Come and quilt with Andy @ the Senior Resource Center in Chester, NJ.
Have you ever wanted to make a quilt? Are you a seasoned quilter with a desire to take your love of quilting to the next level? If so, then bring your sewing machine and your project to embark on a journey of inspiration, skill-building and community. Twice a month, quilters will come together at the SRC for coaching on their quilt projects from local expert, Dr. Andy Wiginton. Led Dr. Andy, participants will be coached at every stage of the quilting process. Every session quilters will informally share their progress with the group and learn new tips and techniques.
Quilt group is a great place for quilters of all experience levels to learn and grow together in a supportive, fun environment. Beginners will learn the basics—step by step—with the support of Dr. Andy and the other quilters in the group. More advanced quilters will learn new techniques, hone their unique style, and pickup tips and tricks that make the quilting process more fun.
While we are sure that you will be hooked on quilt group, there is no long-term commitment as the group operates on a drop-in basis. Please sign-up with Lisa at happenings@srcnj.org.
What to bring?
Everyone works on their own project at their own pace, so each person will bring what they need for the next phase of their own project. In other words, bring what you need to work on your piece. Seasoned quilters can bring in cutting, sewing (by hand or machine), binding, or anything where a little coaching might be helpful. Feel free to bring in projects that you’ve finished to show-and-tell for the benefit of the group. It’s always fun to share your finished pieces with the group. If you are a beginner or this is your very first quilt in a long time, please checkout the “Rookie List” below.
Rookie List
A reliable sewing machine with a straight stitch and a 1/4” foot. If you are a beginner, see if you can borrow a machine before investing in a new one. Facebook marketplace, yard sales, and asking your friends is a tried and true way to find a beginner machine. Make sure it’s cleaned, oiled, and has a new needle. Unsure of how to use it? Bring it to group and Dr. Andy will help you!
Fabric for a pre-cut quilt: 2 of the same 5” “charm” square packages OR 1 pack of 10” “layer cake” OR 1 pack of 42 x 2.5" strips, called a "jelly roll." Using pre-cut fabric is a great way to begin your first quilt. These bundles of coordinating fabrics can be found readily at local quilt/fabric stores and many online retailers (see below). Pick a collection that you like and let Dr. Andy show you how to sew them together for a beautiful quilt top. In addition to the bundles, you will also need 2 yards of a coordinating fabric for borders. We will discuss backing, batting, and binding after the quilt top is completed.
Good quality thread in either white, black or gray is all you need for piecing. Aurifil, Guttermann, and Superior are all quality thread companies. Look for "50 weight thread" in either cotton or polyester.
Thread snips or scissors for trimming threads
A sharp seam ripper, my favorite is the “Seam Fix” Seam Ripper by Dritz Co. It can be found at fabric/quilt shops or readily online.
Rotary cutter, cutting mat and ruler. These often can be found as a set. The 3 piece set by Fiskars (Amazon or Joann) is a good value and ideal for a beginner.
Pins OR clips are very handy. I like the generic wonder clips found on Amazon and “Quilting Pins” by Clover - but any pins that are long (and you can see) will do the job.