(A program is an informal session after the regular monthly meeting. It is not a workshop. It is member-led, free, informative, and fun. To present or lead you don't need to be an expert on the subject but interested in sharing and/or exploring a technique, idea, or any subject that can be applied to modern quilting. For more information contact Lois S, or Lore C, through GroupMe or this website's contact form.
Upcoming Programs:
April 18 - Nan Ryan and Jann Warfield will share their quilting travels and how it has impacted their creativity.
May 16 - Quilted Coat by Lore and Lois
Powerpoint presentation with examples of quilt embellished clothes to inspire for the sew-in in June. Find pattern options, make a muslin to try pattern and adjust. Use upcycle clothes or a new pattern. This will cover what you will learn in the Quilted Clothes sew-in June 20.
June 20- Let’s Make it Modern
Bring your first quilt, or one of the first, and let’s see how it could be made with a Modern twist. Maybe bring a project that needs some help, and you aren’t sure what will work, and we will help one another see things in a fresh light,
The afternoon will be the Quilted Clothes sew-in, bring lunch and sewing stuff
July 18 - It’s All About the Material
Have you ever wondered how to sew cork, vinyl or pleather? What are the tricks to making something fun with these unusual materials? Bring your sewing machine and enjoy a mini-retreat making a notebook cover. Learn from Meg Hawkins, who has been trying out many different materials. It is easier than it looks! Materials list will be posted on GroupMe.
with Meg - sew a notebook cover with cork or vinyl (Dollar Tree).
Aug 15 - Hachi Quilts with MV Wendell
You won’t want to miss this one day retreat with MV! Hachi quilts are wonderful representations of Japanese improvisational quilting, The Kanji for “Hachi” is Japanese for “eight” and the quilts are made of blocks that finish at 8 x 8 inches. This workshop will help you create your own quilt made of 30 blocks that will finish at 40 inches by 48 inches. A supply list will be posted on GroupMe.
Sept 19 - “Improv! QuiltCon Winners, Trends and Influencers” by Carol Byrnes.
A pictorial study of the Improv category’s growth and advancements from the first QuiltCon 2013 to today.
Oct 17 - Breaking Free from Patterns with Lynn Purple
Although you might have dozens of patterns, being Modern can often mean breaking free from someone else’s ideas and building your own. Lynn will guide you through that scary landscape and learn to be brave, not fear failure and make a truly unique Modern quilt. Using simple shapes and 2 colors, we can all be quilt designers! You won’t want to miss it!!
Nov 21 - Finding Inspiration in Photography and Architecture
Quilt inspiration is all around us—but how do we really find it? Are you born with this ability or can you learn it? Jamie Tracy, Associate Vice President of Academic and Faculty Affairs at the State College of Florida will come and share his creative process making art through photography. This can translate to fiber, elevating our quilts to new heights.
Dec 12 - Christmas Party and Bah Humbug Block
We will have a Pot Luck luncheon and enjoy an extended Show and Tell, with a reveal of a mystery 16” block. Now, how to put them all together?!!
******2027*****
Jan 23-2027 - Valerie Goodwin trunk show and Workshops
Feb 20 Challenge Reveal
Get ready for the 2027 Challenges and how you can make them wonderful.
The Challenge Committee will explain what they are and when they are to be finished, Application of ideas is the goal, so get ready for fun!
Held at Fruitville Library 10:00 Conference Room
Mar 20 Round Robin
One of our favorite programs, learning 3 or 4 new hints/tricks to level up your quilting. Some options are use of Ink-tense pens, how to frame a quilt, using non-traditional fabrics and how to use your phone camera filters and gray scale to design your quilts. Come ready to learn!
Held at Fruitville Library 10:00 Conference Room
Past Programs
March 21 - Maggie Dillon Designs - Art Quilts and Fiber Collages trunk show
See her prizewinning collage techniques - and sign up for her workshop on Mar 26-27 on GroupMe or by using the contact form in side column attn - Workshops.
Feb - note * we will not meet at a location in February but will have a Zoom program
Feb 21 - Zoom Amber Elliott - Modern Ombre Quilting trunk show to watch at home
From the basics of color theory to how to create beautiful perfect harmonies, we will discuss everything you need to know to be able to curate a perfect ombre fabric pull, everytime. This lecture is an introduction to the topics covered in her book Quilts in Modern Color: Creating Ombre Palettes.
Jan 2026 - Twining and Confetti Pouches with Linda Hungerford
Dec - Holiday party - Members only
Bring a $15 sewing related gift item wrapped for our Christmas Exchange game
and bring food items you signed up for Nov meeting
Contact Sue T on GroupMe for any questions
Nov - 4 Demo stations - a Round Robin of techniques
Flange, Facing binding, 6 minute circle, adding bias tape
Oct - Due to a technical issue, the lecture will be Wed Sept 24 at 9am
Sep - Zoom lecture Carolina Oneto lecture "Mimic and Creativity"
Watch at meeting at library or the Zoom link will be available on our GroupMe app
Oct - Info on free motion quiltingand Mini Retreat after meeting
Sep - Zoom lecture Carolina Oneto lecture "Mimic and Creativity"
Watch at meeting at library or the Zoom link will be available on our GroupMe app
Aug - Zoom lecture with Kelly Young Make your Scraps Work
Zoom link will be sent on our GroupMe app
Jul- Jolly July - potluck and merry making!
Jun- Quilting Questions and Answers and Gadgets... by Lois and Linda S
May- It's a surprise!
April- 1st and Last - bring your first quilt you ever made and your last one to review your quilting journey.
March 15- UFO Recovery
Bring a UFO or blocks you just don’t know what to do with. We will brainstorm and help you find a new way to look at them. Leave with a fresh idea and see what new eyes see in your “oops” tops and blocks.
February 15- Sharing love and Soup-in
This will be a pot luck soup-in. Bring your favorite soup to share and a mug. After lunch we will share some love by making a hand sewn heart pin. Share it with someone or keep it for yourself!
January 18- Word of the Year
Start the new year with a new motivation summed up with a word or phrase of the year.
Bring in some scraps and a craft banner it’s a word to motivate you throughout 2025. Use your favorite technique or an old favorite.
December - Holiday Party
Our traditional Holiday party honors the many December holidays celebrated by our members. Contribute a dish to the pot luck and bring a gift ($20 value) for a rollicking gift exchange after lunch. We will also have a show and tell, so enjoy the many wonders of the holidays.
October - Sew In—Giving quilts and special fun (at ST Thomas More Church in GulfGate)
We will be completing quilts and other items for our community. You never know what we have up our sleeve—or in our tote bags—to make the day extra fun! And Lore will demonstrate Pin Cushions in shells, pots etc
November - Show and Tell Tribute in memory of Carole Lyles Shaw - Bring a quilt you made in one of her classes or was influenced by her modern quilt style. And Pillow Case Cutting. Bring Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, and scissors - at Fruitville Library
September - Paint a Quilt with Glue Resist. (at Fruitville Library meeting room) Lynn Purple will demonstrate a technique in construction of a quilt with paint and glue. You won’t want to miss it. Demo then try it - Bring a lunch Supply list: Bottle of Elmers School Glue Gel, A drawing or design, Black permanent pen, Black frixion pen, White fabric 2" larger than design, blue painters tape, waterproof board larger than the piece of fabric. The board should be stiff enough to carry the taped fabric home without bending
August - Sarah Goer Zoom - Rules and Options of Planned Improv Piecing (Lecture)
NOTE: We will meet at the Sarasota Baptist church on 7091 Proctor Rd for this meeting only. You may Zoom lecture from anywhere, link will be posted on GroupMe.
Sarah likes options... but she also likes a plan. This lecture and trunk show will discuss how Sarah uses her planning nature to develop rules for herself which drive her Planned Improv quilt design work. She shares work in a series and shows how she iterates on a design. Sarah explains how she develops a formula for her project. Quilters leave with specific ideas of how to develop a set of rules to guide their improv piecing.
July - Christmas In July. (at Fruitville Library meeting room)
Get in the HO-HO spirit with a Salad Pot Luck luncheon and a silly gift exchange. Start thinking about the items you want to make for the upcoming holidays! Bring a sewish silly gift item @ $15 value in brown bag only for our Gift Exchange. Guests welcome!
June- How to read a quilt show entry form, and what do jurors and judges think?
Please join us at the June meeting to hear Linda Swanson and Frieda Anderson present a PowerPoint presentation about entering a quilt show with an emphasis on QuiltCon entries.
May -Gifting Block of the Year Reveal!
The Gifting Committee will reveal a modern quilt block with a demo. Bring your sewing machine to stitch up a few blocks with fabric from the committee, to be combined with others and made into wonderful quilts for our community. Let’s see how many blocks/tops we can make in one day!!April - the meeting at the Library will be led by Lois and the program is the Big Stitch. Bring a quilt you would like to add Big Stitch emphasis to. Also all are welcome to stop by Daysprings and see what's happening at the Retreat.
March - (at Ufer Park) - Coffee, Donuts, and Destash
Enjoy a social time and items to see/sell. Bring decluttered sewing items and a chair for comfort - we will be in the Pavilion at Urfer Park (BeeRidge and Honore)
February - Big Stitch Quilting in person by Linda Hungerford
In a combination of slides and a trunk show, Linda will talk about various hand stitching techniques, Kantha, Boro, Boho, Kawandi and visible mending which is a popular trend in upcycles garments. There will be a demo and time to hand stitch on a linen sampler that can be made into a zipper pouch. All materials for the hand sewing will be provided by reservation.
January - Stripes - Bring a fun stripes quilt to share in ways to use stripe fabric.
Lois will show examples of using stripe fabric for fun new quilts.
December - Holiday Party
Pot luck luncheon, Show and Tell, and a gift exchange - Always a treat!
November - A Trunk Show and afternoon Sew-in
First - Award Winning quilter, Diane L Murtha will share a trunk show of her quilts and share her journey. She will have copies of her new book Artful Insights in Fabric for sale. You will be inspired and encouraged in your journey in quilting! (Click here for info on her Jan 2024 Workshop)
Second - Bring your sewing machine, thread, scissors to make projects for Gifting. Jodi and Carol B will have you in stitches with Whimsical Kids Quilts - featuring funky animals and marvelous monsters. It's a fun way to use your left over strips and bits to bust your stash. Supplies will be provided. Bring a lunch too!
October - Challenge Reveal
Bring your completed Challenge - a modern expression of the churn Dash block (click here for challenge rules). And a 6 minute circle demo by Tommy.
September - Charles Cameron Color ! An Engineer's guide to color value and color placement in your quilts
10:30 Zoom presentation at the general meeting - meeting will follow lecture
Link for members unable to attend the meeting will be posted in Groupworks.
This Zoom lecture and trunk show will cover color theory, color placement and gorgeous quilts.
August - QuiltCon Challenge Community Outreach Quilt sew- in
Bring your sewing machine and all your goodies as we sew up the Community quilt for our entry in QuiltCon'24. Pack a bag lunch as we will be here after the meeting to sew the afternoon away.
July - Christmas in July Sew-in -a fun sewing time with Prizes!
Bring your favorite Potluck Salad (plates/water will be provided)
Bring a piece of fabric that you loved at one time, but now, not so much, for the Gift Exchange/Steal. Fabric should be minimum of a Fat Quarter and wrapped (brown paper bag is fine).
Bring a Holiday project to make with the sewing supplies as needed
Bring a Holiday project to make with the sewing supplies as needed
June - The Principles of Modern Quilting by Nan, Jodi, Carol B
A presentation with quilts to illustrate each characteristic of modern quilts.
Bring your show and tell and fit the dominant principle to your quilt.
May -We Can Solve This!
Bring your UFO's and orphan blocks and we will brainstorm how to use them best. If you have used orphan blocks, please bring them in for a special show and tell. There will also be a surprise gift for everyone, so you won't want to miss it!
April - no program due to Retreat
March - Gifting Quilt Fun with the latest new fabrics. Led by Jodi and demo by Robin and Nan on making multiple half square triangles at one time
February - Soup Luncheon and Presentation by Lynn P. with SSMQG guests
Bring a mug, spoon, a bread choice or dessert are requested. Soups by sign up sheet.
January 2023 - Lenore will demo and give afternoon assistance as we learn to make rice bags. Please purchase the pattern at KZStevens Etsy store click here. Bring a lunch and sewing supplies etc if staying for the afternoon sew-in. See the Groupworks post for prep for the class.
December 2022- Holiday Party! a members only event. Bring a $15 gift exchange and a pot luck dish!
Festive Wear!
November 2022- 2023 Gifting Fabric and block Reveal!
Ombré Challenge Quilts due. The 2023 block will be revealed and demonstrated using newly purchased fabric!
Program - Half Square Triangle!
Afternoon Sew-in-The left over fabric from previous years will be used for the Pillowcase Sew-In - Bring your lunch, machine and supplies.
October 2022- Making your Backgrounds POP! By Lynn Purple and UFO Challenge Finish.....a follow up to the March program - see photo's below.
Bring your completed UFO finish to share
September 2022 - Social Media Review by Carol B
How to find and use our guild's website, Instagram, Facebook, and Groupworks and other helpful hints.
August 2022 - Free-hand Foundation Piecing
To see Jo Avery's tutorial on paper piecing on lightweight interfacing click here. Christine R will lead as we learn together how to construct the project or a project of your own.
June 18 - Upcycled Fabrics and Projects
Lois S will show her projects using upcycled fabrics and will lead a discussion into details such as unexpected fabric choices, sources of these fabrics and care of your special end pieces. If anyone has her own examples to show, please bring them in!
May 21, 2022 - Kwandi by Nan
First, please have a look at the website link below to give you a flavor of a Kawandi Quilt.
Origin: Siddi peoples- East African slaves brought to India by the Portuguese over 400 years ago. These peoples, dispersed from their homeland, reside in small villages, free and independent.
I will be offering an overview of how to make a Kawandi Quilt.
WEBSITE
April 16, 2022 - Sew-in Wacky Circles
more improv circles made!
March 19, 2022 - Bring your UFO's! UFO Challenge to finish for October 2022 meeting
See why you may not have finished them, get suggestions for finishing OR disposing of them.
February 19, 2022 -The Gifting Team presents the 2022 Guild Block Program
Bring all your tools to make blocks! Sewing machine, cutting mat, etc. Lenore, Christine, and Jodi will host a short program with a few different techniques to complete the blocks. We'll bring the majority of the fabric needed (but grab some low volume out of your stash too.) Later in the year, we'll gather all these beauties and design/sew tops for our Gifting recipients!
January 15, 2022 - Origami Box by Margie Bolas
The amazing origami boxes that Lori Steinlauf gifted each of us at the December meeting was the "make it" program. Margie led the folding samples and provided the instructions.
November 20, 2021 - Transitioning Old to New, Traditional to Modern
Lynn showed examples of Traditional blocks and creative ideas to "modernize" it.
October 16, 2021 - Bring a quilt top for quilting ideas
September 18, 2021 - Wonky Star Team Work
Many Wonky Star blocks were made during the quarantine and now it's time to make them into quilt tops. Teams will work to divvy up the blocks, then design, layout, and sew the blocks into quilt top. Jodi G is the lead and fabric organizer.
July 17, 2021 - The Stepchild of Hue
July program is on color anomalies and how they can help quilters. Please bring two color chips (colors you would use in a quilt) but no white, grey, black or other neutrals. You can get the color chips for free at Lowes, Home Depot, Ace or Sherwin Williams stores.
Update - watch Carol's process and product review in Tutorials or click here
June 19, 2021 - 3 Weights of Heat and Bond and their uses -
Carol Byrnes will present the many uses of HeatnBond in various weights. "I'm so inspired by Wendy Grantz of ShinyHappyWorld." She has years of YouTube videos - click here for her recent one on Bunny Hop Applique.
May 15, 2021 -
Nan Ryan will present a review of Cassandra Beavers Full Circles inset using a ruler.
Lenore L. will present using the Ovals All Ways Ruler by Creative Grids. "It was great fun to play with this ruler."
April 2021 - Retreat- no program
March 27, 2021 - *Special* Lecture by Heather Black of "Quiltachusetts"
Balance & Depth in Modern Quilt Design with Q & A to follow the lecture.
This lecture will explore, through slides and examples, how to begin with a base that will guarantee a balanced quilt - from minimalist to block-based designs. It will also introduce several techniques that will add depth to designing. To learn more about Heather's quilts click here
March 20, 2021 - "Confessions of a Quilt Shop Owner" by Deborah Iverson
Don't miss this, Deb is going to tell us the ins and outs of owning, stocking, manning a quilt shop.
February 2021 - Unity Meets Variety and Falls in Love!
Please bring to the meeting:
12" x 12" solid cloth, assorted scraps, scissors and pins, repositionable glue (if you have some), an"d a Clipboard (if you have one or a book larger than 12" x 12"
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| Samples from February Program |
January 2021 - Professional longarm quilter, Melinda Sword will discuss deciding and planning the quilting stitch patterns for various quilt top designs. To learn more about Melinda's quilting click here
November 2020 - Cool Tools and Good Books
Attendees are invited to bring their favorite tool or a book that has helped/enhanced their quilting experience. As an example, Lynn Purple showed a Modern quilt that the small piecing was made easier by the instructions in this book.
October 2020 Program by Pam Morris -
September 17 - It's Not Foundationless by Christine Ravish - NOTE A recording of this program is available on the Tutorial page.
August 29 - Machine Binding on Zoom - Saturday August 29, 2020 10 a.m. followed by a Sew Day
Christine Ravish will show a Fast Blind Binding tutorial. (This really works!) Step by step photo's and explanation on this tutorial.
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| Front gives hand finished look |
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| Back straight sewing |
August 1 - Facings on Zoom - Saturday August 1, 2020, 10 a.m. followed by a Sew Day
Nan Ryan will show us how she gets perfectly square corners in a faced binding method technique. The step by step slideshow posts photos of each technique in detail.
Watch for your email Zoom invite a week before the event.
Nan Ryan will show us how she gets perfectly square corners in a faced binding method technique. The step by step slideshow posts photos of each technique in detail.
Watch for your email Zoom invite a week before the event.
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| "perfectly square corners" Facings by Nan Ryan |
February 2020 - Double Curves completion by Christine Ravish.
Members who attended the one day workshop will bring blocks for instruction on cutting and piecing for final layouts.
January 2020 - Bring a share on how you journal your quilts. Terrie Morgan will lead us in creating a unique cover or you can just make one out of fabric. Find a journal size that you like, she prefers a 5" x 8" size. Blank paper inside would be good, hard cover, bound. Supplies: notebook to cover, fabric for cover, flaps and background (pieced if desired), colored thread for quilting, Rat tail - about 15", button, fusible fleece size of journal cover, mid-weight iron on interfacing. Sewing machine and supplies.
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| Terrie Morgans Journal Cover |
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| Covers completed in Program |
December 2019 - Holiday Party - note* on 2nd Saturday Dec 14, 019 -bring potluck and modern type gift $15. limit. No sewing just celebrating the holidays! (This is a members only event.)
November 2019 - Cancelled - See Feb 2020. Continuation of the Double Curves Workshop by Christine Ravish. If you took the workshop, come with your "made fabric" and work on the quarter circles. If you did not take the workshop bring fabric and make circles with us or bring whatever you'd like to work on independently. Sign-up on Groupworks or contact Christine through the Contact Form on this blog.
October 2019 - Color and Value- a No Sew Afternoon Program by Carole Lyles Shaw
Planning a quilt without a focus fabric? In this no sew afternoon program Carole will show us how to build a palette with several hands on exercises that will help us see color and different types of value with more clarity. These exercises will give us more analytical tools -- without going deep into color theory. This is a NO SEW workshop--AND you will dig into your stash and scrap pile to bring the fabric that you need. Sign-up on Groupworks in Events Section or contact Carole thru this website.
September 2019 - Yikes Stripes by Donna Koenig shows how to make a quick quilt using irregularly striped fabric. Bring 1 1/2 yards of striped fabric, irregularly striped. Bring your machine, cutting mat, rotary cutter, pins, rulers and let's have some fun!
June 2019 - Do you have a problem quilt top? Bring a quilt top for our afternoon program on "suggestions for problem quilt tops". This includes piecing, design, and "make it work" solutions.
May 2019 - Carol Byrnes will show minky samples and tips for quick quilts for kids or decor. It's luscious...
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| Donna Koenig Striped Quilt samples |
June 2019 - Do you have a problem quilt top? Bring a quilt top for our afternoon program on "suggestions for problem quilt tops". This includes piecing, design, and "make it work" solutions.
May 2019 - Carol Byrnes will show minky samples and tips for quick quilts for kids or decor. It's luscious...
April 2019 - Robin Kriegs presented
March 2019 - Sew Time! Bring your machine, supplies and project or start on the next Challenge/Charity as presented by Pat Hansen and Christine Ravish during the March meeting.
February 2019 - Bonnie Booy will speak about Japanese Shibori which is a dyeing technique that involves folding and clamping, stitching and pole twisting fabric before dyeing it. She will demonstrate the three main techniques and show many samples. (There will not be any dye involved in the demonstrations.) (This program was rescheduled from Jan meeting.)
February 2019 - Bonnie Booy will speak about Japanese Shibori which is a dyeing technique that involves folding and clamping, stitching and pole twisting fabric before dyeing it. She will demonstrate the three main techniques and show many samples. (There will not be any dye involved in the demonstrations.) (This program was rescheduled from Jan meeting.)
January 2019 - A lunchtime presentation on our April Challenge "Photo Inspired Modern Quilt Design" with ideas on how to work with a photo for inspiration. Presented by Carole, Jann, and Rose
December 2018 - Holiday Party, no program
November 2018 -Bring fabric donations for sale at our February "Airing of the Quilts". Fabric needs to be organized into similar coordinates then pressed, folded, and packaged in clear plastic bags. Pricing will be done by Sandy Jolliff and committee.
October 2018 - Robin Kriegs- will demo Square to Hexagon and show some sample projects. If you are interested in trying this folding method bring already cut squares like a charm pack or layer cake, a cutting mat, ruler, a 6" long or longer and rotary cutter. While the hexagons will not be technically perfect, they can be used for some cool applications.October 2018 -Pat Hansen - will demo the technique for making Kaleidoscope hexagons. At the last meeting we saw Susan Sadi's "One Block Wonder" quilt which is a beautiful, complex design and made with just one novelty fabric I will show you how to select the best fabric to create the blocks. This info is found in the Magic Stack-n-Whack Quilts by Bethany Reynolds and One-Block Wonders by Maxine Rosenthal.
The hexagon blocks created are fascinating designs and can also be used individually in modern quilts settings. I love them all.
The hexagon blocks created are fascinating designs and can also be used individually in modern quilts settings. I love them all.
September 2018 - Charity Quilt for QuiltCon 2019
2nd Sew Day for Charity Quilt for center layout and piecing. Many thanks to Kathy Hayes for volunteering to sew side layouts from August meeting.
1. Sewing Machine with white or very light gray thread for piecing (NOT required - we need a couple of people to just help press/iron).
1. Sewing Machine with white or very light gray thread for piecing (NOT required - we need a couple of people to just help press/iron).
2. Any remaining blocks and leftover fabric from the challenge
We will provide - cutting mats, rotary cutters, irons and ironing boards
August 2018 - Piece the Top and Back of the Charity Quilt for QuiltCon 2019-
What to bring to August Sew Day:
1. Sewing Machine with white or very light gray thread for piecing (NOT required - we need a couple of people to just help press/iron).
2. Any remaining blocks and leftover fabric from the challenge
We will provide - cutting mats, rotary cutters, irons and ironing boards
June 2018 -Pat Hansen will present the January challenge Elements of Scale with a slideshow presentation. Christine Ravish will show us how to take a near-perfect quilt photo,
Carol Byrnes will show photo apps for imperfect quilt photos and other favorites.
