Each student will be supplied with a sewing machine, the pattern, and fabrics during the workshop. Students are recommended, but not required to bring accompanying supplies (rotary cutter, fabric scissors, cutting mat, gridded ruler, marking tools, snips, etc.) We will have extras of all necessary supplies for those who are traveling by plane and/or unable to bring their own supplies. 

ACTIVITY

Join Denyse for a hands-on day of sewing and fun, as she shows you how to improvise her A Different Stripe quilt pattern. The motto for this class is “sew more, think less” – learn to trust your intuition, build your creative confidence, and streamline your patchwork process! You’ll easily produce enough blocks for a crib or throw-size quilt, and go home armed with momentum and inspiration to apply to all your patchwork projects.

Denyse Schmidt will provide hands-on instruction in creating the DSQ A Different Stripe pattern: preparing materials, improvisational process for composition and stitching, options for overall composition/layout, discussion of continuing the project at home to make a larger quilt, or finishing workshop blocks for a smaller quilt or alternate projects.

LOCATION

BLUE, The TATTER Textile Library is located in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Serving as both an interactive, ongoing art-installation as well as an academic research library, BLUE is an ever-growing home to 6,000 books, journals, exhibition catalogs, and objects that examine and celebrate the global history, traditions, makers, craft and beauty of textiles.

Dates
July 21st or 22nd, 2023

10 am – 4 pm ET

Location
This workshop will take place at the TATTER Textile Library in Brooklyn, NY.

Cost
$300

A former graphic designer and graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Denyse Schmidt has been sewing since she was a young girl. As a professional seamstress, she worked on everything from tutus and bishop’s mitres to fine clothing. Today, she brings these eclectic influences together in patchwork quilts characterized by simple graphics, rich color and quality workmanship. Firmly rooted in the techniques of American quilt-making, Denyse Schmidt reinterprets tradition to make modern functional quilts that are fresh, lively and offbeat.

Denyse’s Couture and custom quilts, in production since 1996, are pieced to order in her studio and hand-quilted by Amish women in Minnesota. Denyse Schmidt Works, a line of machine-quilted quilts, pillows and upholstery fabrics with an industrial-chic aesthetic, was developed in 2003 for the design trade and retail markets. Denyse Schmidt Designs for Sarita Handa, a partnership with Sarita Handa Exports, launched in 2004 with an affordable line of high quality quilts and decorative home accessories. Since 2003, Chronicle Books has brought to market more than a dozen stationary and gift items based on her work, as well as her first how-to book, Denyse Schmidt Quilts, 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects. With FreeSpirit Fabrics, Denyse designs fabric collections for independent quilt and fabric stores from 2006-2018. Denyse designs for Windham Fabrics as of 2020. In 2011, her DS Quilts Collection fabric line debuted with record-breaking sales in JoAnn Stores (US) and Spotlight Stores (Australia). In conjunction with her DS Quilts Collection fabrics, Denyse launched quilt patterns featuring her signature style with the venerable McCall Pattern Company. Denyse continues to teach her highly successful improvisational patchwork piecing workshops in her studio.

Schmidt’s studio is located in a historic factory building in Bridgeport CT.