By Hand

17jul10:00 am3:00 pmBy HandFridays with Helen Draper10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Event Details

TO BOOK ONLINE: Scroll to end of listing and click on ‘ADD TO CART’  Then follow the prompts to make payment.  Before adding to cart please make sure you are booking the correct date.  Alternatively, book by phoning the shop ph 4464 3387.

Helen Draper’s classes are running every month in 2020. The class runs on the third Thursday of each month (except April because of easter – Date of Class is April 26th) and is the perfect low stress place to build up some traditional patchwork and quilting skills. Participants in Helen’s classes are all working on their own projects at their own pace so you are able to join Helen’s class at any point in the year, subject to availability. Helen is a delightful and relaxed teacher who enjoys getting to know her class members and sharing her love of hand stitching, fabric and quilt design. You can learn to hand quilt, to hand piece quilt blocks using templates or work step by step though a quilt design of Helen’s own. 

Helen’s love is hand stitching! In this class Helen is able to teach you traditional or modern hand quilting techniques. By this, we mean the actual quilting stitches that hold the three layers:, top, wadding and backing together. Helen can show you anything from the very traditional ’10 stitches to an inch’ elegant hand quilting using a waxed thread for heirloom quilts to the ‘big stitch’ colourful quilting using thicker perle threads for a more modern or rustic effect. This style of quilting has become very popular lately. Once upon a time a quilt was either entirely hand quilted or entirely machine quilted but these days it is not uncommon for quilts to be machine quilted and accents added by hand in certain areas. 

You can begin by bringing in an already made and sandwiched quilt. Helen can work you though ideas for quilting it and ways to mark out your designs and get you started. Alternatively, you could start with a cushion sized sampler or a piece of plain fabric to get the knack before you go on to another larger project. Helen teaches a method of hand quilting using a quilt hoop but you are also able to work without one if you prefer. You will learn methods for marking quilt designs on your quilt and you’ll cover threads, needles and the types of designs that are appropriate for your quilt.

You are also able to learn to stitch quilt blocks together by hand in this class. We call this hand piecing. When hand piecing, the block is cut out, seam allowances are marked and it is then stitched together by hand rather than machine. It is often a geometrically pieced traditional block. There are a few tips and tricks to learn to make your patchwork durable and accurate and there are a few ways to incorporate templates when making multiple blocks that are all the same but once learnt, you will be able to make anything any time with only a pencil, ruler, scissors, needle and thread. It’s a very portable technique to know. You can learn hand piecing by making one of Helen’s original quilt designs pictured below or by progressing block by block through a range of traditional designs ending up with a ‘sampler’ quilt.

Many of the participants in Helen’s classes have come along as beginners to learn one of the techniques discussed above and end up staying on because they fall in love with one of Helen’s quilt designs. We have a number of Helen’s completed quilts in the shop to show you some alternatives. As an advanced or intermediate quilter you are able to join Helen’s class to get a kick start on any of her original projects that are listed in her Patchwork Bliss web shop. You can purchase the pattern from Helen’s website or let us know when enrolling which quilt you like and we will organise for Helen to bring the pattern with her to class. As with all our classes you can book in as a regular class member or you are able to dip in here and there as space permits. You can see if spaces are available for casual class members at the end of this entry, where it will allow you to add the class to your cart if there is space. If you would like to book for more than one month, click through the calendar to the next month and add that class to your cart as well.

Lastly, while Helen loves to hand stitch she knows that many of you don’t! So most of her patterns are adaptable for machine and you are able to learn by machine in Helen’s class. Make sure you make contact with us to discuss what you’d like to do if you’re unsure.

Places are limited. Bookings are necessary. All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions

Helen Draper Quilting Teacher

Helen Draper Quilting Teacher

The very popular Feeling Groovy Quilt. This quilt can be made with crazy florals and looks just as good made with totally random scraps

The very popular Feeling Groovy Quilt. This quilt can be made with crazy florals and looks just as good made with totally random scraps

Close up of the Perle 8 hand quilting on Shadowplay

Close up of the Perle 8 hand quilting on Shadowplay

A close up of the ‘Big Stitch’ quilting on Feeling Groovy

Helen with Bedazzled patterns

Helen’s Fanciful quilt, featured in the Quilters’ Companion Magazine has been a popular one to make.

Helen’s interesting Gone Troppo Quilt close up.

Helen Draper Berry Bliss Quilt

This is the versatile Berry Bliss Quilt. This quilt can be customised a number of ways and features some interesting techniques.

The very pretty Kiku Blossom Quilt. Features chubby dresden plates and the clever card trick block.

Helen Draper Shadow Play by Margaret Micholls Helen’s Shadowplay quilt made with off-the-shelf tone on tone prints.

Time

(Friday) 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location

Berry Quilt & Co.

Shops 4 & 5, 66 Albert Street, Berry NSW 2535

Cost

$55 per person Bookings Essential

Bookings

Tickets are not available for sale any more for this event!