Quilting Classes
Before filling out your registration form, please read the class descriptions and the daily itinerary so you can best determine how you would like to spend your cruise time. You will be assured of being placed in 3 full-day classes. Classes are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Class assignments and supply lists will be emailed to you approximately 90 days prior to departure. Classes are open to all levels of ability (unless otherwise stated in the class description).
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
9:00AM to 3:30pm Lunch Break from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Sunset over Panama
| Instructor | Heather Kojan |
| Interleave is one of the hottest piecing trends around. In the morning, we’ll explore the fundamentals of interleave piecing and do a Half Square Triangle variation. In the afternoon, we’ll create a beautiful Sunset over Panama piece. You get to decide how you will finish your pieces: they can be a wall hanging, pillow, tote bag panel, denim jacket insert – let your imagination run wild! |   |
| Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience). | |
Mystery Mosaic Tile
| Instructor | Heidi Proffetty |
| Everyone enjoys a surprise, and Heidi has something extra special planned for you on the first day of her Mosaic Quilt making instruction! |  |
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Following a feature presentation on mosaic quilt making, you will be creating a one-of-a-kind mosaic quilt tile as a keepsake of your voyage on the magnificent Holland America, Rotterdam cruise ship. Additionally, you will receive specific mounting instructions in order to display your amazing mosaic tile on board this ship for anyone to view! If you prefer to quilt your tile at home, you will receive detailed quilt finishing tips and packing instructions. Bring the art of Ancient & Modern mosaic making to your quilting. Use color, symmetry and interweaving shapes to create your own unique mosaic designs. This project features a supplied kit with just about everything you’ll need to design, hand cut and puzzle together your own beautiful 12″ x 9” Mosaic tile. |
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| Skill Level: Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) There are no sewing machines provided or required this class. |
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Machine Quilting Basics and Beyond
| Instructor | Cindy Seitz-Krug |
| This class is designed for beginning machine quilters, but is guaranteed to teach even skilled quilters a thing or two about successfully quilting your quilts on your domestic sewing machine. |  |
| The class starts with a brief discussion of threads, needles, and batting. Next comes a brief exercise with the walking foot. The rest of the day is spent with extensive coverage of free-motion quilting, including continuous line designs, three types of feathers, stippling, and echo quilting. Finally, Cindy demonstrates how to easily manage your large quilts on a home sewing machine. | |
| Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) | |
Birds & Flowers Mola Design
| Instructor | Catherine Redford |
| Inspired by the traditional Mola designs of the Kuna people on the San Blas Archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Panama, this embroidery design is printed ready to stitch with a variety of hand dyed threads. |  |
| Choose your favorite colors and enjoy a day of slow stitching in the company of your friends! Catherine will get you started with the basic chain stitch, you can add some embellishments as you go. Add your finished piece to a garment, bag, pillow or maybe a little wallhanging? Kit will include printed design, six colors of hand dyed thread, needle. Catherine’s full color stitch guide will also be available for purchase. |
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| Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) There are no sewing machines provided or required this class. |
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Friday, February 7, 2025
9:00am to 3:30pm, Lunch Break from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Modern Improv Sampler
| Instructor | Heather Kojan |
| Looking for something fun and wonky where nothing has to match? This is your class! We’ll take traditional quilt blocks and piece them in an improvisational way. Nine-Patch, Log Cabin, Star and Churn Dash are just a few that we’ll make. |  |
| All will be done with guided improv techniques and each block will be uniquely yours. Any of the blocks could be made on repeat to make a stunning quilt. Or take the blocks you make in class to create a small sampler/baby quilt. If you are new to improv and a bit nervous, I’ll have you loving it by the end of class. If you’ve dipped your toes in the improv pond, I can help you build your skills! | |
| Skill level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) | |
Sunrise & Sunset
| Instructor | Heidi Proffetty |
| Did you know that Panama is the only place in the world where you can watch a sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and a sunset over the Atlantic Ocean from the same spot? At the narrowest part of the country, just 50 miles separates the two oceans. Join Heidi and bring the beauty of mosaics to your quilting. |   |
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You will only need a few supplies to make this mosaic, and you can choose between a sunrise or sunset design. Heidi will walk you through each stage of creating a mosaic quilt, including working from an image, drawing shapes, detecting values in photos and translating them to the correct colors, and selecting just the right fabrics for your quilt design. She’ll teach traditional and innovative design and cutting techniques, as well as demonstrate how to put the mosaic pattern together without the use of a light box or fabric marking tools. Once you’ve completed your quilt tile, you’ll be given instructions for getting your mosaic home safely to be quilted. In class, you will receive a detailed explanation as well as a handout with all Heidi’s tips and recommended supplies for finishing your quilt. Finished Size: 12” x 12” |
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| Skill level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience). There are no sewing machines provided or required for this class. |
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Fab Fills For Negative Spaces
| Instructor | Cindy Seitz-Krug |
| The negative space and background areas in quilts can often become the focal point of a quilt, so join Cindy in learning some easy and beautiful fillers that will add interest and texture to your quilts. These versatile designs have a “modern” feel, but are sure to enhance traditional quilts as well. |  |
| Skill level:Skill Builder for the Experienced Quilter | |
Hibiscus Wool Applique
| Instructor | Catherine Redford |
| Catherine will share all her favorite tips and tricks for success with wool appliqué as you stitch this beautiful tropical Hibiscus flower. Choose from a selection of colors. |  |
| Use your finished 6” square design for a pin cushion or a needle case cover. Kit will include wool fabric, wool appliqué threads, pattern and notions to complete the design. Embellishment threads, beads, and Catherine’s full color stitch guide will be available for purchase as well. |
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| Skill level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience). There are no sewing machines provided or required for this class. |
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Tuesday, February 11, 2025
9:00am to 3:30pm, Lunch Break from 11:30am to 1:00pm
Tropical Bloom
| Instructor | Heather Kojan |
| You’ve conquered squares, rectangles and half square triangles. Are you ready for Half Rectangle Triangles? In this class, we’ll learn 2 different ways to create HRTs (all the pointy bits!). We’ll then turn those into this beautiful wall hanging. We’ll also play around and try out new layouts with our shiny HRTs! |  |
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Skill Level: Skill Builder for the Experienced Quilter |
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Cruising the Panama Canal
| Instructor | Heidi Proffetty |
| The Panama Canal is one of the seven wonders of the world. France began canal construction in 1881, and the U.S. completed it between 1904 and 1914. The 51-mile Panama Canal has 3 locks and takes ships 8-10 hours to cross. |  |
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The first ship to pass the Canal was the cargo ship Ancon on August 15, 1914. The Canal turned 100 on August 15, 2014. Today, on average 40 ships a day pass through the canal. Join Heidi, all that you’ll need is a few basic supplies for this assembling this gorgeous mosaic quilt that will serve as a lasting memento of your journey along this engineering wonder. Heidi will share all of her mosaic quilt making techniques and you’ll receive instructions for carefully transporting your mosaic quilt home to be quilted. A thorough explanation and handout with Heidi’s quilt finishing recommendations and supplies will be provided in class. To further personalize your quilt, special accent or add-on mosaic designs highlighting various sights between oceans will be offered. Finished Size: 14” x 14 |
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| Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) There are no sewing machines provided or required for this class. |
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Gorgeous Gridded Quilting Designs
| Instructor | Cindy Seitz-Krug |
| Everybody loves the classic look of grid-based quilting designs. In this one-day class, you will learn 10 different grid designs that you will incorporate into a small quilted wall hanging. With Cindy’s beautiful samples and positive attitude and guidance, you will be amazed at the lovely designs you can quilt! |  |
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Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) |
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Under the Sea Embroidery
| Instructor | Catherine Redford |
| Extend your stitch vocabulary as you hand embroider this original piece, inspired by the sea life of the Caribbean! The design is printed on white linen ready for you to add your own personal touches. |  |
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Add color with wax crayons and then choose from a rainbow of hand dyed embroidery threads. Brush up on your skills and learn some new stitches. Finishing ideas will be shared. Use your piece as a panel on a tote bag, in a small quilt, or on a pillow. Kit will include design printed on linen, six colors of hand dyed thread and needles. Extra threads and Catherine’s full color stitch guide will also be available for purchase. |
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Skill Level: Fun for all (perfect for all levels of experience) |
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Class notes: Holding a quilt seminar on a cruise ship is a unique experience. Sometimes there are space and time challenges that prevent our being able to be “project oriented” and we must concentrate more on process. It is very unlikely that you will have an absolutely finished project at the end of a class. It is helpful if your expectations match these realities. But regardless of how far you are able to progress, our instructors are professionals—some of the best in the quilting world—and we know you will learn many new techniques and have a wonderful experience!/p>