It's Teaching Time

Every winter I teach some kind of quilting class.  Usually it is what ever quilting technique that I am into.  Paper piecing, machine quilting, whatever. 
So I have been totally blown away with the Double Dresden technique.  I took a class from Susan Cleveland, www.PiecesBeWithYou.com over the summer and I have been hooked ever since.  So I decided to teach this technique this winter.

Designing Dresdens 

Class is Feb 21st, 2015 at 9am at
St Gertrude’s Church Hall in Woodstock. 
117 St Gertrude's Street

Taught by Janet Wright 
Email: wsnapo@hotmail.com
Home  phone ( evenings) 506 328-4387

You will learn not only how to make this project, but also how to use the design in any other pattern that you may want to make.  We are also going to learn how to make 3d flying geese.
Class fee : $35.00
Class requirements are listed below.  Please decide what project you will be making.  Your choice will determine what you need to bring to class


Class Supply List

 MUST HAVE:
--Starch

--Fabric : Background, dresden fabric, cotton thread to match, batting and backing fabric (as you may get it quilted in class time).
 -- Sewing machine that has been recently cleaned.  fresh needle, bobbin, extension cord
-- Rotary cutting equipment (cutter, mat, ruler)
-- small scissors
-- extra machine needle, pins, seam ripper
--Pen for making notes

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

Dresden 18 degree ruler. They come in small and large, but we will be going over how to make templates as well so this is an optional.  I am willing to purchase the ruler for you for what it costs me if you pay before. 
small ruler - EZ Quilting ruler $8.00

large ruler - C&T Publishing Fast To Cut Dresden Plate Template Approx $13

Prairie Pointer Tool - Great for popping out the points and also for making dimensional flying geese.  They are running about $20 US and shipping depends on how many i order.  

Wooden or plastic finger pressing tool.

The fabric requirments will depend on what project you choose.  If in doubt bring extra.

Project 1 - SNOWFLAKE

 

  Fabric :  20" square for background

24"  square for backing.

24" square piece of good quality batting

Blue : 6 1/2" strip AND  3 1/2" strip

Lighter : 5" strip of fabric and a 4" piece

Option 2 : SPIN

Fabric : 1 yard for background

3 or 4 fabrics for dresden and geese

(1/4 or 1/2 yard cuts) 

Option 3 : one dresden

This can be done any size using any fabric.  I think it would look great in 30's fabric!!  

Background 1/2 yard

Dresdens : 5 or 6 colors (1/4 yard cut)

Get signed up for the class before it becomes full!!

Until the next stitch

Escape

My friend, Christel changed her profile pic on facebook to this.  As she goes on retreat, I asked her to tell me how to make it.  It actually took me longer to make then I had thought it would, but I am naturally slow.  She brought hers and had templates made for me to use.  There seemed to be a lot of frigging to finish this piece.  I hang it on the door to the sewing room.  Christel called her's hang in there.  I named mine Escape! 

Until the next stitch!!

I have Dresden Fever

Over the summer I was lucky enough to take a quilt class for Susan Cleveland.  The class I took was one of those things that I signed up for, just cause it was something new, but I probably wouldn't like it much.  Welllllll !!!!!!   I came home totally inspired.  I changed my thinking of a dresden being a traditional pattern, but instead something that could be played with to make something different.  I finished up the class project and it turned out beautiful, better than I had ever expected.

Read about it here

But my design mind just wouldn't leave me alone.  I started looking at any dresden block I could find.  I knew I had to  make more.  So during my search I came across this.

It is an original pattern by Brenda Sutter and she happens to be in a facebook quilting group I belong to.  She mentioned that she was going to make a pattern.  So low and behold I bought her pattern at Craftsy.  



The pattern used templates, and not the method I had became familiar with.   So I took her measurements and adapted it,  My version does not have as many plates as hers does, but I do prefer Susan Cleveland's method.  Now this is a total learning lesson. These are my samples to learn more about the dresden.  I learned how changing the position of the ruler changes the center.  If you move it up the ruler you get a larger center hole.  I did not double point my plates, as I think the center needs to have a circle to look like a snowflake.  I made one to look like a snowflake, and one a bit Christmassy!!

I decided to quilt these pieces very plainly.  I went around the center and then out the plates.  I think the linear quilting adds to the dresden. 

 

But that is not the end of the story.  As I was working away on this I decided that a 3/4 dresden would look super cool.  But if you had that you would need something else to fill the negative space.  Well what about a full dresden that was half size??  And then after that was decided, it left a gaping hole on the top.  Well here is what I drempt up.  I emailed Susan Cleveland and got her opinion and here it is. 

 

I am totally tickled with how it turned out.  I am going to write up the pattern and call it a class!  

Until the next stitch!!

Summer with Susan Cleveland

I do not sew in the summer.  As usual I started out the summer pulling my antique tractor and then came this idea.  Our guild president pitched that they take a bus and go to the Augusta Quilt show in Maine over the summer.  I was game, but as usual, I need to do things my way.  So I decided that I wanted to take 2 classes at the quilt show.  I signed up for this cute dresden class with Susan Cleveland.

Susan is an awesome teacher and the class was awesome.  I was totally inspired.  She also has this tool called Prairie Pointer.  It is a great tool and works for prairie points and dresden. Her website is
https://www.piecesbewithyou.com/

I also found a couple of her videos on www.youtube.com

This is the class I took and her pattern.

Great way to start the fall sewing season.
 
Until the next stitch!

Teaching FM Quilting

I was lucky enough to be invited back to teach free motion quilting to my guild.  We had 23 excited students ready to learn.  The day started out well, but a huge ice storm came as the day went along.  Three of the ladies ended up staying for the night.  Everyone made it home safe!!  Here are some pictures.

I have been busy, going to post again quick
Until the next stitch!