A note from Harriet

What I have encountered in the past few years of teaching piecing is that there are many classes taught as projects, but the basic skills needed to really understand the process are severely lacking. Students come in having made several quilt tops but lacking cutting, sewing, and pressing skills. They know how to make an individual project, but they do not have the knowledge to apply general principles to other patterns they want to make.

In 2005, my daughter took over the management of Harriet’s Treadle Arts—my quilt store, which I started in 1981 with my mother, also a quilter. Carrie grew up in the store and always loved fabric, but she was never interested in making quilts. Now in her early 30s, she is becoming more and more interested in sewing and quilting but has a different way of looking at the progression and style of quiltmaking. Whereas I love antique quilts and spend my time reproducing very old, very detailed quilts, Carrie wants to make the same traditional patterns in more up-to-date fabrics and easier quilting styles. As I get older, I have more time to spend on detail. She has less time to spend but still has the desire to create with the jazzy new fabrics available. We also see increasingly younger people coming into the store who are becoming interested in quilting and sewing but who have had no background, knowledge, or exposure to sewing.

Our plan is to walk you through a series of classes, lessons, and projects that will build one skill on another, so that when you have worked your way through the entire series of books you will be well on your way to being a master piecer. Each book in the series is like a year of college courses, from freshman to PhD candidate. After your “college education,” you will never again be dependent on books and patterns, but will be able to draft or design anything you can dream up, and you will know how to piece—and quilt—it yourself! Following is a brief description of the books in the series.

Vol. 1—Freshman Year addresses the basic workspace, tools, equipment, and fabric needed to get you started. The first quilts presented utilize strips and squares, teaching you the most basic skills. With all the projects, more than just a “recipe” appears. The basics of drafting are introduced with each pattern, and every detail of cutting, sewing accurately, pressing, checking for size, and laying out for efficient piecing processes is covered.

Vol. 2—Sophomore Year addresses upgrading your workspace and adding tools and equipment as needed. We continue with quilts that use strips and squares for the design, but we add new settings and explore fun sashing and border ideas that really dress up simple blocks.

Vol. 3—Junior Year leads you into all forms of triangles, made with many different methods, including half-square and quarter-square triangle units as well as Flying Geese and pyramids. You will work through several quilts that help you build more skills with the more difficult piecing processes. A beautiful, complex Feathered Star quilt is the final project.

Vol. 4—Senior Year jumps into set-in piecing and all the fantastically complicated blocks, such as Seven Sisters and Lone Star, that feature it. By this time, your skill level will be up to the challenge, and you will be able to make some stunning quilts.

Vol. 5—Your Master’s Year challenges your knowledge with the building of medallion quilts using the techniques and skills you have learned in the books up to this point.

Vol. 6—Your PhD Year presents projects with extremely challenging quilts—ones that you seldom find patterns for, such as Peony and Primrose Star.

Now, are you ready for the challenge? You can take your time with each book and really learn the fine art of quiltmaking. We hope you enjoy the journey with us and become a true master quilter.