Landscapes or other non-repeating patchwork designs

£175.00

3 Days

Sat, 21st April, 2018 to Mon, 23rd April, 2018

10:00am - 4:00pm

As part of this workshop you are invited to attend a free talk on Friday 20th at 6.30pm from Susan to get you excited for the next 3 days.

If you have ever wanted to translate a favourite landscape, real or imagined into fabric this class shows you how to make and use a full-size cartoon (or put simply, a drawing) to make pieced patchwork that doesn’t have a repeating element. This method of working is also effective for an abstract design or any patchwork design that might need a great variety of shapes. It offers an immensely liberating approach to your patchwork as it means that you can sew almost anything that can be drafted onto paper, once you take into account any sewing limitations. It is not a super-fast way to make a quilt but the freedom the method offers more than compensates for turning your back on some quick cutting and sewing methods.

Everyone will work individually and start a unique piece of work. Patchwork is not painting, it has different and weaknesses and the class will emphasise how to exploit the particular strengths of fabric in a patchworker’s hands. It is a design class, you will start to make something which hasn’t been made before and the bad news about designing from scratch is that it needs thought and work; the wonderful news about designing is that it is absolutely possible and this class aims to give you one approach to doing new and different work.

The class will include work on colour, particularly dark and light contrast, and fabric choice to emphasise dramatic contrast or create large harmonious areas, rich in understated detail. It is possible that no sewing will be done in the class but techniques will be discussed and tried as necessary. As plans progress the possibilities of using quilting, to further enhance the design and colour choices, will be considered.

If anyone wishes to talk to Susan to discuss the class you may contact her by email at – susandenton@roden.myzen.co.uk or by telephone on 01736 788699. 

REQUIREMENTS LIST

 

• A COLLECTION of photographs, drawings (no matter how sketchy) postcards or other source material. This may include line drawings, landscapes, townscapes, full views, details, stones, pressed flowers, newspaper cuttings; in short, anything that will help you translate your ideas into fabric.

• Plenty of white paper, A4 size is ideal.

• Large, A2, sheets of layout paper, for the cartoon. I will have some available at cost price if you don't want to buy or carry it.

• Tracing paper. The expensive stuff isn’t necessary, a W.H.Smith A4 pad is fine but baking parchment isn’t very useful. I will also bring some spare.

• Glue stick and a small roll of sticky tape such as 'magic tape'.

• Scissors for fabric and paper.

• Rotary cutter and board if you usually use them.

• Sharpie, as fine as is available, (black, permanent, felt-tipped pen).

• Hb pencils, ruler, rubber, sharpener.

• Colouring pencils, compass and set-square if you have them. I will bring spares.

• Fabric marking pencils of your choice.

• Usual small,sewing kit. It is unlikely that you will need a sewing machine. If you would feel lost without it, by all means put it in the car, but I think that far more can be gained by selecting fabrics and cutting out. There is usually a machine available in emergencies and which we can use for demonstration purposes!

• Two sheets of fine-grade sandpaper, to help when marking odd pattern shapes.

• FABRIC. It is difficult to decide on fabric before plans for a particular quilt are started. Bring a reasonable variety of fabrics considering, if possible, the subject you plan to work on, taking into account the need for light, medium and dark. If you like patterned fabrics bring large scale as well as small scale prints and consider geometric and striped patterns as well as floral ones. We also have the wonderful choice of fabric in the Cowslip shop plus a scarp bag.

£175.00
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