Strips That Sizzle

Strips That Sizzle

A sewing workshop which yields a quilt top plus working plans for many more. Easy strip piecing which explores innovative approach to moving color and value across the quilt. Students learn much about value and color from each other's fabric selections, and from watching these fabrics transform during the day. Requires cutting strips ahead of time.

Duration: One OR Two Days

Samples

Aaron's Graduation Quilt
60" x 78"
Published in Quilter's Newsletter "Quilting It for Keepsakes" Magazine, Winter 2002		 Boxes and Boxes
73" x 92"
Strips That Sizzle, p. 67

Hearthfires Endure
59" x 59"
Strips That Sizzle, p. 66

 Melon Patch
55" x 55"
Strips That Sizzle, p. 27

Supplies Needed for Workshop

  • Rotary Cutter (with extra blade)
  • Acrylic straightedge – 6" x 24"
  • Acrylic square – 6" (or 6-1/2")
  • Rotary Cutting Mat – large enough to cut fabric 22" wide
  • Straight pins
  • Masking tape (wider than 1", for taping design surface to wall)
  • 1-1/2 yards cotton quilt batting or flannel-backed tablecloth to use as design wall.
  • Irons and ironing boards – enough to share (no more than 3 students per ironing board)
  • Sewing machine in clean and oiled condition, with several bobbins already filled
  • Thread appropriate for machine (color doesn't matter)
  • Toolbox that came with machine
  • Extra bobbins, EXTRA NEEDLES
  • Foot pedal and all necessary cords for sewing machine
  • Scissors or thread-snippers
  • Cushion or pillow for chair to raise you to a good sewing height!
  • Extension cord (with multi-plug outlets if you have one)
  • Reducing glass or other reducing device like binoculars or camera
  • Camera with flash capability, plenty of film and batteries
  • FABRICS – minimum amount to bring is the following: Bring SIX FABRICS in EACH OF TWO COLOR FAMILIES (12 total). In each color family, be sure you have light, medium and dark values (bring prints and solids)
  • NOTE: You need not buy all this fabric new: pull from your own fabric collection first, then fill in missing values by shopping!!!

Strip Cutting Instructions

Cut your fabrics into strips as follows:

  1. Cut four fabrics at a time. Stack fabrics with raw edges more or less even, folds and selvages parallel to each other; stagger folds by about 1/4".
  2. Slit folds up about 12".
  3. Cross-cut one strip in each of the five following measurements:
    2-1/2"   2-1/4"   2"   1-3/4"   1-1/2"
  4. Pick up the strips of each fabric in random width order (this is why you staggered the folds in the first place). In the end, you should have one pile of each of the fabrics you cut, with two each of all of the strip widths in that pile.
  5. Bring to class the uncut portions of the fabrics you cut into strips, since you may find you want more strips from one or more of them.
  6. If you are unsure of your fabric selections, bring a few extra fabrics (you need only 1/2 yard of each) which you think go with the fabrics you cut into strips. This gives you the flexibility to add more fabrics during class, if necessary.

Click for printable version of supply list

 


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Tuesday, June 18, 2013