Improv Design Camp: Composition and Structure

TUTOR: PAT PAULY

Study improvisational piecing (sewing) as a base for composing contemporary works. Start with building structures — complete with insets, windows, thin lines, breaks, shifts and curves — all the tools of improvisational quilting. These modest sets become the inspiration for larger abstract works where composition and assembly techniques expand these to large scale abstract works. You’ll leave ‘Design Camp’ confident in design fundamentals.

Pat challenges relationships that occur when fabrics are used in combinations, allowing dialog that can only be improvisational, or reactive, to the composition of the work. This workshop is a great way to use unique fabric — whether hand dyed, printed, or commercial printed — so bring your bold fabric!

Optional: Participants who are interested in creating their own fabric to use in this class will have the opportunity to join an online class with Pat in the months before the class at AQC.

Skill level: Suits all

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CLASS REQUIREMENTS

Improv Design Camp: Composition and Structure with Pat Pauly
Four-day Class: Thursday to Sunday
Class Times: Thurs-Fri: 10am to 5pm; Sat-Sun: 9am to 5pm

Materials fee: none. Pat may bring some hand printed fabric for class if luggage space allows.

You will need to bring:

  • Sewing tools
  • Machine needles (three)
  • Neutral colour thread for machine
  • Seam ripper
  • Largest cutting mat you can manage
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Dressmakers chalk (optional)
  • Rotary cutter 45mm or 60mm
  • 12 ½ inch square template
  • Optional: square template 6 ½ inch square and 8 ½ inch square
  • Long ruler for cutting fabric (ie 24 inches long)
  • Camera / phone camera to record process
  • Pen/pencil paper or notebook optional
  • 8 sheets plain paper (A4 size)
  • Glue stick

Fabric: for all amounts, vary the scale of the prints from large to small, and from light to dark – go graphic!

  • 10 fat quarters
  • 5 half metre cuts
  • 5 full metre cuts

Sewing machines will be provided.

To complete the project at home you will need batting and backing – do not bring these to class.