Carol's Quilts & Cushions

Bookings for regular tutors are taken by phone. Please call 4464 3387. For images of the tutor and types of projects that have happened in class previously, scroll down past the class description. 

You may know Carol from visiting the shop. Carol is a popular, generous and helpful staff member at Berry Quilt & Co. Carol loves teaching and has developed this class of no fuss, fun to make, usable quilting projects that are perfect as gifts, for a teen leaving home or any one who needs to be wrapped in a bit of love!! Carol will join us for a series of classes on the first Monday of every second month, where she will teach from her growing repertoire of cushion and quilt patterns.

Do you love simple, fun and bold projects? Do you want to play with colour and design to make cushions and quilts? Then this bi-monthly class is for you. Carol has always loved colour, florals and bold patterns and these are reflected in her quilts and cushions. She would love to encourage you in your exploration of your unique fabric choices.

In this class, you can work on any of Carol’s quilt patterns or she can guide you through a simple square pieced design, for example a beautiful postage stamp quilt. This is also the class to make a stunning cushion. Carol has previously taught The Peeper Pillow and Packed With Charm cushion designs and  has many other samples as she continues to play with arrangements. All of the cushions she teaches have simple envelope backs so projects come together quickly. 

This class is for students who are new to patchwork or would like to have their love of this craft reinvigorated. Patchwork has brought much joy to Carol over the years through the ups and downs of life and she would love to introduce or re-introduce this mindful pastime for you. You can dip into this class to make one cushion for your own home or as a gift, or you could become a regular and explore playing with colour and “interviewing” fabrics as you work on a long term project. If this class sounds like a match for you, book in for some serious colourful fun!

About the Cushions & Pillows

‘Packed with Charm’ is the cushion design which started Carol on her cushion making journey. It features 5 inch charm squares and a border with a peeper. Three simple elements that are able to be customised endlessly for individual taste.

Carol has designed the ‘Peeper Pillow’ to feature the interesting ‘peeper’ technique.  The idea came to her after having fun with using peepers on her quilts. A peeper is a small folded strip that is stitched onto your work adding a thin line without needing to be sewn in on both sides, sometimes called a flange. If you’re familiar with piping, it’s similar but not filled with cord. A great decorative technique to learn.

Carol’s cushion designs are satisfying to make, reinforce your patchwork and quilting skills or help teach you these skills! The cushions finish up super quickly, helping you use up project scraps or bust your stash in the process. We have kits available if you like us to make one up or come along and Carol will help you make your own fabric choices. To complete the cushions you will learn how to measure up and construct an envelope-back cushion. Envelope backs are a clever design, not requiring a zip, which is transferrable to any size cushion. The class will equip you to make anything from a tiny pincushion to a big bolster. 

About the Flourish Quilt:

Flourish is an easy, customisable quilt made of repeated blocks cleverly laid out. It could be made any size for your home or a gift! Carol will show you the basic formula for the Flourish Quilt and some options to customize it to be bigger or smaller or even ways to utilize some ‘memory’ fabrics in the construction.  Carol has called her design “Flourish” as she believes the simple square block pattern enables you to combine two fabrics in a way that helps each of them to shine or flourish. To make the quilt you could choose some of your favourite fabrics from a single designer collection or perhaps some special fabric you have been saving. The design also lends itself to using “scraps” or one of the many beautiful layer cakes on the market.

Who this class is for:

Class is suitable for experienced sewists who would like a fun day making some new things. We also encourage fresh beginners who have a few sewing skills and an ability to use their own sewing machine to join us and get some inspiration and new skills making an achievable, repeatable project. We also love having mother/daughter or grandma & granddaughter pairs join us to make projects together. This class would be perfect a perfect fit for you if you have a special person to sew with.

If you are a complete beginner you may join the class for some months in a row and see a quilt or cushion project to completion with Carol’s continued guidance. 

2023 DATES: 6th March , 1st May, 3rd July,  4th Sept, 6th Nov

Carol with three of her cushion samples.

A cushion in Kaffe fabric.

A Kids Cushion with contrasting peeper.

 

 

Carol with a rainbow Square Delight cushion and shop jelly roll samples in the background. You could have a play with simple designs like this and use up your precut stash!

 

Carol with a cushion class sample.

Two Peeper Pillows

A close up of the Peeper Pillow

The Original Bright Peeper Pillow

A more neutral ‘sophisticated’ Peeper Pillow.

Carol with her new Perfect Match Quilt

The small version of Perfect Match

The small Perfect Match also has a pieced back.

Perfect Match could have a pieced back like this!

Carol with her new Perfect Match Quilt

Carols newest pattern! Launched March 2023

Carol’s Sew Charming Cushion Blue Honey Version

The Sew Charming Cushion Pink Honey Version

 

Carol with the original version her Flourish Quilt and some block samples on the wall beside.

The happy & fun, Flourish Quilt

Linen Squares, a two inch postage stamp quilt. Made with Carol’s friend Leanne

Carol enjoying her Amy Butler fabrics. Carol can help you choose fabrics so a quilt based on squares

A bright version of the Carol’s Flourish Quilt

Carol has published a range of patterns as a companion to her projects.