Quilting: Learn New Techniques

Learning new techniques and styles is a part of quilting that I enjoy tremendously. As a designer and product developer, staying not only current, but ahead of the trend keeps me busy. This past week was inspiration for year’s worth of quilts. I learned so much – color theory, techniques and even new tips. What a fun week!

Thursday Roger Winchell of Asheville, North Carolina, gave a trunk show of his quilts. He is an engineer/rocket scientist that has a unique outlook on design. His ‘what if’ style results in ribbon-winning, sometimes mind-boggling designs. Pure inspiration to achieve the impossible!

Saturday was our Modern Quilt Guild meeting, with show and share quilts that wowed. Such imagination in design and quilting. Improv and tradition with a twist. Along with imagination, the energy is contagious. This group blogs, creates patterns, writes books and enters national shows.  More inspiration!

On Sunday, I was able to take a class with Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville. Twenty plus awesome ladies gathered with 2 1/2″ strips to create a Scrappy Trip Around the World.  Bonnie had tips for cutting, sewing and color choice that I’ll use over and over. What a great class!

Can you believe we made these blocks in just a few hours? A group photo at the end of class shows that any fabric, from the dark shadow blocks to Halloween prints, can create a great scrappy quilt. What fun to see Fabric Editions fabrics in so many stashes!

What a great week of learning. The creative energy from other quilters is a wonderful thing! I hope you will take a class, visit and join a guild, or go visit your local fabric source for some inspiration!