Cutting and Piecing Without a Ruler

A Three Day Workshop with Lisa Call
April 2-4, 2012 – Philadelphia, PA

Course Description

In this workshop you will learn how to cut and piece original compositions without using your ruler through a series of three design exercises.

Using just a rotary cutter you will learn how to take most any design* and translate it into a fabric composition created with simple piecing.

All work will be done with 100% cotton fabrics, solids are preferable so you aren’t distracted by texture and pattern while learning these techniques.

You will learn three different styles of piecing and will have the start of a composition in each of these styles. If you sew fast, you might have them completed in class, ready to take home to baste and quilt.

The focus of this workshop will be on techniques where each piece of the composition is cut individually with intention. You will learn some simple strip piecing techniques but we will concentrate on other styles of construction.

This is a technique class. We will discuss design and color, as we want to create art, but the focus is on the construction techniques.

* sharp curves and lots of tiny pieces are not best suited for these techniques.
 

Level – beginner to intermediate.

Prerequisites

• Ability to sew a 1/4 inch seam.
• Knowledge of your sewing machine. I am unable to provide support in this area.
• A readiness to learn, work hard and laugh.
• Some experience piecing traditional quilts is a plus but not required.

Logistics

This three day in person workshop will be held April 2-4, 2012 at Bluestone Fine Art Gallery in Philadelphia, PA for a price of $375.

Class instruction will be from 9am-noon and 1pm-4pm daily. The gallery will be available from 8am to 7pm for addition work time.

There will be an optional catered lunch available at an additional charge. Details and pricing to be provided to registered students later in February.

Parking and Hotel information will be made available to students after registration.

No cell phones will be allowed in the gallery. If you must talk on your phone, you will be asked to step outside. All phones must be put on silence or vibrate.

No internet access will be provided.

Register:

2 spaces remaining

Supply List

• A minimum of 30 different colors of solid 100% cotton fabric, 1/4 to 1 yard cuts, fat quarters are acceptable. Solid hand dyed fabric is acceptable as are prints that read as solids. High quality fabric is best as it behaves better when piecing. At least 6 of these must be dark values and at least 6 must be light values, a wide range of values is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 different neutral colors (browns and grays) of solid 100% cotton fabric, 1/4 to 1 yard cuts, in a variety of values (dark to light).
• 1 yard white 100% cotton fabric
• 1 yard black 100% cotton fabric
• Thread for piecing
• Scissors, Seam Ripper, Pins and any other small notions you normal use when piecing.
• Rotary Cutter – extra large is preferred
• No rulers allowed!
• Cutting Mat 24×36″ minimum larger is nicer (taping together several smaller mats into a larger mat is a good option for fitting these into a suitcase, duct tape on the backside works well for this).
• Sewing Machine with needles, bobbins, bobbin case, feet for piecing a 1/4 inch seam, power supply and foot pedal. Double and Triple check you have all the parts you need.
• Swing arm lamp.
• 4 x 8’ White Flannel or Batting – this will be used for designing your work
• Extension cord and power strip.
• Iron and pad for ironing (a folded white bath towel works well). We don’t know yet the electrical capabilities of the gallery so sharing of irons might be necessary.
• Sketchbook and pen/pencils for taking notes and doing design exercises.
• Digital camera to photograph your works in progress.