This class is part of the five-part virtual Hand Sewn Quilting Series IV. Classes may be purchased individually at $75 or as a five-part package for a discounted price of $350. 

Throughout quilt history, foundation piecing has allowed quilters to work with scrappy materials of different weights, textures, and weaves (think crazy quilts and string quilts). Foundation piecing is an excellent technique to play with whether you are after blocks with precise points that are guaranteed to match, or you want to create simple blocks that can be used to build improv compositions. Beginning with a brief history of foundation piecing and an introduction to the technique, participants will have the opportunity to sew their own simple blocks from the bits in their scrap bags. Finally, we will discuss the geometric potential of simple blocks to create complex patterns through repetition and rotation. Participants will be encouraged to continue to experiment after the workshop is over to develop their own unique compositions from their humble leftovers.

Date + Time

Friday, January 16th, 2026, 12 - 2:30 pm ET

Location

Zoom, a link will be emailed to participants the day before class.

Cost

$75 for the individual class
$350 for the series

Materials

• Square sheets of paper (6 inches or bigger). Origami paper works well, magazine pages or regular printer paper cut into squares will work as well. You will be stitching through this paper so avoid heavy weight paper.NOTE: you will only have time to sew 4 to 8 blocks in class so have at least this many prepped for the workshop. For a larger project, you will probably want anywhere from 25 to 100 squares.

• Printed template if you want to try precision foundation piecing (There are two templates per page - print twice for a total of 4 templates).

• Scraps: Lots of scraps in a range of sizes, tones, and colors. Some can be as small as a few inches but make sure you have some that are larger - 10 - 12 inches. You won't know exactly what you want to use until you begin the workshop so have lots of options handy! *

• Strings: Longer (at least 10 inches) thin strips of fabric in a variety of widths (at least ¾ inch). These can be cut in class from a larger piece of fabric. *

• Glue stick

• Basic sewing/cutting tools – scissors, rotary cutter, mat, clear ruler, needle and thread, iron, etc.

• Graph paper or sketchbook and pencil are recommended but not necessary.

  In order to give your patterns the strongest graphic impact, I recommend that you have some fabrics that are very dark and some that are very light.

Scholarships 

We have two scholarships available for this experience. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the scholarship application form.

Our Teacher

Sarah Nishiura is a Chicago-based quiltmaker who utilizes traditional techniques to craft quilts out of recycled and vintage materials. Inspired by numerous textile traditions, including 19th and early 20th century American Quilts, Sarah's work explores and celebrates the infinite possibilities of geometric design. Her quilts have been exhibited in museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad, including the Iowa Quilt Museum, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Art, the New England Quilt Museum, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, and the Yokohama Quilt Fest in Japan. Her quilts have been featured in numerous magazines and blogs, including Martha Stewart Living, QuiltFolk Magazine, Chicago Magazine, and Food and Wine, and they are included in private, corporate, and public art collections throughout the United States. Sarah’s work has been supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Center for Craft. Sarah has an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a BA in visual arts from Brown University. More information about Sarah’s studio practice can be found at:http://www.sarahnishiura.com/

*All classes in this series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all students following the live session. You may purchase the series as a whole even after the classes have begun. You will be emailed the recordings upon sign-up.