Handi Quilter National Educator, Island Batik Ambassador, Certified Superior Thread Threadologist
Author: Lana
I learned to sew at age 11 at my local Singer store. I was so intrigued by all of the supplies in my friend's sewing tote box I spotted while playing at her house that I rode my bicycle home and told my mom I wanted to take sewing lessons. I found my niche. I made most of my clothes through high school and even made room for my sewing machine (in cabinet) in my tiny college dorm room. I bought my first quilt book when in my early 20"s at the St. Louis arch gift shop. It was a book about the Cathedral Window and I was intrigued with how that was put together. I played around with it, but continued to sew garments for my kids while they were young. I got back into quilting when my son and daughter were in middle school, feeding my need for continued creativity. I took various classes locally, and eventually made my way to Syracuse, NY for Quilting by the Lake, and Carmel, CA for Empty Spools. It wasn't until I took Betty Cotton's Cotton Theory Class at Camp Cotton in Osseo, WI, in July, 2012, that I found what I was looking for. Everything just clicked for me and I felt like I now knew this "secret" that made everything so much easier and more fun and had to share it with other quilters. "Quilt first, then assemble" means no more getting down on my hands and knees on the living room floor and pinning the quilt back, batting and pieced quilt top together and then trying to get it through my machine's throat area or, worse, paying someone big bucks to do it for you. And no handwork. I'm in.
This week I had time to bond with my new Baby Lock Ovation! Effortless serging. I love it! One evening I ran to JoAnn’s to check out their knits. I wanted to make a beach cover up and maybe a knit dress for our upcoming vacation. It has been so long since I made any clothes that I didn’t know what the fabric selection would be like. I just know it is hard to find fashion fabric anymore! I did find a pattern for a beach cover up and one for a knit dress as well as four knits.
Both are really soft knits; the white one is reversible. Can’t decide which side I’ll use. It’ll be the short version. The coral stripe will be 3/4 length.
Beach cover ups cut on bias. Stipe will be really cool that way. Both fabrics are very light and airy. Love them!
So this week I got to get back to my sewing roots and made some clothing.
Swim cover upknit summer dress
Really love how both of these turned out, which is kind of amazing. Both are super soft and comfy.
This dress will probably become loungewear it’s so soft. Perfect for after workout/shower. Not quite getting dressed again, but not quite pjs.
Guess you can tell this is one of my favorite colors.
Also made this cool ruffled skirt I spotted a gal wearing in Utah. She was the store manager of a sewing center and she showed me how simple it is to make. This ruffled knit fabric comes in several colors and the ruffles can be all the same size or different sizes like mine. It’s only two pieces cut on the bias so the ruffles fall at different angles. Two side seams and no need to hem! Several colors available for the elastic waistband as well. If you are able to find the fabric locally, ask them for the pattern for the Boho skirt. It’s free.
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to beautiful St. George, Utah. “Jaw dropping gorgeous” is how I described it to my husband on the phone. Perfect weather, mid to upper 70s, sunny, no humidity, and breathtaking scenery! A local park with paved bike paths nearby provided convenient daily walking opportunities.
Stellar bike paths near my hotel provided good opportunity for daily walking.
Green grass and trees as well.
Loved the rocky scenery.
Palm trees (in front of hotel) are always a good sight!
Superior Thread’s Sue Green-Baker Serger Workshop is what attracted me and it was so worth it! Sue is a knowledgeable and entertaining instructor and the Superior staff was exceptionally helpful and courteous. I have a serger that lives in my closet and really wanted to learn how to use it to its fullest potential.
Sue Green-Baker
I attended both the 3 day Beginning and 3 day Advanced Classes back to back, with a day off in between. Each three day class had its own huge binder full of colored pages with detailed instructions and page protectors for safekeeping of the samples you made during class. The fabric for your samples was precut, bagged, and ready to go. Superior Threads included a generous thread package to play with, as well.
Everything was so well organized. I learned how many amazing features a serger has, for sure. So cool! I sewed on Baby Lock’s Ovation, its top of the line model. Of course, I fell in love (OOoooahhhh, that jet air threading!) and it followed me home. My daughter inherits the one still in my closet!
A two hour lunch each day allowed us time to shop at Superior Threads and Fab Fabrics upstairs.
How to decide?
On Sunday, my day off between classes, I rented a car and drove about 30 minutes to Snow Canyon State Park and then on to Kayenta. Others chose to drive to Zion or Bryce Canyon, but I had already been to both a couple of times. I was mesmerized by the scenery, once again. Being a camper, I detoured through the campground within the park. Check out these amazing campsites!!
One of several walking trails –
Then a very short drive to Kayenta and Coyote Gulch, an art village. I loved the area so much, I visited a model home.
I could wake up to this every morning!
During the Advanced Class we met Bob and Heather Purcell, owners of Superior Threads.
Bob Purcell visited during class
Heather presented a trunk show of some of her garments and quilts one evening after dinner. She pieces a quilt about every two weeks and has someone else do the quilting.
Heather Purcell
Someone else does her quilting and then she makes the garment.
Love the lining and the zipper!
Back of a jacket
Texture Magic
Made entirely of threads! No fabric!!
Close up of one side.
This side she couched Razzle Dazzle over the top.
Close up of quilting
Close up of quilting – makes it look like papyrus
Back of quilt
Close up
This visit was an exceptional one. I just love spending time with like minded peeps!
My newest feature – TWIST – This Week In Studio Time – a weekly peek inside my studio to see what I’ve been working on, debuts today. This week I finished (waiting for customer to finalize label info to finish label and add black binding) a wedding quilt I was commissioned to make for a friend’s family to give as a gift. The bride approved the printed fabrics, but has no idea about the quilt pattern. I adapted Jenny Doan’s, Shadow Quilt to Cotton Theory. I think she’ll love it. The fabric is Contempo Studios Paintbox Shadows. It’s modern, contemporary, and neutral enough to go with whatever other colors she chooses for her decor now and in the future.
Jenny Doan’s Illusion Quilt Pattern using Contempo Studios Paintbox Shadows fabric line
Next Friday may feature a project using my new serger! So excited to get it set up and make it a working part of my studio.
I am super excited to announce some new class offerings this spring at Always in Stitches in Noblesville, IN and this summer at the Westfield Parks and Recreation Department in Westfield, IN. If you have wondered about what Cotton Theory is all about, I hope you’ll join us, meet some new quilty friends, and just have some fun sewing.
Up first is Cotton Theory 101 at Always in Stitches. This is a very large, yet friendly quilt shop in Noblesville, IN. They also feature a large yarn and knitting area. It is worth a road trip if you have not yet visited. In Cotton Theory 101, held on two Wednesdays, April 15 and 29 from 1 – 4pm, you will make a 10″ x 10″ Candle Mat. You only need to supply 2 fat quarters and 1/8 yd of fabric for the binding. I will provide the Cotton Theory Book 2, a comprehensive book which has the pattern in it along with many other projects, as well as the Cotton Theory method general instructions so you will be able to refer to them later. It is a wonderful reference book!
In May (12th and 19th, 10 – noon) and June (17th and 24th, 10 – noon) I will be teaching Cotton Theory 101 for the Westfield Parks and Rec Department in their downtown Westfield, IN facility. For this class I will be providing a pre cut fabric and batting kit for the Candle Mat project. Several fabric color options will be available.
Candle Mat frontCandle Mat backside
In July (8th and 22nd, from 1-4pm) and August (3rd and 17th from 1-4pm, I will be teaching Cotton Theory 102 for the Westfield Parks and Rec Department in their downtown Westfield, IN facility. The project for Cotton Theory 102 is the Button Back Table Runner. Make this completely reversible Button Back Runner to adorn your own table or give as a gift. Easily customizable by you – you decide if you want an embroidery design in the center, a panel or focus fabric, or simply quilted. After this class you will take away a total of 9 hours of instruction. If you are an experienced quilter, you may begin with this class and skip CT 101.
I have often wondered about Zentangle. Is it just doodling? Why are people coming up with another name for doodling? I just didnt’ get it. People I asked would reply, “What do you mean, you don’t get it?” I just didn’t understand what it was and what it was all about. So, when I saw a class offered at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show in nearby Bloomington, IN, I decided to find out.
I signed up for two one day back to back classes with Certified Zentangle Teacher, Nysha Oren Nelson. Thursday’s class was an introduction to Zentangle. This was an enlightening experience for me and now I get it! Your brain can only think about one thing at a time (I always thought I was fabulous at multi-tasking!) and so concentrating on drawing particular Tangles for some amount of time is similar to a form of meditation and takes your mind off of everything else that’s going on up there. And there is a process and it’s NOT just doodling. And it does clear your mind for that amount of time.
Here are some of our class samples of the Tangle patterns we learned. We all followed the same directions and drew the same tangles, but they all came out differently.
Friday’s class was adapting the art of Zentangle to free motion quilting. Free motion quilting can be daunting for me. I can practice and get to the point that I feel comfortable doing it, but if I don’t practice regularly I have to start all over the next time. I did find the Zentangle patterns lend themselves will to FMQ and am excited about the possibilities. I believe warming up with drawing the Tangles will also translate into better FMQ. I can definitely see myself using this in the future.
Super fun to teach classes in my new studio!!! I was having so much fun, though, I forgot to take pictures! Here’s the only one I remembered to take. This was the second class of two, so they were finishing up their Candle Mats. The did a super job! Looking forward to sewing with them in the future.
I attended a wonderful quilt retreat last weekend at Lakeview Villages near Seymour, IN. Beautiful facilities! It was a pleasure to sew in the enormous room with one entire wall of windows and a fireplace at one end. An eagle even gave us a show right in front of our eyes.
Quilting AreaDining and Vendor Area
Much progress was made by the 24 quilters during the weekend! Here are some examples ~
And these are only a few!
I worked on a wedding quilt I have been commissioned to make for friends to give as a gift. It is coming along nicely, but that’s for another post.
I couldn’t have done it without him! My husband consolidated his office to make room for me to teach sewing/quilting classes! It is an amazing space with lots of light. I have room for 6 very comfortably. I held my first classes in it yesterday and it worked really well. I think I’ll be spending a lot of time here…
Cotton Theory 102 is the second in the 5 part series of learning all aspects of the Cotton Theory method of quilting. Our project is the Button Back Runner.
Button-Back Runner frontButton-Back Runner back
You will learn
What the Cotton Theory method is all about
“Quilt First, then Assemble” allows you to make a truly reversible quilt while making only one project and when you’re finished, it’s already quilted!
The Wobble Quilting Stitch
The Joining Stitch
The Cotton Theory One Way and Highway procedures
How to stitch a label in the binding
The Magic Triangle method of attaching French-Fold binding
This class is scheduled for three consecutive Wednesday afternoons or evenings in April: April 15, 22, and 29. Class is from either 1 – 4 pm or 6 -9 pm. Cost of this class is $45 plus the pattern ($13) and materials. Once registered for the class, I will forward to you preparation and instructions for the first class. If you do not wish to embroider the center rectangle, there is a quilting option.
If you are an experienced quilter, you may begin with this class and skip Cotton Theory 101, however, either CT 101 or CT 102 is required to advance to CT 103.
Current beginning Cotton Theory classes, CT 101, are offered Feb. 9 and 23 from 10 – noon or 6 – 8 pm OR Feb. 10 and 17 from 10 – noon or 6 – 8 pm and is $35 which includes a pre cut kit for the 10″ x 10″ Candle Mat.
If interested, please email me at lanarussel@gmail.com.
Cotton Theory 101, Introduction to Cotton Theory, is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9 and 23, mornings (10 am – noon) or evenings (6 pm – 8pm). This class consists of two 2 hour classes and is a good starting point for those either new to sewing or quilting or those having some experience. You will learn what Cotton Theory is all about and will be provided with a precut kit (choice of colors) for your convenience. Our project will be a 10″ x 10″ Candle Mat.
Candle Mat backsideCandle Mat front
Cost of this class is $35 (includes precut kit) plus the purchase of Cotton Theory Quilting 2, available on Amazon. Please email me @ lanarussel@gmail.com asap if interested. This class will fill up quickly.
