Workshops

Students will learn to paint using Pebeo Setacolor fabric paints on cotton fabrics. This is a hands on painting workshop where students will mix colours and produce fabrics suitable for landscapes, yardages and appliques. Special effects techniques will also be explored. Reference notes provided.

The student will spend the morning making a reference work of free motion embroidery stitches to make grasses, leaves, flowers, trees, water etc. In the afternoon they will make a simple fabric landscape and quickly stitch it in place. This is the background on which they will "paint with their sewing machine" to give the landscape three-dimensional life. Hints will be provided on using the appropriate aids; correct needles, threads, stabilizers and hoops. Design considerations such as composition, depth and perspective will be discussed.

The student will build upon the knowledge gained in class I. Design considerations will be discussed and expanded. Students will construct a landscape using appropriate fabrics and machine applique techniques. Machine embroidery techniques will be quickly reviewed and students will be encouraged to individualize their landscapes both in the construction and in the free motion embroidery stages. Methods for quilting the landscape will be explored.

As Free Motion Embroidery Technique and Design 1 above but instead of making a fabric landscape, the students will learn how to paint a simple background on which to free motion embroider.

Students will learn to create appliques totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create either a black capped chickadee or a hummingbird. The technique can be later used to make realistic images of birds, flowers, or wildlife. All the tricks, from working with difficult threads to controlling distortion, will be covered. These can be used as focal points in wall hangings and wearable art.

As above but students will create a puffin.

Students will learn to create vibrant flowers both wild and the garden variety totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create flowers such as lady slipper, iris, foxglove, calla lily, goldenrod, astilbe etc. Students choose which flowers to master. Methods for using them in quilts, artworks, cards and wearable art will be demonstrated.

The student will learn to lower the feed dogs and use the darning foot to produce a free motion applique that is much less rigid than the satin stitch. It is particularly appealing in nature quilts. They will also learn how to make beautiful free motion lace cutwork and three dimensional appliques. These can be used in clothing and wall quilts. This can be a project or a sampler class.

Using a variety of materials including embroidery and metallic threads, tulle and wire, students will learn both free motion techniques and conventional sewing techniques to make lace flowers, leaves, insects and butterflies. These can be used to embellish wearable art as well as crib quilts and wall hangings.

Learn the tricks for machine quilting including basting, choosing the correct batting, working with rayon embroidery, metallic and holographic threads and choosing the quilting pattern. The student will create a reference sample block beginning with straight grid quilting made with the walking foot. They will advance to lowering the feed dogs and discovering the freedom of using the darning foot. Samples will be made following patterns, creating stipple, echo and several other free motion designs.

Students learn the modern way to make the classic quilt. Using machine quilting and the newest techniques, they will produce a beautiful trapunto block. Methods to further enhance trapunto by using bobbin work will be demonstrated. Design considerations enabling the student to choose their own patterns suitable for trapunto will be discussed.

Principles in design will be discussed including colour, texture and embellishment. Students will design individually on their partially constructed garments. The focus will be on appliques. Techniques using the sewing machine for free motion applique, lace cutwork and trapunto will be demonstrated and students may choose to use all or some of these techniques.

Create a beautiful block while learning many machine applique techniques. The student will learn how to use fusible web, freezer paper and dress maker's interfacing to make the appliques. They will learn satin stitch, buttonhole stitch and mock hand applique to attach the appliques. Hints on speciality threads and needles will be given.