Sundays 9 and 23 November

Tutor: Mel Forrest

10.30am - 4.30pm (over 2 days) with a break for lunch

Level: complete beginners (max 6 students)

An ideal course for new sewers keen to make their first patchwork quilt. It features the traditional snowball block and your finished quilt will be approximately 95cm (37-in) square. This is a really manageable size for beginners and makes a great wall hanging, lap quilt or play mat. The timing of this course means you’ll have a lovely finished quilt as a Christmas present, that is, if you can bear to give it away. You can choose whatever style of fabrics you like to sew with: children’s, traditional or contemporary. We regularly benchmark our prices and have seen other similar beginners courses for £150-160. (Think of all the fabric and threads you could buy with the difference)!

Students should know how to use a sewing machine before signing up (i.e. straight stitching with an even tension). We will teach you the rest! We hear most days in the shop “Oh, I’d love to be able to do that.” Well, sign up for this workshop and you’ll be a quilter in no time! If you need to brush up your machine skills, why not sign up for a sewing machine course first.

This class is taught over two days and will cover:
Day 1: How to use a rotary cutter to prepare your fabrics for patchwork, how to sew 1/4-in seams accurately, plus tips and tricks for perfect point-matching as you sew.
Day 2: How to sandwich and tack your finished top ready for quilting, wadding choices, different thread options and techniques for hand-quilting and how to bind your quilt like a pro.

Students may need to do some sewing between the sessions, but you have the great prospect of a finished quilt after 2 Sunday workshops! Machine and hand sewn.

Materials and equipment required:

• Sewing machine. Make sure beforehand that it works and you know how to thread it, wind the bobbin etc. Don’t forget the straight stitching / 1/4-in foot, lead and foot pedal! Please - if you haven’t used your machine for some time, or you’re borrowing a machine - do take time to try it out before the class. Or you can hire a machine subject to availability (just add to your booking)

• Basic sewing kit containing sharp fabric scissors, pins and a stitch ripper

• Rotary cutter, cutting board and quilt ruler at least 12-in long (if you have them). We also have some spares for you to share. As a student, you’ll receive a discount if you buy rotary equipment before or during your course

  Day 1:

• A minimum of 6 fat quarters (50x56cm) or 7 long quarters (25x112cm) in your choice of patterned quilting cottons

• 50cm cotton fabric for the contrasting squares (a plain or a tonal print is a good idea)

• Matching cotton or sew-all thread or a neutral such as grey or cream

• A sharp pencil and small ruler will also be useful

  Day 2:

• 1.10m of quilting cotton for backing (115cm wide)

• 1.10m of 115cm / 45-in wide wadding

• Tacking thread or curved safety pins

• Thread for quilting (Mel will cover options available)

• 40cm of quilting cotton for binding

It’s advisable to buy your fabrics before the first class to make the best use of workshop time. However, if there is anything you are missing, students can buy from the shop during each class.

Refreshments will be provided at each workshop. There will be a break for lunch. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, or there are a wide variety of coffee shops, tea rooms and delis in the high street.

If you have any questions, please phone us on 01634 838880 before booking. Please note we do not send out reminders before a class as all the info you need is here! For shop location and car park info, please look at our Visit Us page.

Please check dates carefully before booking as we do not offer refunds on workshops. For full booking terms, please read here.