2015 QSC Pieceable Retreat Class Samples and Descriptions
The Tuffet---Round or Square!!?? (12 hours)
Teacher: Carolyn Harris
The 18” round or square Tuffet is a small piece of furniture – quadrants are sewn of your color choice and fitted onto foam/wood foundation. Round Tuffet uses 64 strips and square Tuffet uses 40 strips plus additional yardage for corners. A large center button is attached and the four feet can be painted or stained.
Scrappy Spider Web
(12 hours) Teacher: Dee Doebler
Looking for another way to use up those scraps? Then check out this perfect scrap buster! This is a different take on the traditional Spider Web quilt. By changing up the strip sizes, we create a fun center for the block and there are NO seams to match up! I will show students a great way to sew these Hexies together withno “Y” seams. This class is suitable for confident beginners or seasoned quilters who want to just sew up all her scraps into something awesome!
Galaxy Stars!
(12 hours) Teacher: Anita Bowen
Back by popular demand, Galaxy6 Stars is on its farewell tour starting with a last class at QSC’s 2015 Retreat! Every quilter holds on to those scraps for just the time to make a special quilt! Galaxy Stars is just the right pattern to use a variety of scraps or special fabrics that set the perfect theme for a quilt. This is a versatile pattern that can be made in three sizes and has options for different borders that can be incorporated into the construction of the quilt. Easy piecing methods will guarantee you a successful time in class and a top that you will want to finish!
“Naiya”
(12 hours) Teacher: Teresa Pietras
Naiya is a beautiful 21” fabric, soft-sculpted “stump” (no Legs) doll that will teach intermediate doll making techniques. Naiya is a woodland fairy with wings of mulberry and adorned in Wisteria blossoms and leaves. Her hair is made of Tibetan lamb’s wool and her clothing is made as part of her body and the skirt is a sheer silk. Her face is thread sculpted and drawn with colored pencils. We will learn skills such as making hands, wings, hairpieces and drawing faces, along with other basic techniques. Although Naiya is not a complicated doll, she does take many hours to create. The class will be fast paced and students may be stuffing body parts during their evening hours. But, all techniques will be covered, leaving students confident to complete her if they do not fully finish in class. I will always be available for help and questions even when the class is finished.
Crazy Quilting: Basics and Beyond (12 hours)
Teacher: Kay Lawrence
We will start with piecing a CQ block. Various design considerations and methods will be covered. On Saturday we will begin embellishing our block with embroidered seam treatment, laces, rick rack, etc. On Sunday we will continue embellishment with a focus on heavier things like beads and buttons. By the end of the weekend you may well have a completed block that can then be made into a pillow or wall hanging. We will talk about ways to finish on Sunday.
Scrap Busing String Quilts (6 hours) Teacher: Stephanie Alexander
Grab your scraps and fabrics you can’t remember why you bought and learn how to turn your uglies into the most beautiful quilts you will ever make. This class works for beginning as well as advance quilter. We will look at color and layout options that will result in entirely different designs.
Needle-turn Applique, Part II (12 hours) Teacher: Virginia Schrenker
This pattern can be done by hand or fused, but the instruction will be for needle-turn appliqué. We will work on block #7 in the pattern. The class will teach students how to prepare a pattern for appliqué. Instruction will include stems, circles, points, and dips. The first 3 hours of class will be involved in preparing an overlay (for placement of pieces) and individual pieces as well as stems. Students will also learn how to fgure out what order to appliqué the pieces. The rest of the time will be spent in teaching and practicing techniques. Much, if not all of the design can be finished during the weekend. Some experience in needle-turn appliqué is suggested.
Machine Quilting with Attitude (3 hours)
Teacher: Lynn Buske
This class teaches how to use a domestic sewing machine to allover quilt a pretty design. Students learn to free motion quilt flowers, gears, sunshine, clams, squiggles, buzz saws, and feathers. The last hour of class is used to do feathers in a border and to make leafy ferns to fill a space.
Landscape Marathon (12 hours)
Teacher: Judy Lilly
Get away from traditional quilting and escape to the wonderful world of landscapes! Anyone can do it! Learn to create seasons, perspective, sunlight, and distance using color and value. Create a scene on a stabilized foundation; then experiment with thread painting as well as fabric dyes and paints to enhance the scene. Class will also offer machine quilting tips as we prepare to finish the piece. Work from your own photo or use one of the instructor’s patterns designed for this class.
Stars for Marianne
(12 hours)
Teacher: Amanda Brown
This miniature quilt was designed especially as a gift for Marianne Fons as a Thank You for her support with the Quilts of Valor Foundation. I presented the original miniature to Marianne at a QOVF event held in Columbia last year. I created the traditional looking star block pattern using Civil War Reproduction fabrics but it would also look stunning in batiks, 30s, black and whites, pastels, and many other color combinations. The process for creating the miniature will incorporate a paper foundation technique for making half-square triangles and a fusible application before sewing the final project. The final miniature quilt looks great framed or can be quilted a a wall=hanging. The finished quilt measures 12 inches by 12 inches.
International Sunbonnet Sue
(12 hours)
Teacher: Cheryl Keith
This quilt is based on the “Sues” in Debra Kimball’s book. They have been digitized and will be stitched out on an embroidery machine. You will have a choice of any of the dolls pictured in the book. We will have time to produce about 3 or 4 of these in the class. You will receive 5 digitized Sues with the class. You will have the opportunity to purchase as many more as you wish in the class. There are several layouts for your designs…or can be used in other projects.
The Low Country Sampler
(12 hours)
Teacher: Linda Knutson
This quilt is about “Old Techniques” being revived again in the quilts of today. You’ll learn the “New” English paper piecing technique for the “Mosaic Stars and the Hexagon Chintz Ring.” We’ll learn how to create a woven basket for your pieced and appliqué flowers, and Berries for your “Live Oak Leaf”. Reversed Appliqué will be used to make our rose and the technique of “layering appliqué in the Pineapple and the Rose and Buds design inspired from a southern quilt. We don’t want to forget our Irish Chain that has had a bit of a make over too. This is a Workshop created by your handwork for you!
Foundation-less Piecing (12 hours)
Teacher: Jane Godshall
A different take on foundation paper piecing. Using freezer paper as your pattern to create accurate points, arcs and seams. No more pulling off paper, reusable patterns pieces, and accuracy (worth mention again)! Mariner’s Compass and New York Beauty are traditional blocks that are thought of as a bit intimidating. With my method of foundation-less piecing those perfect points, arcs, and spires are conquered. We’ll take this traditional block and add even more points, spires and arcs. And best of all, with this technique you won’t be sewing through the paper, so there is no fighting to tear off the paper in the end. You will get to use up lots of your stash or you can select some of your favorite fabrics. We’ll take a look at color options and how to use lots of color or just a little color. Then we’ll use the foundation-less technique to piece the blocks. From there we’ll explore the variations in the pattern and each quilt will be an original. This is a great technique to add to your toolbox. We’ll also try out different techniques for marking the arcs and curves.
Foundation-less piecing makes some seemingly impossible blocks possible and fun.
Monterrey Medallion – Machine Piecing (12 hours)
Teacher: Karen Kendo
This is a class for those with advanced beginner piecing skills looking to become more proficient with their machine piecing techniques. Using the Terry Atkinson pattern booklet Monterrey Medallion, students will learn to make star blocks; log pile blocks; a center medallion star; and Jacob’s Ladder blocks. Students may also choose the level of difficulty/complexity within each of these blocks to further enhance their skills or challenge themselves.
Basket Lattice (6 hours)
Teacher: Susan Congdon
The Basket Lattice is a traditional pattern first published in the early 1920’s by Ladies’ Art Company. Using fabric strip sets and partial seams, we’ll bring this traditional pattern into the 21st century and construct a lap quilt that will have others wondering how it was put together! It’s up to you whether or not to share how easy it is.
One Block Wonders-Out of the Box and into the Hexagon
(12 Hours) Beth Karr
This class will teach you the fabric prep, rotary cutting and organizing skills for the sewing of the half hexagons that make up the stunning, unique designs of this quilt. Heavy emphasis on design theory with the completed hexagons. We will also discuss the construction of the hexagon cubes that can be used in this quilt or baby blocks quilts. No “Y” seams! You will do the actual quilt deign at home.
Arachnia (12 hours)
Teacher: Lynn Tesch
Arachnia is a needle sculpted cloth doll with button jointed limbs. The body of the doll is constructed from 100% cotton batik fabric and head and hands are sewn from Art Gallery Tender Green high quality cotton fabric. The class includes sewing turning and stuffing all body parts including the tiny fingers. Special attention will be given to drawing and sculpting the facial features. Yarn hair will be constructed and applied and the doll will be finished with a lace skirt and witch’s hat. Pattern provided for anyone wishing to add a cape.
Suminagashi (12 hours)
Teacher: Vern Bowen
Suminagashi: Marbling paper and fabric with ink. We will produce small marbled pieces of paper and silk. Greeting cards/postcards will be fashioned from the marbled paper. Also, a 22” square scarf will be marbled with inks.
Curved Blocks No Rulers
(3 hours) Liz Florom
A really fun class that opens up a new world of piecing.
Twisted Log Cabin (9 hours)
Teacher: Nancy Miller
This class is made for beginners, but those who are interested in just doing something fun will find it a relaxing class. We will cover the basics of cutting accurately, pinning, sewing, trimming and a variety of tips to help take you from quilting zero to quilting hero. Because this pattern is designed to be wonky, it is very forgiving for beginners, and yet the results are fun and look more intricate than they are. Make your scrappy or not, but come prepared to have some fun and learn some new tips and techniques.
Easy Bargello (9 hours)
Teacher: Connie Richardson
Need a fun and easy quilt for a last minute gift or for yourself. If so, this is the perfect quilt. We will use 7 fabrics to create a beautiful bargello quilt. Three and a half inch strips will be sewn together into tubes and cut into random size strips. You will learn to match seams without using pins. We will talk about fabric selections and why I had you select certain fabrics. If all goes well we will have completed tops for show and tell.
Alphabets on a Curve Play (3 hours)
Teacher: Beth Stewart-Ozark
This techniques project allows beginners to intermediates to play with alphabet letters and free motion quilting to write words on quilts by practicing in a comfortable environment. Several techniques will be covered including: free motion quilting, free motion quilting on a curve, free motion applique of fabric in words, outlining words with different threads, line use to write words, use of markers and stamps before out lining words or letters with thread, and production of a small 16” x 22” ready-to-be-trimmed and bound wall hanging.
Photography by Amanda Brown, QSC Historian
Class Sample Descriptions Written by Teachers and Submitted by Cheryl Keith,
2015 Pieceable Retreat Chair
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