Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival 2017 Classes

The 10th Annual Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival will take place October 10-14, 2017 in the beautiful town of Amherst. Registration is now open and classes are beginning to fill. Here is a brief outline of the two classes I'll be teaching. If you would like more info, leave a comment at the end of this post and include your email address, or email me at lindakhubbard(at)gmail(dot)com.

Machine Quilting 101 – Friday Oct. 13, 9a.m. Christ Church basement, 5 Lawrence St., Amherst

Machine Quilting 101 is geared to beginners and those who simply want more practice with basic machine quilting. This class will cover all necessary information and skills for the student to have a confident start as a machine quilter on their own domestic machine.  Your machine must have feed dogs which can be dropped or covered, and you will need a darning foot, sometimes called a free motion embroidery foot. Topics covered will include set-up of workspace and machine, feet, needles, threads, battings, marking, layering, tips for using specialty threads (rayons and metallics) and more. Quilting with straight lines, gentle curves and free motion work  (“stippling”) will be taught.  Students will be given detailed notes and many useful tips, and ample opportunity to practice skills on their own machines.

Learn to stipple!

I bring a number of quilts for illustration purposes, also a number of machine quilting books for students to browse. Join me for a jam-packed fun-filled day of info, tips and building your skills so you can quilt your own projects with confidence! 

EDIT Oct. 2.This class is now full, but I will take a few names on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Learn to use a twin needle.  It gives a very impressive cross-hatch!

 Quilting with the Walking Foot – Saturday, Oct. 14, 9a.m. Christ Church basement, 5 Lawrence St., Amherst

Simple Echo Quilting

Do you own a walking foot but have only used it for stitch in the ditch or attaching a binding? Is free motion quilting just not "your thing?" Then this class is for you! Join me to learn the many ways you can quilt with your walking foot (or Pfaff dual feed or IDT) whether on modern or traditional projects. Geared to the quilter who already has basic knowledge of machine quilting, this class will further explore all the many applications of the walking foot. After a quick review of the walking foot and how it works, machine setup, marking and preparing the quilt, we will move on to explore straight lines, organic lines, grids, matchstick quilting, twin needle work,

One of many styles of cross-hatching/grid you will learn.

radiating designs, quilting curves and circles, and echo quilting, as well as the use of decorative stitches for machine quilting and more. You will learn to use your quilting guide, and several other methods of evenly spacing quilting lines without marking. (Who likes marking anyway?) Students will receive detailed notes, many tips and stitching time in class to create samples.  I will bring many quilts to class for illustration purposes, as well as a number of machine quilting books for students' perusal. Join me for a fun-filled day “walking your way” to new quilting techniques! 
***Note to Pfaff Owners - your IDT or dual feed is the same as a walking foot so yes, you can take this class too!

***Prerequisite – a basic machine quilting class - if you have not taken one, I highly recommend my Friday class - see above.  Many students opt to take both classes. 

"Matchstick" quilting (lines 1/8" apart) is so easy when you know how to do it correctly.

 

There are many "decorative" stitches on your machine which can be used effectively for quilting. This serpentine stitch (at right) is one. We will explore the stitches on your machine to see which ones would work well. 

EDIT: Oct. 6   Only 3 spots left in this class.

Class registration is open. Don't wait too long - both of these classes were filled to capacity the last time I taught them at NSFAF. 

Class maximum is 15 students and fee for each full day class is $65.00. No hst and no kit fees. If you are interested in one or both classes, contact me and I will send you the registration info. Once I receive your payment, your spot is secure and you'll receive the class supply list.

Peace,

Linda

"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young." ~ Henry Ford 

Recent Classes

I love teaching classes but am also happy when I'm finally done for the term. It takes a lot of time to get ready for classes, get demos prepared, samples completed, notes written, etc. But it is very rewarding and I'm not ready to give it up yet. Most of the classes I teach are "skills" classes rather than "project" classes. One of my favourites to teach is the "Miniatures" class. I call it a combo class - combining skills (improving your sewing accuracy) with a project (making a miniature quilt.) I was fortunate to teach that class twice this spring, once for the Mariners Guild of Dartmouth NS, and then for the St. Croix International Guild of St. Stephen NB and Calais ME. I rarely remember to take photos during a class, I'm always too busy getting through all the info and keeping everyone on track, but I thought I'd share with you two group photos that were taken at end of day in these two classes. Thanks to Jackie L. and Lynda D. for sending me these "class" photos. I'm hoping many of these gals will send me photos of their finished miniatures... If so, I'll share them with you...

Photo credit: Jackie Logan

Photo Credit: Lynda Duplissea

 Peace, 
 Linda

"It is the supreme art of  the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
~ Albert Einstein 

Workshop Spaces Available

I am teaching a local workshop this Saturday, January 23, and there are spaces available. It is skills oriented, rather than project oriented. You can read more about it by clicking here, and if you are interested in joining us, email me or leave a comment below.