I’m a little late getting the schedule out. I just had to do some harvesting in one of the few brief spurts of sunshine we’ve had lately. I picked goose berries, blueberries, currants, raspberries (red and golden), sugar snap peas and tomatoes from the greenhouse. There is something intensely satisfying about gathering your own food from the garden. Must be something deeply rooted in human psyche, because it’s not that I like to eat berries (until somebody turns them into pastries or jam); I just like to go out and pick them. And then look at them with deep satisfaction afterwards. Sort of like gathering fabric. It’s not that I plan to sew with it (at least not anytime soon), but, Oh, I do like to pick it out and gaze at it with deep satisfaction.
Summer, such that it was, is coming to an end. We did have four or five warm sunny days – at least, I’m pretty sure we did. All good things come to an end (is that termination dust I see?) but not to worry, new good things start. It’s time for the Quilt Zone Fall Classes.
Block quilts are popular now, but the blocks have shrunk. Instead of 12” blocks quilters are making 6” blocks. I don’t know why. It takes just as much cutting and sewing to make a 6” as a 12” but you have to make 4 times as many 6” blocks to get the same size quilt as when making 12” blocks. Maybe quilters just like making blocks. In which case we have two classes for you – Peg is teaching a Friday afternoon block class with some 6” and some 12” blocks and I am teaching a Puzzle Quilt that is a block sampler in November (sorry only 12” blocks).
Mary Kay is still busy with Jen Kingwell curves. Her Halo quilt is wonderful and the class will be good for anyone who wants lots of experience with curved piecing.
We have two new teachers. Barb Knapp is an expert on African fabrics and she is selling some gorgeous African fabric on consignment in the Quilt Zone as well as teaching a class on how to use them. Rena Brinker is teaching a fabulous hat class that is sure to be very fun.
Kate Beebe has two classes that concentrate on handwork. No machines required.
Linda Postlethwait is repeating her excellent edge finishing class and the techniques class for inserting fine lines and rouching some wicked twisted trees.
Jan and Susan have some quick, think gift giving, finish in one class, projects.
And there’s lots of other good stuff. The details and pictures are on our website www.alaskaquiltzone.com (I know all the pictures aren’t there, we’ll add them as we get them, keep checking back.) The best way to appreciate the projects is live in the Quilt Zone.
The class sale is on Saturday and Sunday, August 26 and 27. On these days the class fees will be discounted 20%. You may sign up early for a class starting now – this will guarantee a spot in a class that might fill before the sale date.
To celebrate the start of a new sewing season – I’m putting all the Stash on sale over the weekend at $4.00 a yard. Yes, that means Stash fat quarters are $1.00. I’m also increasing the underachieving (sale) fabric discount to 50% off original price. Sale weekend only.
Happy Shopping! Diana
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September 2017 Classes
Modern Peasant Skirt
Beginner Plus -- Jan Sant -- $30
This is a simple to make, simple to fit elastic waist skirt. Maybe you have seen Jan wearing hers at the store – Jan’s is made from chunks of Kaffe Fasset fabrics, but you can make yours to fit your personality. Jan will help you fit it long or short.
Saturday, September 9, 10am to 1pm
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Watermelon
Beginner Plus -- Barb Knapp -- $35
Love bold, large scale prints but not sure how to use them? This is the class for you. Barb will give you some background in color and design using these great prints. She has some great samples to show you. Then she will provide you a pattern and you will make your own quilt using your favorite wild fabric.
Sunday, September 10 and 17, 1pm to 4pm
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Houses and Trees
Beginner Plus -- Diana Bradley -- $40
Trees and houses are two of my favorite quit patterns. I’ll give you some patterns, you will design some of your own patterns and I will explain how to combine the blocks into units that turn into a quilt. There is lots of time to sew in class, and you can even stay after class to sew if you get inspired.
Friday, September 15, 22, 29 and October 27, 1pm to 4pm
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Self Binding Receiving Blanket
Confident Beginner -- Susan Westervelt -- $25
Babies on the way? Cute receiving blankets are always a great little gift. This is a fast, easy project that you can complete in one session. Bet you can’t stop with just one (the blankets, not the babies).
Saturday, September 16, 2 pm to 5pm
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Improv Quilting
Intermediate -- Jan Sant -- $40
Start the journey of improvisational quilting with this class. Play with color, texture and line to create an improvisational quilt. Design your own blocks with no rulers – just some guidelines. Let your creativity soar free. If you are a “by the book” quilter, try this quilt. You will discover a new, different, fun part of your creative nature.
Saturday, September 23, 10:30 to 12noon and
Saturday, September 30, 10am to 1pm and
Saturday, October 7, 10am to 12 noon
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Long Finishing Class
All Levels -- QZ Staff -- $40
Use this 10 hour chunk of time to dedicate yourself to finishing some UFOs. Drop your things off Saturday at 2 and don’t pack up until Sunday at 5. We’ll have staff on hand to help you with any problems you might have with your projects and you can use any of the Quilt Zone resources to help you along.
September: Saturday 23rd, 2 to 7pm & Sunday, 24th, Noon to 5pm
October: Saturday 28th, 2 to 7pm & Sunday 29th, Noon to 5pm
November: Saturday 25th, 2 to 7pm & Sunday 26th, Noon to 5pm
December: Saturday 16th, 2 to 7pm & Sunday 17th, Noon to 5pm
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Twisted Tree
Beginner Plus -- Linda Postlethwait -- $30
In this is a techniques class Linda will show you how to twist and manipulate fabric to create some really great three dimensional trees. Put these trees against a harvest moon, add some Halloween embellishments and a spooky border and create a great Halloween wall hanging.
Saturday, September 30, 2 to 5pm
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October 2017 Classes
Fab Hats
Confident Beginner -- Rena Brinker -- $25
You have got to come into the store to see these fabulous hats. Yes, you will look fab in one. Create one custom sized for you: a darling summer hat, or trusty garden hat , or rain hat or a hat for baby. Somber or wild, plain or embellished there are so many options. You can finish your first one by the end of class, but bet you can’t stop at one.
Sunday, October 1, 1 to 4pm
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A Block Sampler
All Levels -- Peg Tuott -- $40
Sometimes it’s just soothing and relaxing to make traditional blocks for a traditional quilt. Peg will provide the patterns and some expert help with design choices and piecing. If you are a beginner Peg will start you with the simple blocks. The more experienced quilters will enjoy working on the more complex blocks. There will be plenty of time to sew during class, and you can stay after class to continue your project if you get inspired.
Friday, October 6, 13, 20 and November 17, 1 to 4pm
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Labyrinth
Beginner -- Sherry Girard -- $35
This is a good place to start. Learn the basics of rotary cutting and proper seams in this class. The quilt looks complex, but is made up of half square triangles that are easy to piece. This project will give you confidence in your quilting to more on to more complex projects.
Saturday, October 7, 14, and 21, 2 to 5pm
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Halo
Intermediate -- Mary Kay Sambo -- $40
This is another of Jen Kingwell’s patterns. Mary Kay is an expert in combining many diverse prints – think stripes, plaids, small scale florals, geometrics – into a striking quilt. Mary Kay will help you choose fabrics that will showcase the pattern and show you how to tame and manage all that curved piecing. Don’t use this project to learn how to piece curves. There are too many curved edges that need to meet precisely. You should be comfortable with curved piecing before you attempt this quilt
Sunday, October 8 and 22, 1 to 4pm
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Raven Magic
Beginner Plus -- Jan Sant -- $35
This small wall hanging is great for using scraps. You can make it dark and more realistic like the sample, or white and artistic, or put some whimsy and fun into it and make your ravens paisley and plaid. This class teaches the faced appliqué method to prepare the appliqué pieces. Then you can sew the pieces on by hand or machine – Jan will show you both methods.
Saturday, October 14 and 21, 2 to 5pm
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Fine Line Piecing
Intermediate -- Linda Postlethwait -- $30
This technique allows you insert narrow strips of fabric into a base fabric. Use it in art quits for great visual effect – or anyplace you want a striking set of “fine lines”. In the class Linda will guide you through making your own fat quarter sampler.
Sunday, October 15, 1 to 4pm
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November Classes
Bendy Bag
Confident Beginner -- Susan Westervelt -- $20
This is a super simple bag designed by Lazy Girl. It’s a small bag that stands up by itself – Susan uses it to keep those pesky electronic cords corralled while traveling. But it would make a good bag for storing any small collection of things. The class will show you how to work with zippers. Another good handmade gift possibility.
Sunday, November 5, 10am to 1pm
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Handscapes
Beginner -- Kate Beebe -- $30
Handscapes = landscapes made by hand. Create an easy fabric landscape entirely by hanc – no machines, no fusibles, no rotary cutters, no rulers. Use big stitches (previously known as utility stitching) and fabric to “paint” a landscape of your choice. This is an easy take-along project so start now in time for your winter travels.
Saturday, November 4, 2 to 5:30pm
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Retreat Bag
Beginner Plus -- Jan Sant -- $25
A cute and quick bag with a multitude of uses – think great gift ida. In the class learn how to make a box bottom, how to work with fusible fleece, interfacing, bag lining, pockets and zippers. You should have the bag done by the end of the class. Wahoo!
Sunday, November 5, 1 to 4pm
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Puzzle Quilt
Beginner Plus -- Diana Bradley -- $35
If you make two blocks from the identical pattern, but change where you place the light and dark fabrics – you get two blocks that look totally different. This is a block class that lets you practice using value as a design tool. I will provide the patterns in class, and you can sew in class. The puzzle comes about when your friends try to guess which blocks are the same pattern.
Saturday, November 11, 18 and December 2, 2 to 5pm
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Beginning Machine Quilting
Beginner -- Jan Sant -- $30
Do you want to do your own machine quilting but are too apprehensive to get started? Or maybe you think you just can’t do it. Set your fears aside and plunge into the exciting world of machine quilting. This class is for beginners, so don’t worry that your skill level is just starting to bloom. Jan will teach you some basics then set you free to play your heart out on your machine. By the end of the second class you should have confidence enough to quilt your first quilt – then you can say “I did it myself!”
Sunday, November 12, 1 to 5pm
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Basic Beading
Beginner -- Kate Beebe -- $30
Beading is a great way to personalize or embellish those holiday gifts you are making. Learn the basic bead stitches and take home a completed beading sampler on a small quilt sandwich.
Saturday, November 18, 10am to 1pm
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Bindings/Facings
Beginner Plus -- Linda Postlethwait -- $30
There is more than one way to finish the edge of a quilt. Facings are very popular in modern quilting. Learn several techniques other than basic binding to finish your quilt edges. Linda will cover pillowcase binding, backing fabric binding, French facing, two color binding, 4-sided binding, facing binding, flange binding and even more. You will have samples to take with you at the end of your class.
Sunday, November 19, 1 to 4:40pm
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December Classes
Make and Take
Confident Beginner -- Jan Sant -- $35
Here are two attractive, usable projects ready to make for the gift giving season. In the class you will receive written directions and leave with finished projects. You’ll learn skills that can be transferred to other projects, will make future projects easier, and allow you to change and modify projects. The Fat to Flat bag is cute and quick. You’ll learn how to make a box bottom and how to work with zippers, fusible fleece and interfacing. The Fat Sack is a simple tote bag that is great for bagging fabric, er, I mean groceries. Large or small, Jan will show you how to adjust the size to fit your need. Did I mention that you leave with finished projects?
Sunday, December 3, 1 to 4pm
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Choosing Fabrics Lecture
All Levels -- Diana Bradley -- $15
Start the New Year with new ideas for combining fabrics. Some people call this the color class, but there is so much more to choosing fabric than color. Maybe color is the least important characteristic. Value and texture, that’s where the power is. This lecture class is loaded with examples and structured to help you see fabric as a design tool, to be used for effect. Learn to see color, and look beyond it to the other fabric characteristics -value and texture.
Saturday, December 9, 1 to 5pm
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