This is a repeating event19/03/2021 10:00 am
By Hand 2021
Event Details
For class bookings please phoning the shop on ph 4464 3387.
Helen Draper’s classes are running every month in 2021. The class runs on the third Friday of each month (except April because of easter – Date of Class is April 26th) and is the perfect low stress place to build up some traditional patchwork and quilting skills. Participants in Helen’s classes are all working on their own projects at their own pace so you are able to join Helen’s class at any point in the year, subject to availability. Helen is a delightful and relaxed teacher who enjoys getting to know her class members and sharing her love of hand stitching, fabric and quilt design. You can learn to hand quilt, to hand piece quilt blocks using templates or work step by step though a quilt design of Helen’s own.
Helen’s love is hand stitching! In this class Helen is able to teach you traditional or modern hand quilting techniques. By this, we mean the actual quilting stitches that hold the three layers:, top, wadding and backing together. Helen can show you anything from the very traditional ’10 stitches to an inch’ elegant hand quilting using a waxed thread for heirloom quilts to the ‘big stitch’ colourful quilting using thicker perle threads for a more modern or rustic effect. This style of quilting has become very popular lately. Once upon a time a quilt was either entirely hand quilted or entirely machine quilted but these days it is not uncommon for quilts to be machine quilted and accents added by hand in certain areas.
You can begin by bringing in an already made and sandwiched quilt. Helen can work you though ideas for quilting it and ways to mark out your designs and get you started. Alternatively, you could start with a cushion sized sampler or a piece of plain fabric to get the knack before you go on to another larger project. Helen teaches a method of hand quilting using a quilt hoop but you are also able to work without one if you prefer. You will learn methods for marking quilt designs on your quilt and you’ll cover threads, needles and the types of designs that are appropriate for your quilt.
You are also able to learn to stitch quilt blocks together by hand in this class. We call this hand piecing. When hand piecing, the block is cut out, seam allowances are marked and it is then stitched together by hand rather than machine. It is often a geometrically pieced traditional block. There are a few tips and tricks to learn to make your patchwork durable and accurate and there are a few ways to incorporate templates when making multiple blocks that are all the same but once learnt, you will be able to make anything any time with only a pencil, ruler, scissors, needle and thread. It’s a very portable technique to know. You can learn hand piecing by making one of Helen’s original quilt designs pictured below or by progressing block by block through a range of traditional designs ending up with a ‘sampler’ quilt.
Many of the participants in Helen’s classes have come along as beginners to learn one of the techniques discussed above and end up staying on because they fall in love with one of Helen’s quilt designs. We have a number of Helen’s completed quilts in the shop to show you some alternatives. As an advanced or intermediate quilter you are able to join Helen’s class to get a kick start on any of her original projects that are listed in her Patchwork Bliss web shop. You can purchase the pattern from Helen’s website or let us know when enrolling which quilt you like and we will organise for Helen to bring the pattern with her to class. As with all our classes you can book in as a regular class member or you are able to dip in here and there as space permits. You can see if spaces are available for casual class members at the end of this entry, where it will allow you to add the class to your cart if there is space. If you would like to book for more than one month, click through the calendar to the next month and add that class to your cart as well.
Lastly, while Helen loves to hand stitch she knows that many of you don’t! So most of her patterns are adaptable for machine and you are able to learn by machine in Helen’s class. Make sure you make contact with us to discuss what you’d like to do if you’re unsure.
2021 Class Dates:
19th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May, 18th June, 16th July, 20th August, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November, 17th Dec.
Images of Class and Projects:
Helen Draper teacher with two of her popular teaching quilts.
Helen’s lovely new teaching Quilt Hoopla which was featured in the Quilters Companion Magazine.
The Fanciful Quilt which is a great quilt for learning a wide range of techniques!
The cheeky Jungle bums is a firm favourite with grandmothers!
The lovely and delicate Kiku Blossom quilt by Helen Draper features chubby dresden plates and the clever card trick block.
Helen’s Shadow Play Quilt done here in solids has such impact!
Helen Draper’s versatile Gone Troppo quilt.
Helen Draper Quilting Teacher
The very popular Feeling Groovy Quilt. This quilt can be made with crazy florals and looks just as good made with totally random scraps
Ari’s version of Feeling Groovy
Helen Draper Berry Bliss Quilt. Another great teaching quilt with lots of techniques.
Jenny’s version of Feeling Groovy
Helen H’s soft and pretty version of Feeling Groovy
Clever girls; learning to hand quilt with hoops
More patient people and Charlotte refining their hand quilting tecniques.
Close up of the Perle 8 hand quilting on Shadowplay
A close up of the ‘Big Stitch’ quilting on Feeling Groovy
Sarah hand quilting a special quilt.
Just for fun in one class the girls made matching tote bags. Totes Totes!
Ari’s version of Fanciful! Ari picked the colour scheme to match the beautiful Iris Kaffe Fasset fabric behind the blocks.
Helen H’s colour spectrum version of Gone Troppo. Isn’t this a winner!!
Three versions of Gone Troppo under way in class. L to R Janet, Judy and Helen in class, all working hard.
Helen with Bedazzled patterns
Helen’s Fanciful quilt, featured in the Quilters’ Companion Magazine has been a popular one to make.
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