Patchwork Cushion Classes

There is a lovely shop in Malmesbury called Dolly Bobbins. It is full of yummy yarn and bits and bobs for sewing.

I am lucky enough to be running a 6 week patchwork cushion course there next term.

The course covers:

• Cutting fabrics with a rotary cutter and ruler
• Making Half Square Triangles (HST)
• How to sew patchwork accurately
• How to machine quilt
• How to make an 18" cushion

The course starts on Friday 12th September and costs £99.00 including all, equipment, materials and use of a sewing machine.

Please contact Tracey here to book a place.

Modern Sampler Group 2014/15

After a lot of jigging around, I have finally managed to sort out the Monthly Modern Sampler Group!

Over the course of 10 months you will learn how to accurately cut and piece a variety of patchwork blocks. You will learn how to hand applique and machine applique fabrics to make a wonderful patchwork top.

We will then look at how to quilt your quilt using hand and machine quilting methods.

This course will give you all the skills you will need to start confidently creating quilts at home - be warned everyone will want one!

The course will start on Saturday 13th September 9am until 12pm - a change to the previous post about the course.

The other dates are: Saturday 25th October
                               Saturday 22nd November
                               Saturday 10th January
                               Saturday 7th February
                               Saturday 7th March
                               Saturday 11th April
                               Saturday 09th May
                               Saturday 13th June
                               Saturday 11th July

It will be held at St Micheal's Hall, Tetbury.

The cost will be £25.00 a month, payable by Standing Order.

If you would like more information or to book a place, please email me.

Monthly Patchwork and Quilting Club!

I teach so many different aspects of sewing, from beginners to dress making, but my true passion is Patchwork and quilting!

One of the lovely students at my class last Saturday came along with her daughter and sent this amazing feedback:

“Just want to say my daughter and I enjoyed the workshop. Anna was a very encouraging and relaxed tutor and her passion for quilting and sewing came across from the very start.“

And she is right -I love spreading fabric and quilting addict wherever I go!

So when the students on Saturday mentioned a monthly group that would teach them how to make different patchwork blocks and then how to take those through to a full quilt, it got me thinking...

I put the idea out on Facebook and for 4/5 people interested in joining within an hour!

So, not one to sit around at all I have been looking for a venue with enough light and space to accommodate 10 people who want to learn patchwork.... and today I booked one!

The Monthly Patchwork Quilting Club will start on Thursday 13th February in St Micheal's Church Hall, Tetbury from 11.30 until 2.30pm!

The aim of the group is to learn how to accurately cut fabrics, how to piece blocks and how to machine quilt a quilt over the next few months.

You do not need any experience, just a willingness to learn and I will give you the skills to make beautiful quilts for your home!

The group will cost £25.00 a month and will included use of equipment, including a sewing machine during the session and support between meetings if needed.

To book your place please email me for a booking form and class joining instructions!

Beginners Patchwork: How to Pin

Following on from the How to Piece Patchwork, the next step is joining the blocks you have made to build the design.

 Lay out the blocks in the positions that you want them:

Then piece the top pair and then the bottom pair following the instructions here.

Once you have pieced them, it is time to join them together for form a 4 block:

Lay the pieces right side together (RST) matching the seam that you want to join:

Starting with the middle seam, put a pin through the seam. I use these pins for the patchwork, they are sharp and long so easily go through the seam.

Align the seams up as much as possible and put the pin through, adjusting the fabrics so that the pin goes through both of the seams. It should look like this when pinned:

Add pins at either end of the seam to be stitched:

This works no matter how many blocks you are joining! Stitch along the seam, back stitching at the beginning and end:

Open out the block and press the seams flat again:

Make sure you iron the block on both sides!

And you are finished!