Marti's Lectures & Workshps
Marti's Quilting Classes and Lectures
Marti offers a variety of lectures and classes that focus primarily on quilt making techniques, along with some classes on making a specific quilt, like the Giant Dahlia. Marti brings Perfect Patchwork Templates for use in class. If your group or shop would like complete information on supplies, space needs and fees, please contact us by email, telephone, or snail mail. See you in class!
Please note. Class descriptions follow. This is a long page, but we didn't break it up into smaller pages to make it easier for you to print.
If you are interested in booking classes or lectures, please Contact Marti.
We have included a short biography at the bottom of this page for groups that have booked Marti for a visit and seek info for a newsletter.
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The Quilt Made Me Buy It! |
Low Carb Quilting - Machine Quilting in Sections |
NEW CLASS
Pineapple Smoothie
OR How to Cut and Sew Pineapple Quilts
Pineapple quits are among the most prized quilts to own. They are relatively rare, perhaps because until now they were relatively difficult to make. The From Marti Michell Pineapple Rulers make it easy to accurately cut actual size pieces. Sew them with an accurate ¼" seam allowance and soon you will be the proud owner of a prized pineapple quilt.
If you ever made or tried to make a pineapple block, forget everything. This experience will be different. There is no paper to tear away, no foundations to mark, no truing up and cutting off lots of excess fabric every four strips. There is virtually no waste!
In class, we will cut and make one to four Pineapple blocks using a 3-fabric color scheme — a light, a dark and an accent for the block center and corners.
LECTURES
Life Beyond Strip Piecing, or "I Lead Two Lives"
Marti will tell you about her first experiences with a rotary cutter and her years of making almost nothing but strip-technique quilts. Whether you already own some of the Perfect Patchwork Templates, have thought about buying some or are sure you never want any templates, you will find her lecture-demo inspiring and fun. This talk is liberally illustrated with "live" quilts.
The Quilt Made Me Buy It!
In this lecture/slide show Marti shares some of the personal stories behind the quilts in the Michells' antique quilt collection. This lecture is perfect for those people who simply can't see enough quilts.
Short Cuts, Top Tips & Secrets
This is a lively lecture-demo filled with information about a lot of different subjects and liberally illustrated with quilts. The topics vary with every lecture, as a new hot tip pushes an old one out. (This is also a great half day class or even a 9am-3pm presentation.)
HALF-DAY LECTURE/DEMO
If maneuvering a big quilt through that "little opening" is overwhelming and sending quilt tops out is too expensive, "Machine Quilting in Sections" is the answer.
You can machine quilt on your own machine without the expense or delay of sending them out. Just divide your quilts into smaller sections – easy to manage and easy to assemble. Marti will share assemble methods and bring many quilts that were quilted in sections. She will also show the low fat option.
HALF-DAY CLASSES
Linked Chevrons - 1/2 Day
Everyone loves a quilt that looks complicated, but is really easy. The Linked Chevrons quilt fits that description perfectly. Use strip-piecing techniques similar to Log Cabin style piecing, plus a special trick that cuts the piecing time in half. Pick up tips on diagonal set quilts and practice using Marti's Diagonal Set Triangle Rulers. Perfect for everyone. Beginners will be amazed at what they can accomplish and skilled quilters will love learning a new quickie quilt. Available as full or half day class. In a full day, all students should complete some rows and the setting and corner triangles. Some would complete the entire throw-size quilt. In a half day class, students learn the concepts and see demos, but only a few will complete rows. Now also available in a pattern booklet.
TWO-DAY CLASSES
Sampler Quilt Sampler – 2 Days
Dive in for two days of creative fun. Marti will cover selecting patchwork blocks, working with regular and innovative settings, developing a good balance in fabrics and more. You will pick fabrics, develop a theme, decide on a set and make as many blocks as you can. Marti brings all the templates you need to work with in class.
Giant Dahlia – Two Days (option for 1 day)
The Giant Dahlia is a classic quilt thought to have been created first in the 1930s. Unique and impressive in design, the center motif of the quilt finishes to a 54-inch circle. The circle is divided by arcs into 160 pieces and nearly every seam is curved, which is why you will love cutting out this quilt with acrylic templates and your rotary cutter. Accuracy in cutting simplifies the piecing. Marti will supply the templates for use in class.
It is no wonder that Marti Michell, the 2004 Silver Star Honoree at the Houston International Quilt Festival, is often introduced as a pioneer in the current quilt revival. In fact, in 1972 when Marti and her husband Richard started Yours Truly, Inc., a patchwork kit company, there was no quilt industry. Since then, she has contributed in almost every capacity. Whether she is participating as a teacher, quilter, author, publisher, manufacturer, designer, consultant, judge or quilt collector, her enthusiasm for and love of quilting is always evident. Since 1995 the Michells have manufactured the From Marti Michell line of acrylic templates and specialty rulers for rotary cutting. The 2004 Silver Star is a prestigious "lifetime achievement" award. In 1991 she also received the first Michael Kile award given for commitment to creativity and excellence in the quilting industry. Marti lives in Atlanta, GA, but was born and raised in Iowa. She received a B.S. in Textiles and Clothing and Home Ec Journalism from Iowa State University.
If there is a little more space in your newsletter, you can add this paragraph:
Look through your library of quilting books and you'll surely find one of Marti's books. At latest count, over 1.5 million books authored by Marti have been sold. Likewise, you undoubtedly have fabric, patterns or tools that she has designed in your collected sewing materials. Furthermore, her influence in the quilting industry is enormous. During the Yours Truly years, 1972-1985, Marti "discovered" and she and Richard published and promoted into early prominence quiltmaker/author/teacher personalities such as Mary Ellen Hopkins, Liz Porter, Marianne Fons, Harriet Hargrave, Susan McKelvey, Jean Wells, and Cheryl Bradkin.
ONE-DAY CLASSES
Kaleidoscope Creations – 1 Day
The Kaleidoscope pattern is easy to make, but because of the design possibilities , even advanced quilters enjoy Kaleidoscope style blocks and variations. Discuss design and color possibilities and sewing techniques; then cut with the Kaleido-Ruler, a new tool Marti has designed that gives you the guidelines for cutting all of the triangles in the block. Marti supplies the rulers for you to use in class.
Getting Started with Off-center Log Cabin Blocks –
1 Day
This off-center technique adds yet another dimension to this favorite quilt design. The text for this class is Creating Curves with Log Cabins by Marti Michell. Marti will bring copies of books for use in class.
Scrappy Sedona Stars - 1 Day
If you love Scrap quits and you think Stack and Whack is better than sliced bread, you'll really love this great concept for quick and fun scrap quilts. It features rotary cutting, stacks of fabric and for this class, the Elongated Star block. The technique will inspire you to clean out enough of your stash to make room for new fabric. The concept is also adaptable to other blocks that Marti will share with you. This class evolved into one of the From Marti Michell pattern booklets.
Not Your Grandmother's Hexagons - 1 Day
Not Your Grandmother's Hexagon is designed to encourage and enable you to include hexagon quilts in your quiltmaking repertoire. To cover more territory with fewer pieces, the hexagon we will use is almost as big as an 8 ½" by 11" standard size piece of paper. Coincidentally, that size is perfect for showcasing big beautiful fabric designs. (Everything we talk about can be applied to any size hexagon so if big hexagons aren't your thing, come along and work on smaller sizes.)
Dresden Dreaming - 1 Day
Rotary cut Dresden Plate petals with Marti's new Dresden Plate Templates. The regular Dresden Plate template set includes both pointed and rounded ends and can be made in three sizes (approximately 10", 12", and 16" finished blocks.) Each variation has 16 petals. Look at variations you have never thought about. Learn quicker construction methods. The Mini-Dresden Plate Template set makes smaller blocks and is optional for this class. The very smallest Dresden Plate has only 10 petals.
Quilt As You Sew – 1 Day
Learn how and when you can machine piece through batting and backing. Get introduced to Quilt-As-You-Sew quilts made in blocks, strips and sections. Learn the tricks for easy finishing of these machine made quilts. Learn to work at the machine in units that are a manageable size. The emphasis is on Log Cabin, but Ohio Star, Pineapple, Virginia Reel, some basket designs and others are included. Marti has written several books for ASN Publishing, including Weekend Log Cabin, Weekend Stars, and Weekend Baskets, that feature Quilt-As-You-Sew techniques. Several other books she has written include one or two quilt designs.
Lecture-Demo Version – Half-Day – 35 people maximum
This can be done in a lecture-demo style.
Full Day – Hands On – Includes the lecture, making one or more blocks and practicing the finishing techniques.
The Rosette and its Relatives – 1 Day
Work with your rotary cutters and Marti's acrylic templates to make this versatile family of blocks. Marti especially likes the Rosette (p.32, the Encyclopedia of Patchwork Blocks, Volume 1) because you can practice half-square triangles, Flying Geese style triangles and the Square within a Square technique. There are a host of other similar blocks you'll love making this way. Marti provides the templates needed for class use.
Seven Sisters Simplified – No Set-in Seams!
Half Day Class – Full Day Option
Pineapple Smoothie
OR How to Cut and Sew Pineapple Quilts
Pineapple quits are among the most prized quilts to own. They are relatively rare, perhaps because until now they were relatively difficult to make. The From Marti Michell Pineapple Rulers make it easy to accurately cut actual size pieces. Sew them with an accurate ¼" seam allowance and soon you will be the proud owner of a prized pineapple quilt.
If you ever made or tried to make a pineapple block, forget everything. This experience will be different. There is no paper to tear away, no foundations to mark, no truing up and cutting off lots of excess fabric every four strips. There is virtually no waste!
In class, we will cut and make one to four Pineapple blocks using a 3-fabric color scheme — a light, a dark and an accent for the block center and corners.
Scrappy Bear's Path – 1 Day
With this fun block quiltmakers can play with scraps while practicing machine piecing half-square triangles and Drunkard's Path. As a bonus, Marti will review Machine Quilting in Sections. Plan to complete one 19" block in class.
Double Wedding Ring – 1 Day
The Double Wedding Ring is one of the most easily recognized quilt designs in existence, but the curved seams may crate quiltmakers apprehension. Use our templates to accurately cut and mark the pieces, and a 1/4" seam allowance to sew. Follow Marti's tips and instructions and you'll feel confidant. Remove the mystery of curved seams without gimmicks. Double Wedding Ring variations like Pickle Dish and Lafayette's Orange Peel included.
Mystery Classes – 1 Day
Select from Marti's existing mystery classes or have her create one just for you.
Sunburst Class – 1 Day Marti will show quilts and variations and go over techniques and tricks for making this stunning block with templates. If you feel stuck in strip techniques, this is the perfect block to pull you out! (See the cover of McCall's Quilting, October 1996 for one version.) Marti will supply the Sunburst templates for use in class.
Half-day or Evening Option – The class can be taught in a three-hour format.
Fat Quarter Log Cabin - 1 Day
Unlike scrap Log Cabin quilts that feature a different fabric in every strip of a block, this scrap Log Cabin quilt depends on orderly repetition of fabrics within each block. Learn a great method for cutting and sewing that makes these blocks fast and, better yet, square. The four blocks you make in class can be the start of a big quilt or a very satisfactory wallhanging approximately 30" square.
Hexagons, American Style! – 1 Day
Learn how to rotary cut and machine piece (or hand piece without papers) hexagons and all of the hexagon relatives in the 60-degree family. Class will include techniques for Grandmother's Flower Garden, Inner City, Thousand Pyramids, I Spy, Texas Star, Seven Sisters and lots more. Use mirrors to special-cut fabrics. Eliminate the fear of inset corners. This is a survey class. Marti will cover lots of different concepts. You will spend time on the things you are most interested in and take home small samples that are technique memory joggers. Marti brings the templates you need to work with in class.
Linked Chevron – Full Day
Everyone loves a quilt that looks complicated, but is really easy. The Linked Chevrons quilt fits that description perfectly. Use strip-piecing techniques similar to Log Cabin style piecing, plus a special trick that cuts the piecing time in half. Pick up tips on diagonal set quilts and practice using Marti's Diagonal Set Triangle Rulers. Perfect for everyone. Beginners will be amazed at what they can accomplish and skilled quilters will love learning a new quickie quilt. Now also available in a pattern booklet. Available as full or half day class.In a full day, all students should complete some rows and the setting and corner triangles. Some would complete the entire throw-size quilt. In a half day class, students learn the concepts and see demos, but only a few will complete rows.
Not Such Hard Times…A Strip-technique and Scrap Treat – 1 Day
This class could be called a surprise course in strip techniques, covering most of Marti's favorite strip tricks, plus a special twist with this block. You could make the quilt with matching blocks, but you probably won't want to. Marti shares machine quilting in sections just because her favorite model for this class is quilted in sections. (This quilt is in Marti's book, Quilting for People Who Still Don't Have Time to Quilt.)
Crash Course in Stripping! – 1 Day
Learn all the tricks of strip techniques in quilt making as you learn how to make the classic Burgoynne Surrounded quilt. This fast moving class covers rotary cutting, strip piecing, chain piecing, four-patch, nine-patch, making sub-units, changing sizes, etc.
