Patchwork at Prema

If you visit my blog regularly you will know I am a fabric pusher... I love to spread my addiction to fabric and my passion for quilting!

The more people I can infect with enthusiasm for fabric and creating patchwork the better!

You will also know that I teach basic sewing skills, patchwork, bag making... basically anything sewing!

On the 13th May I am taking my classes down to Prema Arts in Uley, Gloucestershire for another 6 week course of patchworking fun.

I will be teaching cutting and piecing skills, how to develop gorgeous designs using half square triangles and how to machine quilt!

It is a course aimed at giving you the skills to make your own quilts at home, you are free to decide on the design and work at your own pace to complete a piece of work over the six week course.

The last class was great fun, with some amazing pieces of work being created. So if you have an interest in quilting and you are in the Stroud, Tetbury and Durseley areas come along!

You can book your place now by phoning the Arts Centre: 01453 860703

FMQ on the edge..

Yesterday was a manic day - today isn't much better!

I taught in Cheltenham and it was my last session with a lovely group of people with mental health issues. Unfortunately 2 of the group couldn't come so it was a small quiet morning with only 2 learners. I will miss them...

I dashed back and started getting ready for a pampered ladies evening at the boys school. Loads of yummy stalls and beauty therapies for the mums. I took along the Janome's to show case what I do and let people overcome that initial 'I can't sew' feeling!

I had a fab corner in the hall with climbing bar - perfect for hanging quilts on! So with 2 sewing machine set up to go I settled down on a third to do some FMQ

I was living dangerously because I had taken the foot pedal off and I was using the start stop function to FMQ for the first time. I love on the edge right?

Luckily my adapted foot fits onto a Janome just fine, so I set off..

FMQ using the start stop button is an interesting experience...

First, you have to set the machine to the right speed - you can't slow down or go faster. It stays at a constant speed. Which was daunting at first, but not too bad once I had got used to it. It does take a bit of fiddling to get the speed right!

Then there is the whole issue of being too used to using a foot pedal to stop! I am slowly getting used to using the start/stop button, but my foot still taps the floor looking for the pedal! Once you remember you need to keep and eye on where you are going and press it in plenty of time, it is fine!

Overall I really enjoyed not using the foot pedal. My stitches are not great, but then who's are when they try something new out?

Plus it got me lots of interest as to why I was wearing dodgy white gloves, which let to interest in sewing classes, both one-to-one private classes and the patchwork class I will be running at Prema. So the evening was a success!

Plus the boys tried out the new nanny/babysitter and she survived! Will find out their feedback when they wake up!

Designing and Sewing Day

My weeks at the moment have turned very busy with 4 groups across the county.

The classes vary in abilities, social skills and life styles. Each one is different and each one has it's own challenges, but all of them are fun!

Today is my one day a week at home when the boys are in school and I can play with designs and ideas in between private lessons.

So today I need to think about a quilt for my 5 week course in March... I have these scrummy fabrics lined up:

Pic courtesy of M is for Make

 

 Along with some serious amounts of orange and grey solids from Simply Solids.

The challenge is to design blocks that will teach the learners new techniques. 5 weeks is a short time to learn all about patchwork and quilting so I need to be quick and snappy so that learners can get a taste of patchwork skills and have a go at some quilting...

With me so far?

So..... breaking the 5 weeks down into a schedules is the starting point:

Week 1: Introduction, cutting and piecing: squares and half square triangles

Week 2: Sewing it all together to make a quilt top.

Week 3: Putting backing, wadding and front together.

Week 4: Quilting using a walking foot.

Week 5: Binding

This is a rough guide and it is part of the course that 'homework' is done in between classes. So if people want to make a bigger than laptop size quilt then it needs more homework! Equally people who have not time outside class with have a smaller quilt..

So I need to make a demonstration quilt - it is a hardship I know - that will show the learners what they are working towards.

I plan on starting this afternoon between my morning class and the school pick-up and after school club!

Wish me luck!

Getting my Solids Fix

This week I have been commissioned for 5/6 classes and workshops at Prema Arts in Uley.  They range from a Mother and Daughter workshop for Mothers Day to a 5 week patchwork course.

Although the classes are in in the New Year I know they will be here quicker than I expect and I need items to show as examples of what we will be making....

Cue the fabulous Simply Solids online shop owned by Justine.

I have the wonderful bundle from M is for Make to play with and I wanted to mix it with some solid grey.

Kona Solids are my solid of choice. I love Kona solids because the colours are fabulous and they feel so soft!

Justine has a growing choice of colours to choose from and 2 shades of grey. The Kona colour chart is a really useful tool to narrow down your colour choices, but I wanted to test them out next to the bundle, so I ordered a metre each of Ash and Charcoal.

Ash

 



Charcoal

The fabulous Justine sorted out the order and it arrived really quickly. The packing was gorgeous and there is even a square of another colour so I can have a look at another Kona solid.

Sign up for the Simply Solids newsletter and you get news about the shop and codes to use when you are stocking up on your solids - I may have ordered a huge parcel of oranges and browns this afternoon using this months code....

I'll keep you updated with the progress of the plans for the quilting classes.

Family Sewing

This weekend I am running my first family session at Prema Arts in Uley.

It is a Christmas themed workshop with 6 families taking part. It is something new for me! I have ages 6 plus coming along with their parents, so they will be supervised.

Planning has been a bit of a challenge. I don't know the sewing abilities of the families and I have had to decide whether or not to introduce them to sewing machines..

After a couple of weeks of planning and thinking I finally decided that if my 7 year old can use the new Janome sewing machine, then the children coming will probably be excited to give it a go.

So sewing machines have been put onto the risk assessment for the class. 

Then there is the actual project....

I have decided on these cards:

Which will combine sewing machine skills and allow the families to get creative!

And a fun project that introduce the families to quilting in a really simple way:

I am also planning on taking felt, stuffing and embroidery threads along with paper templates for felt ornaments.

Really looking forward to trying the ideas out with my lovely families tomorrow!