There is also a workshop table before every meeting, where you can go to ask questions and register in person. You may download the pdf form here to fill out and bring to a meeting.
All meetings and workshops will be held at the West Des Moines Christian Church at 4501 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. To get there from Interstate 35, exit at Mills Civic Parkway, exit 70. Turn east onto Mills Civic Parkway and drive about 0.9 mile. The West Des Moines Christian Church will be on the north side of Mills Civic Parkway. Meetings are in the Sanctuary in Building 2 and workshops are in Building 3.
Workshops are all 9 am to 4 pm. A full day of learning & fun!*
*This year we have some half day workshops and a two-day workshops, see individual class descriptions for those time changes.
Sue Penn: January
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Workshop: Fabric Painting with Sue Penn Hands-on workshop where you’ll create three hand-painted fat quarters inspired by Sue’s designs for FreeSpirit using her signature stencils. This is a 3 1/2-hour painting-on-fabric class. Cost is $80 which includes a kit. Included in the kit are 3 fat quarters you paint on. Class size is limited to 12 per session to allow instructor attention. Everything you need is supplied — and fun is encouraged! Cost: $80 includes kit
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Catherine Redford: February
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Modern Machine Quilting (6 hours). Wednesday February 24, 9am to 4 PM
Part 1: Walking Foot Quilting Finish your quilts on a home sewing machine with the full control of a walking foot. We’ll begin with a short discussion on preparing quilt tops, including marking and basting, then stitch samples in a variety of styles, such as modern grids, matchstick quilting, and spirals. Part 2: Free Motion Quilting Experience the magic of free motion quilting. After sketching patterns on paper, we’ll lower the feed dogs and stitch on pre-made quilt sandwiches in a relaxed, judgment-free setting. Explore many designs to find the ones you love. This class gives beginning or hesitant machine quilters the confidence to go home and keep practicing. Catherine’s latest book. Highly recommended for class. She will discount for class members Cost: $65 Book recommended |
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Wool Appliqué – learn the basics and beyond. Learn the techniques required for successful whip stitch wool appliqué while working on a small piece that can be made into a needle case or pin cushion. Catherine will show you a variety of beautiful embroidery stitches to embellish and add further dimension to your project as you finish it at home. Cost: $35 Kit Fee: *$30 (*subject to change) |
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A traditional English craft experiencing a resurgence! Learn how to make functional buttons you can use to embellish your next project, wear as jewelry or just do up your cardigan… Catherine will cover the basic techniques so that everyone will be able to follow along and make their own buttons, using plastic rings and perle cotton or knitting yarn. The adventurous can add beads. Then it’s up to you! Cost: $35 Kit Fee *$20 *current kit price (May 26) subject to change |
Melissa de Leon Mason: March
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Foundation Paper Piecing Design, Wednesday, March 24, 2027. 9am-12 (3 hours) Have you ever seen an image and wanted to turn it into a sewable pattern? In this no-sew class, students will learn the principles of FPP design, covering steps from drawing to pattern design to template creation. Students will leave class with all the knowledge and skills to design their own FPP patterns. (Students should have previous experience sewing FPP). Cost: $45 No kit fee
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Mastering Foundation Paper Piecing Wednesday, March 24 1 PM to 4PM (3 hours) Learn how to foundation paper piece sharp angles and gorgeous shapes with modern botanicals. This class is great for beginners wanting to learn a new sewing skill or experienced quilters who want to hone their quilting techniques. Cost: $45. No kit fee |
Jane Sassaman: April
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Workshop starts with looking at abstract still lives by 20th century artists. Then we will simplify our subjects by cutting paper shapes to play with perspective, light and shadow and composition. Then we will transform our paper pictures into fabric appliqué. Cost $70 Kit fee none |
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Bring your favorite fabrics or purchase a Bundle from Jane’s stash of FreeSpirit designs to create one to three giant moths (approximately 27” W X 21:H each). They will be assembled using Jane’s accessible appliqué method. After class you will be able to stitch your background and apply your gorgeous critters. Cost $70 Pattern fee $18; fabric bundles for $40 ( 5 half yard cuts) will be available. But students should feel free to bring their own fabric. |
Teresa Coates: May |
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Turn Quilt to Coat –2 Day workshop Wednesday & Thursday, May 26-27, 2027. 9 AM-4 PM each day. Turn a quilt, quilted fabric—or even that vintage tablecloth hiding in your closet—into a one-of-a-kind coat you’ll want to wear Using Coates Elemental Coat pattern as the foundation. You’ll learn how to:
By the end, you’ll leave with a completed coat, including binding and customization. Teresa will arrange and facilitate a one-hour Zoom session 2-4 weeks before class to prepare students and answer questions so they can be ready to cut and sew their coats in class. Cost: $160. Pattern: $25. available at www.crinkledreams.com
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Carol Anne Grotrain: June
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Slow Stitch Inspiration Japanese Boro Wednesday, June 23, 2027. 9 AM- 4 PM Experience boro, the artful Japanese tradition of hand sewing. Born of a need to revive & reuse worn textiles, fabric scraps are patched and “mended” into renewed fabrics. Simple running stitches and sashiko thread create patterns that are elegant and complex. Boro or “country sashko” is often densely stitched. You can opt to use one of three patterns for small projects that I’ll bring to inspire you to experiment with boro. This is the Japanese tradition of mending that uses simple energetic stitches to create “new” fabric out of leftovers. Patterns will include 1) a cloth name tag, 2) a small fabric sampler book, and 3) a komebukaro or rice bag. Another option is bringing something that needs mending Bring a variety of fabrics. commercial prints, hand-dyes, etc., perhaps some with difficult to use patterns. You’re also welcome to bring a garment or object that needs upcycling. Cost: $60, Kit fee $3
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Fabric Stamping Thursday, June 27 9 AM- 4 PM Add pizzazz to the textiles in your life. Print your own unique patterns with stamps that are store bought, or fashioned from everyday objects, or quickly carved from erasers or simply constructed with glue. The materials are inexpensive and non-toxic, basic techniques are easily learned and the results are immediate. Design theory is introduced as students create their own styles from elegant restraint to outrageous and funky. Cost $60 Material Fee $10
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Ilene Bartos: July |
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This beautiful quilt teaches machine applique along with strip piecing the luminous inner borders. Finished size: 44″ x 44″. Cost: $55. Pattern $18. Optional: Kit Fee $96 |
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This 20″ x 20″ quilt, titled Fireworks, teaches an easy paper-piecing technique and the use of bias squares to create perfect half-square triangles. Cost: $40 Pattern Fee $18, Optional Kit Fee $50. |
Julia Mcleod: October |
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Participants will begin by determining the fiber content of their fabrics. The class will then cover two very different ways to work with silk: First, a very free, improvisational crazy piecing technique and second, a foundation piecing method that gives stability and ultra-precise results, even with the lightest weight silks. Working with their stash, participants will construct elements in these two techniques that can be combined into a small, pillow-sized finished piece. Cost: $60 |
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Participants will piece the traditional Pineapple block using a uniquely lightweight, printed foundation made by EZ Piecing exclusively for Julia’s classes. This light-as-a-feather product adds no extra weight or bulk to the blocks. The class will discuss color choices and careful color placement through fussy cutting. Ideal for working with silk and any fine, unstable fabrics, this class can also be taken using quilters cottons. Cost: $ 60. Kit Fee: $15 |
This machine quilting class welcomes all skill levels. Discover how to finish quilts on your home sewing machine using both walking foot and free motion techniques. Catherine will share her tips and tricks for quilting your own projects, and you’ll have time to experiment in a relaxed, judgment-free setting.
A Wool Applique Experience (3 hours). Thursday February 25 9am 12 PM
Dorset Buttons (3 hours). Thursday, February 25 1-4 PM
Domestic Bliss: Abstract Applique Still Life Wednesday, April 28, 9 am to 4 pm
Moths and Moons Thursday, April 29, 9 am to 4 pm
Fanciful Feathers. Wednesday, July 28, 2027, 9 AM- 4 PM 
Fireworks, Thursday July 29, 2027 9 AM- 12 PM
Starting with Silk, Wednesday, October 27, 2027 9 AM- 4 PM 
Piecing the Pineapple. Thursday, October 28, 2027 9 AM- 4 PM