Exploring Inside a Box | Improv Patchwork Series

(Session I:Boxed In Block)

I’ve loved the idea of teaching a workshop series in which each session focused on a single block.  A block of the month sort of thing, minus the sampler quilt finish.

I wanted the series to touch on both traditional and improvisational patchwork piecing techniques and construction, but focus more on the design process and students creating their own unique block.  Of course being with classmates along the way feeds that inspiration and generates ideas outside the box, or maybe inside;)

The idea of pillows as the delivery system for this workshop idea hung with me for a few reasons:

1) If you know me, you know I like pillows.

2) We need pillows, more pillows.

3) Pillows are gems to perfect sewing skills, like an invisible zipper.

4) Pillows provide realistic parameters in which to create, design and buy more fabric, all with little intimidation or money.

5) No one can say to you, ‘Go big or go home.”  when you’re making a pillow.

So pillows it is.

(Session II: Double-Trouble)

By going small we’d have time to enjoy, talk and develop our own design process.

That’s right, I’m a ‘pillow maker,’ a term that cracks me up because I actually heard it used once as a derogatory term by a quilter that didn’t think another really made quilts, only pillows.  I’m not saying you have to be a pillow maker, you can even be a sampler maker if that’s your thing, but we’ll be exploring with in the confines of a box.  Go big or go small, we’ll make it yours.

So here goes.

 Sign up at  The Quilting Loft.

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-Exploring Inside a Box-

Modern Patchwork Block Series

Take one session, or the whole series, to explore the merging of traditional and improvisational patchwork techniques, one block at a time. Katie Pedersen, author of Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts will guide you through the techniques and skills needed for each block, variations in block design, and the secondary designs multiple blocks create. While we’re at it, we’ll get friendly with our design wall, touch on color and value theory, and cover the advantages of constructing a block that is either precise in piecing, or more willy-nilly.

*Even if you are a seasoned quilter you can up your patchwork game by adding improvisational techniques to your knowledge base.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session
Session I- Boxed In- Log Cabin Block/ Thursday, September 11^th from 6-9pm

Let’s start off with some basics shall we? Go round and round, but in a square. Take on log cabin blocks with new perspective. Design wall process is a focus of this session.

Session II- Double-Trouble Block/ Thursday, October 2^nd from 6-9pm

Two techniques, one traditional and one improvisational create modern triangles. Skills like accurate cutting and piecing covered.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session

Session III- Stripped/ Thursday, November 13^th from 6-9pm

Cut fabric up, sew it back together, and then sew it together again. It’s like making your own fabric. We’ll place your piecing into a simple modern block design and learn how to build out an improvisational block.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session

 Session IV- Improvisational Curves Block/ Thursday, December 4^th from 6-9pm

Master improvisationally pieced curves without pinning a thing to create organic shapes.

Session V- Pillowtalk/Invisible Zipper Closure Pillow and Finishing Class/ Thursday, December 11^th from 5-9pm

Finish up blocks and/or learn how to professionally install an invisible zipper.