Ready to take the next step toward quilting? Before you sew your first quilt, you need to know what fabric to buy, how to choose fabrics for your project, and how to cut them accurately!
In this hands-on beginner class, you'll learn the basics of selecting quilting fabric and preparing it for a project. We'll explore fabric types, prewashing, fabric grain, bias, and selvages. You'll also learn how to use a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat safely and accurately.
Then put your new skills to work making a simple rug mug using fabric strips!
Students should know the basics of using a sewing machine and how to sew straight seams. No quilting experience is needed. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and take your first steps toward becoming a confident quilter.
Class Details
Class Fee: $5
Class Length: 3 hours
Instructor: Renita Bankhead, AAQG Workshops Chairperson and Newsletter Editor
What You’ll Learn
- Which fabrics are best for quilting and what to look for when shopping
- How to estimate how much fabric to buy
- Whether to prewash fabric and why quilters differ on this
- How to identify fabric grain, bias, and selvages
- How to use a rotary cutter, quilting ruler, and cutting mat
- Tips for measuring and cutting fabric strips accurately
Your Instructor
Renita’s sewing experience began in high school with clothing construction, continuing until the early 1980s when quilting became her primary focus. She has made bags for the past 15 years, progressing from simple totes to ByAnnie patterns, many of which she has taught.
Supplies
Fabric to make your mug rug will be provided.
If you have them, please bring:
- Sewing machine with accessories, power cord, foot control, and manual
- Basic sewing supplies, including scissors, machine needles, neutral thread, seam ripper, and straight pins or clips
- Rotary cutter, quilting ruler and cutting mat
No need to purchase any supplies or tools for this class!
Basic sewing supplies and cutting tools will be available for use during class.
If you don't own a portable sewing machine, please email beginnerclasses@aaqg.org after registering so we know how many loaner machines to bring.
