Crystal Quilts

“This was an excellent class, much more than
I expected – good foundation of design principles,
a clear step by step process to move from simple to elegant,
AND a detailed explanation of construction techniques
for complex designs.  Dena was outstanding in
promptness and clarity with a wonderful blend
of support, encouragement, and occasional gentle “push”
to move learners along the spectrum.”

Description:  Starting with a simple folded paper exercise, students learn the power of mirror imaging as they design an original quilt top.

They learn a new method for producing a workable pattern that remains in the quilt, and pick up some new sewing techniques to enable them to make any quilt they can design.

As the intellectual light bulb switches on, students soon meet the important role tessellation can play in further confounding the eye in these elegant and beautiful designs.

In the 2 day class, students complete the quilt except for quilting, something they can do at home later.  They learn new methods for stacking, binding and hanging their original art quilts and leave with a quilt that needs only the quilting.

In the 3 day class, students have the added opportunity to explore the foundations of Crystal Quilts as they produce new designs with a different underlying structure and explore color and value in their designs.

Focus of Class: Design, construction

Number of Days: 1, 2 or 3

Level of Instruction: Intermediate/Advanced

Maximum Number of Students: Approx. 20

Supply List (subject to change nearer the scheduled workshop date):

1 Day Class:

• Adhesives:  1/2” cellotape or masking tape (optional)
• Adhesives:  Fusing agents like WonderUnder, Steam-a-Seam, Vliesofix (optional)
• Adhesives:  Glue stick (optional)
• Cutting Tools:  Paper scissors
• Cutting Tools:  Rotary cutter
• Cutting Tools:  Rotary cutting mat – 24″ x 36″
• Cutting Tools:  Sharp dressmaker shears
• Cutting Tools:  Thread snips (optional)
• Cutting Tools:  X-acto knife, blade #11, or other seam ripper (optional)
• Feet:  1/4″ foot
• Machines:  Straight stitch or zigzag sewing machine with regular foot
• Markers:  HB or softer lead pencil or mechanical pencil, eraser, sharpener
• Markers:  Needle point tracing wheel to perforate through up to 8 layers of paper (http://www.goldstartool.com/OSX/product_info.php?name=Tracing%20Wheel%20Needle%20Point&products_id=90) or other tool to make perforations (push pin, needle, straight pin)
• Markers:  Permanent ink, medium/fine tip black felt marking pen
• Materials:  2 yards or meters light/medium weight, stiff, non-woven fusible interfacing – Pellon 911 or Vilene H250 (not Pellon batting)
• Paper:  Inexpensive newsprint, sketchpad, tracing or brown wrapping paper, 24″ x 36″- 6 sheets
• Paper:  Notebook (optional)
• Paper:  Piece of cardboard or soft chipboard 18″ x 24″ to protect worksurface from perforations
• Pins and Needles:  Extra sewing machine needles to replace any you break
• Pins and Needles:  Straight pins
• Rulers:  Rotary ruler – 6″ x 24″
• Threads:  Neutral color utility thread
• Tools:  Design wall (flannel or batting, 1 square yard or meter or larger)
• Tools:  Electric iron and board
• Tools:  French or other curve drawing tools (optional)
• Tools:  Small re-useable trash bag
• Top Fabrics:  6-8 solid color fabrics, fat quarters or larger
• Trims:  Embellishments like beads, sequins, found objects, cords, tassels, ribbons, trims, even scrap fabrics (optional)

2 Day Class Additional Supplies

• Adhesives:  Fabric glue for embellishments (optional)
• Backing Fabrics:  Fabrics to back, bind and hang a 1 square yard or meter sized quilt (may be one or more of the top fabrics)
• Feet:  Open toe foot (optional)
• Feet:  Walking foot (optional but every quilter should have one!)
• Feet:  Zipper foot
• Markers:  Tailor’s chalk, soap sliver or other temporary marker
• Materials:  Craft size batting, 1/4″ thick, preferably cotton
• Pins and Needles:  Tacking gun and tacks, bent safety pins, or straight pins for securing quilt layers for quilting
• Threads:  Decorative threads (optional)
• Threads:  Invisible thread – good polyester, not cheap nylon (optional)
• Threads:  Matching threads
• Top Fabrics:  8-12 x 1/2 yard or meter pieces of solid color and/or print fabrics, loosely coordinated and in a wide range of values from very dark to very light

3 Day Class Additional Supplies

• Paper:  Inexpensive tracing paper – 3 dozen sheets or small roll of inexpensive tissue or kitchen greaseproof paper

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