Mid-February Event: Bernie & Shelley Tobisch

We are VERY excited to have Bernie and Shelley Tobisch of Acorn Precision Piecing and Pressing Products join us in February. Bernie and Shelley have created products that are absolute GAME CHANGERS for quilters. 

Team Tobisch will begin their week with us on February 14 as our guest speakers for the Blue Barn Quilt Guild. This guild meeting will be in-person AND on Zoom, so you won't miss a thing. Snoop through the newsletter to read about the classes they will offer and machine maintenance for the lucky few who register to have their machine serviced by the best - Bernie Tobisch. 

VERY LIMITED spots available for machine servicing, so if you're interested, don't delay.

Are you having relationship problems with your sewing machine? Is there tension in the air? Is the honeymoon over? Maybe you and your machine only need to learn how to communicate more clearly.

Let Bernie be your counsellor and help you discover how to understand what your sewing machine is trying to tell you. Learn how to get it to do what you would like it to do. End the tension filled battles, once and for all! Reconnect and grow to love your machine all over again. Together we will address tension, feeding of fabric, needle, and thread choices and do some fancy footwork! Let's get this relationship back on track!!

Join Team Tobisch for this fun and informative class. During class you will be led through the entire Easy Pinless Piecing and Press as You Go process while creating a colourful Muskrat Hollow block used in the Sorbet Table Runner.

Whether you enjoy working with modern or traditional fabrics, large, medium, small, or mini patchwork, Pinless Piecing makes every job easier and accuracy naturally occurs.

Discover new tools and techniques that make piecing with accuracy fun and easy. This class is designed for all piecers, whether a confident beginner or experienced quiltmaker.

Bernie is a sewing machine technician with 44 years of experience. He has serviced over 50,000 sewing machines of all brands, and is the author of "You And Your Sewing Machine" and "Sewing Machine Reference Tool" from C&T Publishing Register for a spot to have your machine serviced by the best! VERY LIMITED service spots available! Don't miss this opportunity!

**The maintenance fee charged is dependant on your machine type; please contact the store for more information.

Friday - Sunday, March 17-19, 2023

Limited to 12 participants

$350

INCLUDES:

• 3 full days of creative time spent with other inspirational and motivated quilters
• Presentation sessions, mini-workshop, including all supplies
• on-site massage therapist
• 5 full gourmet meals, snacks, and refreshments
• Ergonomically appointed personal sewing station with fabulous light and power
• Access to pressing and cutting stations

Rotary cutting, precise piecing, and perfect pressing - these three elements are the foundation of the quilt making process. These are pre-requisites of most projects and classes. In this class, you will learn the proper use of the rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, including safety and maintenance, while cutting strips and geometric shapes quickly and accurately.

An accurate and consistent /4" seam allowance is the key to precise piecing. Every sewing machine and 1/4" presser foot is different, but with a little set-up and practice, you will find your perfect seam allowance in no time. The final element of the patchwork process is perfect pressing (say that three times!). Learn to press your pieced units properly, avoiding puckers and pleats.

Learn to use your sewing machine to join the three layers of a quilt sandwich. Stitch quilt patterns that give the textural feel of hand quilting in a fraction of the time. Students practice machine quilting on a sample quilt sandwich using the walking foot and free-motion foot (darning foot).

If you've wanted to try hand applique, learn a new applique technique, or revisit a technique you're familiar with, then this class is for you! Learn to use the starch basting method to prepare your shapes with freezer paper templates. We will explore a few methods of making bias stems, achieving crisp points, and making applique circles.

Various methods for layering your pieces onto the background will be discussed with a focus on glue basting. We'll explore various thread options as you learn the hand applique stitch. We will work on one block from the Sweet Sixteen pattern, which will make a great wall hanging. Optionally, you can continue to complete the entire quilt or make 3 or 4 blocks for a smaller wall hanging or table runner.

Learn to use our APQS Longarm Quilting Machine so you can rent our machine and finish your own quilts. Completion of this longarm certification course is mandatory before renting our APQS machine. In this class you will learn to:

• Understand the basic operation of the longarm quilting machine
• Prepare a quilt top for longarm quilting
• Load a quilt sandwich on the frame (backing, batting, quilt top)
• Execute an easy all over pantograph pattern

This is the first pattern that Corey created in his Architecture of Canada Series. The one-day workshop introduces students to a variety of applique, design, and machine piecing and quilting techniques. The "Three Sisters" for which these houses are known as in St. John's have become iconic across Canada, and are quintessential to the movement of muti-coloured houses in the city!

Please Note: fI kits are not purchased with the pre-printed templates, tracing work is required prior to the class. Skill Level: Confident Beginner - rotary cutting & basic sewing skills required

Corey is a Sew Kind ofWonderful certified instructor, and he will show you all the tips and tricks when using the Quilt Curve Ruler as you work on twelve traditional blocks that take on a fresh modern look. Over the course of four Saturdays, Corey will guide you through the easy and effective construction method and by the end of this fun and productive workshop, you will have all 12 blocks completed to finish the 68" ×86" quilt.

This beautiful quilt pattern by Susan Smith explores a variety of techniques including machine pieced flying geese blocks, applique (hand or machine), and English Paper Piecing to showcase large florals and toiles. Small appliqued blocks form the center, which can be personalized for a unique keepsake treasure.

The interesting border of delicate applique flowers, scrappy patchwork, and large cornerstones, finishes this treasure beautifully. A template set is available for this quilt, with shapes for the various circles, rings, flying geese triangle, and a hexagon.

This half-day workshop follows the Aurifilosophy presentation so students may put into practice the technical information shared in the lecture. Students will make a Quilt-as-you-go zipper pouch along with Krista as they learn to manage machine tension, proper needle selection, stitch length, free motion or walking foot stitching strategies, hand applique, appropriate thread for decorative stitches and a lot more! The pouch is designed to show off stitch patterns in multiple weights of Aurifil thread.

Needlework samplers were an essential aspect of a girl's education. No young woman would have been deemed truly accomplished without a thorough understanding of hand stitching.

Rebecca Devaney informs us that in addition to practical training, samplers also had a role in seduction. Oh là là!

We'll be diving into the first of Rebecca's, Samplers of Seduction boxes. She calls this first box A Brief Dictionary of Stitches which is apt because learning to stitch is much like learning a language. Each stitch is a word - the more stitches we master, the richer our work becomes.

Join me for a full day of guided hand stitching.

Program Details

Each month participants will receive:

• Printed instructions & templates for 1pieced block and 1 appliqué block (you will make several of each)
• Monthly hints &tips videos (by Jen Kingwell) to help piece each block (via the group Facebook page)
• Receive free access to Jen's online hand piecing &appliqué classes

Meet 6 times through the year (in conjunction with the magazine and fabric package release) and stay motivated and inspired as you work on the project together!

Rebecca Devaney joins us from Paris for a glimpse of the Merceries of Paris, brimming with the highest quality French ribbons, yarns, threads, beads, sequins, gems and buttons. Rebecca is our tour leader of haberdasheries and specialty shops through Montmartre during our tour of France in April 2023!

Kristel Salgarollo joins us from Belgium for this entertaining retrospective of old and new quilts of modern and colourful traditional style. A world-renown quilter, Kristel is our very special facilitator of our 2-day hands-on workshop during our tour of France in April 2023!

Tuning into your own colour wisdom is an essential skill for an artist. Move beyond the colour wheel with Christina's strategies for understanding and using colour in a way that is personal and satisfying.

A certified Aurfilosopher, Krista will cover thread basics, including information on weight and ply, spool positioning, needle recommendations, and tension settings. She'll offer helpful tips and tricks, share proiects, and photos aimed to inspire and expand your use of Aurifil threads. Each attendee will be gifted with a bag of exclusive Aurifil swag!

• Registration for all workshops can be made online at www.bluebarnquiltco.com. Phone registrations are accepted with Visa or Mastercard. Payment is required at the time of registration to secure your spot in a workshop.
• Registration fees are non-refundable, however if you are unable to attend a workshop, you may ask a friend to take your place. If we have a waiting list, we will work to fill your spot, at which time your tuition will be refunded (less $10 admin fee).
• If minimum enrollment is not met, we reserve the right to cancel the class (up to one week prior), in which case your full tuition refund will be given.
• Workshop supply list will be provided at time of registration.
• Please do not purchase your materials until the workshop has been confirmed (up to one week prior).
• Due to copyright law, class participants are required to have their own copy of the pattern or book if applicable.
• No children, babies, pets, or guests permitted in class; teens 16 years and older are welcome in our adult classes.
• Workshops will start on time; please be prompt for on-time start.
• Our classroom is set up for social distancing and sanitizing products will be supplied; masks optional. Please stay home if you feel unwell. While this discipline may reduce risk, each participant assumes all risk should you be exposed to viruses.
• Classroom set-up:
  • maximum students = 8 (unless otherwise indicated)
  • individual, height adjustable table
  • ergonomic, adjustable, arms-free chair
  • 3-tier rolling cart for supplies
  • 4’ x 8’ Thermolam covered design wall
  • power outlet and extension cord
  • 2 classroom pressing stations
  • 2 classroom cutting stations
  • coffee/tea/water provided
• Please bring:
  • Lunch/snacks/lidded coffee mug
  • indoor shoes

Tour begins in Strasbourg and ends in Paris and includes:

• 2 full days hands-on retreat with a special guest instructor (Kristel Salgarollo, Belgium), hosted by Jeltje van Essen
• 2 full days at the Pour l’Amour du Fil Quiltmania Quilt Show (Nantes)
• 4 full days in Paris (including a very special textile tour through Montmartre, led by Rebecca Devaney)
• and so much more

We are very excited to offer this exclusive tour through Italy. Our itinerary has been carefully planned to include a variety of special and interesting visits, guided tours, and hands-on workshops, as well as ample free time for you to explore areas on your own. You will rest well every night in the 4-star hotels which have been meticulously chosen for their comfort and excellence in customer service.

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