Craftsy Class Review: Improvisational Piecing

FullSizeRender-copy.jpg
Improv Piecing

Improv Piecing

IMG_9924

IMG_9924

I hope all of my friends who celebrate Thanksgiving had a lovely day, filled with food (lots and lots of food) and family and friends. We are spending the weekend with my parents and aunt and uncle. I feel very thankful this year.Recently, I have had a lot of time on my hands where I am holding or feeding a baby.  I have finally started watching a bunch of Craftsy classes that are in my queue (and have been for... a long time!) Additionally, they are all on sale for $19.99 right now!!! See the end of my post for more details.Over the last week or two, I  finished Jaquie Gering's excellent class, Online Quilting Class: Improvisational Piecing, Modern Design.  I have done some improvisational piecing in the past, so the information in the class wasn't completely new to me. Even still, I really enjoyed watching the class, learning from Jacquie, and being inspired to actually sit down and sew!

screenshot from my phone, Jacquie's Blue Ice quilt is in the background, found in her book Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts

FullSizeRender-2

FullSizeRender-2

Here are some thoughts on the class:Jacquie is very comfortable behind the camera--she is easy to watch/listen to.  She offers very clear directions, step outs, demonstrates by sewing at the machine, and offers suggestions on how to fix common mistakes.  I would classify her improv style as carefully considered improv. She is incredibly precise, and definitely follows the adage measure twice, cut once.She teaches to the quilter for whom improv doesn't come naturally, as well as showing how she really puts together blocks, which is more of a make decisions as you are sewing, or, improvise! method. If you don't love improv piecing, I think you would like her very methodical, pre-planned manner: sketch a design, follow the design, take the design to the design wall when placing blocks, etc. Her techniques and quilts build on each other, which is a plus. [screenshot from my phone--the Craftsy platform lets you ask instructors and classmates questions, provides quilt instructions to design and save, and lets you pause, rewind, and add video notes...]Jacquie's Crosscut Quilt (above) was my favorite (an update of her slice and insert technique, also found in her book and I believe she teaches in person classes on it, as well.) Overall, I would highly recommend this class. I was impressed with Jacquie's precision and the care she took when making the quilts (look how flat and straight they hang!) I tend to be a slap something together and see how it goes type of quilter--this class inspires me to be a little more careful--and amazingly, I was when I was making these blocks!

IMG_0076

IMG_0076

My quilt blocks aren't from a pattern/project in her class, per se, but were definitely inspired by watching it.  Jacquie's love of orange and one inch strips comes through in the video!

Craftsy Logo
Craftsy

I like the Craftsy platform. It cut out on me a few times, which was annoying, especially as I was watching in the middle of the night.  I like that I can watch on my phone, iPad, or computer, and go from device to device without losing my place. Additionally, I appreciate that Craftsy has added a ton of classes recently, including cooking and gardening classes (as well as painting, drawing, apparel sewing, cake decorating, etc.)A few I have been eyeing:Tara Rebman- Quilt-As-You-Go: Patchwork BagsSew the Perfect Fit (how to alter patterns, which I seem to always need to know how to do but never get it quite right!)Sewing With Knits (my experience sewing with knits has not been awesome)A Modern Take on the Mother Sauces(food, glorious food! I can eat again!)Mexican Comfort Food (w/ Deborah Schneider)(you had me at street tacos!)Homemade Italian Pasta with Giuliano Hazan (again, food, glorious food!)Finally, Craftsy is having a giant sale! All classes are $19.99 (some usually go as high as $49.99), and there is a huge sale on fabric, yarn, clothing kits, etc. Go have some fun shopping! I know I'm going to. I have a lot of up-during-the-middle-of-the-night nights in my future.Note: Affiliate links included in this post. If you shop from one of these links, I earn a small percentage. And then I get to buy magformers for my kids for Christmas ;)