About

During this two-day class, learn to cut and sew free-form circles. No templates or appliqué required! The result is a lively, curvy set of irregular rings and arcs that can be combined in a wide variety of ways. Especially good for quilters interested in exploring their ability to improvise with shape and color. 

• The first half day is focused on acquiring the skills needed to cut and sew arcs. 
• In the second half day, students learn more about the language of color, form, and pattern, and then use this language to improve their feedback skills. By providing feedback on their own work as well as that of their classmates, students expand their ability to make informed decisions in the process of improvisation.  
  

What Students Need to Bring to Class (Instructions from Barbara Ramsey): 

1. Fabric: You'll need to bring an assortment of fabrics in a wide range of values (light to dark) and in a wide range of colors. Bring at least 12 different fabrics: 6 larger pieces (larger = at least 12” x 12”) and 6 smaller pieces (whatever scraps you have lying around). Bring mostly tightly woven cotton quilting fabrics since it’s easier to sew curves when your fabrics are all a consistent weight. Avoid bringing those light-weight Kaffe Fassett cotton gauze fabrics; they tend to pucker when combined with other fabrics in curvilinear seams. 

When I say “bring at least 12 different fabrics”, I strongly emphasize AT LEAST, since you should bring additional fabrics if you can. I frequently hear students say, "I wish I'd brought more fabric!". You can bring odd-size scraps of various dimensions, but ideally include plenty of pieces that are at least fat quarters (18" x 22") or larger. 

Note: Some people like to bring their "ugly" fabric to experiment with (easy to chop it up and mess around with fabric you're not very attached to) while other people prefer to use really great fabric that motivates them to make something gorgeous as soon as possible. Personally, I'm in the "ugly" camp since it allows me to explore new techniques more freely, but those of you who want to bring your most sumptuous fabrics, go right ahead. Either way is fine with me, or do both. 

2. Sewing machine with supplies (thread, scissors, pins, etc.).  If you want to use a BARN Brothers Sewing Machine, you will need to have taken a Brothers Sewing Machine Orientation class prior to this workshop.  See the BARN Fiber Arts Calendar to identify upcoming Brother Sewing Machine Orientation classes.

3. Cutting equipment (rotary cutter, self-healing mat, cutting rulers of various sizes).  Please note that the BARN Fiber Arts Studio has these materials if you do not want to bring your own. 

4. Pencil and paper for taking notes

5. A free and experimental attitude!

Skill Level: Advanced beginners and intermediate quilters. No previous experience with curves necessary, but students must have at least basic quilting experience.

Ages: Ages 16+ Welcome.

Instructor Bio: Barbara Ramsey is a fabric artist who sews original abstract art works using traditional quilting techniques. Employing her own designs, she pieces  together fabric shapes with a sewing machine and by hand. Her main materials are commercially printed fabric as well as fabric she has dyed and manipulated herself.

Her work expresses her fascination with light, color, texture, materials, and process. She love the ritual of taking fabric of one color and changing it into another color with dye or bleach. She is completely absorbed by the simple acts of washing, rinsing, drying, sewing, and ironing as she pull scores of separate colors together into a single piece. Like many traditional quilters, She is devoted to precise construction. She differ from many traditional quilters in that she design and cut fabric in an effort to distort geometry. She works to create irregularity, using various shapes to impel the viewer’s eye to roam over the entire surface of the quilt, seeking the harmonies in the middle of contrast. She create her work in order to disappear into its making.

Barbara loves to teach quilting and helping other quilt artists as they move from traditional designs to more free-form creations. She feel energized as she watches her students learn to improvise with shape and line, create more surprising color combinations, and gain the confidence required to do original work.