The workshops listed below are all technique workshops presented in a wallhanging/cushion/garment format. I prefer to send students home with a small quilt/article rather than various little sample pieces.
ALL IMAGES AND SCRIPT ARE COPYRIGHT MARILYN PRETORIUS AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.
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DESIGN A MANDALA
4x 3 hours
Design a Mandala with the aid of a grid
without using geometry tools. The
workshop focuses on design, the process from paper to fabric and different
construction methods. Techniques
includes fusing methods, raw edge applique, couching and the crossover between
creative stitching and machine quilting.
The same design principles can be used to design medallion quilts.
TAUGHT AT 2017 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA===================================================
RUNNERS
4 x 3 hours
Explore
unconventional ways to prepare fused backgrounds for table runners or skinny
quilts, border sections and construction methods. This is a fusing workshop with the emphasis
on freestyle! Students will make a
table runner in this workshop.
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JUST STITCH
2 x 3hours
Just Stitch - the fusion
of decorative stitching and machine quilting...
Where does decorative
stitching stop and where does machine quilting start, can the two be
combined?
TAUGHT AT 2015 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
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FREESTYLE WAYS
4 x 3 hours
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Students will explore squares and strips in this freestyle workshop. Students will prepare a background of small
squares in a monotone colourwash format onto which embellished strips will be
stitched. Cords for couching will be
made of different materials and yarns which can be used in combination with
commercial cords. Burning of chiffon,
tulle, taffeta, organza etc into shapes will be demonstrated in the
workshop. Scale, proportion and the
balance of embellishments will be discussed.
Planning and preparation of fringes will be demonstrated. Hand stitching and beading adds texture to
this machine stitching workshop. Students will learn to use the quilting process as a construction tool!
TAUGHT AT 2013 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA |
BAG-A-SQUARE
4 x 3 hours
Students will make a bag using a square as design element. Small squares will be fused in a colourwash format for the main section combined with a patterned section at the bottom of the bag. Satin stitch, making and couching of cords, using stitches on machine, machine quilting and construction of the bag will be demonstrated in the workshop. Embellishment includes covering of plastic rings and beading. This is an ideal project for using scraps. A variety of fabrics and appropriate beading makes this project look very vibrant…
TAUGHT AT 2013 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
FUN ON THE EDGE
4 x 3 hours
Students will prepare a fragmented background for this still life. The focus of this workshop is free motion techniques i.e. raw edge applique and using machine embroidery techniques to add shading and interest. The centres of the flowers will be done using the needlelace technique. The emphasis will be on machine quilting in the last session. Appropriate shading of the vase, flowers and leaves will be demonstrated using oil and pastel crayons as well as fabric paint.
TAUGHT AT 2011 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
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EXPLORE MACHINE STITCHING & MORE
4 x 3 hours
The focus of this workshop is embellishing techniques and ideas for the quilter who is ready to explore. A fragmented background will be prepared which will be embellished with circular motifs in a combination of machine and hand embroidery. Needle punching, trapping of foils with tulle, couching, needlelace, burning of edges etc as well as discharging of fabric suitable for borders will be demonstrated in the class. Manipulation of wire (copper, silver etc) as embellishing motifs will be demonstrated. The construction and finished edge of an irregular shape quilt will be demonstrated.
TAUGHT AT 2011 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
TAUGHT AT 2011 NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
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ROSE TRELLIS WALLHANGING
4 x 3 hours
Students will make a wallhanging with a trellis background with appliqued climbing roses. Some of the roses will be three dimensional and beaded. Techniques will be direct machine applique, 3-D machine applique (stitching around curves on raw edges), machine embroidery for embellishment and machine quilting. The shading of the roses will be demonstrated in the class.
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FUN WITH FREE MOTION
4 x 3 hours
Students will make a small wallhanging of leaves on a background of bricks depicting a garden scene. Students will make leaves using various techniques to create different effects which will be stitched onto the prepared background wall. The emphasis of this workshop will be on free motion machine stitching techniques, therefore only machines with this function suitable for this workshop! Techniques will be raw edge applique, needlelace, 3-D effects, use of florist wire, washaway fabrics etc. Students can choose a spring/summer theme (shades of green for the leaves) or autumn (shades from rust/red to old gold) theme for their small wallhanging.
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FUN WITH CHAIN STITCH
3 x 3 hours
(available in kit form)
Students will receive a kit with fabric for the background, scraps for the patches and border. Patches will be fused, hand embroidered and beaded. Embroidery yarns, beads and shisha mirrors not included in the kit.
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BASIC MACHINE APPLIQUE
2 x 3 hours
This workshop will teach the student to correctly prepare an article for the direct machine applique technique or satin stitching. Students will make a tray cloth/placemat as per sample which will teach them to fuse correctly, sew curves, sharp and square points, stitching sequence and the technique of stitching on raw edges as well as the appropriate finishing off of the article. Application of this technique is for quilting, household items or clothing.
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SUNSET OVER AFRICA
4 x 3 hours
Students will make a machine appliqued and embroidered picture depicting a sunset scene over the South African Bushveld. Bushes and trees will be made using the needlelace technique and free motion machine embroidery. Students will compose their own picture with the aid of animal motifs. All the work will be done in black fabric and thread on the painted sunset background fabric in the kit.
BORDER: Will be explained in the last session - students will be able to start cutting if they work quickly.
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ZEBRA'S - DONKEYS IN STRIPED PJ'S
6 x 3 hours
Students will receive a comprehensive kit which will include all the fabrics needed for the picture. The Zebras will be pre-printed and painted, ready for stitching. The kit will not include andy fabric for the border.
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AFRICAN ELEPHANTS
4 x 3 hours
Students will make a small wallhanging with landscape background filled with indigenous forest (like Knysna) with textured work to recreate the forest and will be taught how to make trees with the aid of water soluble substance. The focal point will be elephants which will be painted, machine appliqued and embroidered to realistically represent the texture of elephant hide. The elephant ears will be made 3-D.
Students will receive a kit with pre-painted elephants and fabric to use for the trees. Fabric for the border not included in the kit.
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CREATIVE STITCHING
2 x 3 hours
Students will learn to create new fabric with scraps and over stitching with various threads. The use of different machine needles and threads will be discussed and applied in this workshop. Different textures will be created for use in clothing, cushion covers and innovative/freestyle quilts. This is a fun filled, experimental workshop with no boundaries. Couching of threads with a sewing machine will also form part of this workshop.
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PROTEA WORKSHOP #1
4 x 3hours
Students will machine applique and hand embroider 3 proteas: Protea Cynaroides (right in picture), Protea Neriifolia (centre) and Protea Roupelliae (left) in a small wallhanging. The leaves will be machine embroidered. Construction of the border will be explained in the final session of the workshop. Border pattern included.
A comprehensive kit will be supplied with background fabric, pre-painted flowers, leaves and all embroidery yarns.
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PROTEA WORKSHOP #24 x 3 hours
Students will machine applique and hand embroider 3 proteas: Protea Aristata (left), Leucospernum Cordifolium (pincushion in centre) and Protea Laurifolium.
The challenge is to reproduce nature as realistically as possible with the aid of fabric painting and innovative embroidery.
A complete kit will be included for this course with all the pre-painted flowers and leaves, background fabric and all the different embroidery yarns, silk ribbons, Mettler sewing thread fo rthe applique work and beads for the pincusion.
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