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New Patchwork and Quilting classes with Kelly for 2018

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Learn to Quilt

 

As we are now marching on into November and I thought I would skip right ahead to 2018! Have you thought about your goals for the New Year yet? I am already turning my thoughts to them and they include more quality family time, more quilting and less DIY! Well, if you are thinking you would like to learn to quilt or develop your quilting skills then now might be a good time to think about it. I will be teaching some quilting workshops at Millie Moon and thought I would share the details with you. A workshop booking or a gift voucher also make a fab present if you know someone else who might like to have a go at quilting

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Here is a little summary of my workshops at the beginning of 2018:

 

Quilting Masterclasses

I will be running a series of short masterclasses in quilting. There are three dates in the series and you can either book for one session (£25) or we are offering a discount if you book all three (£65 for all). These will take place on a Thursday between 10.30 and 12.30. On 25 January I will be teaching participants to use a rotary cutter, cut patchwork pieces and sew them together. On 1 February I will show quilters how to put together the three layers of a quilt and then different quilting techniques. Finally on 8 February I will be teaching you how to cut, make and attach binding. This is something that I think frequently stops people from actually finishing a quilt so why not come and learn how to finish that precious make!

 

 

Quilted Cushion Cover

On Saturday 27 January I am re-running my popular quilted cushion cover workshop. Quilters will learn to cut patchwork pieces, construct the top of the cushion, quilt a simple design and finish a beautiful cushion cover.

Mini Quilt

On Saturday 24 February I am running a new workshop where participants will make a mini quilt. This is an opportunity to start and finish a quilt all in one day and learn all of the basic skills you will need to go on and make a bigger quilt at home. This will include cutting, piecing, quilting and binding.

 

And if you can’t wait until 2018 why not join me on 25 November 2017 to make a quilted Christmas stocking.  BOOK NOW 

 

Teaching my first workshop at Millie Moon by Kelly Diggle

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I recently taught my first workshop at Millie Moon after dreaming about becoming a tutor. I designed a pattern for a quilted cushion cover and was joined by three lovely ladies for the day. I absolutely loved this experience and Marilyn, Val and Margaret all did a fantastic job, each making a great cushion cover.

It was wonderful to spend the day with this enthusiastic group and see how each of their fabric choices worked with the pattern. Everyone was new to working with a rotary cutter so the first part of the day focused on developing cutting skills. The participants then learned to construct patchwork pieces, learnt how to put the three layers of a quilt together and then had a go at quilting their creations. Finally they turned their quilted piece into a cushion cover.

Everyone left with a finished cushion and took away a pattern, complete with photographs, to enable them to have another go at home

 

 

 

 

 

I am so grateful to Becki and Rachel at Millie Moon for allowing this dream of mine to become a reality and I have been busy planning a few more workshops for the autumn. Why not come and have a go at some patchwork and quilting!

I am teaching an introduction to English paper piecing on 22 September, where participants will learn the basics of this traditional method and then use their finished piece to applique a denim bag (which you’ll also make).

On 28 October I will be teaching a patchwork drawstring bag. This is a great opportunity to learn to cut pieces using a rotary cutter, construct patchwork and then make a lined drawstring bag.

Finally, I am offering a quilted stocking workshop on 25 November. I am trying not to use the ‘C’ word here but I have to confess I have already been playing with festive fabrics and have started planning my handmade gifts. The fabrics I have used here in the stocking are by Dashwood and available from Millie Moon 

If you are interested in booking a place you can do this through the website by clicking here workshop or call the shop on 01373 464437. I am also able to offer a limited number of 1:2:1 sessions if you want help with a specific quilting project. Drop me an email to alittlesewandsow@gmail.com to find out more.

New Tutor, Kelly, talks about her love for Patchwork and Quilting

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By day I am a professional Fundraiser and I use my spare time as my creative outlet.  I had participated in the compulsory sewing at school and was fairly uninspired but knew I had a creative streak waiting in the wings to find the right craft.  After dabbling with many different crafts in 2011, I decided to have a go at making a few small gifts for children with forthcoming baptisms and birthdays.  This was initially driven by wanting to save some money, but also to avoid purchasing the usual mass produced plastic that so often makes gifts for children affordable.  It was at this time that I started to visit Millie Moon and get to know Rachel and Becki.  Very quickly I became inspired by the beautiful fabrics that they were offering and by the wonderful community that existed around their amazing shop.  I decided I wanted to learn more and after perusing their workshop flyer I opted to book onto Caroline’s 6-week beginners quilting course which started in January 2012.

Caroline expertly guided our small group through her pattern over the coming weeks.  The quilt was really challenging but I learnt so much and came away with my first-ever finished quilt.  That quilt still sits in my living room over 5 years later and I am still very much in love with the design, and the Tilda fabrics that I chose to use.  Caroline’s tuition and support gave me the confidence to move on to another quilt soon after my first and as they say, the rest is history.

 

Over 5 years, 30 plus quilts and numerous small projects later I am now embarking upon teaching my first few workshops.  I am so delighted that Rachel and Becki have invited me to join the fantastic team of tutors and I hope to meet more of their wonderful creative community through my forthcoming workshops.  I will be teaching small projects that focus on patchwork and quilting and very much hope you will join me.

Here are the next three workshops with Kelly. Go to website to book

Introduction to English Paper Piecing Saturday 23rd September

Quilted Cushion Cover Saturday 26th August

Patchwork Drawstring bag Saturday 28th October

In addition to quilting and sewing, I love listening to podcasts, reading creative blogs, gardening and spending time with my little boy (who loves being snuggled up under one of Mummy’s quilts when he isn’t running around).  I blog at alittlesewandsow.blogspot.co.uk

Regular Customer Anne wins ‘Quilt now’ competition

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Last month I spent a day at Janome HQ in Stockport as one of 8 lucky winners of a Quilt Now magazine competition entitled The Story of my Quilt. Cindy Cloward of Riley Blake Designs led a workshop showing us how to do a block from their Sweetie Pie quilt.
As a keen, but novice quilter, I was very excited to be there but slightly apprehensive in case I was out of my depth but Cindy and everyone at Janome, EQS and the magazine publishers made us feel very welcome. We were all thoroughly spoilt with gorgeous cakes, a lovely buffet lunch and lots of quilting goodies to go home with.
Cindy started the day with a presentation about Riley Blake which she runs with her husband Brett, and her own needlework and quilting experiences. She showed examples of her quilts and talked about the Riley Blake designs and the process of printing fabrics. Cindy left us in no doubt that the quality of the fabric is paramount in quilt making.
We then went on to making our blocks. We cut 16 pie slices and sewed them all together to make a pie unit and then chose a fruit for the pie centre, which we appliqued onto a piece of pin dot material which in turn was appliqued onto a pin dot pie block. The room was a hive of activity with all of us working at our own pace but hoping to get the block finished by the end of the day. Cutting mats, rotary cutters and machines were set up for each of us. All equipment and materials were provided and ironing boards were on hand for the constant pressing of seams.
As we worked, Cindy asked each of us to share our quilt stories which ranged from a quilter’s husband doing a quilt just to prove he could, to a lady sewing together all the bunting from her friend’s wedding to make a stunning quilt.
My story began with me enrolling on a quilting workshop with Caroline Francis-Payne here at Millie Moon (their first:  was it really 9 years ago?!) and getting the quilting bug so that every subsequent family event has had to be commemorated with a quilt.This included my son going to uni and how I had to sew his festival wristbands onto his quilt and how I am, 5 years on, still sewing festival wristbands on to his quilt!
I left Stockport for my long train journey back to Frome feeling tired but happy, with armfuls of quilting paraphernalia and a starting block for my Sweetie Pie quilt!

Anne, 3rd from the right

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A big thank you to Anne for sharing her day with us. If you would like to have a go at patchwork and Quilting then get in touch. We run regular classes and workshops for beginners at the shop. Have a look on the website or give us a call 01373 464437

Charity Quilt making day

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Come and Join us on April 9th between 11-4pm to make as many quilts as possible for the amazing “Project Linus” charity.

Please contact us for more information

01373 464437

Info@milliemoonshop.co.uk