Salunga Star

Take two units (Flying Geese and Square in a Square), pay attention to color placement; and you’ll have a traditional looking star. Until its identity can be confirmed, the block has been christened Salunga Star. Class content will include a thorough exploration of the units and efficient, accurate construction techniques using the “Fit to Be Square” ruler. Students will be given handouts which will allow them to include plaid, stripes, and other directional fabrics in this project.

Sourdough

What is a sourdough quilt? It is an on-going true scrap quilt made from the bits and pieces which are left over from your other projects. You probably have everything you need to make it in your sewing room right now. You work on it all the time, but only sew on it once a year. Any log cabin set can be used for putting the blocks together. The block looks great in a variety of settings; the class sample is done in the Perkiomen Valley set. You’ll be amazed at what your “leftovers” will produce. Leftovers can be exciting!

Not Quite Sourdough

This is another scrap quilt with randomly strip-pieced 9-Patch blocks. Easy Angle will be used to piece Snowball blocks and setting triangles. Technique will be taught for joining a straight seam to a diagonal.

Flying Sourdough

This is number three in the Sourdough series!! This quilt will give you the chance to re-visit your stash and practice two basic units of the quiltmaker’s repertoire. We will thoroughly explore the Flying Goose unit and the “Hourglass” unit. The “geese” will be randomly scrappy and continuity will be provided by “Hourglass” units and a consistent background for the geese units. The class will be full of tips, tools, and techniques. The skills that are learned, practiced and mastered can be applied to all of your future projects.

Cut No Triangles

This combination of square and triangles is an element in many blocks. Easy Angle will be used as unit is pieced with squares and rectangles. Bias will always be under control. Single and Double units will be explored – also achieving different sizes of the units. This is a process class where you will learn a technique.

Four by Four

This variation of the Art Deco block is a delightfully scrappy quilt. A well-studied approach to block construction offers innovative techniques for piecing triangular corner units along with a plan for cutting, piecing, and pressing. This quilt goes together like a dream. This class is the project version of Cut No Triangles.

May Baskets

When piecing more complex patterns, a quiltmaker will join units with angles that do not match. “Eyeballing” is an invitation to disaster – the solution is trimming. Trimming reduces bulk AND provides visual cues which are helpful in block construction. This class will explore the why, when and how of removing bits of excess fabric. The merits of the Judy Martin Point Trimmer and the Easy Angle as trimming tools will be thoroughly explored. Since baskets look best on point, the details of a diagonal set will be presented. The skills learned in this class will be applicable to any future project.

Easy Angle ABC

The primary function of the Easy Angle is to make half-square triangles, but this tool can do so much more. Learn the “A” and “B” positions of the Easy Angle along with their capabilities.

Sew Many Geese

This is a unit that can stand alone or can serve as a component in many other blocks. The unit will be studied in depth, including the pros and cons of (5) different methods of construction. Quality checkpoints, cutting, sewing, pressing, math – all the bases will be covered. This class is an excellent opportunity to improve piecing skills. It is a full information-packed day. This is a process class where you will learn a technique.

Diamonds 101

The LeMoyne Star is a basic of the quilt-making repertoire and the starting point for much more elaborate star patterns. It is also a block loaded with pitfalls – the poofy center, blunted star points – not to mention pleats, buckles and holes when background triangles and sqaures are sent into the star. Inset seams CAN be quilter-friendly. Learn the cutting sewing and pressing steps of this innovative version of Y-seaming. No templates – no marking. This is a process class where you will learn a technique.

LeMoyne Surrounded

The LeMoyne Star will alternate with the Thrifty block. Since the blocks are on point, the stars will be surrounded by squares. There are several design options; the diagonal sets will be discussed. This class is the project version of Diamond 101.

Pot Of Diamonds

This is a class for those who have taken either the Diamond 101 class or LeMoyne Surrounded and are ready to move on to the next level of difficulty -- fracturing the diamond. This will be an easy 2 x 2 split. With the proper tools it is possible to get exact intersections with no templates and no marking.

Feathered Lemoyne Star

In this application the background squares and triangles are surrounded by “feathers” – half-square triangles that finish at 1”.

Tumbling Blocks

Learn a no-template, no marking way to make this graphic favorite. The diamond angle is 60 degrees so there will be set-in seams but Barbara’s variation of Y-seaming eliminates aggravation of marking the diamonds. Students are encouraged to work in a multi-fabric palette once the initial hexagon has been completed and will learn how to shuffle darks/mediums/lights. Isometric perspective will be discussed. Published in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine April 2007.

Working with Large Scale Prints

Students are encouraged to work with large-scale, densely packed, strongly directional fabric. Using the Double Irish Chain pattern, students will learn how to maintain direction of print in blocks and borders. A pieced border adds interest. This class can be given in tandem with the lecture.

Working with Plaids

Students will exchange 6” squares of plaid fabric and then piece stars. Since all of the cutting is based on this 6” square, both even and uneven plaids will produce a dynamic finished product. Sets and borders will be explored as blocks are finished and “quilts” go up on the design wall. This class can be given in tandem with the lecture.

Spools Aplenty

Often the Spool pattern is simplified by using half-square triangles. This class will utilize the classic pattern where the spool consists of four trapezoids and one center square. Two techniques for cutting trapezoids will be taught. This class is a great way to ease into Y-seams. It’s another multi-fabric quilt.

Citrus Stars

Students will learn to cut 60-degree diamonds and Barbara’s Y-seaming technique to piece hexagons. Color placement will accent star within the hexagon. Published in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine April 2007

York Pinwheels

Inspired by a quilt owned by the York Historical Society made from the Birds in the Air block, this two-fabric quilt is an expansion of the techniques taught in Cut No Triangles plus a quilter-friendly technique for making small half-square triangles.

To schedule a class or for more information email Barbara Lenox