Fear-Less Quilting

Are you ready for the delightful, fun & unpredictable journey into improv & instinctual quilting?!

What exactly is Fear-Less quilting?

Fear-Less quilting is the name I’ve given my style of quilt-making. It’s a form of improvisational quilting allowing your own voice to shine through.

This course might just change your life! I found when I started this process for myself it re-set my thinking about all my creative making. Courageous quilting is about taking a leap of faith to create something beautiful, mindful, practical yet speaks of your personal story. It’s Fear-Less & improv quilting, using instinct, art-making & a whole lot of joyful moments having conversations with your cloth & thread.

Lovely words

In looking for a course on making improv quilts, I came across Ellie’s class and it is absolutely fabulous! It introduced me to new techniques with videos showing her thought process. She walks you through many different processes and is currently adding more. The videos are clear and easy to watch. The instructions are clear and easy to incorporate into your current style. She is very generous with her knowledge and I highly recommend this class for anyone looking to begin or expand their knowledge of improve quilting.

- Cindy

Share your story in cloth!
Learn how to embrace your inner creativity with this quilt course that will be unlike any you’ve ever done.

Over 6 hours of videos in small bite-size segments, with written instructions. Shared in a casual way as if you’re sitting right beside me, with a cup of tea and conversation.

“I absolutely love this class! You are such a joy to watch and listen to. I’ve had lots of years of sewing and embroidery experience, but still enjoy learning from others. Thank you so much for making these classes to share with others.”

Debbie

“Thank you for the wonderful refreshing inspiration. At this time it is just what I needed to help me feel calm, yet inspired and motivated.  I love the imperfections and style of your art.  I am a watercolor artist and love the imperfections, random, abstract, uncontrolled marks, much like the fabrics dyed and wrinkled and imperfectly creating a look all of its own, that I want to touch!

 It makes me smile inside and out.

The segments were just long enough, and contained digestible bits, that focused on a specific aspect. I hope you will continue to share your unique style of art in the same manner. I found myself reviewing and enjoying the segment while I waited for the next one.

Thank you again”

Faye

Are you worried about making quilting mistakes?

I once was too! But I decided to embrace my inner wonky way of working, and do away with the idea of perfection I was being held back by, and doing the work anyway! Since then, the quilts I’ve made are works of art, expressing my own story in textiles.

I will give you the skills, but more importantly the courage, to create a quilt. Because let’s be honest, a quilt is simply a lot of pieces of fabric sewn together to make something to warm our bodies and our hearts.

What tools and materials will I need for this course?

  • My quilts are made primarily with fabric scraps from my supplies stash, my experiments in my natural dye studio as well as second-hand clothes. Small scraps of fabric are great to use as well.

  • It’s hard to say exactly how much, as each quilt is a different size or shape.
    You will probably need at least a giant pile
    enough fabric to use as a backing for the quilt; this might be an old bed sheet or similar.

  • NEEDLES in various sizes. The size depends on what fabric or threads you’re using. I often use Sashiko needles as I use thicker fabrics, but embroidery needles are great too. I say use what you have, experiment, see what works.

    PINS - glass headed and fine sharp point are good. As well as safety pins for basting your quilt. You can get special quilt pins which are slightly curved, but regular safety pins are ok too.

    THREADS Again this depends on the fabric that you’re using and the process with which your quilting / stitching. Read my blog post here for what I like using.

    Tape measure and scissors (sewing + embroidery).

  • No, not at all. If you have one and know how to use it, then please do for the piecing process. But I have made whole quilts that are fully hand stitched, as have many of my students.

    I show how to make a quilt both ways.

  • It’s called wadding or padding, and you can (probably) buy it from your local craft or sewing shop. Big box sewing shops will definitely have it, but I hope you’ll try your local place first.
    You can find synthetic, cotton, wool, bamboo, as well as blends of these. They come in different weights (thicknesses) and what you chose will depend on how warm you want the quilt.

  • THIMBLES really help a lot with the quilting process. I suggest you try out some different ones and see what you like best. But I’ve found that a harder plastic on my ring finger (the orange one in the pic) and a soft plastic on my thumb. Some people like using a traditional metal thimble, some like using a leather one.
    BINDING CLIPS are also super helpful (those red clips in the pic). These are used for holding the binding in place.

Lovely words

I look back on the (fearless quilt) workshop I did with you,
and it is really the best one I have been to.

- Alison

Ready to join me?

add some mindful making to your life

enrol now

$57us

  • Over 6 hours of videos presented into bite-sized segments

  • Step-by-step how to make a quilt from start-to-finish

  • Traditional quilt blocks, so you can then make them your own

  • Quilting stitches & slow stitching process

  • Bonus of watching along while I create my own quilts

  • On-demand and lifetime access to the whole course

The slow mindful process of Improv quilting allows you to connect with an inner quiet, that is often missing in today’s fast-paced world.

My way of working with process over perfection means that you’ll be able to see the quilt evolve under your hands and the story to evolve as you continue the conversation with your fabric.

Hi, I’m Ellie

I’m a textile artist & maker, a creativity coach, web-designer & mentor, a writer, photographer & soul-sharer.

I have online courses, in-person workshops and 1-to-1 sessions

Are you ready to delve into the gentle, good, slow work of making, creating and sharing?

Let’s make a pot of tea and share our stories together.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • This is an online course with immediate and life-time access. You can watch the videos as many times as you like, whenever you like.

    The course is housed on my special online course site, Teachable. Upon purchase you’ll receive links to create your own account.

    Teachable can be viewed on your desktop as well as via their app (alas, not for android)

  • You’ll get lifetime access to all my courses, and can watch them whenever you want. This is an on-demand video course.

  • The course is available for immediate access, and you can watch the videos whenever you want for as long as you want.

  • Yes! With step-by-step videos you’ll feel like you’re in our studio and garden beside us.

    If you’ve never done any natural dyeing before, Rebecca will help you feel confident to step into the world of creating colour using plants, leaves and metals.

    I share my basket weaving from the very start, so if you’ve never done anything like it before you’ll learn right beside me.

  • Due to the digital nature of my courses I don’t offer a refund. But of course I always want you to be happy, so if you feel the course isn’t as described please contact me.

  • Oh, yes, send me an email and I’ll help you out. ellie@petalplum.com.au

  • My online courses are all sold in US$. You can check out a currency converter here. Your credit card will automatically work out their conversion.

    I charge gst if you live in Australia, but please purchase through the ‘Australia’ button for the best pricin option.