Sunday 13 March 2022: Online Workshop (Koi Carp Quilt Sewalong: TECHNIQUES!)

Nicholas Ball - Sunday 13 March 2022 - 4.00pm to 7.00pm (GMT)

Online Interactive Workshop - Koi Carp Quilt Sewalong: The TECHNIQUES!

We're absolutely delighted to be hosting this Koi Carp Quilt Sewalong: The TECHNIQUES workshop with the wonderfully talented & hugely popular Nicholas Ball! This class complements the live sewalong Nicholas will be conducting via his Instagram account from February 2022 and will see participants learn key techniques on his latest fishy-themed offer: marvellous!

Later this month - Friday 25 March 2022 from 6.00-9.00pm (GMT) - Nicholas will be running a WHOLLY SEPARATE class which complements this Koi Carp Sewalong: The TECHNIQUES class and the social media sewalong: this wholly separate class is entitled Koi Carp Quilt Sewalong: The JIGSAW, and focuses on combining all the pieces you have made in the Koi Carp Sewalong: The TECHNIQUES class. You don't have to attend this extra Koi Carp: Jigsaw class, but if you do want to attend, please note that you won't be able to do that class unless you have invested time in this Koi Carp Techniques class or followed Nicholas on his Instagram sewalong sessions.

We hope all that's clear, but if you do have any queries at all, please email us via hello@craftymonkies.com.

Introduction by Nicholas:-

Following on from the success of the #shoalsewalong last year, I’m delighted to offer this new companion workshop to my latest #koicarpsewalong. The improv fish from my book Inspiring Improv (available via www.amazon.co.uk) have alway been popular and it was so exciting to see the many different versions created last year. Those fish focused on two main improv techniques: triangles and freehand curves. To follow on, I wanted to design a mini-quilt that allows for progression and really helps you to improve and add to your improv piecing skill set. The Koi Carp Quilt will get you really thinking outside the box to create something truly unique. It is a challenge, and one I hope you’ll enjoying attempting with me. Alongside the information on Instagram, these CraftyMonkies workshops are timed perfectly to give you all the extra hints and tips you need to sew your very own lucky Koi Carp Quilt for the year ahead.

What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

This workshop will focus on the four main techniques used to create the Koi Carp Quilt: rings, triangles, freehand curves, and slabs, and will provide extra assistance to the instructions given on Instagram. These techniques are used to make up the main section of the Koi, mainly the head, fins, body and tail. We will look at how to scale the eye to set the size for the rest of the quilt, as well as two techniques for the scales: a pieced technique and a easier appliqué technique. Due to time constraints, this workshop will not cover joining the elements together. This information can be found on Instagram during week six of the sewalong.  If you would like extra tuition for this part, you may be interested in the other companion workshop, Koi Carp Quilt Sewalong: The JIGSAW, which Nicholas will be running with CraftyMonkies on Friday 25 March 2022 from 6.00-9.00pm (GMT).

Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

The piecing of the individual elements varies in the level of skill required. The slabs and triangles are suitable for beginners, whilst the rings and curves require a little more skill. Some experience with improvised piecing would be useful, perhaps gained from one of my previous workshops, though I will be on hand to answer any and all questions. So, if you’re a confident beginner who likes a challenge, come and join me!

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

1/4 meter of iron-on fusible fabric web such as Bondaweb (needed if you want to appliqué your scales)

Whilst not essential for either the workshop or the sewalong, my book Inspiring Improv (published by Lucky Spool, 2019) will expand upon the techniques learnt and provide many more improv tips and tricks. My original Shoal Quilt is also one of the 12 projects.

Fabric requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Whilst difficult to give exact fabric amounts and measurements when sewing in an improvised way, please use the following as a rough guide. There will be lots more information about choosing fabrics for the sewalong when it starts in February, with videos and Instagram posts. For those of you that like to plan ahead, here are some appropriate quantities.

6-8 1/2 meters of solid fabric in your chosen Koi colours. I used an orange, cream, grey, and black palette.

Additional scraps from your stash in coordinating colours for accents and contrast. These can be solids or prints.

The bigger the fish you make, the more fabric you will need. There is no right or wrong size. Remember, this is your sewalong quilt, so make it how you want to! For reference, I used the above quantities to make a quilt approximately 35” x 20”.

Please don’t stress about these requirements! They are simply a guide and I’ve yet to teach a class where something couldn’t be made because of the wrong fabric pieces. If in doubt, gather up a selection of fabric in colours you like and you can cut during the workshop. Accuracy at the cutting stage is not so important using my techniques, so it won’t take long at all if you want to cut your pieces along with me.

This is a technique-based workshop. We will be learning the techniques used to make the individual sections of the Koi Carp Quilt and will have a lot of ground to cover. You may have to continue to work on the piece in your own time in preparation for joining them together.

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

• Sewing-Machine
• Good quality Thread in an appropriate weight for piecing (I recommend Aurifil 50wt)
• Rotary Cutter - with a new blade
• Cutting-Mat
• Patchwork Ruler (we can make any size work, but a 1” x 12” is handy sizes for this class)
• Fabric Scissors
• Hand Sewing Needle
• Thick Card (to make a template should you wish to appliqué the scales)
• A willingness to embrace &  explore your own creativity!

Pattern Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

N/A

Additional Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

I’m so excited to offer this workshop as an add-on to my live sewalong. It’s a great way to sew with like-minded people, inspire one another and see how all the Koi Carp Quilts are progressing!

​Tickets for this Online Interactive Workshop (via the Zoom platform) will be limited & allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! If applicable, any free pattern, or other information, relevant to this course will be forwarded to you after booking and approximately 5 days before the course date. The ticket price of £30.00 is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

This CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on Greenwich MeanTime (GMT). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location!

Ordering MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Online For Any Class/Workshop!

In light of the ongoing situation regards potential delays with supply of certain materials/fabrics/equipment from around the world due to the lasting impact of Covid-19, please ensure you book your place & order any materials/fabrics/equipment online in plenty of time ahead of course dates.

​IMPORTANT!

This class is a live Zoom Workshop ONLY! We are NOT able to offer a recorded Pay-On-Demand video for sale after this event.