbon into lovely roses of all sizes. Learn to master Australia's favorite flowermaking tool - the Vintage Rose Spindle - as well as make roses with needle, thread and ribbon. Kit fee $7.50.

Kit includes: milliner's needle, 2-1/2 yds French wire ribbon, 1 yd silk ribbon, 1 yd organza ribbon and 7" square dupioni silk fabric.

Supplies: 4" or 5" embroidery hoop, paper and fabric scissors, small (6") ruler, pins, masking tape, Vintage Rose Spindle (spindles will be available to borrow or purchase in class or for sale at Quilter's Fancy in our vendor mall), polyester thread (Cindy prefers Guttermann).

#737 WOOL ON WOOL: CONEFLOWER PENNY RUG

Students will learn the basics of penny rug making using the blanket stitch. Pat will discuss wool, foundations, resources available and techniques. Students will get a good start on the penny rug with Pat's individual attention to each student. Kit fee $35.

Kit includes: all the wool for the penny rug, rick-rack, and pattern (once the rug is completed, students will need 1/2 yd fabric to back it).

Supplies: Pearl cotton size 8 or DMC floss in pink, blue, red, and pale yellow - or you may opt to do the whole project in black or brown (Pat loves hand-dyed threads, so if you have them, bring them), freezer paper to make templates, scissors to cut wool, BSS, stapler (really!), chenille needle in size 22 or 24 or any sewing needle you can thread pearl cotton or floss through. Be sure your needle is sharp.