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!
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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.
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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.
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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 needleturn 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.
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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.
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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!
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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 foundationless 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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