Quilting and Patchwork Teacher

Seven Ways to Sew A Row

An action packed day learning seven techniques used in ‘Sew a Row Quilts’. The quilt is based on a typical English seaside scene – beach huts above the beach line, a shoal of fish in the sea, a kite in the sky and a shining sun! There is plenty of scope for extra embellishment to enhance the view. An alternative quilt is designed around a North American mountain scene. Seven Ways to Sew a Row has been Karin’s most popular International class.

Machine and hand sewing suitable for advanced beginners
Six hour class.

Book: Sew a Row Quilts

Sew a Row Tote Bag

Every quilters’ latest accessory! A bag that neatly holds your medium sized rotary cutting board and ruler. This is a great class for all levels as you cover six different patchwork row techniques and then you are shown how to turn them into a quilted bag.

This one day class is suitable for advanced beginner to intermediate students.
Machine sewing.

Book: Sew a Row Quilts

Geese in a Storm

Wow! Just look at how this quilt moves! and you can fast stitch this quilt in no time using Karin’s wonderful fast geese techniques.
Scrappy white and cream fabrics have been used to create this swirly snowstorm on a dark night but you can change the theme with your own fabric colour choice. Think of leaves blowing around on a blustery day or a whirling sandstorm!
In this class you will be shown at least two of the 25 different geese techniques from her book ‘Fast Flying Geese Quilts’.
Karin will also demonstrate her speed cutting techniques and suggest ideas for quilting and embellishment.

Machine and hand sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 1 day class.

Book: Fast Flying Geese Quilts

Enchanted Valleys

Karin shows you how to make a stripy row quilt which is designed to give the impression of mountains, rivers and flowers growing in an enchanted valley. Techniques used include: – delectable mountains, creative stencils, reverse appliqué, easy stems and new angles on English patchwork which form the unusual flowers. The result is stunning, creating a quilt of peace and tranquillity with flashes of the unexpected. The Enchanted Valleys quilts have been exhibited at the Festival of Quilts UK, Wellington Symposium 2009 and the Sisters Outdoor Show, USA.

Students can choose the finished size they wish to work. 2 day class.
Suitable for intermediate to advanced level students. Machine and hand sewing.

Book: Sew a Row Quilts

Curvacious Attic Windows

Karin has bought Attic Windows into the 21st century with her new sew simple techniques. Curved windows are an original method of creating unique blocks with no mitred seams. The curves can be top stitched appliqued, beaded or embroidered.

In this class you can blow away those creative cobwebs to make ‘quilts with a view’ such as the ‘Birds of New Zealand’ quilt or Cosmo flower patches. Let your choice of fabric dictate the final setting.

There are innovative tips and ideas to give you all the help and inspiration to make Attic Window blocks sew simple

Machine sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 1 day class.

Pattern Booklet: Sew Simple Attic Windows

Sew Simple Attic Windows

Pre cut strips and squares are very popular as they give a wonderful multi-fabric look to your quilts. Help is often required once the packs are opened and you are faced with all the fabrics! The Rouen quilt, alongside, is made using a Jelly Roll and a Layer Cake from the same fabric range. Advice will be given on grouping the pre-cut fabrics into their different light values before stitching. You will be shown a simple no mitre technique to make the Attic Window blocks quickly and simply. Jelly Roll strips are then used to make the sashing and borders. This is an achievable quilt to make in a day.

Machine sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 1 day class.

Pattern Booklet: Sew Simple Attic Windows

A Sew Simple Day

This workshop is about learning three sew simple techniques in one day! Each technique can be developed into a quilt or simply finished as a cushion in the workshop. In the morning we start off making Pineapple Chunks and then progress to Exploding Pineapple. In the afternoon we move onto making a small quilt using Logs.

These methods take traditionally difficult patchwork and make it quick, easy and very achievable. Advice will be given on design and suggestions made for quilting including a demonstration of fancy stitch quilting stitches. The techniques are from the first two booklets in Karin’s popular Sew Simple series.

Suitable for all levels Machine sewing. 1 day class.

Pattern Booklet: Sew Simple Pineapple and Sew Simple Logs

Sew Simple Pineapple

Start with a square, and keep on adding layers till your pineapple explodes in wonderful variations of colour and fabric. It’s a fun idea, and with no fabric wastage it’s ‘sew economical’ too! Can you believe there are no strange angles or special rulers? This new and unique technique has been developed by Karin and has taken the world by storm! The class will start you off on a feast of Pineapple Chunks and Exploding Pineapple blocks for you to make into quilts and their backings too!

Suitable for all levels Machine sewing. 1 day class.

Pattern Booklet: Sew Simple Pineapple

Its a Wrap!

A one day workshop using the book ‘Magic Pillows, Hidden Quilts’. Students will start making blocks for a lap or crib size quilt. Then in the afternoon some of the completed blocks will be used to make the wrap around pillow. which can be used to fold around the completed quilt.

Karin will show you a quick fancy stitch quilting method she uses to quickly finish her quilts.

Machine and hand sewing suitable for advanced beginners. 1 day class.

Book: Magic Pillow, Hidden Quilts

Andalusian Compass

A stunning centre for a quilt! Compass designs are considered to be challenging, but not after this workshop! Learn to draft your own Compass Rose with an easy paper folding technique that Karin has developed. Design variations such as split seams, spoke sizes and use of fabric for unusual effects will be discussed. You will be shown accurate piecing using your own pattern as compass templates. This will include pin basting and a fool proof method of matching X seams. This is not a paper foundation class. Once the compass is complete you will circle insert it into a background fabric. A migrating geese technique, again developed by Karin, is used for the borders. This is a workshop where you learn lots of design and sewing techniques which will help you with many future sewing projects!

Suitable for intermediate to advanced level students. Machine and hand sewing. 2 day class.

Optional Book: Fast Flying Geese Quilts

Christmas Pillow

This beautiful pillow always impresses! Start at the centre and place geese in layers radiating outwards to form a star. Experiment with other themed fabrics – such as Spring flowers, Halloween or colours that match your decor.

Machine sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 3 hour class.

Book: Fast Flying Geese Quilts

Migrating Geese

A very popular class as many quilters have never seen this technique before! Start with squares of fabric, cut and stitch, cut and stitch until you have amazing rows of geese flying in perfect formation. This is a template free no waste technique. ideal for borders too!

Machine sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 3 hour class.

Book: Fast Flying Geese Quilts

Geese in a Bag

Karin will demonstrate four geese techniques from her book ‘Fast Flying Geese quilts and more’. Make a bag that incorporates all four geese or just one! Practice machine quilting and embellishment before stitching this bag together. This bag is guaranteed to be the first of many as once your friends and family have seen your gorgeous bag you will have future gift ideas.

Machine and hand sewing suitable for beginners but also fun for the more experienced. 1 Day class.

Book: Fast Flying Geese Quilts

Garden Song

Make this lovely Garden Song quilt which was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ Certificate at the UK Festival of Quilts 2010.
The quilt is made from simple squares and triangles taking Karin’s own unique ‘Exploding Pineaple’ technique further. There is no fabric wastage, no matching points and no special rulers.
This is a fun class which will help you to make spectacular quilts! The embellished prairie point binding will also be taught.

Intermediate level 5-6 hour class

Book: Sew Simple Pineapple Plus

Quilt as you Go

If you like to piece and quilt at the same time then this is the class for you! Ideal to make using the lovely flannel fabrics that give a cosy, warm finish. Karin’s unique pineapple patchwork blocks are taught using a quilt as you go technique. The blocks are then sewn together and the seams cut into a shaggy finish.

Intermediate level 6 hour class.

Book: Sew Simple Pineapple Plus

Spinning Stars

Create stunning stars using English piecing over papers. Achieve the intricacy of the diamonds by drawing new angles on paper templates in this fun portable project.

Machine and hand sewing suitable for beginners. 3 hour class.

Book: Sew a Row Quilts

Fantasy Flowers

English paper piecing with a new twist.
Draw a new line inside traditional patchwork shapes and lots of exciting contemporary patchwork begins to appear! Most of the sewing is done by hand, making it a fun portable project to carry around.
You will be amazed how many wonderful design posibilities there are with this new technique.
Karin gives tips on threading needles and finishing knots as well as stitching choice of needles and threads.
This small wall hanging is achievable in a one day class.
In a three hour class you will start one flower but if the class is extended to a whole day you will have time to make several flowers and applique them to the quilt background.

Book: Sew a Row Quilts

Licorice Allsorts

A new quilt design using my ever popular ‘Exploding Pineapple’ technique. If you have never tried my unique pineapple method then this is the class for you! You will be amazed at how simple fabric squares can be sewn into pineapple patchwork. I DO NOT use tradional paper foundation piecing or special rulers.
‘Woolies’ 100% cotton fabrics have been used to create a warm, cuddly feel. Other flannel or brushed cotton fabrics will give a similar texture. This quilt would also look spectacular in batiks.
Advice is given on continuous straight line quilting designs used to finish this quilt.
Licorice Allsorts is 39” square, an ideal lap size which can be made in one day. Double the measurements for a twin bed and four times will make a queen size.

Pattern Booklet: Sew Simple Pineapple