General Information

As a stitched textile artist specialising in patchwork and quilting - I offer workshops and talks to textile, quilting and embroidery groups around the UK, Europe and elsewhere.

I have been teaching since 1988, including City and Guilds qualifications.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss tailor made workshops, a masterclass or extended courses/summer schools running for 5 days or more.

For more details, please email: Janice Gunner

Textured Treasure

Spend the day using your "embellisher" creatively. The day will be spent layering fabrics and fibres and working into these with the "embellisher to create exciting textured surfaces ready for hand stitching to further enhance your projects. Machine embellisher required.

Free Form Piecing

A workshop with a difference. Spend the day learning and experimenting with a whole variety of free cut techniques to produce unique and exciting patchwork. Using strip pieced and free cut methods you will make a series of samples that could be turned into a future project or as the starting point to designing your own work. Machine piecing.

Triangle Trickery & Secret Squares

Have a great time learning how to make my unique folded and manipulated fabric origami patchwork. You will learn the basics and then progress to some exciting variations for inclusion in your work or as mini projects. Otherwise known as "squashed frogs" and "leaded lights"! Hand piecing. ©Janice Gunner 1997-2009

Indigo Dyed Shibori

There is something quite magical about the combination of Indigo dye and Shibori resist techniques. Have a fantastic day producing your own unique indigo hand dyed fabrics using stitch, tied, pleated and wrapping, as featured in my book “Shibori for Textile Artists”. Procion MX dyes can also be used, please state your preference when booking.

Log Cabin With Attitude

Fast, fun and very few rules! This technique can have as much “attitude” as you like, but first learn the basics of this irregular log cabin style technique incorporating strip piecing. Devised for my prize winning “Skye Escape” series of quilts, it is as popular as ever, adaptable and great for those who want to break free from precision piecing. Use of colour, quilting, embellishing and finishing techniques also discussed. Machine piecing. © Janice Gunner.

Curves In The Cabin

This great variation of the Log Cabin with Attitude technique is fun, not so fast, but again has few rules. Incorporating strip piecing, I will introduce you to the delights of gently flowing curved blocks, with no pins needed! Use of colour, quilting, embellishment and finishing techniques also discussed. Machine piecing. © Janice Gunner.

Painted Skye

Luscious landscapes, stunning skies, and smouldering sunsets. All of these, and more, can be achieved by painting fabrics. Learn how to produce these effects on cotton fabric for use in patchwork, quilting, appliqué and embroidery using brushes and sponges. Colour, heliographic (sun) effects and use of the finished fabrics will all be discussed.

Creative Machine Quilting

Spend the day coming to terms with your sewing machine, for quilting of course. Learn the basics of the "Walking Foot", followed by "Free Motion" control. It takes time and practice, but you will have lots of fun on the way. Health and Safety, care of your machine, threads and wadding will be discussed. Machine Quilting.

Sashiko

Sashiko, the beautiful art of Japanese quilting is a delight to see and a pleasure to stitch. This workshop will introduce you to traditional designs, contemporary interpretations and types of thread. You will begin a sampler of designs that can be made into a cushion, wall hanging or bag. Hand quilting.

Fabric of Nature

Are you longing to reproduce a favourite holiday photo or postcard into a fabric masterpiece? Using landscapes or seascapes as your inspiration, I will show you how to transform the image into a bonded, machine appliqué picture. Free machine embroidery will be used to enhance the final piece. Machine appliqué and free machine stitching.

Inspirational Indigo

Indigo is such a magical colour, there is no other quite like it! During this fun workshop you will work individually with a selection of indigo dyed fabrics to begin a small wall hanging, cushion, bag or item of your own choice. A variety of techniques including free cut piecing, appliqué and free machine quilting will be demonstrated and discussed before I let you loose to play!

To make life easier I have teamed up with Magie Relph of The African Fabric Shop to provide a kit for you to buy containing all the indigo fabrics you need, but you can always buy more or bring others if you wish of course!

Sensational Shibori

Day One There is something quite magical about the combination of Indigo dye and Shibori resist techniques. Day one is a fantastic day producing your own unique indigo hand dyed fabrics using stitch, tied, pleated and wrapping, as featured in my book "Shibori for Textile Artists".

Day Two Make a quilt, wall hanging, cushion or bag with all that fabric you dyed yesterday. During day two I will show you how to design a piece of work using with your precious pieces of fabric! Piecing, appliqué, hand and machine quilting and use of embellishments and finishing techniques will all be demonstrated and discussed during the day and you will go home with a piece of work planned or started!

African Odyssey

Travel into the world of quilt making African fabric style! Big prints, bold colours, Indigo’s and tie-dyes – this class will show you how to use them. Design-as-you-go to make unique, one-of-a-kind quilts using those wonderful African fabrics that you just couldn’t resist buying from The African Fabric Shop or Out of Africa! Piecing, appliqué, quilting and embellishment will be discussed as you design your masterpiece. Design and machine stitching.

Influenced By Japan

My awe inspiring trip to Japan is responsible for this workshop. Using Japanese fabrics, landscape and culture, this class will help you to design a unique scroll like quilt to hang in your own home. Simple, yet elegant shapes and design motifs for your own little piece of Japan. Design, piecing, appliqué, sashiko quilting and finishing techniques will be discussed. Hand or machine piecing, hand quilting.