Free Form Quilling Snowflake

Description:   

Quilling with wool is a technique using strips of wool which are rolled and coiled, then stitched or glued. Free form quilling expands this technique to include ovals, squares, arches, teardrops, waves and squiggles of wool, in addition to circles. This workshop will focus on the free form quilling shapes which lend themselves to snowflake motifs. Free form quilling may utilize ever changing patterns or be used to create specific, repeating designs, such as this snowflake. It may also be incorporated into hooking and other mixed media projects. Free form quilling is a great way to use wool blankets, coats, clothing or over felted wool that is too thick for hooking. In addition to the snowflake samples, Annette will bring other finished pieces which showcase the amazing versatility of this technique, to serve as examples and inspiration.

In this workshop, Annette will guide students in designing and creating their own free form, double sided snowflake mat, approximately 10” in diameter, using felted, precut ½” wide strips. Or students may choose to create 3 smaller, mug rug sized mats 5” in diameter instead. She will bring a large assortment of precut, ½” wide, white, natural and textured wool strips for you to choose from to create your unique mat. Using one, two, or multiple strips at the same time, students will learn how to stitch and glue a variety of quilling shapes, which will used in designing their own snowflake(s). Other topics covered will include creating, then joining quilled components together and how to add quilling to a rug hooked piece.

Free form quilling may be done using hand stitching or glueing. Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages which will be discussed so students learn which method is more appropriate for a particular application. This snowflake project utilizes a combination of both techniques. Annette will share many helpful hints, tips and suggestions on free form quilling in general as well as those specific to these snowflake mats.

Students Need to Bring:

Please bring sharp fabric scissors, a spool of strong quilting or upholstery thread, white or ecru color, and a thimble if you use one for hand sewing.

Bio: 

Annette Shaffer of Annie’s Wool Works describes herself as a lifelong fiber craft person. She began traditional rug hooking almost 30 years ago but soon evolved into creating shaped, cut out and 3-dimensional hooked pieces. Many of her pieces are mixed media, use additional fiber techniques such as beading, felting and embroidery and incorporate non-traditional hooking materials such as yarns and silks, as well as wire, old bed springs, twigs and other natural elements. More recently she has been exploring free form quilling techniques as both flat and dimensional pieces, as stand-alone pieces or incorporated with hooking and mixed media. She is honored to have been awarded People’s Choice five times in the Mixed Media and 3-Dimensional categories at the Sauder Village Rug Hooking Show. She teaches quilling and dimensional wool workshops through-out the year. She is a founding member and office holder of her local ATHA guild and member and office holder in two other fiber guilds. Annette enjoys teaching and sharing the diverse, creative possibilities of wool with others. Visit Annette’s website, annieswoolworks.com to see her dimensional wool work and the many different ways she has used free form quilling and how it can be incorporated into your wool world.