I am very excited to be working with Craftsy to review the quilt classes for you! I'm passionate about learning new quilt techniques. I have been taking their classes since they first started up. Today the class I am reviewing is on a topic that many of you told me know want to know more about, BORDERS!
Let's get to it!
Winnie Fleming is an author, award winning quiltmaker, a show judge, and has been creating quilts for over 30 years. When I heard about her class on borders called "Finishing School" (LOVE this name!) I knew I had to take this one to see if it was a class I could recommend for you.
Good news, it is!
Taking Winnie's class I am super impressed with her format as well and the topics she covers for you. Borders are a place many of us leave to just sticking on a single fabric. But your quilt can be so much more than that.
Here is part of the class roster. Each lesson addresses a specific topic
- Simple border - this is the basics section, great measuring tips!
- Mitred Borders - all you need to know for success!
- Pieced Borders - 5 different ones
- Selecting what is right - size, style and more
- Floater borders (my favorite technique!)
- Medallions - a very exciting look at this style quilt which is often one border after another.
- and she has a bonus section on quilting designs!
The focus of this class is giving you details on how to create awesome borders.
First Winnie starts by sharing how to properly measure for your border. We all know that fabric has a mind of it's own. By the time you have sewn a ton of blocks together, you need to figure out what YOUR quilt size is for a successful border.
She explains how to do this so you will always have a FLAT border instead of a wavy one. We all want our quilts to be flat instead of having that ripple on the edge!
Have you been afraid of Mitered borders? Well now you can create them with ease! Winnie shows you several different methods. I like the options because there is always more than one way to do a technique. And finding the way that works for OUR brain and work-style is super important.
I love how she shares a formula for pre-cutting your mitered border so that you don't waste AND you have great success. Winnie feels if you pre-cut a mitred border it will work for you exactly like all the other patchwork pieces you have cut and there is no guessing on it's outcome. You have a more accurate border instead of 'hit or miss' experience.
She also shows you have to use several different rulers. One might just be the best thing for you!
I think this is one of the best sections in the class, Floater Borders. I believe when you do this you create a much more interesting border for your quilt.
What is a floating border? It's when you use one of several techniques to create a 'space' between patchwork. Your fabric selections are pretty important to how the combination of floater and border work together.
The floater can also give you a visual rest between one border and another so that they both are very strong components to your quilt. And Winnie has a formula to help you with this, love that!
Here is an example of a floater border. That black inner border extends and expands how the black triangles look on your finished quilt. Plus that outer border is pretty spectacular! I want to try that one soon.
The class comes with Winnie's "Border Galore" quilt pattern which is a fantastic way to work on all the border things she taught you! She used traditional fabrics, but I KNOW this quilt would be fantastic in whatever fabrics are your favorite. You can't go wrong!
I am certain you are going to enjoy this and learn a ton. I'm excited to be sharing it with you. Once you have registered, sign up for the class and it's yours forever. Watch it over and over.. and yes.. over again!
and create amazing quilts with amazing borders!
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