Classes

Information about classes has been updated today 17th March 2012.

Smocking Class

We have been asked many times to hold a class in Smocking, so here it is, you will learn about suitable fabrics, how to pleat using dots and a pleating machine, the embroidery stitches and threads as well as a few tips on making up a garment.

We are currently taking expressions of interest, the class will be limited in numbers so registrations will be on a first come first serve basis and will be held initially on Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm

If you would like to learn to smock contact Yvonne at Sawmillers

Beginners Class

This is a 4 week class and is held through out the year,  learn how to select fabric, store it, to wash or not to wash, cutting accurately using a rotary cutter on a self healing mat, sewing the all important 1/4″ Seams, handling seams, selecting batting, and basic quilting and lots more helpful tips. Great class to start your piecing and quilting journey with.  Taken by Yvonne.

Baltimore Quilt Class

Isn’t this a fabulous quilt?
We shall be holding this course from Friday 16th March through to Friday 16th November, monthly except in July 6.30pm – 8.30pm. 8 Classes in total
Why not take the opportunity to come along & learn Applique, Needleturn, Reverse etc,Bias Stems,Ribbon Flowers, Ruched Roses just to name a few of the techniques you will learn.
The requirements for this quilt are minimal once you have the base fabric, which will be available at Sawmillers. Cost $160.00 plus supplies,50% Deposit, Remaining 25% at 1st lesson & Final 25% at 4th Lesson Tutor Judy Betts .

I SPY QUILT

This quilt has been designed to allow you to use up those 5” charm squares you cannot resist collecting.   I spy quilts are known for their appeal to children but do not let that stop you from using themed fabric you have collected. Other ideas for this quilt are fabrics in collections of:

fruit and vegetables            Christmas
food                                       flowers and fauna
cat or dog fabric                  oriental fabrics
bugs and butterflies           ocean theme

Saturday 10th March   10.00am – 4.30pm    

Class Fee  $60.00

Wallet Class

Sawmillers is really pleased to welcome a new tutor Amber Donaldson  this year, Amber is a school teacher by profession so is well versed in how to teach effectively so if you would like to make a really cool wallet for yourself and a gift for a special person in your life. The Funky Fabric wallet is fun to create. Have fun with your fabric choices… even the most unlikely matches of fabric create stunning effects together. The zippy wallet is the perfect sized gift to post a friend in an envelope for 60 cents.. another fun project to explore fabric combinations with. You will learn two easy zip techniques and an easy gathering technique. Fitting a magnetic clasp is simple and effective and I guarentee you will fall in love with a snapper machine after doing this class. Come along and have a fabulous day sewing.

Class Date

Saturday 24th March   10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee  $60.00

Beyond Meander

Are you getting a little tired of stippling or meander? Do you want to move on and use exciting new free motion filler patterns? Come and learn how to fill that background space creatively, using a variety of negative space designs.
This is a day of exploration and play, and a good way to improve your free-motion machine quilting and build up your skills. You will quilt many different background filling designs with free-motion machine quilting, and others based on a grid, to build up a reference sample library for future quilts. You will also learn how to customize your own designs. We will also discuss stopping and starting, needles and different threads for your machine quilting. We are very happy to welcome Chris Kenna back to Sawmillers.

Sunday 25th March 10.00am – 4.30pm  Class Fee $70.00

Colour Your World

Do you want to learn more about colour? Would you like to learn new ways to select colours and fabrics for great new quilts, then this is the class for you. Chris Kenna takes you through all the processes to give you confidence in selecting colours, come along and have some fun and learn too.

Class Date

31st March 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee $70.00

Quilt As You Go

Sandra Kennington joins us to teach this very popular technique, you will learn to construct & quilt at the same time, make quilts in sections, make reversable quilts & how to incorporate handwork blocks easily. 2 x 1 day Classes

Sunday 15th April  10.00am – 3.30pm     Cancelled by tutor, due to previous engagement.
Saturday 11th August 10.00am – 3.30pm
Class Fee: $50.00

Japanese Meshwork

This is a fabulous technique to learn, we shall have notion kits made up for you, so have no need to go searching for things, just your fabric, we have a great selection of batiks for this class so you can use what Shirley used. Come along and learn from up and coming tutor Shirley Mooney, this will Shirley’s first visit to us, but she has some exciting new classes we shall be offering this year. You can see Shirleys other work on her blog www.dontwaittocreate.blogspot.com

Class Date

Saturday 21st April  10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee  $60.00

New York Beauty

Have you always wanted to do a New York Beauty quilt but been scared off by all those complicated points and curves?  In this class you will learn how to make a New York Beauty block using foundation piecing and curved piecing techniques. Get tips for accomplishing sharp, accurate points and smooth curved piecing. The class also includes a section on choosing colour combinations for great blocks and borders, and pattern making with your sewing machine. The day long class will cover piecing a spiked quarter circle block and a spiked straight edge block which can then be
repeated at home to make a small or larger quilt or wall hanging. 2 x 1 Day Classes
Tutor Chris Kenna
Saturday 28th April 10.00am – 4.30pm

Saturday 18th August 10.00am – 4.30pm
Class Fee: $70.00

Stack n Whack

Adrienne Nelson, returns once again this year to teach this very popular class with a vast variety of patterns available.This technique is always very popular and easy too

Class Dates

Sunday 29th April

Sunday 19th August

10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee $60.00

Whirligig Quilt

This quilt is a great way to use up those Charm Squares ( eg 5″ Squares ) or even get some new ones from the selection we have here at Sawmillers, Dianne Barnden tutors this class, discount voucher issued for the class needs once fee is paid.

Saturday 12th May 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee $60.00

Old School House Quilt

Learn to make a house quilt with simple construction. You can make the quilt exactly like mine or make the houses and then turn your quilt into a village.
You will learn how to make the house block and then you can change the windows and doors to suit yourself. Instruction will be given for simple trees to add to the design if desired. Enjoy a simple block and take it as far as you like.
Saturday 19th May 10.00am – 4.30pm
Class Fee: $60.00

Hexagon Flowers

Sue Bracken has created this beautiful wall hanging just for a class at Sawmillers.Learn to piece hexagons on the machine. Then either piece the background or appliqué the flowers to the background. You will learn to paint the stems and leaves, bead the flowers, trapunto around the flowers and finally quilt the quilt. We have given plenty of time between classes so that you can keep up. Sue will initially supply the paint to give you a taste of painting . These quilts are not as difficult as you may think. Plenty of encouragement will be given so that each person has their own individual quilt. It maybe as simple as one flower in a vase to a huge piece.
Fridays, 8th June, 6th July & 10th August.
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Class Fee: $60.00

Kaleidoscope Quilt

Details coming soon

Class Date

Saturday 16th June & 21st July 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee

$120.00

Double Hollyhocks Wallhanging.

This beautiful wall hanging has been designed and made by tutor Jenny Hughes Allan. In this class you will learn how to make the 3D flowers as well as all the surface embellishment, you also have the option of having a cute hedgehog or bantam chicken. There is some pre class preparation to ensure you are all ready to enjoy this lovely class.

3 Day class consisting of a weekend and a final one day class 4 weeks later

Saturday/Sunday 30th & 1st July & Saturday 28th July 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee: $180.00 + Supplies

Pre class preparation required

Pot Pourri Quilt

This quilt has been designed to accommodate charms squares and the fat ¼’s we buy with no real project in mind; we just buy them because we like them, well now you can use them.
Class Date

Saturday 14th  July 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee  $60.00

Scherenschnitte

Paper cut Appliques are also known by their German name, scherenschnitte which means ‘scissor cutting’. Thjese blocks are famously included in many Baltimore Album quilts.

In this class you will learn how to create eye catching applique patterns using the method of cutting folded freezer paper. You can make one or a number of these patterns to include in a quilt. You will then learn techniques for marking and hand appliqueing your design onto background fabric to make an original paper cut applique block. Tips for getting invisible stitches, smooth curves and sharp points will be covered in the class too.

Sunday 22nd July 10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee $70.00

Hand Quilting

We are so lucky to have Heather Harding teach this lovely class, Heather is an award winning hand quilter, there is some pre class preparation required for this class, this enables you to get straight into learning this valuable technique.

Saturday 25th August 9.00am – Midday
Class Fee: $30.00
Pre – class preparation required.

Advanced Free Motion Machine Quilting with Chris Kenna, class description coming soon

Class Date Saturday 1st September   10.00am – 4.30pm

Class Fee $70.00

School House Class

This is a new class taken by Chris Kenna at Sawmillers, you will learn how to accurately piece a School House block
Are you tired of your points not meeting or being cut off? Do you want to try a new technique
that will improve your block making accuracy? Or do you just love School House quilts and
want to learn how to make them? In this class we use freezer paper piecing to make traditional
school house blocks. 

This is a one night class so you are note committed to more.

Thursday  11th October 7.00pm – 10.00pm

Class Fee: $40.00

Christmas Placemats.

Expressions of interest being taken

Further Information and Class Registration

For more information about the classes and registration, contact us on (04)526-2517 or via email: