Floral Improv
Want to enhance your artistic skill while making a quick project? This class will accomplish both. First, you’ll learn how to make a variety of flowers with no patterns. Then, you’ll learn how to create a dynamic composition. With Ellen’s pointers on design you’ll be guaranteed to make a masterpiece. Finally, you’ll learn a quick technique for facing and finishing your quilt with NO hand sewing! Maximum 20 students
Floral Improv Supply List
We’ll cover a lot of ground in this class. Please read the supply list carefully and complete the class preparations so your class time will be efficient.
Your class project will measure about 11″ x 14″ and can be either vertical or horizontal.
Background fabric, 13″ x 16″
Backing fabric, 13″ x 16″
Batting, 13″ x 16″
One strip of fusible web, 12” x 1 ½” (plus fusible web as needed for flowers, stems, and leaves)
Black thread, plus threads to match background, flowers, and flower centers
General sewing supplies to include: heat resistant straight pins, pencil, pen/marker, rotary cutting tools (small okay), and temporary fabric marking pencils/pens for both light and dark fabrics
Silicone/Teflon pressing sheet or parchment paper
Glue stick or other fabric glue
NOTE: All flower, stem, and leaf fabrics should have FUSIBLE WEB ATTACHED to the back before class.*
Poppy fabrics: at least ten coordinating pieces, each about 4” square. Fabrics can be repeated.
Daisy fabrics: at least five coordinating pieces, each about 4” square. Fabrics can be repeated.
One stem and one leaf fabric, about 8″x 10″ for each.**
Several scraps of fabrics that might work for flower centers. Include some very darks, and complementary/opposite colors of the flowers and background colors.
Sewing machine and presser foot suitable for free motion stitching. Students must be familiar with free motion stitching and with their sewing machines.
*Popular fusible web brands are Misty Fuse, Wonder Under, and Steam-A-Seam2. Read the package instructions for fusing details.
** Good stem and leaf fabric choices are lighter or darker versions of the background color. (Not necessarily green!)
Class prep:
- Ensure all flower, leaf, and stem fabrics have fusible web on the back. If your fusible web has a paper component, leave it in place.
- Layer batting and background fabric and quilt them in your desired pattern. (Leave the backing fabric off. Your machine won’t mind.)
- Suggested quilting pattern: straight lines that turn at random right angles across the piece. See the detail image at the bottom of this page.
- Suggested quilting thread color: Something that provides contrast. Maybe one of your flower colors.
- These are suggestions. Pick the quilting pattern and thread that you like!
Want to schedule this class for your group?
(The online version of this class covers more time, allowing for a larger project. It’s shown here, just to give you an idea of what can be done with the technique.)
Class sample for ONLINE class
Suggested quilt pattern: Straight lines with random 90 degree angles