Class Descriptions

Fall 2023 Classes

Classes take place in our spacious, well-ventilated classroom space on our shop’s second floor. All classes require pre-registration with payment. Please download and read the class supply list and class policies for the class you’re interested in attending.

English Paper Piecing Series

Quilt artist, author, and instructor Judy Damon’s two-class series introduces you to the basics of English paper piecing (EPP), the hot topic among hand-sewists these days, with beautiful, intricate quilts by leading designers showing up everywhere.

Class Dates (Two consecutive Saturday sessions)

  • Class 1: Sept 23, 10:00-1:00
  • Class 2: Sept 30, 10:00-1:00

Class Fee: $70 (covers both sessions)

EPP is easy, it’s portable, and it offers endless possibilities for creativity. This class will introduce you to the basics of EPP:

  • choosing fabrics and piece shapes
  • cutting and basting
  • joining and assembling blocks
  • combining shapes and fussy cutting for the maximum wow factor

Judy will provide lots of examples for inspiration.
NOTE: This is a technique class for EPP beginners. It is not a project class.

Examples of the kind of quilt blocks you can piece using the English Paper Piecing (EPP) technique

Elizabeth Hartman’s World

Have you admired the adorable, quirky characters that inhabit Elizabeth Hartman’s popular designs, but found the patterns intimidating? This class with instructor Karen Gilfeather is your chance to learn some simple tips and tricks for making these whimsical critters come alive.

The Rabbit and Bear blocks from Elizabeth Hartman’s Lookout quilt pattern.

Class Date and Time

  • Friday, Sept 29, 10:00-1:00

Class Fee: $50

Karen will guide you through making the Rabbit and Bear blocks from Elizabeth Hartman’s Lookout pattern. You’ll see how easy it can be to stay organized and create a menagerie of your own!

We are offering our Stay and Sew feature with this class. After class, you may stay and continue to work in our classroom at no extra charge if you are set up and on a roll!

Dainty Dresdens

There are many ways to make Dresden Plates, and there are many ways to create miniatures, but in instructor Mary Derry’s opinion, the technique she teaches in this class employs the easiest and most accurate way of doing both. These tiny Dresden Plates will have precise points and petals every time.

Make Dresden blocks using the easy and accurate technique you’ll learn in the Dainty Dresden’s class.

Class Date and Time:

  • Saturday, Oct 7, 9:00-3:00

Class Fee: $65

The Dresden Sundaes pattern shows a large quilt made with reproduction fabric, while Mary’s sample is a small wall-hanging using pastels. The choice is yours: large quilt or wall-hanging.

Directions include instructions for both machine applique and hand applique, and again, it is your choice. But fair warning!! These little guys are so cute and so much fun to make, you will find them positively addicting!

Introduction Hand Quilting

Hand quilting makes any quilt an heirloom. In this class, instructor Mary Derry will teach you the traditional “rocker” method with no stress and no pressure. You will play with different threads, different ways to mark quilts, hoops, thimbles, and receive lots of hints to make your hand quilting successful.

Explore your hand quilting options in this beginner-friendly class..

Class Date and Time:

  • Saturday, Oct 21, 10:00-1:00

Class Fee: $50 (Includes kit.)

Class size is limited to ensure lots of personal attention, so register early to secure a spot.  Your fee includes a class kit containing practice fabric, batting, and quilting needle.

Let’s Face It Applique

If you think applique is beautiful, but too hard, too fragile, or too time consuming, do we have some techniques for you!

In this class led by instructor Karen Gilfeather, you’ll learn how to use sew-in interfacing to create smooth, faced edges that make stable, sturdy applique pieces. Your designs can be completely machine stitched to look like hand-sewn.

Learn techniques to make applique blocks that are as sturdy as they are beautiful.

Class Date and Time:

  • Friday, Oct 27, 10:00-1:00

Class Fee: $50

We will mix and match Sew Simple Shapes templates to create endless combinations of petals, leaves, hearts, and frames. You will use a variety of new skills to complete two different blocks and leave class bursting with ideas for creating applique accents for all of your sewing projects.

Other Classes – Not Currently Offered

Terrific Triangles

Terrific Triangles is Class 2 in Mary Derry’s super-popular quilt making series. The class is suitable for both confident beginners and experienced quilters.

Date: not currently offered
Class Fee:
Supplies:

Learn several ways to make Snowball Blocks, Flying Geese, and Half Square Triangles.

The project is a small quilt that is the perfect size for a baby quilt, lap quilt, or table topper.

The prerequisite for this class is mastery of rotary cutting and machine piecing skills.

Learn multiple techniques for piecing triangles while making this child/lap/table topper quilt in the Terrific Triangles class.

Beginning Quilt Making Series

Mary Derry’s popular three-class series is for you if:

  • You’ve always wanted to make a quilt, or
  • You’ve made quilts but hope there’s an easier, better, faster way.

Class Dates: not currently offered

Class Fee:

During three weekly sessions, you will gain basic skills in rotary cutting and machine piecing while making a unique lab/crib size quilt.

All the tricks and techniques you need to start your journey in quilt making will be covered and practiced, and the result will amaze you.

Class size is limited to assure a no-pressure environment with lots of personalized attention.

Make a log cabin wall hanging in our Beginning Quilt Making Series

Ruler Work Machine Quilting

Join Anne Hunter as she guides you through an exploration of Ruler Work machine quilting on domestic machines. All machine brands are welcome in this class.

Class Date: not currently offered
Class Fee:

The class covers ruler work basics, with all students using the same rulers:

  • Amanda Murphy’s Good Measure Every Angle Ruler, a straight edge ruler to create several designs for blocks and borders
  • Westalee’s #26 Circles on Quilts

You’ll have plenty of time to practice with both rulers as well as try other ruler work rulers to create different designs.

Ruler Work presser foot and two of the many rulers designed for machine quilting