classes

Consult one-on-one with an ergonomist and quilt studio designer about your specific needs. Walk away with solutions to your ergonomic problems, layout recommendations, furnishing ideas, and organizing solutions tailored to your requirements. Consultations provided in one-hour increments. Contact Lois Hallock at Clearviewdesigns@comcast.net to reserve your appointment. Photographs of quilt studio and room dimensions are helpful but not required. Go to www.clearview-designs.com for more information.  

Sandhill cranes are among Andersen's favorite birds. They cover a huge range of territory in their migrations. The cranes in this project are made up of fusible shapes and have a "spirit line" that gives them a bit of style. The first day of class will be assembling the birds on the background. Some of the prep work will be done for you. The second day of class will be embellishing the cranes with fabric paint, some of it metallic. Then the background will be painted. These painting techniques are very easy. www.cwaquilts.com

Start with the basic framework of "Top Down, Center Out" described by R. Collins in Threads magazine, #218 by creating a fitted non-stretch waistband (prior to class) that is used to fit a single-leg muslin. Stern Hasemann shows how to work with "sticky pins" to help manage the fabric around your waistline & make drape fitting a snap. After smoothing the wrinkles, finish with some traditional pants fitting techniques to achieve the fit you're looking for. www.jsterndesigns.com

A mystery class that starts with a bigger laser-cut kit is full of laughter and the best Surprise mystery class Angotti offers. This was a new class last year and it delighted the crowd! As always a class where you know you have all the right fabrics because there is a kit waiting for you. This kit is designed for and will be just for Houston Quilt Festival. Student should understand how to finish a quilt since it will not be finished in class. This is a mystery...so we can't show a photo of the real thing. www.charlotteangotti.com

Learn how to create beautiful land/seascapes using fabric, thread, yarn, and ribbon instead of canvas, brushes, and paints. Baker Montano will teach you how to think like a painter and will guide you through the process, from creating traced patterns to material choices and from fabric manipulation to freeform stitching. Each student leaves with a one-of-a-kind art piece ready for framing. Freeform Stitching with Judith Baker Montano, C&T Publishing www.judithbakermontano.com

Learn the art of nuno felting as we create a gorgeous one-of-a-kind heap wrap or small art scarf that will be the envy of your friends! Choose from instructor's hand-dyed silk chiffon scarf bases and add your choice of hand-dyed merino fibers along with novelty fibers such as lustrous bamboo, curly mohair, and sparkly Angelina. As with many wet felting classes, some physical exertion is required. www.annieskeepsakes.com

"Crazy Patch" winner from the 100,000 Quilt Challenge (Issue 4 - 2007, pages 48-50), Julie Craig shares for the first time her tips, tricks, and techniques used in the making of her Crazy Quilt. Students will work on a 12 inch square Crazy block (provided) containing some of the original fabrics. Learn many flower making and stitching techniques such as Cabachon rose, ruching, knotted ribbon flower, wired ribbon rose, rosette, velvet pansy, cast on, feather, and beaded palestrina, just to name a few. Over forty items are included in the kit. Making a Crazy patch pattern, photo fabric printing, special fringe technique, and how to assemble a Crazy Quilt will be discussed. Will not be finished in class. Charms sold separately. Prerequisite—basic embroidery knowledge helpful.

Spend a day learning “Creative Stitch Play!” Let Einmo share her top techniques and tips for making this beautiful, Sashiko-inspired quilt while using the sewing machine to create unique texture and intricate designs on your fabric before sewing the quilt top itself! So much fun to sew yet chock-full of the best hints for superior results including how to effectively use stabilizers, rotary cutting hints, precision piecing methods, and thread and needle options. Learn a lot while having the most creative fun you've ever experienced in a quilt class! This class comes with a kit filled with Einmo's beautiful “Solid-ish” fabrics, stabilizers, threads, and everything you need to complete the quilt top. Some basic sewing notions will be required. www.kimberlyeinmo.com

Learn an innovative technique from an award-winning quilter while creating this beautiful landscape. Not foundation pieced! Only straight-line sewing, working on the RIGHT side of the fabric, no paper to pick out, and lots of cheating! www.englanddesign.com

Masks have always been a great home decorative item. Why not decorate with one of your own. Fleuranges-Valdes will supply the line drawing and share her fusible appliqué technique. You supply the colorful fabric and imagination. No sewing machine is required for the class. Create your mask in class, then appliqué and quilt it at home. www.quiltedartistrybyrenee.com

Paint your favorite quilt design on a board to be hung on your house, gate, or barn. Dozens of quilt designs will be available for you to choose from. During class, learn how to transfer and paint that design on a 2 foot square board. It's all taping and painting . No artistic skills needed. Also offered as 417 on Thursday. Do not enroll for both. www.quiltblocktrail.com

Decorate a female profile composition in Art Deco style with various floral motifs. The more bright colors, the better! Techniques include appliqué with closed and open edges and with zigzag sewing. https://textile.galla.fr

Eight techniques will be covered and applied to a beautiful panel. Learn step-by-step basic instructions for free-motion quilting, dimensional thread painting, trapunto, application of multiple overlays, various 3-D layering, bobbin work, blocking and squaring a quilt, and, of course, applying crystals! More importantly, learn the proper steps of creating these numerous techniques, but also why and when to apply them to a quilt! See the effects of various techniques and supplies, and how they can create added interest of texture and dimension to a piece of art! www.joycehughesoriginals.com

Impey will teach her unique collage and portrait techniques to make your own one-of-a-kind artwork. Be delighted and surprised at the "personalities" that evolve in your portrait as you collage your way through Impey's carefree and easy methods! Learn the quilting procedures that make her portraits come alive and how she chooses the name and stories for her portraits. Everyone is sure to be sucessful using her techniques, and she will even help you name your portrait! www.sewjean.com

Learn to represent images using printed fabrics, respecting the concepts of light and shadow. www.marinalandi.com.br

Explore the dark side of dyeing as we learn to dye black fabric! Reverse dyeing is full of Tricks AND Treats, and this class will leave you with a bag full of un-dyed and over-dyed fabric goodies! Cover two different methods for safely removing black dye and learn some beautiful folding and pleating patterns to add to your dye folds! www.dyehardsstudio.com

Have you admired the work of expert quilters but don't know where to begin when quilting your own projects? This class demystifies the process. Learn to free-motion quilt a variety of basic patterns and then create more complex designs by breaking up the design space and filling it in. https://blog.amandamurphydesign.com

An excellent opportunity to learn some of Pfeil's award-winning sewing techniques. This is a totally unique class with a fearless strip-piecing method, even with complex material like Dupioni silk. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. Starting with sewing strip panels, create wheels using a 15-degree wedge ruler (necessary!) with surprising results. Those wheels can be applied onto a pieced or solid background by hand or machine at home. https://claudiapfeil.de

Learn to quilt eight beautiful but simple background designs on a domestic machine! Make a mini Wholecloth Quilt filled with your newly learned designs. Then find so many uses in your quilts for these fun and versatile fillers. www.quintessentialquilting.com

However it is you've thought about machine appliqué up until now, prepare to be surprised. Stone will offer three innovative methods that lead to your creating free-form lines and curves, all with a beautifully turned-edge. (While a machine technique, class time is spent on preparation for sewing, which students will complete at home.) www.karenkstonequilts.com

The first half of class is spent creating a stack of fabric mono-prints made on small 4 inch X 6 inch soft gel print plates. Thorpe shows fun and easy print techniques using botanicals, stencils, and texture tools. Print on a variety of pre-cut fabrics. In the second half of class, use your stack of little prints to create a quick fabric collage composition fused on felt. Then use a lot or a little hand stitching to finish. No experience with fabric collage or hand stitching required. All materials for printing supplied. www.lisathorpe.com

Learn how to make a pattern from the photograph provided. Cut fused fabrics and place them in such a way as to create a realistic quilt. The course is split into two parts: in the morning, create the foreground and in the afternoon, constuct the mosaic background. www.sunpatchspain.com

Learn to understand color theory and gain confidence to use it on this project. Apply color value and techniques for using Inktense pencils on fabric. www.alessandravolker.myportfolio.com

Do you love color in your quilts? Do you want to know tips and tricks from Arcenegui Bono to create funny quilts like this teapot and teacups? This is the class for you. Make this teapot, a small quilt, with no piecing or appliqué. Just machine quilt and color it. Leave class with your quilt almost ready for binding. www.crisarcbono.com

Learn to paint beautiful illuminated letters during this creative hands-on workshop. Using Tsukineko inks and Fabrico markers, explore painting techniques that will add stunning detail and sparkle to your projects. In addition, learn a stress-free method for creating harmonious and balanced color palettes. No prior painting experience is required; just a desire to color, create, and play. Each student will choose one letter to paint. See supply list for choosing your letter before class. www.loopytulips.com

Let’s step up our game with turned-edge appliqué! This is a skill building class, product specific to APLIQUICK, and teaches how to use the Rods to get perfectly turned-edge appliqué pieces. Shapes will not be sewn down in class, but Reps will go over finishing methods both by machine and hand sewing. This mandala will be completed on a 22 inch square background fabric. www.quiltingtranquility.com

Do you love the look of Art Quilts where the features appear to come to life right there on the quilt? Stagno will help you transform your basic skills into finite detailed designs. Small minute changes in shape and direction can create a big impact. Learn to use multi-rotational designs, cluster format quilting designs, create natural earth elements such as wind, water, stone, wood, animal fur, and other textures, "read" the fabric to copy the motion and movement, and select thread to enhance the texture. Two persons per machine.

You've had fun picking out the fabrics, cutting, sewing blocks, and making your quilt top! Now, how do you quilt it? Bring one quilt top into class, or a picture, and we'll talk about some options. Clotfelter teaches all kinds of free-motion quilting classes and would love to help you design a quilting plan for your quilt. Leave class full of inspiration and creative ideas! www.ninaquilts.com

Discover the creative possibilities that can be achieved when starting with a foundation of grid lines. By laying down a grid, know where to place, position, and scale all the elements of the design. Learn Hruska's techniques for continuous quilting inside of squares, triangles, diamonds, curvy grids, and more. Create incredible texture in your next quilt by adding some of these grid-based designs. www.forever-quilting.com

This is just pure fun! Play with squares of sheer fabric, layering them on a free-motion quilted background to create colorful effects. This is color theory without color wheels or rules; a joyful class where you'll make your choice of a mug rug or quiltlette. And, there's a kit! No free-motion experience required. www.quiltskipper.com

Combine the power of EQ8 quilt design software with the ease of fabric die cutting. The AccuQuilt GO! Qube system is made of building blocks to create a Four Patch quilt block. Discover EQ8 compatible blocks, draw your own blocks, try different fabrics, and create your own block library. Your design will be ready to cut with the AccuQuilt GO! Cutter. Learn tips and tricks to use the best features of both EQ8 and AccuQuilt. Class based on the 8 inch Qube, with help to accommodate other sizes. Please note: This is an EQ8 software design class. No die cutters will be used. Completion of a beginner EQ8 class is helpful. www.lorimillerdesigns.com

Take your quilt art messages into the digital world. Use five iPad apps to add text in interesting ways to your fabric for use in quilts, garments, and home goods. These are apps not included in any of Monday's other Quilt Festival classes. Receive a fabric print of your favorite by mail after the close of Quilt Festival. www.susiemonday.com

Dating back to the late sixteenth century, Dorset buttons are a great way to embellish your quilting project and knitwear. Finish them as jewelry pieces if you wish. They are functional too! Start the class by making the traditional Blandford Cartwheel to learn the basics before discussing some variations, including a fan-style button and the Maltese Cross. Redford will show how to include beads and will finish the class with a look at styles inspired by vintage buttons of the 1950s. www.catherineredford.com

This bright happy 18 inch square block is a perfect project for those who want to learn the appliqué technique, Broderie Perse. Choosing and cutting fabrics will be discussed. Learn the needleturn appliqué technique to stitch around the elements, all while creating your own beautiful block. www.denarosenberg.com

Hone your serging skills as you construct a basic t-shirt using the flat construction method, the fastest and easiest way to construct a t-shirt. Be amazed at how simple it really is. Also learn an elegant and easy way to hem the neckline, sleeves, and hem of the t-shirt using a Coverstitch. This hem can also be sewn with a domestic sewing machine. www.katrinawalker.com

Sue Heinz has brewed up a wide selection of energy-infused and organic free-motion quilting designs that provide rich textures and bold backgrounds. This draw-along-with-me lecture will leave you filled to the brim with designs that are easy to master. Come play, leave caffeinated! www.sueheinz.com

Learn how to use the color wheel to help you select fabrics from your scraps and stash. No need to buy new fabrics. Learn how to choose scraps with confidence from your current selection and use scraps you thought you would never use again. www.bungalowquilting.com

Don't let your fabrics, threads, notions, books, and patterns overwhelm you! Learn how to organize and store your quilting fabric, supplies, and projects so that they are readily accessible and easy to use. Transform the dreaded stash into a collection that is a delight to use! www.carolquilts.com

In this informative lecture, Christa Watson will share her secrets for domestic machine quilting success which include adequate preparation and planning. She'll teach you her game-changing, back-saving basting technique, and how to divide and conquer each task so it's not such a chore. Also learn how to become friends with your iron and understand how to choose the right thread colors for your project. Once you discover how to create rich texture with little to no marking of the quilt, you'll feel empowered to finish all those tops in your UFO pile! www.christaquilts.com

In this practice class for confident beginners/intermediate level machine quilters, enjoy learning how to quilt a funny background using variations of feathers and a lot of texture. www.fabiadiniz.com

What happens when you take fun dots, add mandalas, then throw some fabric paint in the mix! The wonderful world of dot painting on fabric opens up! Join Reps in dot painting on fabric to create your own unique mandala designs! Beware—this class will addict you to dot painting and open up a whole new world of creativity! www.quiltingtranquility.com

See an overview of hand quilting, from tools of the trade to techniques. Cindy Walter's decades of teaching this technique with a hands-on approach will talk you through each step, leaving you comfortable and successful. Small kit fee includes all you need except a hoop and thread clippers. Fine Hand Quilting, Walter & Leone, Krause Publications. www.cindywalter.com

Capture the beauty of dimensional flowers with this delightful wallhanging. Learn four different techniques for making flowers that can be used both in this project and many others. It's fast-moving and a lot of fun! www.loopytulips.com

Do you struggle with how to quilt a top with the least amount of starts and stops? In this drawing class learn the strategies Hruska uses to find the continuous quilting path around pieced blocks; based on Dorie Hruska's book, Making Connections. Students are encouraged to bring quilt tops for design discussion. www.forever-quilting.com

Learn how easy it is to add your own fabrics, panels, and photos to EQ8. Import fabrics, straighten, scale, crop, and add to your Favorites library! Add current manufacturer fabric lines to use in your quilt designs. Include fabric panels to creatively design one-of-a-kind quilts. Explore adding photos for photo quilts and more. This is the perfect follow-up to any beginner EQ8 class. PLEASE NOTE: Read and follow the Supply List to be prepared for this class. Windows and Mac users welcome. Also offered as 569 on Friday. Do not enroll for both. www.lorimillerdesigns.com

Learn the basic iPad how-tos that take you into art and design for quilts and fabric. Organize, import and export, and go "fingers-on" with four teacher-recommended apps for photo-editing, special effects, filters, and printing at home and commercially. www.susiemonday.com

An introductory class in walking foot quilting. Learn how to finish your quilts on a domestic machine while enjoying all the control of your walking foot. Start with a brief discussion of preparing your tops for quilting including marking and basting. Then make stitched samples of different styles including matchstick quilting, grids, combined stitches, serpentines, and a basic spiral. Finish with a look at Redford's work to inspire you to go home and turn your quilt tops into quilts. www.catherineredford.com

Are you absolutely petrified to try free-motion quilting? Have you tried and failed in the past? This is the best class ever for beginners. Stagno has helped hundreds of quilters overcome their fears and setbacks when it comes to free-motion quilting. She is the guru of free-motion quilting. Learn her Baby Steps technique starting with simple designs while gaining control and consistency as you practice driving the longarm in all directions with ease and accuracy. Two persons per machine.

Learn hands-on how to use a serger from threading to stitching! This intensive class will teach you the fundamentals of how a serger works and how to serge with confidence. Build a reference notebook in class as you learn how to set up and stitch the most useful serger stitches, how to use differential feed to work with knits and other specialty fabrics, and how to serge challenging shapes such as curves and corners. Whether you are completely new to serging or just want to build confidence, this class is for you! Taught by the author of A Field Guide: Serger 101, C&T Publishing. www.katrinawalker.com