Carl Brown, one of our latest teachers to join the CraftyMonkies stables returns with his second brand NEW class! In his first class (see above listing: Saturday 27 April 2024, 4.00pm-7.00pm, BST) Carl taught our students how to create a Tool Box of 'Improv' parts and this class you'll use those parts to make an interesting quilted piece. It's not essential that you took the first part (you could however rent it from our online video store if you want to!)  but for this class you will need to have some pieces ready. Here's Carl to tell you more...

Introduction by Carl:-

As a fibre artist, I've  has been sewing and quilting for about 5 years. Like many fibre artists I began with simple traditional quilt patterns and then began to create more complex abstract and improvisational work utilising his own designs. I have a tremendous fascination with colour, shapes and especially an appreciation with curve improvisation fibre work. My techniques include improv quilting, appliqué and appli-piecing, as well as both machine and long arm quilting. Perhaps one of my best skills is completing the improv work at hand by fitting all those pieces into a final product. I've been a student with numerous well known quilting instructors to include Nancy Crow, Sheila Framton Cooper, and Irene Roderick.

In my history as a fibre artist, I've had several quilts juried into national and international shows. Recently I was named 'Emerging New Artist' at Interpretations 2023 at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego. I've been juried into International Quilt Show, Road to California semi-finalst the last two years, Quiltcon, Mancuso’s Quiltfest shows, and numerous American Quilt Society shows as well. Internationally, I was juried into Salon Pour l’Amour du Fil, in Nantes, France. I also have won awards for my fibre art, so I'm proud as punch and really want to teach you what I've learnt, I'm very passionate about it!

Besides being a fibre artist, I'm also known as Dr. Carlton 'Carl' G. Brown, RN, PhD, FAAN as a long-term oncology nurse, researcher, book author, and health care executive. I'm the editor of an award-winning textbook for oncology nurses and patients with cancer and I've cared for patients with cancer for 30 plus years.

What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Creating The Piece - in this workshop (Class Two) we will take all the pieces we made in Class One, plus any other pieces students might have made and place those into a piece. If you didn't take Class One on 27 April 2024, you will need to come to this class with 5-6 different improv pieces, to include Lines (straight, curved, skinny), stripes (easy, complex, and curved), curves (simple and complex), checkerboards, log cabin squares and triangles. Please have them made in different colours.

NOTE: Shortly after it has aired on Zoom on Saturday 27 April 2024, you will be able to rent Carl's first class in the CraftyMonkies Video Store if you want to create the Improv Toolbox workshop or just turn up with your assorted pieces.

While this might seem like the easy part, sewing bits together, this can be an area where many students can find themselves way off track. You can't just sew everything together because many of your pieces will be different sizes so we need to work towards a cohesive piece, it will be so exciting because everybody's work will be different, which means there will be lots of discussions and lots to learn from each other...

We'll work towards a finished product with a discussion of how to sew everything together, with special emphasis on avoiding Y seams and unusual shapes There will also be some discussion of the use of negative space, perhaps using some fabric prints to add motion, and the plan to finalize the work. I just can't wait to see your work and start creating. 

Let's do this!...

Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Advanced Beginner - able to work their own sewing machine, sew a scant 1/4” seam, and use a rotary cutter safely.

Material Requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

The student will need:-

• Sewing Machine that sews a straight stitch, preferably with a knee lift (not mandatory).

• A few appropriate sewing needles

• Thread for sewing - Carl's favourite is 50 wt Aurifil Dove Grey (2600) but any thread that the student has familiarisation with will do.

• Rotary Cutter - Carl's favourite is a 60” with safety but 45” will do just as well.

• Newly inserted Rotary Cutter Blade.

• A pair of Sewing Scissors, preferably ones only used primarily for cutting fabric 

• Some form of Design Board that we can stick our created Improv pieces too - but no worries as a 30" x 30” piece of leftover batting or flannel will work nicely.

Fabric Requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

The 'Improv Toolbox' pieces you created in the first class in April or a variety of improv pieces as mentioned above (any fabric will do, leftover scraps, fat quarters, or yardage). I mostly use solid colours as that is part of the modern definition, and maybe a few striped or checked prints. You might want to come with one family colour, like say lime and then also brings other green colours and maybe yellow, plus some white and black colours as well. Unless you are going for that effect, avoid holiday colours like Halloween (orange, black, white) or Christmas (red, green, and white)

Equipment Requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

See Material Requirement listing above to include a Sewing Machine that does a simple straight stitch, and knowledge of how to use that machine!...

Tickets for this Online Interactive Workshop (via the Zoom platform) will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! Any 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 £35.00 is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

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This CraftyMonkies online interactive workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on British Summer Time (BST). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location! Here's a great world time zone reference:-

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com

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IMPORTANT!!!

This class is being recorded for all participants who buy a ticket. We will send you the recording a few days after class via email and a private YouTube link to watch for a further 30 days (even if you don't attend you will still get the recording as long as you have purchased a ticket!)