Wednesday April 24, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM; Pat Pauly – The New Big Leaf
In this workshop Pat Pauly instructed us on using freezer paper to form a design template that would be used for a final 24″x24″ hanging. Or combine this design with three additional blocks to make a stunning art quilt. Pat Pauly showed us how to transfer a line drawing into templates, how to choose fabric and colour, and assemble this “Big Leaf”. The class taught us how to translate our own designs using this freezer paper method.
Friday March 8, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM; Cristina Arcenegui Bono – Borders and Sashing Galore
Cristina showed us how to create unique borders (wide and narrow) and sashing motifs for our quilts. With very little marking we learned how to tackle wide borders very easily. There was time to practice during the workshop and we left the class with plenty of designs to try on our next quilt.
Thursday February 29, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Cristina Arcenegui Bono – Frolic Forest
Students learned a quick and easy way method to appllique and “trapunto” all at the same time. Students finished the day with a beautiful and colourful mini quilt, and with a lot of texture
Wednesday January 24th, 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Veruschka Zarate – Window into the Soul
This workshop focussed on Foundation Paper Pieicing (FPP) as Veruschka Zarate walked us through her beginner FPP pattern. The pattern is only ONE paper pattern, there was no need to sew seams to other pieces. Most students finished this project during the session
Wednesday November 29, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Johanna Masko – Patchwork Pro
Secrets of Patchwork Pro offered a hands-on workshop exploring the technical side of patchwork construction, from recognizing the underlying grid structure of traditional patchwork. Johanna completed a sampler quilt of 111 different 6″ blocks by using every piecing trick and Quilt Math formula she knew and inventing some along the way. She shared this knowledge doing this workshop
Thursday November 23, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Johanna Masko – Herringbone Patchwork
Herringbone Patchwork uses “partial seams” to create a clean woven appearance to this beautiful brick-like setting. The workshop started with a simple practice block before starting work on a larger piece of patchwork. This technique is extremely scrap-friendly, so quilters can feel free to incorporate a wide variety of their favourite fabrics.
Wednesday October 25, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Melissa Marginet – Modern Quilting with your Walking Foot
In this workshop Melissa guided us to make samples of different quilting ideas that can be executed on the home sewing machine with a walking foot. We prepared small sandwiches upon which we created samples of walking foot designs. We learned what makes each design successful, and looked at variations of the designs we stitched.
Thursday October 19, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Melissa Marginet – Wonky Wedges
In the Wonky Wedges workshop we made a quilted panel and that will turn it into a cushion. We used improv quilt piecing and a quilt-as-you-go method to create a panel for the front of the cushion. Then Melissa showed us different ways of embellishing the panel with hand or machine stitching. She gave us instructions on preparing a back for our cushion using the leftovers from our fat quarters.
Saturday October 14, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Mary Elizabeth Kinch – Foothills
Mary Elizabeth Kinch taught us that Antique quilts have so much to teach us! Studying the late 1800’s Canadian antique quilt, that she made her quilt after, she saw that it was chock-a-block with interesting design elements and delightful quirks. In this class we discovered how one can use these same intriguing details to use in our own version.
The class also included a novel approach to construction and we learned the important lessons this quilt has on the role of value, the impact of colour, and how sashing can be a game changer.
Sunday April 23, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Naomi Smith – Strawberry Emery
Naomi Smith instructed us how to work with a variety of beads, fabric and emery powder to create our very own Strawberry Emery that was both functional and beautiful. Students should be able to complete this project in the workshop.
Tuesday March 28, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM: Valerie Goodwin – Mapping Personal Places
In this workshop Valerie taught how to make a simple stitched map of a place that is special to you – WHERE YOU LIVE. To make this map, one can use simple hand & machine stitches combined with silk organza, opaque fabric, and a bit of paint. The goal is to create a small fibre art map that is 8″ x 8″ to 11″ x 11″
She also showed how to use the internet to find maps that will serve as a starting point. We learned how to see the potential of variations on the techniques she taught
Tuesday February 28, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM: Linda Sullivan – Strippin’ + Stitching with Paint Box
In this workshop Linda taught easy strip piecing and triangles combined with her tips and tricks to allow students a stress free project to perfect their 1/4″ seam and cut the triangle shapes while making this fun and exiting new strip quilt. Additionally pulling together the supplies for this workshop couldn’t be easier: just one 2 1/2″ strip roll plus two 1- yard cuts of coordinating fabric is all that is needed for this 48″ x 48″ quilt!
Saturday February 25, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM: Linda Sullivan – Colourbugs + Curves
Starting in the morning Linda guided students through her liberating and fancy free slash ‘n sew improv technique while making cute colour bug blocks – no 1/4″ seams to follow, no rules and stress free piecing. Next in part two, she guided students through sewing perfect curves with her handy tips and tricks – after a few practice blocks, students were sure to conquer their fear of sewing curves with no tears. Both techniques came together in one workshop while working on this cute ladybug quilt!
Saturday November 19 & 26, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon: Marie-Claire Charette – 7 Quilt As You Go Techniques
It is hard to squeeze in a big quilt through the opening of a sewing machine but you can quilt it section by section and then assemble your quilt.
In this workshop, we learned the advantages of each of 7 QAYG techniques, how to choose the best technique to achieve the result you want, how to adapt a regular pattern into a QAYG and get stunning results.
At the end of the workshop we had made a sample of each of the techniques so that we could assemble a binder with examples of each of the 7 techniques.
Saturday and Sunday October 22 & 23, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon: Jen Houlden – Mini Bargello Sunflower
In this class Jen Holden guided us in exploring the world of colour to create a colour run using light, medium and dark valued fabrics. Working with colour runs and strip sets, we created a Bargello run for the appliqué pieces rather than using just one piece of fabric for the appliqué We learned how to finish off the flower and add detail to each petal by using the technique of free motion zigzag.
Wednesday October 19, 2022, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM: Jen Houlden – Icons in the Landscape
In this workshop Jan Houlden taught how to transform an icon into an amazing art quilt using a variety of fabrics and techniques. Many icons are seen on the landscape that surround us. Work with traditional fabrics such as cotton and batiks or be adventurous and try out non traditional fabrics such as silk, upholstery fabric and other fabrics with interesting textures to create these great icons.
Thursday May 19, 2022, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM: Robin Bogaert – Quilting with Rulers on Domestic Machines
This workshop taught us to understand how to work with rulers for domestic sewing machines. We were shown how to master setting up our sewing machine and ruler foot. Handouts and tips for success were shared along with step by step instructions for each style of ruler. Demonstrations and practise time was allowed for students to create additional patterns to make the most of using their rulers. All makes and models of machines were welcome. Must be able to lower feed dogs.
Tuesday April 26th, 2022, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Christina Cameli – Magic Triangles
Chistina Cameli showed us how to use a 10 degree wedge ruler to make a versatile block full of potential! We learned block construction and how to use design sheets to experiment with layouts and color placement, then getting started making the magic. She offered advice in colour choices, design and cutting during the first half of the workshop after which we progressed to piecing.
Saturday April 23rd, 2022, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Christine Cameli: Combining Designs (aka “Wild Quilting”)
In this intermediate free-motion quilting class we learned how to combine multiple free-motion designs into complex arrangements. We were taught four basic approaches to joining simple elements into unique, organic works. Christina demonstrated techniques and guided us through trying them in our own style.
Tuesday March 29, 2022, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 pm: Carolina Oneto: Curves and Transparencies
This afternoon we learned to design and make a mini quilt in this half day workshop. Carolina talked about Color Theory and how we can create a transparency effect with color and fabrics. She taught us how to create and piece our design using freezer paper in order to cut fabrics with complex shapes and to join these curved shapes by machine.
Saturday March 26, 2022 – 9:00 am – 12:00 Noon, Carolina Oneto: Organic Shapes
In this class Carolina taught us how to make curved shapes with our sewing machine! It is not Appliqué. In addition, she showed us 3 variants of these forms (one form on top of another, one form next to another and one form within another) and shared ideas to inspire us in our next creations!
Saturday February 26, 2022 9:30am-4:30pm, Brandy Maslowski Workshop: Colourways
Create a beautiful fibre art piece to mount on any size canvas or wood panel. Dive into those favourite batiks that you tuck away into your stash and never cut up! This class gets you to pull out all of your precious scraps and play with colour. Watch the patterns weave in and out with gorgeous simplicity adding fibre, embellishments and fancy stitches along the way. Students finish this workshop with an art piece complete and ready to hang on the wall.
Tuesday February 22, 2022 9:30am-4:30pm, Brandy Maslowski Workshop: Healing Stitches
Join Brandy for a day of healing through stitch. We’ll explore words, phrases, or even a small poem about what you do in life that heals you most and incorporate that into a take home fibre art piece. You’ll learn couching, hand stitches, beading and how to mount a small piece as fibre art. The gentle motion and creative freedom of stitching, beading and design will leave you feeling as though you’ve had a creative healing retreat right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of your daily life.
Tuesday November 23, 2021 9:30am-3:30pm, Cheryl Arkison: Scraptastic!
Don’t throw away your little scraps! Those bits and pieces have excellent potential, this class will show you how to use every last scrap. Discusses sorting and storing, in addition to numerous exercises to truly embrace your scraps.
Saturday November 20, 2021 9:30am-4:30pm, Cheryl Arkison: Make words not war
Say what you want to say, but say it in a quilt. From simple holidays greetings to profound statements, use words in quilts to convey your message. This class covers planning and construction for any letter. This is an improv technique. Fabric selection and value are also discussed in the class.
Saturday October 23, 2021 9:30am-4:30pm, MJ Kinman Workshop: Bite Sized Gem Quilts
Using the design and piecing techniques MJ relies on to create her diamond portraits, students will create their own singularly beautiful work of faceted light.
Learn to create a freezer paper pattern based on mock-up of a bite-sized gem provided by MJ, understand how fabric affects the flow of light and colour and assemble the fabric facets to create your own 18” square mini quilt.
- Full day class
- Skill level: confident beginner – advanced
- $75 for members, $85 for guests
Saturday September 25, 2021 1-3pm, Mel Beach Workshop: Mini Workshop – Design by Dice
Summer holidays may be behind us, but the fun isn’t over yet! Get your creative juices flowing during this quilty play time with your stash and fellow guild members. As we move into fall, this mini workshop is sure to be just the thing to bring your sew-jo back and inspire new ideas for the cooler months spent at our machines ahead!
Add a playful twist of inspiration to your quilt designs through the use of dice! Mel will introduce how she uses dice to challenge herself and explore new design combinations in terms of color schemes, elements of art, design principles, block orientation, and quilting motifs. Then it will be our turn to roll the dice and play with these concepts through several hands-on exercises!
http://york-heritage-quilters-guild.square.site
Workshop Wednesday May 19, 2021 9:30am-3:30: Riffing on Tradition – Exploring Design Elements with Quilt Blocks
Using traditional quilt blocks as a foundation, explore new territory in making contemporary quilts. Learn how to take simple, traditional quilt blocks and blow them up, repeat them, distort them, and create fabulous new compositions.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75, non-members $85
Workshop Saturday May 29, 2021, 9:30am-3:30: Lines & Triangles = Squares
Be empowered to take the basic shapes of patchwork to a new level. Learn how to create improvisationally cut and pieced stripes. Then learn how to turn these “stripes” into traditional patchwork shapes.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75, non-members $85
Workshop Saturday April 24, 2021, 9:30am to 3:30pm: Gail Garber – Asymmetry in Quilt Design
Create a unique twist on tradition! Asymmetric design in stars, borders, and backgrounds using simple techniques. 6 Hour Drawing class: no fabric required and no UFO to take home, just new designs for your tool kit. A comprehensive how-to workbook and a foundation piecing demonstration will help you to understand these techniques.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75 + $15 Workbook Fee, non-members $85 + $15 Workbook Fee.
Workshop Tuesday April 27, 2021 9:39am to 3:30pm: Gail Garber – Little Goose, Little Goose, Fly Away Home
Learn how to create this charming house block with a flying goose insert in a fun, one day class. The class is designed for students of all skill levels who wish to learn Gail’s creative design and piecing processes and techniques in a low stress, easy to finish class! Students will get an introduction to original design concepts and have detailed instruction in freezer paper piecing techniques and curved seam piecing
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75 + $25 Pattrn & Workbook Fee, non-members $85 + $25 Pattern & Workbook Fee.
Workshop Saturday March 27, 2021: Sandra Johnson – Re-Purposed Denim Into A Quilt
In this workshop participants will learn to deconstruct old denim jeans into new and beautiful quilts. During this workshop participants will learn how to save all those favorite pockets, zippers, grass stains, and rips to make them into a very warm and useful one-of-a kind quilt.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75, non-members $85
On-Line Workshop Saturday Feb 20 and Sunday Feb. Feb 21, 2021: Cityscape Improv
In this class students will learn a new approach to deconstructing/improv strip piecing and create a late summer’s eve cityscape, including bright lights, dark skies and modern tower blocks, filling this quilt in a modern way with a new approach to quilting I call Overlay Quilting.
Students will explore value, learn how to Improv strip-piece and build dark skies and modern tower blocks and will complete making their quilt top. In the afternoon students will learn several modern quilting motifs including grid work, matchstick and overlay quilting. This workshop provides a great space for exploring freedom of choice. All students are encouraged to work past the guidelines and create a one of a kind 18-inch square modern quilt. Having the workshop over two days allow students more time for sewing.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75 + $25 Kit Fee, non-members $85 + $25 Kit Fee. Kits will be delivered or mailed to registrants before the class. Kits are available in two colour choices – Blue/Teal (as above) or Grey/Tan (left).
On-Line Workshop November 21, 2020: Karen K. Stone – English Paper Piecing by Machine
Do you love but avoid the traditional one-patch? Handwork is wonderful, but let’s explore an innovative machine technique, useful for any pattern that would be English paper pieced, without compromising the integrity of the original. We begin with hexagons, then move quickly to a Sunburst star (like in the pictured quilt, simplified for class). You’ll enjoy having this in your bag of tricks!
Supply list: 10-15 fat quarters (or equivalent) from stash, some of which should read solid.
Workshop Fee: YHQG Guild Members $75, non-members $85
Workshops scheduled for March, April, May, September and October 2020 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
In-person Workshop February 2020, Shirley Dawson – Wool Appliqué Pillow/Wall Hanging
Learn how to transfer patterns, use raw edge appliqué on rich felted wools and hand sew decorative stitches to add dimension, detail and contrast to your one-of-a-kind project. Kit fee: $25
Workshop November 19 and 20, 2019 Sandra Bruce: Material Matrix
This two-day class involves interpreting a gridded photograph with fabric. This process is different from other gridded photograph methods in that it involves piecing and a loose, representational style. Learn this technique, how to choose a good photo, colour, value, curved piecing and how to grid your own photos at home. All students will work on “Wake Up Cup” design in class. Supply fee: $5
Workshop November 21, 2019, Sandra Bruce – The ABC’s of Stitching Words
Learn how to create letterforms with your own sewing machine. Using free-motion stitching, explore and practice how to connect letters and arrange them to sign your quilts, create labels and/or create a special message within your quilt.
Workshops with Tamara Kate:
October 15, 2019 – Making a Traditional Block Modern
Many traditional quilt patterns have stood the test of time because they are based on strong, basic building blocks with simple construction. Learn tricks with colour, fabric choices and fresh placement to make these blocks into dynamic, fresh quilts that get you off the beaten track. Flying Geese Ruler fee: $19
October 16, 2019 – Colour, Value and Half-square Triangles
Learn how to use all those prints and/or solids in your scrap bin — and the basic half-square triangle block — to make a one of a kind quilt that is uniquely you.
October 17, 2019 – Embroidery for Today
Embracing traditional methods of hand embellishment in a modern way will add texture, colour and personality to a sampler stitched on one of Tamara’s printed, illustrated designs. Kit Fee: $6
Workshop September 2019, Jeannie Jenkins – English Paper Piecing Gone Wild
Jeannie will share her expertise as a professional paper piecer to teach various techniques for piecing hexies, English Paper Piecing style. Learn what works for you using her charming new pattern.
Workshops with Cindy Grisdela:
April 17, 2019 – Free Motion Machine Quilting
Students will learn a variety of stitch motifs to use with a regular sewing machine and add interesting texture, including spirals, pebbles, fans, seashells, and waves. We’ll use squares of felt to experiment with different stitching techniques and motifs. Students must be comfortable using their machines and have the ability to lower the feed dogs.
April 17, 2019 – “Take the Fear out of Curved Piecing”
Make a modern Drunkard’s Path – style table runner with no pins and no matching seams. This technique also works for pillows and small wall hangings. Fabrics can be solids or patterned.
April 16, 2019 – “Focus on the Improv Block”
Make an Improv Block the center of your composition and add your own borders–maybe curved strips or asymmetrical open space–it’s completely up to you to make your quilt your own. This process can be adapted to any size quilt–use your imagination! We will discuss the improv block technique using scraps and different ways to set the block into an interesting design with border options. Colour choice and design principles will be explored, as well as quilting and finishing ideas.
Workshop March 19, 2019, Terry Aske – “Pet Portrait from a Photo”
Create a quilted pet portrait from your own photo, or use Terry’s Border Collie pattern. Participants will be able to get a good start on their pet portrait during a 1-day workshop.
Workshop March 20, 2019, Terry Aske – “Architectural Art Quilts from Photos”
Learn how to create a realistic pictorial quilt from your own photo of a building or other architectural structure. Participants will use their own full-size pattern from their own photo. The workshop will cover various techniques – freezer-paper templates, piecing, folded-edge appliqué and fused appliqué. We will discuss the importance of value in selecting fabrics. Participants should be able to leave the workshop with a planned and partially completed project.
Optional Pattern Preparation Fee: $20+
Workshop Nov 21, 2018: Bethany Garner – “Flat Dyeing to Quilt”
Whether you love deep darks or brights, you experience the fun of dyeing your own beautiful and original fabric for quilts! You will learn to dye “on the table and out of the container” which will be an exciting alternative to the messy and often unpredictable bags and dye pots. In this Full Day workshop, students will dye up to 10 half-metre pieces (up to 5 metres) of gorgeous multicoloured OMBRE 100% cotton fabric. This is an experience for everyone and not just the experienced dyer!
A student supplies fee includes the PROCION MX dyes and auxiliaries, a comprehensive handout package and many recipes to help you stir up a brilliant rainbow of multi-coloured fabrics. Supply Fee: $20
Workshop Nov 20, 2018: Bethany Garner – “Sea Garden Pouches”
Make a gorgeous, small collaged piece using fabric scraps — silks, cottons and maybe your hand-dyed fabrics, threads, in-class created paper beads etc. for the body of the piece.
You will then bead and embroider with threads, silk ribbons, metallic threads, etc., to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Machine stitching is welcome, but this piece can be totally hand sewn. Your finished piece can be a small bag or a wall hanging. Patterns for base bags, bag handles and your supplies list for the bag or your wall piece which can be framed will be included with the $15.00 supply fee.
Workshop Oct 16, 2018: Karen K. Buckley – “Bluebird of Happiness – Hand Appliqué”
You will learn a lot as you sew in this class. You will learn how to make perfect points, perfect circles, perfect ovals, smooth curves, smooth stems, some hand embroidery and just for added fun…..a little reverse appliqué. The inside appliqué area is 14”x 14”. With the additional black border area the piece finishes at 20” x 20”.
Pattern Plus Supplies Fee $20.00US
October 17, 2018: Karen K. Buckley – “Circles Squared Machine Appliqué“
This is a really fun machine appliquéd wall quilt. You will learn to make sharp points, smooth curves, perfect circles, straight and even stems and there is a little reverse appliqué for some added fun. The technique taught is a prepared edge method using an invisible stitch.Pattern Plus Supplies Fee $30.00US
York Heritage Quilters Guild 
