Beginner Quilting Workshop

Beginner Quilting Workshop with Mary McFarlane

Instructor: Mary McFarlane
Classes: Mondays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 | 6:00-8:30 PM
Optional - Sunday, March 1, 11 AM - 1 PM class trip to Len's Mill in Guelph to pick out quilt fabric, followed by open studio (1-4 pm) cutting/prep time.

Curious about quilting but not sure where to start? This four-session beginner quilting workshop will guide you through the entire quilting process. We’ll move step-by-step in a supportive, small-group setting, focusing on foundational skills. 

For this class, we will make a scrappy patchwork quilt from square blocks, and we will build the quilt using 5" × 5" squares, which finish at 4.5" once sewn. For reference, a 10-block × 10-block quilt finishes at approximately 45" × 45". 

Included: 10 hours of in class instruction and complimentary access to our Friday and Sunday sewing sessions for the duration of your quilting class, as well as an optional class trip to Len's Mill in Guelph with Mary to do some fabric shopping. Fabric, quilt batting/binding and coordinating thread are not included. 

Supplies:
Please bring your sewing machine along with a basic sewing kit (scissors, pins, thread, seam ripper, etc.). If you have them, also bring a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and acrylic quilting ruler. If not, these tools will be available to share in the studio.

You’ll also need to bring:

• Your sewing machine 
• A walking foot compatible with your sewing machine (available locally at Triangle Sewing)
• Basting pins
• Quilt batting in the size needed for your chosen quilt. Batting should be at least 2" larger on all sides than the finished quilt top. Batting is available locally at Triangle Sewing and Len’s Mill Store.
• Fabric: quilting cotton works best, but upcycled options are welcome. Thrifted or secondhand bedsheets are a similar weight to quilting cotton and work well for quilt tops. Cotton or flannel sheets are also an excellent choice for quilt backing fabric.

Fabric requirements (using 5" squares):

• Baby quilt (36" × 45")
  • Choose one of the following options for the quilt top: (7) fat quarters OR (10) 1/4 yards OR (20) precut 10" squares OR (80) precut 5" squares OR (4) 1/2 yards
  • Backing*: 2½ yards
  • Binding*: ½ yard

• Throw quilt (63" × 72")
  • Choose one of the following options for the quilt top: (19) fat quarters OR (28) ¼ yards OR (56) precut 10" squares OR (224) precut 5" squares OR (10) ½ yards total
  • Backing*: 4 yards
  • Binding*: ½ yard

*Backing and binding fabrics won’t be needed until later in the course, so you can wait to purchase those if you prefer.

Level: This quilt is well-suited to advanced beginners and confident newcomers who are comfortable at the sewing machine. You don’t need extensive quilting experience, but you do need to feel at ease with the basics: threading your machine, sewing straight lines with reasonable consistency, and handling fabric.

Minimum 3 / Maximum 6 Students