workshops
My workshops are designed for small groups to come together and learn new techniques, not to create (or re-create) a specific quilt but to add a new skill to your tool bucket. And then take that into your quilting practice. Enjoy the process!
Workshops are designed as 3-hour, in-person events with your sewing machines. They can also be provided virtually, but I prefer playing in person.
Philosophical Note: Quilting can be a solitary endeavor. My (quiet) goal is to bring people together and build community. We learn so much from each other.
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I love the chaos of grabbing a pile of fabrics and working them into a colorful composition.
Please don’t be intimidated by improvisational piecing and abstract quilt creations! There are hundreds of tutorials, but they seem to lack that critical step of getting started. This workshop will help you overcome that initial “whoa, I can’t do that” mental block.
Please bring a large pile of scraps or “crumbs” of fabric. Anything goes, but for your first attempt, let’s stick with pieces of quilting cotton 2” or larger. When you get more comfortable with the process, there will be time for those tiny pieces of silk or burlap. Be kind to yourself and have fun!
We will talk briefly about color and contrast and then get to work in a relaxed, non-judgmental way. We'll start by picking up two pieces of fabric and sewing them together. Then another two. And so on. As we work, we will evaluate color neighbors, join pairs, square up edges to make for flat seams, and build a large piece of unique fabric. Yes, you can be a fabric designer!
Finally, we will discuss how to use our “crumb blocks.” Simply join them all together for a riot of color? Or cut them down into blocks, triangles, or circles and piece them into a vibrant, modern-traditional quilt.
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Got scraps? Have you seen fabric-wrapped rope bowls on the internet and wondered how to make one? This easy-to-learn technique is for you.
Students will learn how to make bowls and baskets from cotton clothesline rope wrapped with strips of fabric. We will discuss how to choose fabric and rope for your first project, prepare your materials, and set up your machine. Then, we will move on to bowl-making basics: starting the coil and shaping the bowl.
After mastering the basics, we will explore multiple finishing techniques, fabric types, and embellishments. And discuss how you can apply your new skills to make coasters, trays, lids, hanging baskets, and more.
Take a break from precision cutting and piecing, relax, play with color and texture, and chat a little with your neighbors. You will leave with a versatile new skill and maybe some new friends!
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Making faux chenille is just fun. Most of us are drawn to quilting through a love of texture, and this faux chenille technique takes texture to the maximum. In this class, we will rescue some orphan blocks and turn them into soft chenille, perfect for pillow-making or other crafts. Once you have mastered the basic technique, you can take those skills to larger projects … maybe a fuzzy, warm chenille coat?
Dig through your stash of UFOs (unfinished objects) and bring an orphan block or slab of pieced colors approximately 12” to 16” square-ish. Also, bring some coordinating flannels and fabrics to layer onto your block. And maybe a few contrasting pieces as well! (Let me know if you need a starter block; I have many unfinished ideas on my shelves!)
We’ll have a good time layering fabrics, stitching them, and slashing them to make a terrific, fluffy new work of art.
“Emily Williams is everything I want in a teacher: she’s knowledgeable, passionate, curious, patient, and always willing to tailor presentations to meet students’ needs. She challenges, she inspires, and she supports. A big bonus: she’s very funny.
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