CONTEMPORARY QUILTING
Student Resource Page

COURSE LENGTH

9 weeks - One 3-hour session per week

TOPICS COVERED

Patchwork blocks; machine quilting; traditional & contemporary quilting blocks; colour & pattern theory; and making & applying binding.

OUTCOMES

Each student will create their very own quilt. Using squares and half-square-triangle blocks, students will be given the choice to work from a pre-existing quilting pattern or develop one of their own.

 

What Do I Need to Bring?

We've given more detail on these supplies in the section below. But in summary, for this course you will need:

  1. Quilting fabrics
  2. Backing fabric 
  3. A basic sewing kit, plus a few bits and pieces specific to quilting. 
  4. Quilting wadding

As we've explained below, you will not need all these items in the first week. 

Do I Need a Sewing Machine?

At the studio we have a Janome CXL301 sewing machine available for each student to use. But you are welcome to bring your own if you like.

It will be helpful to have a machine at home for this course, although not essential. If you don't own one already, we sell a range of Janome machines, and offer discounts on these to our students. 

The Janome CXL301 - We have 10 of these in our studio for student use. 

The Janome CXL301 - We have 10 of these in our studio for student use. 

How Do I Pay My Balance?

If you booked your place with a deposit, you're balance is due no less than 14 days before your course begins. For instructions on how to pay please visit our balance payments page.

If you're thinking of cancelling your booking, for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can offer your place to someone on the waiting list. And also please have a look at our Cancellations & Refunds Policy on the FAQs page before doing this. Thanks.

Fabrics & Haberdashery

FIRST WEEK

For your first week of class you are required to bring 3 different fabrics of your choosing, in order to create an introductory patchwork block. These fabrics should all be quilting cottons, which you can find in the craft or quilting section of your local or online fabric store.

You will need a minimal amount of each fabric for your first block; the equivalent of a 'fat quarter', which is a quilting term for a 18 x 22inches (46 x 56cm) rectangle of fabric. Pre-cut fat quarters are generally available at stores that sell quilting cottons. Or, if your chosen fabric is not available pre-cut, just buy 0.5m.

So, to summarise: For your first week you will need 3 different quilting cottons; a fat quarter or 0.5m of each.

REMAINING WEEKS

In our first week, we'll be having a think about what size and design of quilt you would like to make. Having made a bit of a plan, you will then able to go ahead and purchase further fabrics for the rest of your quilting blocks.

In the remaining weeks you will also need to purchase backing fabric, wadding for your quilt, and possibly a bias binding. We will discuss options for these in class.

PRE-WASHING FABRICS

And just a note on pre-washing: If you're using any strong colours, such as a strong red, it's important that you pre-wash this before quilting it together with a lighter colour. Otherwise the colour might bleed.

SHOPPING FOR FABRICS

Doing a quick google search for 'fat quarters' will lead you to a number of sources for pre-cut quilting cottons. But we also have some recommendations:

Fat Quarters from the Summerlove Collection by Pat Bravo

Tools & Supplies

BASIC SEWING KIT

All of the items in this list are available for purchase at The Stitchery:

  • 100% cotton thread - We sell Gutterman brand. 
  • Fabric scissors - Fiskars are a brand that we recommend and sell.
  • Size 80/12 sewing machine needles (size chart)
  • Embroidery scissors or clippers 
  • Seam ripper 
  • Seam gauge 
  • Bobbins (Janome compatible to work with our machines)

PINS & NEEDLES

The pins and needles used for quilting are often longer than standard, due to the amount of layers being sewn through. Here are our recommendations:

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

These are common tools for quilting. We have a small supply of them handy at our studio, which students are welcome to use. If you would prefer to have your own, you can order them through us in week one, or at any point during the course:

  • A rotary cutter - These are like pizza cutters for fabric and very handy! 
  • A quilting ruler - a useful transparent ruler, with a gripped surface on the underside. 
  • A self healing cutting mat - For quilting, a mid-sized version around 45x30cm (17x11inches) is good.
Tools of the trade for quilting. 

Tools of the trade for quilting.