Mastering the Art of "Template-free" Appliqué with Jan Carlson May 30 | 12 -4 Mastering the Art of "Template-free" Appliqué with Jan Carlson May 30 | 12 -4

May 30 | 12 -4 We are thrilled to be hosting Jan Carlson, co-founder and former president of the Baltimore Appliqué Society (BAS) for a class at Cottonwood. Jan will teach her tried and true applique method that involves no templates centered around one of her original designs! Discover the freedom of creating intricate textile art without the constraints of plastic templates or complex tracing! Join acclaimed fiber artist Jan Carlson for a deep dive into this No-Template Basting Technique. In this workshop, Jan will pull back the curtain on this unique process, showing you how to move from inspiration to finished quilt with speed and precision. Whether you are looking to create nautical scenes, whimsical gardens, or bold geometric mandalas, this method eliminates the "fussy" prep work and allows the joy of fabric selection to take center stage. What You Will Learn: The Applique Basting Method: Learn this specific approach to securing appliqué pieces for a perfect finish every time. Template-Free Applique Color Theory in Action: Gain insights into Jan’s vibrant world of color and learn how to mix bold prints and stripes to make your designs "pop." Precision Finishing: Expert tips on stitching techniques that ensure your appliqué is as durable Come Sail Away Pre-Class Instructions To save time in class, please trace the design to the BACK of the background fabric with the graphite pencil. Since this design is basically not directional, you don’t necessarily have to reverse the pattern for tracing unless you want those fish swimming in a certain direction :) Fabric Requirements Fat quarter of background fabric Fat quarter or less for hulls and fish Fat quarter for anchors, inner border and binding. Note the anchor fabric should be one that doesn’t easily fray because it is so tiny with lots of curves. I used an additional blue fabric (waves with bubbles) for the swags and reel center. Fat quarter or less for 2 sail colors and corner fish. Fat quarter for striped border (1/2 yd. for enlarged version) Small scraps for flags, clouds and masts Fat quarter for backing (1/2 yd. for enlarged version) Small piece of batting (18” square) (24” square for enlarged version) Sewing Supplies: Thread to MATCH the applique fabrics, applique needles (I prefer a milliner or straw needle size 10 or 11 to allow a 2 finger grip on the needle and still have room to sweep the fabric under, a needle threader since the eye is so tiny, a larger diameter basting or darning needle with a SHARP point (size 8) for basting the applique fabric in place from the back, heavily GLAZED quilt thread in a CONTRASTING COLOR that will show up on your applique pieces (white or ecru is usually best) for basting the pieces in place, sharp fabric scissors that cut cleanly to the point, a soft graphite pencil to transfer the design to the BACKof the background fabric (I like General’s Sketch & Wash. Cottonwood is getting those in stock soon) and a few pins. Since we will be doing sharp inside points and curves, you may want to bring along a glue stick to help ease in any frays. If you have a small Ott light, please bring it since you need to see really well for this technique. Please note: You may want to enlarge the pattern if you feel this small size may be too unwieldy for you - you may need to purchase extra background and border fabric depending on how much you enlarge the pattern. The shop has a slightly enlarged copy of the pattern available. Why Take This Class?Jan Carlson is known as much for her infectious enthusiasm as she is for her technical mastery. Students will benefit from her extensive knowledge of fabric behavior and her encouraging, "low-stress" teaching style The BAS is an organization established in 1993 dedicated to the preservation of the Baltimore Album Quilt tradition. Jan Carlson and friend Toni Carr brought this organization to fruition with the help of friends and quilt guilds across the area. Jan is recognized for her extensive work in quilt history and conservation, specifically within the following areas: Museum Collaboration: Carlson was instrumental in establishing partnerships with major institutions, including the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) . In 1999, she worked closely with BMA curators to identify and reproduce historic quilts from their textile collection for benefit raffles. Preservation Projects: She was part of a select group of volunteers who spent "countless hours" meticulously tracing and preparing appliqué patterns for quilts in the DAR Museum collection, ensuring these historic designs were preserved for future generations. Archival Support: Under her leadership, the BAS raised significant funds to stabilize and preserve the archival papers of William R. Dunton, a pioneering quilt historian whose records are essential to the study of 19th-century Baltimore quilts. Education: Carlson served as a quilt techniques instructor, teaching skills like appliqué and reverse appliqué at workshops for organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution.