Skinny Grids – Beyond Inset Strips

TUTOR: SHARON NICHOLLS THOMSON

Get ready to rethink how you piece skinny grids! In this technique class, which builds on the Inset Strips class from last year’s AQC, Sharon shares her unique method for creating ultra-thin grid blocks—so unexpected it always gets a double take. This technique stabilises strips as you go, making even needle-width lines easier to handle.

Students will piece blocks with strips a ¼ inch and an 1/8 inch wide, learning Sharon’s clever cutting, piecing, and seam allowance tricks. The process is simple, scalable, and packed with possibilities. Along the way, Sharon will challenge traditional quilting ‘rules’ and show how understanding the why behind them opens the door to creative freedom and precision.

Suitable for beginners and more experienced quilters alike, class participants may choose to use their blocks to begin a full-scale improv project like the ‘Grid Pages’ quilt shown at right, or use the small samples in another way after class.

Skill level: Suits all

Scroll down for Class Requirements

Grid Pages

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

Skinny Grids with Sharon Nicholls Thomson

One-day Class: Saturday, April 11

Class times:  9am to 5pm

Materials fee: None

You will need to bring:

First Exercise

  • A fat quarter OR One pre-prepared 14 inch square of solid fabric or fabric that reads as solid
  • A fat eighth OR pre-cut 15 inch x  ¾ inch skinny strips in a contrasting colour. Each of these strips need to be at least 15 inches long and they could be a bit longer.
  • A good quality 50wt neutral piecing thread that will work with your fabric choices.
  • Patchwork pins
  • Decent size fabric scissors eg 6 to 8 inch. Snips or embroidery scissors will be too small.
  • A chalk marker or removable/washable marking pen that will show up on your fabrics. You will be marking on the right side, so it needs to be removable/washable. Sharon likes Sewline Trio colours or Clover Chaco Liner or Clover Water Soluble Chalk Pencils.

Further Exercises

  • We will try even even skinnier strips with this next lot of fabric.
  • If you are shopping your stash, bring another couple of large squares or rectangles eg 14 inch x 14 inch or 14 inch x 12 inch and bring enough fabric for 10 x ¾ inch strips per piece. The ¾ inch strips need to be about an inch longer than the piece.
  • Or simply bring two pairs of fat quarters with nice contrast in each pair.

Note: You could experiment here with your extra fabrics, a combo of solids and prints could work but make sure you have good contrast! If you are planning to go on to make a quilt or project like Grid Pages, bring things that will work together.

Optional Ideas:

  • Vary the colour of your skinny strips instead of ten the same. Note: Sharon’s samples all use just two colours but different colours could be a fun effect to try.
  • A spare bobbin for YOUR machine to take home unused bobbin thread.
  • Thread snips
  • Rotary cutter, mat and ruler, if you have luggage space, please bring these. If you can’t bring them, don’t worry, Sharon will bring a couple to share.

Optional Cutting in advance

Cutting out in advance will get you started quickly and you’ll get more done: If you can’t bring anything pre-prepped you’ll still get the learning but you’ll need to spend time getting them cut out first. This is fine with me, not everyone has time to do loads of prep and some people like to.

Important: If you can’t bring a rotary cutter and mat please try to do the prep listed in the first two items of the First Exercise requirements above. You will be quite slowed down if many of you need to share cutters and mats to get your first block ready.

Sewing machines will be provided.

To complete the project at home: This is a technique class so nothing is specifically required to complete the project but making a quilt will require more fabric in coordinating colours. It does depend on the size required but I imagine you may need 15 more pairs of fat quarters/fat eighths.