MACHINE QUILTING

My particular quilting style rarely uses continuous designs - it is usually simple individual motifs. I free-machine quilt with no marking or stippling and use the stitching as a 'transparent layer' over patchwork.

I will show you how to develop simple sketches into workable motifs that suit your style of ‘drawing/doodling’. We then start stitching on small pre-made fabric collage sandwiches and work to develop confidence with stitching your patterns whilst becoming skillful on your machine.

On day two we move to translating our free machine skills, and motifs, onto your quilt top (ideally cot size). We start with preparing the quilt sandwich, consider the technical aspects of machine quilting then move towards developing personal style using day ones' 'doodles'.

1 or 2 day workshops

Day 1 - working on a sandwich to develop motifs
Day 2 - translating those motifs and skills onto a quilt top

MACHINE EMBROIDERY

There are some delicious threads on the market, silks, rayons and beyond in a variety of sizes and styles- a whole world of colour and fibre. Are you comfortable working with them? And the bigger question - are you comfortable stitching freehand?

We are going to spend the day letting your feed dogs lie low. We'll work with stitching in line using simple decorative styles. We'll play with contrasts in thread. We'll build textural visuals or linear motifs. We'll also look at using programmed stitches and in embellishing.

Despite being a technical/process class I'll challenge you to push your design skills to turn your samples into some fun and funky flatish fellaz or quilt blocks as a vehicle for doing your craziest. You'll find it is easier to play effectively within some project parameters and these guys are pure fun to produce.

• Individual tuition given on colour, technique and design relevant to students needs.
• machine embroidered/quilted/pieced
• 1 day workshop.