Alaska Quilt Seminar at Sea

A field of sunflowers just makes you happy. Recreate your favorite sunflowers or imagine electric new varieties. Bright and bold with lots of texture is how Gyleen likes her sunflowers! Don't be afraid to make this project your own! Sunny Side Up cleverly uses two sizes of kite polygon cut from 3" and 5½" strips. You will learn how to construct a perfect "Crisscross" and "Butterfly Seam" for effortless stitching. It's so easy...you'll fall in love!

Sewing machines will be provided for this class.
Skill level: All levels.

Make some whale watching good luck while you embroider this Tlingit-inspired orca. You will learn how to transfer the design to fabric, then render the image in thread with an easy backstitch. The pattern to add borders for a small quilt is provided, or you can frame your stitching in an embroidery hoop – a popular way to display stitched textiles. While we stitch, we will learn the legend of how the orca came to be in the waters we visit.

Skill level: All levels.

Tree Time is a distant cousin of Scott's very popular Painted Forest pattern. The boho-chic cousin who lives in a VW bus and puts flowers in her/his hair, you know the one. Every block is unique, even though every block is constructed along similar lines and in pairs. More improv, less structure, faster construction (with careful organization mind you). If Painted Forest is dressed to the Nines for a New Year's Eve Party, Tree Time is ready for a picnic and surfing at Malibu Beach!

Sewing machines will be provided for this class.
Skill level: All levels.

Worried about sewing curves? Worry no more! Join Ana who will show you how to sew curves using an original design and a unique technique to make this small wall hanging. A kit will be provided with all the materials needed for you to put this piece together. Finished at approximately 13" x 15", it can be used as a wall hanging, a pillow, the front of a tote bag...the possibilities are endless. Instruction on how to face a quilt will be given. You'll be able to use a sewing machine during open sewing to quilt your Red Pear and sew the facing. The work-shop is based on the techniques used to make Ana's art piece "Moments" which appeared in Quilting Arts Magazine February/March 2008.

Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate.

This stunning Japanese style quilt features alternating blocks of traditional sashiko designs and Japanese fabrics. You'll learn how to transfer the sashiko designs from the templates provided in the class on to the sashiko fabric and do the sashiko stitching. After laying out your quilt from the assortment of Japanese fabrics provided in your kit, spend some time in the open sew sessions to sew your quilt top together.

Skill level: All levels.

This is one of Gyleen's "go to" quilts when she needs one in a hurry. You can speed up the cutting a bit by using pre-cut strips or by using your "self-made" 2½" strips. Feel free to use the remainder of the strips for the brick centers (2½" x 5½"). If you're cutting from 40" strips bring the leftovers with you to the workshop. This block stitches quickly! Dynamic, modern and fun is the formula for a great day of stitching. The actual block size is huge, 15" square. You can make it scrappy or stick within a color palette or use a jelly roll. Oh did I say its pre-cut friendly? 1-2 Jelly Rolls and 1 yard of focus fabric. You'll have so much fun and have a great project for show and tell!

Sewing machines will be provided for this class.
Skill level: All levels.

Everything is bigger in Alaska – even the snowflakes! Get started on this English Paper Pieced Snowflake or design your own (hexagon design paper provided). We'll go over the basics of EPP basting (glue basting is FAST!), then show you both the whip stitch and feather stitch so you can choose your preferred method to join the hexagons into a beautiful fiber interpretation of a snowy crystal. This hand stitching project can go with you anywhere – even to a deck chair on the Lido! When finished, you can appliqué it onto a background by hand or machine.

Skill level: All levels.

Sparkle is a slightly wonky "neotraditional-modern" block that uses the background of the block to create a secondary pattern in the overall project with lots of options. Slightly maverick piecing is forgiving and the quilt is full of movement. Sparkle is also a great project to use up your scraps in your favorite colors. All of your Reds work in this – as do all of the Yellows, Blues, and Greens from your stash! Feel free to change the color groups up too. Want to make Sparkle match your favorite sport team? Use your team's colors. If they don't have have a third accent color use Black! Or take your state or countr's flag colors for a patriotic flair. Every holiday has a color group – play with those if you want. Anyway you sew it, you're surely going to Sparkle! For those of you who like more precise and less wonky, we will provide a FPP sheet at the end of the pattern.

Sewing machines will be provided for this class.
Skill level: All levels.

Ana says "I was born in a small seaside resort and ever since I was a small child, I've loved rocks, pebbles and stones. Still at my age, I cannot resist going by a rock without looking at it and wondering if I can find an excuse to keep it. So it was natural to me to find a way to incorporate these rocks and small pebbles in a quilt." Join Ana in this fun and relaxing class to make rocks, pebbles and stones and learn two different methods to incorporate them into your art pieces.

Skill level: All levels.

Students will create a 14" x 22" boro-inspired table mat with various Japanese textiles and sashiko stitching. They'll select from yukata, kasuri, and other traditional Japanese fabrics provided and add sashiko stitching to transform the patchwork into a one-of-a-kind textile. An optional border could be added at home. Trunk show in class.

Skill level: All levels.

Lucy Boston's quilt, Patchwork of the Crosses, is a timeless design with simple blocks, brought to life by with Fussy Cutting. Let your imagination wander as you dive into the world of Prints and Repeats. Learn to become an Expert Fussy Cutter with Lucy Boston. (Basic knowledge of English Paper Piecing recommended)

Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate.

Create a quilt that captures your memories of your trip with fabrics you picked up at each stop along the way. Great way to have a memento that warms you up wherever you go home to. Pattern is free, as it is readily available from a number of sources. Scott will have samples of a variety of sizes and settings to make your Polaroid Memory Quilt your very own. Such a fun class and a great memento of your Alaska cruise!

Sewing machines will be provided for this class.
Skill level: All levels.

In a fun and relaxing environment, you are invited to get creative as you explore different ways in which you can use Paintstiks to embellish fabric and create your own personal prints. Paintstiks are easy to use as they are creamy and thick, so you can paint, stencil and rub with them. Come to class and spend some time making your own rubbing plates with materials provided in a kit and then use them on your own fabrics. Different ways of using these Paintstiks will be shown. Beware: it's addictive!

Skill level: All levels.

If you've wanted to try Sashiko or just improve your skills, this class is for you! We'll be working on a 27" x 41" panel with six 13" square traditional Sashiko designs. The designs are pre-printed for you on Navy Kona cotton Fabric. When finished you can use the panel as is or cut apart and use each design for a quilt square, pillow top or other project. There will be a trunk show in class.

Skill level: All levels.