Spiral Quilts Trunk Show & Lecture (1-1/2 to 2 hours)
A trunk show and/or slide show of spiral quilts demonstrating the different types of spirals and settings, followed by a simple hands-on demonstration of how to draw a spiral.

½-day Intro to Spirals Workshop (can be combined with Trunk Show/Lecture for a full day)
Learn to draw the different types of spirals and the basics of using them in a quilt design. No sewing.

Learn to draw and color a Point-to-Point spiral. Using spiral template provided, foundation-piece a 40" x 40" spiral baby quilt. The 2-day format is enough time for most quilters to complete the entire quilt top.

3-day Spiral Quilt Design Workshop
Project: Spiral+ 9-Patch Quilt
Skill levels:
Piecing - Intermediate to Advanced (foundation piecing experience helpful but not necessary)
Design - Willing to design pattern partially from scratch, choosing fabrics and colors

Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts book required

Create your own personal spiral quilt using use a simple on-point layout combining spirals with 9-patch variation blocks. This class involves a certain amount of individual design, so come with an open mind, a sense of adventure and willingness to experiment with new ideas.

Day 1: Learn to draw and color the four types of spirals, then view a slide show of spiral quilts to demonstrate single, free and flow settings for placing spirals into a quilt design. Using one of several basic quilt layouts, begin designing a quilt that combines four spiral blocks with 9-patch and 9-patch variation blocks. Day 2: Finish the design/layout, choose fabrics and prepare foundations. If time allows, begin sewing. Day 3: Sewing.

Whether or not each student finishes an entire quilt top is dependent on the skill level of the individual student and the complexity of the design, but each student will finish at least some spiral blocks, and will have acquired enough skill to finish the quilt on their own.

5-day Spiral Quilt Design Workshop
(Please see the Spiromaniacs Blog at spiromaniacs.wordpress.com for examples. If you need the key to the blog, click on the Join Mailing List button at the top of the page.)
Project: Personally-Designed Spiral Quilt
Skill levels:
Piecing - Intermediate to Advanced (foundation piecing experience helpful but not necessary)
Design - Adventurous and willing to design from scratch

Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts book required

This class emphasizes individual design, and students should come with open minds, a sense of adventure and willingness to experiment and play with new ideas.

Before class: Students should make a collection of spiral images for inspiration and bring them to class.

A pattern is not provided. Basic spiral templates will be available, but students should anticipate creating custom templates of their own.

(Students are welcome to use EQ in the class, but they must bring their own computer and a means of printing templates, and must be experienced and comfortable using the program to draw and use spiral templates. Instructions for drawing spirals in Electric Quilt are available in the book and students should be comfortable with them before coming to class. This is not a class to teach EQ, but rather to focus on designing with spirals. If you are interested in a course specifically on spiral techniques in EQ, please see Spiral Quilt Workshops Using Electric Quilt below.)

Day 1: Begin with a slide show of spiral quilts to inspire you, then learn to draw and color the various types of spirals. Learn the difference between self-contained spiral blocks and linking spiral blocks. Explore free, flow and combination settings to incorporate spirals into a quilt design. Begin sketching ideas. Day 2: Learn about applying color to spiral design. Explore hue, value and contrast, gradations and dimension, solids vs. prints, color-blending and scale. Continue working on design/layout, choose fabrics. Day 3: Finalize layout, color and fabric color. Prepare foundations. If time allows, begin sewing. Days 4 & 5: Guided sewing and/or design.

Whether or not each student finishes an entire quilt top is dependent on the complexity of the design and the skill level of the student, but each student will assemble enough of the quilt to acquire the skills to finish it on their own.

Spiral Quilt Workshops using Electric Quilt and PhotoShop

Designing Spiral Quilts in Electric Quilt (3-day or 5-day Workshop)
(Please see the Spiromaniacs Blog at spiromaniacs.wordpress.com for examples. If you need the key to the blog, click on the Join Mailing List button at the top of the page.)
Project: Personal Spiral Quilt Design in EQ
Skill levels:
EQ – Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Piecing – Intermediate (foundation piecing experience helpful but not necessary)
Design – Adventurous and willing to design from scratch

Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts book required

This is primarily a design class, and involves only enough sewing to teach you the skills to construct spiral blocks on your own. Students should come with open minds, a sense of adventure and willingness to experiment with new ideas. This is not a beginning class to teach EQ, but rather a class to learn to use EQ to design spiral quilts. Students must be comfortable before class with these basic skills in EQ: opening and saving a file; drawing a block in EasyDraw; coloring a block; setting up a quilt layout; placing blocks in a quilt layout; coloring a quilt layout, including global coloring and global replacement coloring.

Before class: Students should make a collection of spiral images for inspiration and bring them to class.

Day 1: Begin with a slide show of spiral quilts to inspire you, then learn to draw the various types of spirals in EQ, and develop an understanding of what EQ can and can’t do. Understand the difference between self-contained spiral blocks and linking spiral blocks. Explore free, flow and combination settings to incorporate spirals into a quilt design. Day 2: Learn about applying color to spiral design. Explore hue, value and contrast, gradations and dimension, solids vs. prints, color-blending and scale. Begin choosing fabrics. Day 3: Finalize design and fabric choices. Print foundations. Begin sewing. Days 4 & 5: Guided design and sewing. 

The 3-day workshop allows time to begin sewing a spiral block, learning the skills necessary to finish the quilt on their own. The 5-day workshop includes additional time for guided design and sewing.

Designing Spiral Quilts in Electric Quilt and PhotoShop (5-day Workshop)
(Please see the Spiromaniacs Blog at spiromaniacs.wordpress.com for examples. If you need the key to the blog, click on the Join Mailing List button at the top of the page.)
Project: Your Personal Spiral Quilt
Skill levels:
EQ – Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Piecing – Intermediate to Advanced (foundation piecing experience helpful but not necessary)
Design – Adventurous and willing to design from scratch

Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts book required

See the description for Designing Spiral Quilts in Electric Quilt (3-day Workshop). This workshop covers the same ground as the 3-day workshop, with additional time for PhotoShop design techniques and guided sewing.

Day 1: Begin with a slide show of spiral quilts to inspire you, then learn to draw the various types of spirals in EQ, and develop an understanding of what EQ can and can’t do. Understand the difference between self-contained spiral blocks and linking spiral blocks. Explore free, flow and combination settings to incorporate spirals into a quilt design. Day 2: Learn how to go beyond the limits of EQ to create custom designs in PhotoShop. Day 3:  Begin learn about using color in spiral design. Explore hue, value and contrast, gradations and dimension, solids vs. prints, color-blending and scale. Day 4:  Finalize design and choose fabrics. Print foundations. Begin sewing. Day 5: Guided sewing.

Whether or not each student finishes an entire quilt top is dependent on the complexity of the design and the skill level of the student, but each student will assemble enough of the quilt to acquire the skills to finish it on their own.

Other Workshops (Not Spirals)

Mariner's Compass In A Day (1 day Workshop)
Project: Mariner's Compass 40" quilt
Skill Level: Beginner

The Mariner's Compass has traditionally been one of the most complex and challenging quilts to make. But no more! Using simple fuse-and-machine-applique technique, assemble a 40" square Mariner's Compass quilt in practically no time at all. You'll have the top completed by the end of the day. Students should be comfortable with a sewing machine and rotary cutting tools. There is no complicated piecing, so this is a good class for beginners.  Note to presenters: There MUST be a minimum of one iron for every two people enrolled in the class.

For Schedule & Pricing please contact RaNae at ranaequilts@hotmail.com