2024 is already looking like another exciting year ahead for us here at CraftyMonkies! Not only are we bringing back some regular tutors who you have grown to love, with new and exciting classes and retreats, but we're also bringing some brand-new faces to our ever growing stable. The wonderfully taleneted Cindy Grisdela is joining us in March 2024 with a second class, her hugely inspirational Go Wild with Prints and Solids workshop - read on to find out more about this latest offering from Cindy herself!...

 

Introduction by Cindy:-

I’ve always loved curves, but using patterns or templates to make them match exactly wasn’t my cup of tea. Enter my Improv Curve technique, which embraces the wonkiness of freehand cutting, using your rotary cutter like a drawing tool. And in this class, you don’t have to choose between solids and prints—we’re going to use both to create a wild and wonderful design. Once you learn the technique, you can use it for all kinds of projects—from large quilts to small wall hangings to pillow cushions or table runners. You may never look at curves in the same way again!

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What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Mix your favorite prints with solids or “reads as solids” small prints like tone on tone or grunge to create a fun Improv quilt design that maximizes the wonderful qualities of each type of fabric. You will learn how to cut curves freehand, without a pattern or template, and how to combine them in different color combinations to create the design. The class will include discussions about color and pattern, as well as design options to create your own composition. Best of all, there’s no way to make a mistake in my Improv classes! If your elements don’t end up to the size you intended, I have lots of tricks to make things work without unstitching or starting over.

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Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

This workshop is suitable for all skill levels!

 

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Whilst not essential for the workshop, Cindy Grisdela’s Adventures in Improv Quilts (C&T Publishing 2021) expands on the Improv Curve technique and also includes other techniques that students can use to explore other design possibilities further after class.

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Fabric requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Fabric:-

• 6-8 fat quarters of different colorful prints

• 8-10 fat quarters of solid or “read as solid” fabrics that coordinate with the prints, OR

• a variety of scraps that are at least 8” square.

• This amount of fabric will make a small/medium wall hanging. If you want to make a larger quilt, you’ll need more fabric at home. Or if you just want to learn the technique, scraps are perfectly fine.

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Remember to include a variety of values - light, medium and dark.

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Remember this is an Improv process, so if you just want to come to class with fabrics that make you happy and decide at the time what to use, that’s absolutely fine. You don’t have to cut any fabric beforehand, but if you want to dive right in during class, you could cut a few 8” squares ahead of time.

 

Equipment requirements relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

• Sewing Machine

• Neutral Thread for Piecing

• Rotary Cutter with a new blade

• Patchwork Ruler – recommend 9” square

• Cutting Mat

• Thread snips

• Seam ripper (we hopefully won’t be using this much!)

• Pins if you use them

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Pattern requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Not applicable to Cindy's Improv process!

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Tickets for this Online Demonstration (via the Zoom platform) will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! The ticket price of £35.00 (approx $40.00) 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 Greenwich Meantimee (GMT). 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/

 

Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone? Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news! This class is being recorded and a link will be sent to all classmates a few days after the class, so you can watch in your own time!

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