“Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares” and “Building an Improv Toolbox”

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Two Upcoming Workshops At Gualala Arts • September 13 and 14

“Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares” and “Building an Improv Toolbox”

Gualala, California, August 7, 2023 — Gualala Arts and the Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild (PPQG) announce two new workshops in September, with Sarah Goer. The two workshops—“Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares” and “Building an Improv Toolbox”—are set, respectively, for Wednesday, September 13 and Thursday, September 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The cost of each workshop is $60 for members of Gualala Arts ($80 for non-members); for those wishing to take both workshops, the cost is $100 for members ($150 for non-members.)

“Planned Improv: Scrappy Squares”, a scrap-friendly workshop, is a great opportunity to explore improv piecing. The group will follow a set of guidelines involving measurement and specific cutting rules to create the puzzle pieces students will use to design and create their own unique improv slab. Students will leave with their first finished improv slab (approximately 18″ x 20″), which can become a finished mini quilt or built upon for a larger project. Quilting ideas will be discussed.

In “Building an Improv Toolbox”, a fast-paced workshop, Sarah will teach a wide variety of improvisational piecing techniques. The group will discover how fun and easy it is to create these improv elements for use in their existing quilt projects, or as the start of a new project. Each prompt will be introduced and demonstrated; then time will be allowed for making one or more units with each technique.

Sarah Goer helps quilters build their improv piecing skills in a fun and playful way, so they are inspired to create their own unique designs. Goer adds, “I learned to sew as a child and was drawn to the color and geometry of quilting after college. As a former middle school math teacher, I combine my eleven years of classroom experience with my nearly two decades of quilting experience to bring clear instruction to my quilt students. Students appreciate my easy going, nurturing style.  More information is at www.sarahgoerquilts.com.

More information is at GualalaArts.org. Signup no later than September 6, 2023.

NOTIONS AND TOOLS:

• Sewing machine
  • 1/4-inch presser foot
  • Neutral thread
  • Scissors or snips
  • Rotary cutter
  • Cutting mat
  • Acrylic cutting rulers (I prefer a 6-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ and a 12-1/2″ x 12-1/2″.) Small Design Wall 
• Straight pins (optional)
  • Pencil
  • Graph paper (print attached page, if needed) 

FABRIC: 

• Feature fabrics: coordinating scraps in a variety of sizes, the largest of which is about 10″ square. These can be in one color, or a variety of colors (see notes below). Equivalent to 1⁄2-1 yard. 
• Scraps or yardage to use for the background. More larger pieces are helpful. Equivalent to 1⁄2-1 yard. It is im- portant that there is high contrast between your pile of feature fabrics and your pile of background fabrics. 

Ideas for choosing fabric: 

               Feature     Background (should contrast feature fabrics)