LOCAL CLASSES STARTING IN JANUARY

 As busy as most of us are this time of year, I am looking ahead to local classes starting in January.

At Patches & Stitches, the longest continually operating quilt shop in the country, in business since April 1978, I will begin a BRAND NEW Quiltmaking 101 class. 

QUILTMAKING 101: Saturday January 28 and February 11, 2023, 9-4. Learn the 3 most important steps in piecing a quilt: the cutting, sewing and the pressing. You can expect to have a completed top ready for quilting by the end of the second session. Students will have all supplies purchased and ready by the start of the first session. Sure to be lots of fun and very educational, even for those with experience:

DISAPPEARING PATCHWORK:  Friday February 17, 2023, 9-4. Learn this FAST and EASY block then play with design ideas of your own. Neutrals are fine but so are any other color combinations you love. Don't miss this really fun class:

Register for these classes by going into PATCHES & STITCHES or calling the shop, 256-533-3886.

At SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING, another class for those wanting to learn the basics. From selecting fabrics to finishing the binding, learn it all in this 3-session class:

START QUILTING -- SOUP TO  NUTS:  Friday January 27, February 10, and 24, 10-3. A simple sampler that allows you to create your own unique design. This is a fun class that will teach you a lot:

 

SUNRISE SUNSET: Saturday February 4 2023, 10-4. This looks so much more complicated than it is. Kits are available for the colorful background. The pattern is called "Aether" by Patty Murphy, I named mine "Sunrise Sunset" for ease of pronunciation. See my blog post about this HERE.

Register for these classes by going  into SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING or online.

I will continue my monthly blog posts with supplemental instructions for HOMEWARD BOUND, the 2023 BLOCK OF THE MONTH quilt for THE QUILT SHOW  The pattern is FREE for STAR MEMBERS of The Quilt Show--and there are many more reasons to join The Quilt Show. But, even if you are not going to make HOMEWARD BOUND, each of my monthly posts will teach something that can be applied to other quilt projects, so don't miss those. They are my free class to you:

70" square, piecing and applique, you choose your favorite method

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Local Classes

 That time of year, when new class schedules are posted for my local quilt shops.

 If you want classes to be available to you, sign up. Classes that don't fill are frustrating for the teacher, the shop and the couple people who really were looking forward to it. Don't assume you can take it "next time" because there may not be a "next time". 

For my local friends, here is what I am teaching.

At Sweet Home Quilting and Supplies:

Southern Super Star--make a bed size quilt fast! My go-to quilt for gifts. November 13, 10-4

Scrappy Trips--use up those scraps. This is easy and fun and fast. October 2, 1-4 Only 3 hours!

Sample shown made by Bonnie Hunter--pattern is free on her blog

Learn to Quilt--Fast and Fun: for the true beginner. Learn best tips and tricks so quilting is fun with this very simple design.

September 11, 10-4 AND September 18, 1-4  9 hours of class time:

At Patches & Stitches:

Charming Sampler--my original design, learn several blocks with great tips and tricks, and learn how to enlarge each block.  September 24, 9-4:

                                 

Quiltmaking 101--the BEST class for those just learning AND  those who really want to improve skills. Learn more than you can imagine over 5 weeks. The class to get you  hooked:

Stars on Point--another original quilt, based on antiques. A wonderful way to showcase great fabrics. October 9, 9-4

At Barb's Sewing Center--celebrating their 20th anniversary this year!

Free Motion and Ruler Work--a demo class on all the wonderful ways you can quilt your own quilts on the Bernina Q20 Sit Down Longarm machine. These same techniques can be accomplished on a domestic machine with the right tools. Seating is limited so sign up now. September 17, 10 am

I hope to see you in class!. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Teaching Beginning Quilters

 A brand new beginning quilting class started this week and I remember why I love teaching beginners so much. They want to learn. They are frustrated with parts of the process--the cutting, sewing and pressing. Each of those steps is important and each can be made easier to learn with the tips and tricks I have developed over the years.

This class is a simple 9 Patch quilt made in 3 sessions, 3 hours each. All 5 students successfully made 2 blocks in the first class--they said to tell you they are all smiling:

Each learned more than they thought they would--which is my primary goal for every class I teach. And each said they would be able to do a better job on the next 10 blocks they will make this week. I look forward to spending more time with these students in the next 2 sessions and hope to addict one of them, completely and totally, to quilting--another one of my teaching goals.

Let's take a tour of the new shop in my county: Sweet Home Quilting and Supplies.

Owner Robin Price is an amazing longarm quilter and was not content to just quilt for the public when she had a vision to offer INNOVA machines for sale and teach longarm skills to those who want to do their own quilting. It took a tremendous effort over the last year for her to make this dream a reality and the shop is now up and running. 

I liked Robin from the first day I met her as a student in my class Long Time Gone. Little did I know then that she would become a good friend and a member of the Sunday Sew and Sews, a group of 15 of us who meet monthly at my home for discussion on quilts and life. In that class Robin met Linda, who has become her first employee. Robin's husband, Chris, is a huge supporter of her dream, Robin in the middle, Linda on the right:

Robin wants to offer patterns and fabrics not readily available at the 3 other local shops. She also offers longarm services from simple edge to edge to incredible custom work. And longarm classes if you want to quilt your own quilts in her shop.

 Here are a few photos of this bright and welcoming shop:

The checkout desk, featuring an award-winning quilt made by Linda and quilted by Robin:

Class samples for the 3 classes I am teaching there this fall:

 

Blue Ribbon wining quilt made by another Sunday Sew and Sew, Brenda, also an employee now, and quilted by Robin:

Allison Glass patterns:

A large selection of wide backs in great colors and Laura Heine Collage patterns: 

Wendy Williams patterns, Flying Fish Kits:

Luscious wool fabrics and threads for those who love that and Cherrywood Fabrics: 

A prize winning Modern Quilt Robin quilted that was featured at QuiltCon 2019 and won First Place in Modern Quilts, at Heritage Quilters of Huntsville's Fanfare 2019:

Every quilt shop needs a notions wall:

New inventory is added every week. If you are anywhere in the neighborhood, I encourage you to stop in. This is the kind of shop where they want to know your name and will greet you with a friendly face, covered in a mask currently. And they ship if you see something you just have to have so Shop Online. Support local shops, if you expect them to survive!

Let's quilt.

Barbara