True Quilts

Four-panel “Tribute to Ethiopia” in the Nairobi Serena Hotel

Description:  Students are introduced to a fresh and more logical approach to quilt making in this technical construction-only workshop, a “must-do” for every quilter.

Students learn to square and stack a better engineered quilt, then to secure and bind all edges entirely by machine.  Quilting is done later at home, following simple guidelines offered in class.

Then students learn how to take the wobbles out of hung quilts.  They make a hanger sleeve or two and apply them properly to correct internal errors.  The quilts students bring in will leave hanging better than ever!

A final bonus is a brief session on how to design and stitch an original artist’s signature, a final professional finishing touch.

Focus of Class: Squaring, stacking, binding, quilting and hanging

Number of Days: 1 (Various techniques can be offered in briefer sections as lectures, demos or mini-classes)

Level of Instruction: All

Maximum Number of Students: Approx. 20

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

• Backing Fabrics:  Fabrics to back, bind and hang the quilt top, preferably in a coordinated print which may be one of the top fabrics, 1-2 yards or meters (bring plenty)
• 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
• Feet:  Open toe foot (optional)
• Feet:  Zipper foot
• Hanger Fabrics:  Fabric to hang the finished quilt, minimum 1/4 yard or meter long x quilt width
• Machines:  Straight stitch or zigzag sewing machine with regular foot
• Markers:  HB or softer lead pencil or mechanical pencil, eraser, sharpener
• Markers:  Tailor’s chalk, soap sliver or other temporary marker
• Materials:  Craft size batting, 1/4″ thick, preferably cotton
• Paper:  Notebook (optional)
• Pins and Needles:  Extra sewing machine needles to replace any you break
• Pins and Needles:  Straight pins
• Pins and Needles:  Tacking gun and tacks, bent safety pins, or straight pins for securing quilt layers for quilting
• Quilts:  1 small to medium sized quilt top ready for stacking, quilting and binding (no quilting in class)
• Quilts:  1 small to medium sized quilt, ready for hanging
• Rulers:  Rotary ruler – 6″ x 24″
• Threads:  Decorative threads (optional)
• Threads:  Invisible thread – good polyester, not cheap nylon (optional)
• Threads:  Matching threads
• Threads:  Neutral color utility thread
• Tools:  Electric iron and board
• Tools:  Small re-useable trash bag

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