LOCAL CLASSES--DON'T MISS OUT!

 LOCALS--Here are a few offerings for you to take at our local shops. You don't have to travel to take great classes--I am here. 

I changed a NEW class offering from two full days to one. That lowers the cost in both time and money. YOUR NEXT QUILT, features only ONE BLOCK--really. Beginners will learn how to cut, sew and press accurately. More experienced quilters will learn to play with colors and design. 

Invest one day to improve your skills and create a really fun quilt. Sign up online today: Sweet Home Quilting Class is Thursday May 26, 10-4. 

This won't be offered again this year so I encourage you to jump onboard now:

Made with sixteen 12" blocks, 48" square

Then I played with 6" blocks--24" square before borders:

At  Patches & Stitches there is a fun, one day class, It's A Puzzle, Saturday June 11, 9-3. Hard to figure out the layout, easy once you know it. Blocks can be 3" or 4", your choice:

Also at Patches, a NEW beginner class, two full days of instruction on all the basics of patchwork, the cutting, sewing and pressing. Designed for new quilters, 9 Patches So Fast is also a great refresher for more experienced quilters. It makes a great baby quilt. Friday June 10 and 24, 9-3, fee $75: 

In July there is a three-day beginners' class at  Southern Charm Quilting. Start Quilting--Soup to Nuts, provides instruction on the complete process of making a quilt--all the way to the quilting and binding. The last session this was taught all the students were quilting their quilts at the third class, check them out here: Soup to Nuts. Tuesday July 5, 12, and 26, 9:30-3: 

Many of you are experienced quilters. If you know someone who wants to learn, let them know about these offerings now, so they don't miss out.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Start Quilting--Soup to Nuts

 I teach beginning classes at three local shops and have 3 different projects., one for each shop. 

Start Quilting--Soup to Nuts was offered at Southern Charm Quilting It just wrapped up last week--3 sessions, 6 hours each, and that worked well. Students have lots of space and we started with how to select fabrics and ended with how to quilt and bind their finished tops. 

The project comes from a great little book by my friend, Alex Anderson: 

The reason  I chose this was simple--the sample was made by the shop owner, she used to teach it in California, and it was doable for beginners. It also lent itself to the 18 hours of class time I wanted to spread over just 3 days, one a week for 3 weeks. The class sample already made:

This turned out to be an excellent beginner project, with great pacing. Seven students started and six finished. Those who had their tops done at the last class were able to pin base their tops and start quilting at the third session.

Here is what they did:

Debra

Sandie

Betty

Dianne

Abbe

Lisa couldn't make it to the last class but she did great too.

This class will be offered again at Southern Charm later this year.

Up next is a beginning class at Patches & Stitches --where I have taught beginners for almost 35 years. It is the second class for this project this year--the first was full with a waiting list so we put together a second class. It starts Tuesday February 22, 2022, 5:30-8 pm, 5 sessions over 6 weeks. There a few spots left--call the shop today to sign up: 256-533-3886:

Quiltmaking 101

The third beginning class will be February 26 and March 5, 9 hours total, over two sessions. Learn to Quilt--Fast and Fun is a great way to learn the very basics--how to cut, piece, sew, and how to finish your quilt. There are only a couple spots left in this offering, call the shop today to sign up: 256-325-1840:

Learn to Quilt -- Fast and Fun

Coming up May 12 and 26 is a very good NEXT project for those who want to stretch their wings a bit after learning the basics. YOUR NEXT QUILT is two session, over two weeks, 12 hours total. Find the info at Sweet Home Quilting:

Your Next Quilt

Each class offers something a little different and I hope will appeal to all those who want to learn how to quilt or how to improve their quilting. While I teach much more challenging quilts too, I love teaching beginners. I have 3 goals for each beginning class I teach:

1. At the end of class I want students to feel their time and money was worth it.

2. I want them to finish their project.

3. I want to addict at least one of them completely and totally to quiltmaking so the art lives on. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Student Work

Here are two classes I have taught locally this fall. 

The first is Southern Super Star, a great project with a book from Calico Carriage by Debbie Maddy called Southern Star. This is my go-to giveaway quilt because it is easy, quick, doesn't use a lot of any one fabric except the background and can be simply quilted with not much time or cost. I have made and given away 8 of these. The sample quilt is mine to keep.

The class was offered at Sweet Home Quilting. My class sample:

The students decide how they want to make the half square triangles--with squares OR using a Half Square Triangle Ruler, my preferred method. In this class of 4, two did the first method, two used the ruler.

The pacing is set so that they make one of the four center sections in the morning and one of the diamond point top sections in the afternoon. With both of those complete, they can easily make three more of each section at home to complete the top. 

Leila 

Laura--this will be King-Size--the easiest King size quilt ever

Mary

Mary Louise

Each student did great and each was excited to go home and finish. I encourage students to email me a photo when done. And every student who takes a class from me gets lifetime free advice by email for any quilt-related issue they ever have.

I have taught beginning quilters for almost 35 years. Here is the latest class from this Fall at Patches & Stitches

Latham brought this to share

Michele

Mary 

Vanessa

Amanda

Kimberly

I enjoy teaching locally and hope to continue that. There will be different beginning classes at all three local shops. And a Next-Level class at each shop for those students who are eager to continue with me on their journey to learn more as a quiltmaker. This is the time of year I am busy making new samples, revising current successful classes and working on upcoming Lectures/Workshops for organizations away from home.

Stay tuned for the Winter 2022 Schedule of  my local offerings.

Let's quilt.

Love Beginning Quilters

 I just finished teaching a 3 week Learn to Quilt--Fast and Fun class locally. We had 11 students, about half of whom were totally new to quilting. The class was  held at Sweet Home Quilting.

My sample gives you the idea--simple 9-patch blocks, the basics of Cutting, Sewing and Pressing, and then how to assemble a quilt top, and the basics of how to complete the quilt, whether you want to quilt it yourself or "quilt by checkbook"--i.e., pay someone to quilt it for you:

Approx. 38" x 48"

The students who attended the last class are on their way:

Mother/Daughter team Tori showing hers

Tori showing her mom's Inez

Kim is making a bed size for her son

Pat was told what colors to use for this baby quilt

Shelia made great strides in class

Joyce loves playing with bright fabrics

I can always tell a class is successful when the students all say "What's your next class?" I showed them several options I am thinking of offering in a couple months and there was great interest. Love to see the excitement in a new quilter as she realizes "I can DO that!"

Let's quilt.

Barbara

New Beginners

 Having taught beginners the basics of quiltmaking for more than 30 years. it is always fun when a class finishes and everyone is still in attendance. And they have quilts they like. And they say they learned a lot. My goal for EVERY student, in every class, is that they learn more than they expected to learn. Tips that will stay with them on their quilting journey.

Learn the Basics--Fast and Fun! I designed this class for the real beginner, but with interesting tips and tricks that the self-taught quilter would enjoy. This class had both of those kind of students. Ta-Da!:

Meet the class:

Diane, has been quilting for 3 years but wasn't satisfied with her results. She learned a lot of tricks and was thrilled with her piecing improvements. She made TWO Halloween quilts she will finish and donate to the NICU/Children's hospital:

Melissa has the outer border yet to add, life got in the way this week, and she has a beautiful quilt just right for a little girl:

Lou Ann is a friend of Melissa and she learned how to play with color, another great quilt for a young lady:

Marty is an enthusiastic new quilter and I see him really moving along in his quilting. He loved his fabrics and the process so much he is making 20 blocks, not 12, and found the grid fabric in the sashing to be a challenge to cut straight, one layer at a time, but well worth the effort. I look forward to seeing this quilt finished: 

I am always so happy to have a young student, we need to pass on our passion for quiltmaking to those coming up since none of us will live forever. Gina made this adorable quilt for her young daughter who told her when the blocks were made she didn't want it. Now that it is all together, young daughter has changed her tune and looks forward to Mom getting this finished for her:

Gina even "fussy cut" the cornerstones with motifs from the fabric--great job!:

Now, it is time for them to quilt, bind and LABEL these quilts. How about: "My First Quilt". Or  "In the time of COVID". Or "On My Way". Whatever they call their quilts, I just hope they keep going and make more. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Quiltmaking 101

For thirty years I have been teaching the beginning quiltmaking 5 week class at my local shop, Patches & Stitches.  This has allowed me to work with well over a thousand local students who want to learn to quilt.

For the last 13 years the project has been this quilt, Mix n Match Stars by
Glad Creations patterns:

Class Sample, 48" x 60"

The 9" block is made with basic units: half square triangles, quarter square triangles and squares. The pieced border is optional, about 25% of the students tackle that. They can use "super simple borders" if they choose--I teach that too.

Students come from all age groups, the youngest being a very motivated 14 year old, to those much older, even older than me. Many are women but over the years there have been a few men. Some are young mothers eager to make a baby quilt for their child. Some are newly retired women who say "now is my time, I want to learn to quilt". As I live in Rocket City USA, Huntsville, AL, many of the students are engineers or are married to them. The engineers take to the precision of piecing a quilt pretty quickly. Some are more "laid back"--whatever their style, the desire to learn what I can teach them is all that matters to me.

I am not the quilt police. When asked how perfect something has to be, I give them the 3 tests:

1. How does it look from 6 feet away?
2. How does it look to a man going by on a galloping horse?

and the MOST IMPORTANT TEST of all:

3. Can YOU live with?

This is supposed to be fun, not stressful, and everyone gets to decide their level of perfection as they learn.

Some student work:

Donna

Stacy

Sophie, on the right in the photo

Peggy

Beverly

I could post hundreds more photos--this just gives an idea of how the student can make the quilt her own. 

Currently, one of the students is really making this project her own. Catherine has taken several classes from me and is most definitely not a beginner. She showed me a quilt she found on Pinterest  that inspired her fabric selection. Her blocks take much longer to make than the other students since she cuts all the pieces separately, arranges the block, takes a photo--very smart!--then sews the block together--every piece in the block is a different fabric but a specific color:

I think she is right on target with the look she wants. She is not in a hurry, and is taking her time to enjoy these blocks. I am so eager each week to see what she has done so far.

Having taught beginners for 30 years, I usually change the project every few years but this one has proved to be such an excellent project for those who really want to learn as much as they can. AND I have kept it because in 2009 I was asked to work with a film crew to create a "class" for the website Monkey See. Over the course of 6.5 hours we recorded 7 three-minute videos that supposedly teach you How To Quilt.  I jokingly say "I can teach you how to make a quilt in 21 minutes."

The block I am making in the video is the block from this class, Students have found it so helpful to go home and have me continue to "teach" this block online. I still find it pretty hokey, BUT students tell me they really benefit from it. So, this is the project I'll stick with for now.

Many of the students have become friends, many have joined local guilds to continue to learn and find support. It is really my honor and privilege to teach all these students. My goal for every class is that I addict ONE of them, completely and totally to quiltmaking--so the industry will continue to grow and we all benefit from that. And I am always successful at that.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Local Classes--Winter 2019

The new year is upon us and I have several local classes scheduled for the next few months. If you are near, I'd love to see you in class.

At Patches & Stitches, my perpetual Quiltmaking 101 class will be offered twice:

I have taught a 5 week beginners class for 30 years--the quilt has changed many times over those years. This one has stuck for a while--it is based on a pattern from Glad Creations and teaches ALL the basics of good quiltmaking skills. Many people who have taken this class get "hooked" on quilting--that is my goal.

A new class: Spectacular Scraps, will be a fun way to work with half-square triangles to create your own design:

When I posted this quilt several months ago, the positive response inspired me to offer this class again--I made this quilt more than 15 years ago and taught it then.

In the years when my guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville has our quilt show, I offer a 3 hour lecture/demo class on Beautiful Borders and Bindings. Many quilters don't enjoy the binding process or don't do it as well as they could because they don't know the tricks. A poor binding really hurts a great quilt and you can improve your binding technique--let me show you how.

Trying something new, My Favorite Things will be offered as a 2 part class, 7 hours each time. Part 1 is in March, Part 2 in May:

An original design, I recently taught this as a 6 month lecture/demo class and the students loved it. This time it will be an all-day sewing class, moving through each of the 6 lessons at a good pace. Allowing a month and a half between classes will allow students to do most of their sewing at home, while getting started sewing in the classroom. This also will make a great multi-day retreat class and is being considered by several groups for their students.

At Huntsville Sew Creative, the wonderful quilt SIZZLE will be taught as a year-long lecture/demo class. The pattern is the 2019 Block of the Month from The Quilt Show --it is FREE to Star Members--that membership costs $49/year--just last night one of my students told the rest of the class that was money well-spent--she found so much content throughout the site that was valuable. I have written before about why I think this subscription is one every quilter should seriously consider: Why Join the Quilt Show?  

You can purchase a Kit if you want to make either of these beauties or select your own fabrics. This class will teach you so much and there is still room for a few more--I hope you will join us if you are local. No sewing machines--I do the sewing, while students learn and ask great questions.  Huntsville Sew Creative has recently moved locations and their website is under construction--call 256-536-3757 to sign up before space is gone.

That is all I have time for this winter--lots of sewing will be happening for future classes and preparation for 10 away-from-home trips this upcoming year. I hope to see you in class.

Let's quilt!

Barbara