Twirling Stars with Carolyn Forster
Join renowned patchworker Carolyn Forster to make one of her new designs “Twirling stars”.
Using premade templates and rotary cutting for accuracy we will hand stitch these tumbling star blocks. They tessellate together to form an all over design. Or you can stitch two or three to make a long table centre, or seven to create a circular centre piece for a table or a quilt centre.
The design lends itself to fussy cutting for those that love to experiment, or just use up your scraps for a riot of pattern and colour.
What will we cover?
On the day you will learn all the techniques to design, cut and hand piece these stars and then you can decide how far you want to go, something small or an entire quilt. The quilt block has a finished size of 13.5″
How will I be taught?
Carolyn will share her tips and tricks for hand piecing in our friendly workshop
Do I need any previous experience or skills?
This workshop is suitable for all skill levels
Are materials provided? Is there anything I need to source myself?
Note the fabric requirements below are a starting point and the total required will depend on the size of your finished project.
Fabric requirements per star:
Fabric pieces, 5 1/2in x 2 1/2in (cut 6 star points), nb 0ne strip (2 1/2in x W of F) yields 7
Background:
Fabric pieces, 4 1/4in x 4 1/4in (cut 6 background squares) nb 0ne strip (4 1/4in x W of F) yields 9
Surrounding connecting diamonds:
2 strips (2 1/2in x W of F) (cut 6 diamonds) nb one strip (2 1/2in x W of F) yields 5
*You will need to bring more fabric for all the above if you intend to fussy cut your shapes*
Optional fabrics for border and setting in/applique:
1m or more
For Hand Piecing and cutting:
- Neutral cotton sewing thread 28wt is best
- Size 10 sharps sewing needles
- Thimbles, optional
- Thread snips
- Fabric pencil to draw round templates, sheet of sandpaper to stabilize fabric, and fabric scissors
- OR to rotary cut the shapes, rotary cutter (28mm is handy), mat, optional rotating rotary cutting mat if you have one
- Fabric pencil to mark sewing lines
- Pins, I use Short Clover applique pins OR Clover fine patchwork pins
What will I take home with me?
A twirling stars block
Refreshments
Drinks and biscuits will be available but we recommend that you bring a packed lunch with you.
Photography
During all of our workshops photographs are taken for promotional purposes only. Please make us aware at the time of booking if you would prefer not to be included.
Tutor
Carolyn Forster studied textiles at Bath, and has a City and Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting. Carolyn's work has been featured in various quilting magazines, as well as on television, both here and in the US. Since self-publishing her first book, 'Quilting-on-the-Go', Carolyn has written books for Landauer Publishing in the US and Search Press in the UK, and has contributed to books published by New Holland and That Patchwork Place.
