2011 Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival

The schedule for the 2011 Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival is now available online. It's going to be a fabulous week, offering of all kinds of fibre art displays and instruction running the gamut from knitting to rug hooking to quilting. New this year are workshops on weaving, rug braiding, and hardanger. Of particular interest to quilters will be a workshop on colour presented by well-known quilter Phyllis Cameron and a Mystery Quilt session led by Rhoda Moore. As mentioned previously, I will be doing two workshops entitled Free Motion Quilting For The Absolutely Terrified. Already folks are signing up, so if you are interested please send an email. The location of my workshops has changed for this year, but it’s basically just up the street a bit from previous years, at the big United Church. It’s a wonderful bright space on the main floor (no steps, so those wheeled machine cases can roll right in!) with direct access doors from the parking lot. Basically, here's what the workshop will address:

Free Motion Quilting For The Absolutely Terrified

If you long to quilt your own quilt tops but are lacking in confidence or unsure how to get started in free motion quilting, this class may be just the ticket!

Learn how to:

• · lower your feed dogs without raising your blood pressure

• · adjust your top, bottom and shoulder tension simultaneously

• · meander without losing your way

• · Echo, Echo, Echo, Echo…

We will cover the basics of free motion machine quilting including needle and thread selection, basting, batting, and machine tension. Sample squares will be stitched with various techniques including stippling and meandering, following a marked line, echo quilting, and background fillers. We will then apply what we have learned to mark, baste, and free motion quilt the miniature whole cloth pictured in green above (fabric provided in kit). Many quilts will be shown for inspiration.

There is no pre-requisite for this beginner free-motion class, however you need to be comfortable with your sewing machine; this is beginner free-motion, not beginner quilting.The same class will be offered twice during the 2011 Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

Class dates are Friday October 14th and Saturday October 15th

Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Where: Trinity St. Stephen’s United Church, 1 Ratchford Street, Amherst, N.S.
Cost: $60 + $5.00 kit fee, which includes fabric for your sampler.

Email to register. At that time, a list of what to bring to class will be provided.