IN STUDIO: Building Blocks - Quilt Pattern Drafting with Fern Royce

Are you interested in learning how to sew a favorite quilt pattern, but a little intimidated by the thought of doing your own math? 😱 Or maybe you just want to dig into the process of designing your own blocks? We've got the class for you! Using traditional blocks as inspiration, quilt artist Fern Royce will share her methods for breaking patterns down into simple components. 

Before fancy plastic templates and gridded rulers, before the internet and cheaply printed books, quilters created blocks without patterns, using very basic math skills. They often found ways to "make it work" in liberated and unexpected ways. Learning these techniques will open up a whole new world of design possibilities for your quilts! 

In this workshop, you will study old quilts and learn to find the basic building blocks in a gentle, supportive setting with no math exams or pop quizes! 😉 

In this workshop you will learn how to:

• Deconstruct a quilt into it's basic building blocks
• Draft a block based on your inspiration block
• Apply seam allowance
• Play with different size blocks 
• Learn techniques for sewing your new block.

Supplies: Plain or graph paper, ruler, pencil, tape.

Skill level: ✂️

This is a drafting only class, while the sewing process will be discussed, you will not be doing any actual sewing.

About the Instructor:

Fern Royce grew up surrounded by textiles and what we now call “makers.” She learned to sew when she was very young, but did not begin quilting until the mid 1990’s. She took quilting classes at her local quilting store, learning the basics including the “all cotton” rule. That rule seemed odd when she considered the quilts she grew up with, including the corduroy quilt her grandmother made for her from the scraps of the all the clothes she had made for her grandchildren. In Fern’s experience, quilts meant using what was on hand, using or reusing any type of fabric, including clothing. When you look at her quilts you will see that she often includes repurposed and unconventional textiles in her own quilts, following her own rule: if she likes it, she uses it - from wool to silk, linen, or the unknown.

Cancellation Policy:

Class fees are transferable to another class or to studio credit if cancellation is made at least 72 hours before class. If cancellations are made after the 72 hour advance window has passed, we will not be able to issue refunds or studio credits. You can, however transfer the class to a friend. Read all of our studio policies HERE.

Age Policy:

Youth age 14 and up may register for adult classes. In order to participate in class, all minors will need a signed parental consent form. If you will not be dropping your student off at the first session of class, please contact us and we will email you a form to fill out and send with your child.