Slide/Lecture/Trunk Shows
Single lectures: $450
Lecture plus workshop(s): $350

The Roots of the Large 4-Block Quilt

1 hour

This presentation explains the history and significance of the large 4-block quilt resulting from a research project I did involving 30 state quilt search projects and 108 museum collections.  Antique and modern-made quilts are studied in the trunk show.  Participants are advised to bring large or small blocks they want to make into a large 4-block quilt so we can analyze prospective border and center motifs.  This paper was presented at the "What's American About American Quilts?" symposium at the Smithsonian Institution of American History.

Quilting to Soothe the Soul: Create Memories for Yesterday, Today, Forever, & Always-

1-hour class

(Or, 3-hour class below allows students to make a celebratory, commemorative, or memorial quilt) 

This lecture shares how quilts and quilting have soothed sorry souls not just for those who are bereaved, but how the act of quilting has eased the burdens of everyday life in many societies.  The role of mourning and memorial quilts is discussed.  The audience may participate in showing personal journey quilts or relating their own experiences with quilts and quilting as part of their healing process.  Trunk show included.

Beautiful Backgrounds:  Fabric and Quilting Choices

Can either be a 1-hour lecture OR a 3-hour class.

From slides and a trunk show, learn how to audition fabrics as backgrounds to enhance and accent any appliqued or pieced pattern in the foreground.  All over background quilting techniques will also be taught in the 3-hour class to bring out foreground features.  Suitable for all students.   

3-hour Workshops: $450
(Mostly hand applique with some piecing) Most 3-hour workshops include a few slides so students can focus on possible border designs.

Basic Hand Applique
 

Hand applique couldn't be easier with Linda's simple techniques for perfectly straight lines, curvy curves, sharp points, and round circles.  Needle turn and freezer paper technique will be taught using her Feather Wreathed Harp and Floral Fantasy patterns.  $10 kit fee.  Beginner skill level.  Available as a 3- or 6-hour class.

Prince of Wales Feathers
and Crown
 

The name says it all for this Pennsylvania-German pattern. My research showed it could be the missing link as to the original source of the popular American pattern, Princess Feather.

Whig-Harrison Rose Wreath
 

Using needle turn applique method, create a wreath of rosebuds that surround an original floral combination of the Whig Rose, Rose of Sharon, and Harrison Rose patterns.  Intermediate applique skill level.

Princess Feather
 

During my research about 4-block quilts, more Princess Feather quilts were made in this style/set than any other popular pattern.  This pattern reveals the secret behind the name.  Slides show many examples and the history of the pattern.  Intermediate applique skill level.  

Tree of Life
 

Done in all four seasons at night lit by a sparkling moon!. In addition to using freezer paper and needle turn applique, students will have the option to exchange fabric squares for leaves.  The Trapunto technique will be demonstrated as an option.  Intermediate applique skill level.  Available as a 3- or 6-hour class.

1776-1876 Commemorative Eagle
 

Make these four eagles sporting batons in their beaks celebrate our future tricentennial now that someone in your 2076 A.D. family tree will treasure and continue to pass on.  You can personalize it by adding your present-day family tree on the front or back.  This quilt is a wonderful way to celebrate the new millenium.

Scherenschnitte
 

This is an overlay design that forms its own border!  By flipping one pattern, the design becomes intricately connected across the entire face of the quilt.  (I made this as a Mother's Day present for my mother.)

Homespun Oak Leaf Reel and Tulip
 

The traditional Oak Leaf and Reel colors of red and white are updated with homespun fabrics and additional tulip appliques.  

Paper Dolls, Snowflakes, and Scherenschnitte
 

A designing class to create a beautiful large Scherenschnitte block and related border for a future quilt with paper, scissors, and pencil.  Available as a 3- or 6-hour class.  

Serpentine Vines and Feather Borders
 

From simple to smashing, this class offers feather borders that everyone will want to add to their next quilt! Students learn how to draw feathers, undulating serpentine spines and vines, or single feather motifs and then on paper create designs for either borders encircling the entire quilt, borders with different designs in the middle and corners, and/or feather designs for the quilt body.

Family Tree Block
 

Immortalize your present family for future generations with this 30-inch square block.  Choose one seasonal color way for the leaves and bring extras for optional trading.  It can be used as your family's personal history record in a wall hanging or medallion for a larger quilt.  Explore smaller blocks or motifs to include in the borders that would be meaningful to your family.  Needle-turn applique will be taught.

 Quilting to Soothe
the Soul
 

See more about Linda's book, Quilting to Soothe the Soul:  Create Memories for Yesterday, Today, Forever,
& Always

Students will design and create their own quilts suited to their own individual tastes and reasons for making a commemorative quilt either by hand or machine.  The 17 patterns in my book of the same name will act as a springboard for students' work, and I will help them coordinate a quilt design.  Simple to simply elegant motifs include angels, shepherds, doves, harps, crowns, crosses, rings, stars, birds, and willow trees.  Needle turn applique and hand quilting techniques will be taught as well as 3-dimensional floral applique skills.  Finished quilt sizes depend on pattern chosen and individual needs, but generally between 15 in. x 45 in. to 36 in. x 36 in. square. Advanced beginner to intermediate hand applique skills.  

*An historical slide lecture is available for inclusion in this class or may be done separately.  See lectures above.

 Designing Open Scherenschnitte Blocks

Using freezer paper, learn how to design and cut a simply elegant open Scherenschnitte for 20-inch blocks. Techniques for folding, cutting, smooth and reverse appliqueing are taught.  See Fall 1999 Chitra "Fabric Showcase Special," pg. 48 for idea examples.

Beautiful Backgrounds:  
Fabric and Quilting Choices

 Learn how to audition fabrics as backgrounds to enhance and accentuate any appliqued or pieced pattern in the foreground.  All over background quilting techniques will also be taught to bring out foreground features.  Suitable for all students.  

6-Hour Workshops: $575

NEW!  Silhouette on Batiks
 

Create the background first!  Machine piece a simple 40 inch square batik background with borders that will provide a beautifully graphic canvas for an elegant or simply elegant Scherenschnitte applique in the foreground.  Easy rotary cutting, machine-piecing techniques and needle turn hand applique` will be taught. Students choose one circular Scherenschnitte silhouette to create in class. Suitable for intermediate machine skills, and intermediate to advanced hand applique` skills. 6 Hour Class.

NEW CLASS!
Thoroughly Modern Genius

click on images for larger view 

Let my new sizzling 29-piece fabric collection bring out your hidden contemporary art skills!  Dazzlingly bright colors and bold graphics help you create eye-popping decor statements.  Thoroughly Modern Genius (49 inches square) has optional areas for hand or machine applique.  Easy machine piecing techniques are geared toward the experienced beginner.  

NEW CLASS!
Birds & Blooms in Traditional Applique

Students of all skills choose their own comfortable skill levels to learn easy hand applique techniques for round curves, sharp or smooth leaves, dog tooth triangles, and reverse applique' frames. Each block will smoothly graduate your needleturn and freezer paper applique' skills. ($25 Pattern Fee includes (5) 18-inch square original block, setting, and corner designs for a 55-inch square quilt.)

North, East, South, West Mariner's Compass

Using a machine, students will creat four 42-in. Mariner's compasses with 4, 8, 16, and 32 points (or any other combination of these choices according to skill level) with a wave border.  When the four blocks are set together, each student will design their own center motif to further individualize their quilt.  Machine piecing and needle turn applique techniques will be taught.  (This class does NOT use foundation or paper piecing techniques.)  Intermediate machine skills.  

4-Block Poinsettia
Feathered Star

Yes, you can piece this beauty on the machine with just a little organization!  Choose Christmas colors or other favorites.  This class utilizes rotary cut quick machine pieced triangles to create feathers.  Beaded stuffed berries and needle turn applique techniques are also taught.  Advanced beginner and above machine skills level.

Amish Rose of Sharon Wreath and Flying Geese

A traditional red and green rose wreath applique is transformed into a beautiful Amish color replica.  The Flying Geese border can be hand or machine pieced.  

Paper Dolls, Snowflakes,
and Scherenschnitte

See class description #12 above in the 3-hour classes.  The 6-hour class will include slides of simple to simply elegant Scherenschnitte designs and motifs in quilts, and students will transfer their designs to fabric using the needle turn method of applique.

Classic 4-Block Redwork

With easy rotary cutting, machine piecing methods, and timeless embroidery techniqes, create a dazzling 42-in. square classic red and white 4-block wall hanging or table topper.  Each octagonal star center features easy beginner embroidery motifs.  Beginner to intermediate machine skills.

Basic Hand Applique
the Linda Carlson Way

Please see description for 3-hour Basic Hand Applique workshop above.

2-Day Workshops: $1000

Applique Compass Rose with Interlaced Scherenschnitte Border

Create a beautiful, simple, curved applique compass rose easy enough for an advanced beginner with your own Scherenschnitte designed border interlaced with a  floral vine complete with stuffed and beaded berries!

NOTE:  This class may also be taken as a 3-hour class creating just the 44-in. square applique Compass Rose block.