Upcoming Classes & Groups

Bookings for this class are made by phoning the store. ph 4464 3387. Scroll down to read more about the class and see images of the style of work made in class. 

Popular teacher Jennifer Corkish teaches all her techniques in two classes a month. These take place regularly on the first Saturday of each month and the Fourth Thursday of each month. Jennifer comes along to each class with new quilts and projects she has designed: from her own take on the popular Japanese Boro technique to fine applique, English paper piecing, wool applique and stitch embellishment and more…! If you can’t come regularly: see also the special days in our calendar dedicated to making the Something About Japan Quilt. 

Jennifer has been a teacher at Berry Quilt & Co. since we opened in 2016 and also taught for approximately six years at Berry Patchwork prior to that. Jennifer has built up a number of regular students who have been coming to her classes and making her quilts ever since she began teaching in Berry which is quite a recommendation! Jen is an experienced and encouraging teacher who over the years has helped many along their creative journey. She is able to help you work on projects designed to develop your skills or to extend your own creative ideas. Jen is such a valued member of the Berry Quilt & Co team and we are proud to say that she’s not currently teaching regularly at any other quilt store, so here in the Shoalhaven, we are very lucky to be benefiting from her experience, diverse creativity and interests! Please click through to her teacher profile to read more about Jennifer’s making and teaching experience.

What You Can Learn With Jennifer 

Casual or beginner participants in Jennifer’s classes often attend to learn Japanese Boro stitching. Pictured below, Boro is a traditional Japanese mending technique utilising layered scraps of material and sashiko style running stitches to hold it all together. Jennifer has devised a method of making boro fabric suitable for our modern fabrics and equipment for use in quilts, bags, table runners, clothing etc. You may learn this technique in one of Jens monthly classes or book in to a class in Sept 2021 to learn this technique specifically.  

Teaching applique using the ‘stay in’ Hugs ‘n Kisses Applique paper is also a specialty of Jennifer’s. Beginners can start with one of the blocks from Jennifer’s well known Flower’s & Urn Quilt, pictured below is an excellent place to start and this block has been made in so many different color combinations from bright, to Japanese to traditional and reproduction. Begin in one lesson with the starter block and turn it into a wall hanging or cushion OR go on to continue to make the whole quilt. The centre medallion from the Purity quilt is another good place to start an appliqué project and the 1930s Inspired Appliqué Sampler ‘Hoping for a Grandbaby’ could be as large or small a project as you’d like to make it. 

English paper piecing (EPP) has featured in many of Jennifer’s quilts over the years and you could begin a project making Jennifer’s fussy cut crosses quilt or a Jennifer’s strip hexagon quilt that gets you started with hexagons without you having to make the whole quilt top from hand made hexagons. There is also the new ‘Liquorice Allsorts’ hexagon EPP  project which is again customisable to a size that suits you. 

Working with stitch embellishment is also a forte of Jennifer’s. and the girls in all Jen’s classes enjoy the projects that have scope for hand stitching embellishment. Jen can help you begin a Japanese Sashiko stitching panel and turn it into a wallhanging or quilt or she can turn traditional appliquéd projects into unique appliquéd designs from using wool felt and lush coloured threads as well as cotton fabric, everything can be a vehicle for stitch embellishment. Have a look through the images below for ideas of where Jennifer’s class could lead you. 

Stitch embellished garments and covered Yazzi sewing storage bags have also been made in Jennifer’s classes. Waistcoats and jackets made from Japanese inspired boro stitching have been made with Jen’s assistance. You’d need to have a chat about what you’re thinking how it would come together before booking in but chat to us if you’re interested. Similarly woven and/or stitched or EPP coverings have been made for Yazzi sewing bags both large and small. Jen can help you with these projects.   

How Class is Structured:

The class has a loose relaxed structure where regular participants work on Jennifer’s original designs at their own pace and build up skills as they progress though the projects. Usually in class all the participants are working different projects and often on more than one project at once. Occasionally, after a number of projects have been completed, class members have requested that Jennifer help them design a unique project, which Jennifer is happy to work on with the student, making it a very personalised class. Sometimes a group evolves to work together and ‘demand’ from Jennifer certain styles of projects, which has happened to an extent with the Thursday group in 2020. The core girls here very much enjoy small stitch embellished projects such as bags, stitch diaries, album books and more. They are very creative and enjoy seeing and celebrating each others results.  

You will find plenty of helpful advice, skills and friendship in this lively class. Jennifer is very good at getting you started on a project and helping you with fabric selection and requirements. All of Jennifer’s students produce quite different and unique results. I’m always amazed at how differently the same quilts can turn out with different fabric choices. As a teacher Jennifer is very open to working with your fabric choices and helping you get the best results from what you begin with. She has also been in class support for beginning to end of complicated projects designed by others. For example: The Dear Jane Quilt by Jane A Stickle,  the Mrs Billings Coverlet by Karen Styles or the Towns and Trailblazers Quilt by Jennifer Wulff . If any of these quilts appeal to you and you wanted assistance to select a colour palette and get started you could start and continue to work on one of those projects in Jennifer’s class. (As long as you have purchased your own copy of the relevant pattern or book.)

Whilst most people book in to Jennifer’s class on a yearly basis (and access a generous Enrolled Class member discount) it is possible to book in for one or two casual classes (where vacancies exist) to explore a new technique or to begin an ongoing project. You can see if places are available 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 class calendar to the next month and add that class to your cart as well.

Jennifer’s groups are very popular and are often booked out! Casual places, if available, may be booked by phoning the store. ph 4464 3387

2021 Saturday Dates:

6th Feb, 6th March, 10th April*, 1st May, 5th June, 3rd July, 7th August, 4th September, 2nd October, 6th November, 4th December. (*Changed week due to Easter)

Images of the Projects:

This gallery shows the style of work that Jen is making and things that the girls have made in class over the years. Jen specialises in supporting you to personalise your project with her designs as. jumping off point. As you can see, they are all very different. We encourage you to come and visit on a class day, meet the girls and see the things they’re working on and have a chat about what you could undertake. 

Jennifer Corkish Quilt Teacher in Class at Berry with two of her projects. 

A great photo of Janice in class with Jennifer Corkish. This shot shows her applique block in progress, the sample Bright Block by Jennifer and larger quilt  by Mary Lawler on the wall behind. 

Jennifer Corkish ‘Purity’. A small quilt perfect for learning Jennifer’s Appliqué Techniques.

 

Judy’s soft and pretty Purity

Design Process for the Amber Palace applique Quilt

The new Amber Palace Quilt in progress. This one by Noelene. Inspired by wall motifs at an Indian place.

Girls in Jen’s Sat class working hard!

Rhonda’s Amber Palace Quilt in the classroom full of Jennifer’s samples including the original.

Melissa’s amazing bright felt embellished updated ‘Sarah Evans’ quilt designed by Jennifer

Ari’s ‘mini’ Garden Fantasy quilt designed by Jennifer

Garden Fantasy by Jennifer with Judges commendation at the Sydney Quilt Show

The Towns and Trailblazers Quilt by Jen Wulff with design assistance by Jen Corkish

Jennifer’s Birdbath Quilt in progress.

Rhonda with her just finished Birdbath Quilt. Another great version with a fresh china blue colour way.

A bright colourway of Flowers and Urns by Janice showing the Bright Block in centre.

Kerrie’s Japanese Inspired Flowers and Urns

Anne’s super elegant version of the Flowers and Urns Appliqué Quilt

The Bright Block, centre of the flowers and urns Quilt is a good stand alone starter project.

Jennifer Corkish Quilt Teacher in class with some of her Japanese inspired work.

The Japanese tile inspired table runner EPP project in two colour ways.

Jennifer’s 2021 Teaching Quilt Something About Japan. A memory album of a trip to Japan using neutral yarn dyes and indigos.

Faye’s stitch embellished version of Something about Japan. Isn’t it rich and exciting with a dark background!

Jen’s lovely appliqué sampler called Hoping for a Grandbaby. (Shhh! Don’t tell Nathan!) Done here with low volume backgrounds.

Debbie’s lovely version of Jen’s appliqué sampler Hoping for a Grandbaby. I love the coloured backgrounds.

The EPP project Quilt of the Crosses in Reproduction Colours. Lots of scope here for fun with fussy cutting.

A hexagon EPP project called Licorice Allsorts featuring Jen Kingwell’s Lollies fabric

 

Boro Table Runner by Jennifer Corkish as featured in Quilter’s Companion

 

Joanne’s amazingly detailed boro style quilt.

Jen with Jenny H’s happy version of the Japanese Tiles runner turned into a quilt.

Both Jens with Jen H’s lovely Japanesy version of the folded ‘pikelets’. A meditative, often hand done, quilt as you go project.

Mrs Billings Coverlet by class member Joanne Pollard

Joanne’s Amazing Dear Jane Quilt

Jen with Rhonda’s nearly done Strippy Hexagon quilt.

TO BOOK ONLINE: Scroll to end of listing and click on ‘ADD TO CART’ Then follow the prompts to make payment.  Alternatively, book by phoning the shop ph 4464 3387.

This is an easy, fun class suited to most skill levels! 

You will learn some basic techniques of improv patchwork to make the top of your runner or placemat. You’ll learn some tips to quickly sandwich your layers, quilt through them with your walking foot, round the corners and bind in one go without corner mitre folds. You might also like to learn to make a printed gift label to include in the back binding. 

I have gone with a modern brightly coloured look using solids and shot cottons but you could make the runner as scrappy, christmassy or modern as you like. Use your own scraps of solid or patterned fabric; whatever you’d like to use and that will match your decor or suit your gift recipient. Learn to make one in class to use as a table centre piece and go home to make a full set. 

Requires a sewing machine with walking foot and ability to use the sewing machine for straight stitch. If you have an edge stitch foot this can be an advantage so bring it along.  Your teacher, shop owner Sharon Thomson is pictured below. 

#stashCPR with Helen Draper was an exciting addition to our program in 2019 and it continues to attract interest in 2021. 

This Scrap Busting Support Group meets at 10am – 3pm on the First Monday of each Month. Do you have fabrics languishing in the cupboard that you think are at Death’s Door? Is your stash a little tired. Well Helen from #stashCPR can come to the rescue. We can show you how to breathe new life into your fabrics!!

How you ask?? You could strategically add a repeat pop of colour or you could emphasize a particular element.  Or… find out many other useful ideas from the girls’ paramedic bag of tricky tips. Helen has developed a handful of specially designed #stashCPR projects you could chose from or she can help you sort, stack and plan and start something new of your own design.

It’s not a formal class with tuition, just a fun social group with a couple of experienced leaders who will be sewing up a scrap storm with you. If you need formal tuition and a teacher who is teaching all day not sewing along with you, we encourage you to join Sharon’s Sewing Help class OR Helen’s By Hand class. Cost is $30 per person, per session and includes morning tea and all day tea and coffee.

Places are limited so everyone has plenty of space. Book by phoning the shop ph (02) 4464 3387. 

We are the home of the Instagram hashtag #StashCPR . If you can’t make it to Berry join in on the first Monday of the month with us all, using the phrase ‘Joining in with the girls @berryquiltandco for #StashCPR’ on your post so we see you!

2021 Dates: 1st February, 1st March, 29th March*- (No April), 3rd May, 7th June, 5th July, 2nd August, 6th September, 27th Sept**- (No Oct), 1st November, 6th December  * Changed due to Easter  ** Changed due to Oct Long w/e 

Helen with #StashCPR Bedazzled patterns

Helen Sews Up a Storm with Feeling Groovy

Bedazzled: One of Helen’s first #stashCPR designs.

Helen Draper Quilting Teacher

Try the simple but effective Bars & Strips with scraps and a neutral!

One large Bedazzled Quilt by Elaine

Try the Woven Strips. Great in 1930s or any mixed scraps!

The team in class working on Liarne’s basket weave blocks

Helen Draper Teacher

What you will learn: 

2021 Class Dates:

Sharon Loves Quilts

Sharon Thomson, Owner Berry Quilt & Co.

Milly and Amelie having fun learning to rotary cut.

Christina rotary cutting and beginning her layout on the design wall.

Getting the layout right

Lee’s squares getting measured up for borders.

Some of the best quilts begin with just simple squares.

The whole family helping sandwich the quilt.

 

 

Learning to sandwich & baste a quilt. More fun in a team!

 

 

The second basting team.

Robyne doing a fabulous job quilting.

Ruth never stops! Here she is quilting through the layers.

Ruth with her finished quilt. I love the stripey Binding!

Christina’s lovely Quilting Job!

Robin and Jo with their finished masterpieces!

Here is another great beginner quilt. This time with diagonal quilting.

Sheena Chapman joins us for a regular class on the Second Saturday of each month. (NOTE: Check Saturday class dates, occasionally one falls on a different Saturday on the month due to public holidays etc)  We also have a short season of two Sheena classes per term if that works better for you. See the seperate listings for this in the calendar. (More Sheena project images here too)

Sheena is a very prolific maker, bringing in to class inspiring new quilts every month! She’s also a collector -so be prepared to see many vintage gems that she’s had in her stash for years or that she has just picked up at the op shop this week!

Sheena’s quilts are a fantastic blend of old and new, traditional and improv. We call it ‘Inspired Improv’. Sheena’s quilts are refreshingly colourful, fun and fast to make. Some quilts are Sheena’s contemporary take on a vintage quilt from her collection, some quilts are designed in response to the fabric she’s working with and many begin with a vintage piece of fabric.  Once you see them you will be dying to make them all!!

What you can learn: 

Sheena has a number of improvisational techniques that she characteristically employs in her quilts and you will learn these in class as you work through a quilt. Once you’ve mastered these you can go on to create your own ‘Inspired Improv’ heirlooms at home. Another feature of Sheena’s quilts is the exciting use of big pieces, large borders and panels that help a quilt grow quickly in size. Sheena also employs special, sometimes unorthodox, time saving techniques that all total fabric addicts will appreciate. 

Sheena specialises in helping you choose fabric combinations that really emphasise your ‘hero’ or favourite prints or special vintage yardage. You will learn how to mix your vintage scraps and treasures with your modern stash and make your own unique quilts with a vintage twist! In this class, the classroom is festooned with design walls so everyone can see their creation taking place life-sized in front of them.

How class is structured:

Participants in Sheena’s classes usually work on one of Sheena’s quilts in class at their own pace, with Sheena’s guidance. You may choose from any of Sheena’s quilts that you have seen on display in the store or here on the website. It usually takes two or three months to complete a quilt depending on how fast you like to work. Or you can dip in for one our two lessons and work through Sheena’s improv techniques, 

The class is suitable for confident beginners who have probably made a few quilts before, know their equipment pretty well and are exuberant with fabric and happy to ‘throw caution to the wind’ in persuit of a lively, one-of-a-kind, scrappy quilt. The quilts are machine pieced so bring along your machine, cutting equipment and plenty of scraps. You’ll be inspired not just by Sheena but by what everyone else is making in class. If you are an absolute beginner but like the look of Sheenas style talk to us about coming to an other session before hand so you’re not thrown in the deep end. Perhaps try one of Sheena’s Friday classes which feature two of her entry level quilts. 

Whilst most people book into Sheena’s class on a yearly basis (and access a discounted rate) it is possible to book in for one or two casual classes (where rare vacancies exist) to explore a new technique or to begin an ongoing project.  Sheena’s classes are popular. Please phone to book in. 

2021 Classes:

13th Feb, 13th March, 17th April*, 8th May, 12th June, 10th July, 14th Aug, 11th Sept, 9th Oct, 13th Nov, 11th Dec. NOTE: * Class is pushed back a week due to calendar clash with Easter.  

Images of Projects: 

Sheena Chapman helping Dianne with her quilt.

Sheena and Mary discuss colour.

Goodnight Moon is a great intro to Sheena’s Improv techniques

Sheena Chapman Rainbow Chevron Quilt

Sheena with her Trigonometry Quilt

Sheena with her quilt Quality Street

Sunday best by Sheena Chapman

Sunday Best by Mary Lawler

 

Bloomingdales a great teaching quilt of Sheena’s

Serendipity is an unusually neutral quilt for Sheena.

The woven quilt in progress

An improv medallion quilt.

Sheenas Wedge Daisies

Helen’s version of the wedge daisies

Charlotte working hard on her tumbler quilt.

An improv log cabin featuring found vintage fabric in progesss

The Perforation Quilt

Sheena Chapman in class showing off her Jungle Fever quilt.

Sheena Chapman’s ‘State Fair’ quilt built around the great piece of vintage purple carnival fabric!

Jungle Fever Quilt by Sheena Chapman

Well it’s not really therapy in a clinical sense!!! But there is definitely healing power in spending a day stitching in inspiring and creative company!!

Bookings for this class are made by phoning the store. ph 4464 3387. Scroll down to read more about the class and see images of the style of work made in class. 

Popular teacher Jennifer Corkish teaches all her techniques in two classes a month. These take place regularly on the first Saturday of each month and the Fourth Thursday of each month. Jennifer comes along to each class with new quilts and projects she has designed: from her own take on the popular Japanese Boro technique to fine applique, English paper piecing, wool applique and stitch embellishment and more…! If you can’t come regularly: see also the special days in our calendar dedicated to making the Something About Japan Quilt. 

Jennifer has been a teacher at Berry Quilt & Co. since we opened in 2016 and also taught for approximately six years at Berry Patchwork prior to that. Jennifer has built up a number of regular students who have been coming to her classes and making her quilts ever since she began teaching in Berry which is quite a recommendation! Jen is an experienced and encouraging teacher who over the years has helped many along their creative journey. She is able to help you work on projects designed to develop your skills or to extend your own creative ideas. Jen is such a valued member of the Berry Quilt & Co team and we are proud to say that she’s not currently teaching regularly at any other quilt store, so here in the Shoalhaven, we are very lucky to be benefiting from her experience, diverse creativity and interests! Please click through to her teacher profile to read more about Jennifer’s making and teaching experience.

What You Can Learn With Jennifer 

Casual or beginner participants in Jennifer’s classes often attend to learn Japanese Boro stitching. Pictured below, Boro is a traditional Japanese mending technique utilising layered scraps of material and sashiko style running stitches to hold it all together. Jennifer has devised a method of making boro fabric suitable for our modern fabrics and equipment for use in quilts, bags, table runners, clothing etc. You may learn this technique in one of Jens monthly classes or book in to a class in Sept 2021 to learn this technique specifically.  

Teaching applique using the ‘stay in’ Hugs ‘n Kisses Applique paper is also a specialty of Jennifer’s. Beginners can start with one of the blocks from Jennifer’s well known Flower’s & Urn Quilt, pictured below is an excellent place to start and this block has been made in so many different color combinations from bright, to Japanese to traditional and reproduction. Begin in one lesson with the starter block and turn it into a wall hanging or cushion OR go on to continue to make the whole quilt. The centre medallion from the Purity quilt is another good place to start an appliqué project and the 1930s Inspired Appliqué Sampler ‘Hoping for a Grandbaby’ could be as large or small a project as you’d like to make it. 

English paper piecing (EPP) has featured in many of Jennifer’s quilts over the years and you could begin a project making Jennifer’s fussy cut crosses quilt or a Jennifer’s strip hexagon quilt that gets you started with hexagons without you having to make the whole quilt top from hand made hexagons. There is also the new ‘Liquorice Allsorts’ hexagon EPP  project which is again customisable to a size that suits you. 

Working with stitch embellishment is also a forte of Jennifer’s. and the girls in all Jen’s classes enjoy the projects that have scope for hand stitching embellishment. Jen can help you begin a Japanese Sashiko stitching panel and turn it into a wallhanging or quilt or she can turn traditional appliquéd projects into unique appliquéd designs from using wool felt and lush coloured threads as well as cotton fabric, everything can be a vehicle for stitch embellishment. Have a look through the images below for ideas of where Jennifer’s class could lead you. 

Stitch embellished garments and covered Yazzi sewing storage bags have also been made in Jennifer’s classes. Waistcoats and jackets made from Japanese inspired boro stitching have been made with Jen’s assistance. You’d need to have a chat about what you’re thinking how it would come together before booking in but chat to us if you’re interested. Similarly woven and/or stitched or EPP coverings have been made for Yazzi sewing bags both large and small. Jen can help you with these projects.   

How Class is Structured:

The class has a loose relaxed structure where regular participants work on Jennifer’s original designs at their own pace and build up skills as they progress though the projects. Usually in class all the participants are working different projects and often on more than one project at once. Occasionally, after a number of projects have been completed, class members have requested that Jennifer help them design a unique project, which Jennifer is happy to work on with the student, making it a very personalised class. Sometimes a group evolves to work together and ‘demand’ from Jennifer certain styles of projects, which has happened to an extent with the Thursday group in 2020. The core girls here very much enjoy small stitch embellished projects such as bags, stitch diaries, album books and more. They are very creative and enjoy seeing and celebrating each others results.  

You will find plenty of helpful advice, skills and friendship in this lively class. Jennifer is very good at getting you started on a project and helping you with fabric selection and requirements. All of Jennifer’s students produce quite different and unique results. I’m always amazed at how differently the same quilts can turn out with different fabric choices. As a teacher Jennifer is very open to working with your fabric choices and helping you get the best results from what you begin with. She has also been in class support for beginning to end of complicated projects designed by others. For example: The Dear Jane Quilt by Jane A Stickle,  the Mrs Billings Coverlet by Karen Styles or the Towns and Trailblazers Quilt by Jennifer Wulff . If any of these quilts appeal to you and you wanted assistance to select a colour palette and get started you could start and continue to work on one of those projects in Jennifer’s class. (As long as you have purchased your own copy of the relevant pattern or book.)

Whilst most people book in to Jennifer’s class on a yearly basis (and access a generous Enrolled Class member discount) it is possible to book in for one or two casual classes (where vacancies exist) to explore a new technique or to begin an ongoing project. You can see if places are available 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 class calendar to the next month and add that class to your cart as well.

Jennifer’s groups are very popular and are often booked out! Casual places, if available, may be booked by phoning the store. ph 4464 3387

2021 Thursday Dates:

28th January, 25th February, 25th March, 22nd April, 27th May, 24th June, 22nd July, 26th August , 23rd September, 28th October, 25th November, 16th Dec * (*One week earlier due to Xmas.)  

Images of the Projects:

This gallery shows the style of work that Jen is making and things that the girls have made in class over the years. Jen specialises in supporting you to personalise your project with her designs as. jumping off point. As you can see, they are all very different. We encourage you to come and visit on a class day, meet the girls and see the things they’re working on and have a chat about what you could undertake. 

Jennifer Corkish Quilt Teacher in Class at Berry with two of her projects. 

A great photo of Janice in class with Jennifer Corkish. This shot shows her applique block in progress, the sample Bright Block by Jennifer and larger quilt  by Mary Lawler on the wall behind. 

Jennifer Corkish ‘Purity’. A small quilt perfect for learning Jennifer’s Appliqué Techniques.

 

Judy’s soft and pretty Purity

Design Process for the Amber Palace applique Quilt

The new Amber Palace Quilt in progress. This one by Noelene. Inspired by wall motifs at an Indian place.

Girls in Jen’s Sat class working hard!

Rhonda’s Amber Palace Quilt in the classroom full of Jennifer’s samples including the original.

Melissa’s amazing bright felt embellished updated ‘Sarah Evans’ quilt designed by Jennifer

Ari’s ‘mini’ Garden Fantasy quilt designed by Jennifer

Garden Fantasy by Jennifer with Judges commendation at the Sydney Quilt Show

The Towns and Trailblazers Quilt by Jen Wulff with design assistance by Jen Corkish

Jennifer’s Birdbath Quilt in progress.

Rhonda with her just finished Birdbath Quilt. Another great version with a fresh china blue colour way.

A bright colourway of Flowers and Urns by Janice showing the Bright Block in centre.

Kerrie’s Japanese Inspired Flowers and Urns

Anne’s super elegant version of the Flowers and Urns Appliqué Quilt

The Bright Block, centre of the flowers and urns Quilt is a good stand alone starter project.

Jennifer Corkish Quilt Teacher in class with some of her Japanese inspired work.

The Japanese tile inspired table runner EPP project in two colour ways.

Jennifer’s 2021 Teaching Quilt Something About Japan. A memory album of a trip to Japan using neutral yarn dyes and indigos.

Faye’s stitch embellished version of Something about Japan. Isn’t it rich and exciting with a dark background!

Jen’s lovely appliqué sampler called Hoping for a Grandbaby. (Shhh! Don’t tell Nathan!) Done here with low volume backgrounds.

Debbie’s lovely version of Jen’s appliqué sampler Hoping for a Grandbaby. I love the coloured backgrounds.

The EPP project Quilt of the Crosses in Reproduction Colours. Lots of scope here for fun with fussy cutting.

A hexagon EPP project called Licorice Allsorts featuring Jen Kingwell’s Lollies fabric

 

Boro Table Runner by Jennifer Corkish as featured in Quilter’s Companion

 

Joanne’s amazingly detailed boro style quilt.

Jen with Jenny H’s happy version of the Japanese Tiles runner turned into a quilt.

Both Jens with Jen H’s lovely Japanesy version of the folded ‘pikelets’. A meditative, often hand done, quilt as you go project.

Mrs Billings Coverlet by class member Joanne Pollard

Joanne’s Amazing Dear Jane Quilt

Jen with Rhonda’s nearly done Strippy Hexagon quilt.

For class bookings please phoning the shop on ph 4464 3387.

Helen Draper’s classes are running every month in 2021. The class runs on the third Friday 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.

2021 Class Dates: 

19th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May, 18th June, 16th July, 20th August, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November, 17th Dec.

Images of Class and Projects:

Helen Draper teacher with two of her popular teaching quilts.

Helen’s lovely new teaching Quilt Hoopla which was featured in the Quilters Companion Magazine.

The Fanciful Quilt which is a great quilt for learning a wide range of techniques!

The cheeky Jungle bums is a firm favourite with grandmothers!

The lovely and delicate Kiku Blossom quilt by Helen Draper features chubby dresden plates and the clever card trick block.

 

Helen Draper with the super popular Feeling Groovy Quilt

 

 

Helen’s Shadow Play Quilt done here in solids has such impact!

 

Helen Draper’s versatile Gone Troppo quilt.

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

Ari’s version of Feeling Groovy

Helen Draper Berry Bliss Quilt. Another great teaching quilt with lots of techniques.

Jenny’s version of Feeling Groovy

Helen H’s soft and pretty version of Feeling Groovy

Clever girls; learning to hand quilt with hoops

More patient people and Charlotte refining their hand quilting tecniques.

Close up of the Perle 8 hand quilting on Shadowplay

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

Sarah hand quilting a special quilt.

Just for fun in one class the girls made matching tote bags. Totes Totes!

Ari’s version of Fanciful! Ari picked the colour scheme to match the beautiful Iris Kaffe Fasset fabric behind the blocks.

Kerrie’s Version of Shadow Play

Helen H’s colour spectrum version of Gone Troppo. Isn’t this a winner!!

Three versions of Gone Troppo under way in class. L to R Janet, Judy and Helen in class, all working hard.

 

Helen with Bedazzled patterns

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