TEACHING
Quiltmaking and teaching are passions of mine. My love of fabric started at an early age and having been co-owner of a dedicated patchwork and quilting shop in Scotland, UK for ten years I have been able to share my love of fabrics and quilting with quiltmakers from all over the world. Having sold the shop in 2003 I now teach on a freelance basis, which gives me an opportunity to travel to meet and work with enthusiastic students and textile artists worldwide. My journeys and adventures are a constant source of inspiration to me and the resulting pieces have been exhibited widely in the UK, Europe and in the USA. I am a member of two international exhibiting groups, Voyage and Crossing Oceans and a Scottish exhibiting group called Turning Point. I am delighted to discuss and undertake commissioned work.
WORKSHOPS
I am very happy to travel to teach all over the world. Recent teaching venues have been Israel, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Sweden, France and Spain. The workshops listed below are all based on ideas and techniques that are showcased in my award winning quilts. You can see the relevant quilts in the galleries on my website and also below. The Thumbnail images below on the left are my exhibition quilts and on the right are the workshop samples. Please click on the image to enlarge it. The aim of all the workshops is to focus on the main technique e.g. ‘Ghost Images’ but other information and techniques will also be included. This might be the use of colour along with gilding and foiling techniques. Students should leave the workshop with a piece that is either completed or very close to being finished along with information, inspiration and motivation to continue developing the ideas taught and to make them their own!
Day Workshops usually last from 10am – 4pm. I can take a maximum of 15 in a class, but please contact me if more students would like to take part.
BELOW IS THE SCHEDULE OF CURRENT WORKSHOPS
Travellers’ Tales Told in Little Landscapes (one day class)
Conjure up the atmosphere and capture memories of special places in this workshop. Colour is one of the main topics of this workshop: how to use colour to set a mood and atmosphere. Create a background stratum of colour and then superimpose a tiny, pictorial glimpse or detail of the scene. Aspects of design, (proportion, line, balance) and quilting patterns will be discussed to add meaning to the piece and later students can hand embellish with embroidery and beads. We will also touch on gilding techniques. These pieces are A4 sized, achievable and manageable in a workshop. A choice of kits can be supplied, at a small extra cost, for this workshop containing everything you require to finish the project. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied for the additional items over and above the kit. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘Storm Shoreline’ ©Pat Archibald.
Windows on the World (Foundation Pieced) (one day class)
Choosing from the soft colours of the Highlands of Scotland, the burning colours of the heat of the African sun or the cool blues of the Great Barrier Reef, foundation piece a miniature landscape. The use of colour, quilting designs, and the technicalities of foundation piecing are covered as well as ways of gilding fabrics. Working from your chosen kit, at a small extra cost for the workshop, and a formula make a prototype to convey the atmosphere of your chosen country. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied for the additional items over and above the kit. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop.
Japanese Inspirations (one day class)
Japanese art is renowned for its classic simplicity and purity of form. Pat has made many pieces inspired by Japanese style and often uses the stylised family crest symbols in her work either as quilted, appliquéd or even painted and foiled designs. On the course choose one or more family crest symbols to transfer easily onto fabric using oil paint sticks and then quilt, add surface embellishment and stitchery. Aspects of Japanese design applicable to a small piece will be discussed and the workshop will finish with a demonstration of simple cord making. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied and a small fee charged for the use of paintsticks and stencil brush. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘A Celtic Wedding Kimono’ ©Pat Archibald.
Ghost Images of the Orient (one day class) Can be taught on Zoom
Many of Pat’s quilts feature ‘ghosts’: translucent images of people or boats. Learn in easy stages how to create by machine a translucent image of a Dhow sailing away into the setting sun using layers of nets and sheers and foils. As well as her ‘ghost images’ technique Pat will cover various stitching techniques and gilding and foiling in this workshop. Pat will also guide students on how to develop their own ‘ghosts’ in order to develop the technique afterwards. A kit is supplied for this class at a small extra cost, with a choice of background colour. This workshop is suitable for students who are comfortable with machine sewing. This workshop can be taught on Zoom. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to being finished by the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘The Journey’ ©Pat Archibald.
Ghost images of the Orient (two day class) Can be taught on Zoom
Curved seams are often incorporated into Pat’s work to soften the seam line. They are easier than they look with the help of a special ruler. Create a background with a curved seam using one of my Transformer Template Rulers and then learn in easy stages how to create ghostly images using layers of nets and sheers. We will also discuss how to do more complicated ‘ghosts’ as well as basic foiling techniques. Choice of two designs, will be given in the workshop – Chinese junks or Japanese fans. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. This workshop can be taught on Zoom. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘The Journey’ ©Pat Archibald
Sunset Colours (one day class)
Colour is often a stumbling block for many quilters. Bring a picture of your favourite sunset and we will evaluate, explore and use the colours in different ways to produce a dynamic abstract piece of work full of atmosphere and colourful energy. At the end of the workshop students will have a greater understanding of the main types of colour schemes – complementary, analogous and triadic – and how to use these to effect in their work. This knowledge can be transferred into contemporary or traditional quiltmaking. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop.
City Lights, Sunset Nights (two day class)
Taking inspiration from your own sunset images and working with glowing coloured fabrics, you will create a patchwork backdrop of the setting sun silhouetting a city skyline or landscape. Use metallic foiling techniques to fire the windows or create twinkling village lights for your scene. Finally add quilting, stitching and embellishments to your nightscape to give dimension and texture. During the workshop Pat will discuss colour, the meaning of colours in western cultures, quilting symbolism and a variety of machine stitching techniques. This is a wonderful class for those that have never done an ‘art quilt’. This class will get your creativity fired up and will allow you to produce a very unique and personal piece of work. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied and students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘East, West, Hame’s Best, © Pat Archibald
Celtic Connections (one day class)
Experiment with foiling onto fabric by superimposing a Celtic design with a contemporary twist. Pat will cover several foiling methods on the day as well as techniques for successfully working with iron-on bias tape. Several Celtic designs will be on offer and Pat will discuss aspects of design (composition, balance, proportion) and demonstrate various stitching techniques. Each person will create a unique piece during the workshop. Pat will also tell you the stories behind some of her Celtic pieces and the origins of some Celtic designs. This project is done by machine and is suitable for students that are comfortable with their machines and have basic rotary cutting skill. A kit is supplied for this class, at a small extra cost, containing a choice of designs and everything you need (except machine threads) for a successful outcome. A Requirements List will be supplied for items over and above the kit. Students will be very close to being finished at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘Celtic Moon’ ©Pat Archibald
Auspicious Symbols (one day class)
Using the format of a long, narrow Chinese scroll and artistic Chinese composition Pat will guide you through colour choices to then create a montage of a city skyline using fusible web and then gild, foil and stitch a wonderful auspicious symbol high in the sky and fire the windows with reflections. Techniques covered will include creating the perfect circle for the sun appliqué, a variety of foiling techniques, machine couching and aspects of basic machine quilting and the use of metallic threads. Pat will also discuss other aspects of Chinese design. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on ‘Moonshadows and Sundown’ ©PA
Oriental Leaf Circle (two or three day class)
Pat will introduce you to a leaf themed project using some Japanese forms of design. There will be an opportunity to do some of your own design work using leaves you have gathered. Pat will also talk about colour options in some detail so that those of you that are ‘nervous’ about colour can push back the colour boundaries. Techniques covered will include design skills, fusible web appliqué, stem appliqué, quilting and binding. A small amount of preparation is necessary in advance of the workshop. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on Oriental Leaves ©Pat Archibald.
Leaves in Lutradur (one day class)
Learn how to achieve painterly effects with Lutradur (a spunbonded textile) in easy achievable stages. In the class we will work on producing a small, leaf themed, quilted piece. We will discuss very simple aspects of colour theory and then paint sheets of fine Lutradur and from these cut a series of organic leaf shapes can then be incorporated into your project. Pat will discuss composition, gilding and foiling, and a variety of stitching techniques. Once learnt these techniques can then be transferred and applied to figures and other complex shapes. A partial kit will be supplied for this workshop at a small extra cost. No artistic talent required! Students should have basic sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. (Lutradur figures have been used in several of Pat’s Indian Series).
Indian Dowry Bag or Cushion (one day class)
Use this class as an opportunity to get to know and explore a variety of decorative threads from fine variegated cottons to heavy metallic couching threads and use as many decorative stitches on your machine as you can to make a dowry bag or cushion cover. Bondaweb appliqué is used to achieve the stylised elephants and gilding, foiling and beadwork add to the Indian glitz. A small amount of preparation work is required in advance of the workshop. Students should have basic rotary cutting and sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop. Workshop based on Indian Dowry Bag © Pat Archibald
Celtic Colour (two day class)
Experiment with blending and toning two colour families to give a soft, flowing wash of colour to your background patchwork. Simple machine stitching is used to assemble the patchwork. Celtic symbols are created using painted Lutradur in colours that are sympathetic with your patchwork and then cut out and applied to the background. An interlaced Celtic design drops down the side border using iron-on bias. Over the course Pat will cover aspects of colour and how to arrange your fabrics to create an uninterrupted flow of colour, how to mix paints and apply them to the Lutradur to harmonise with your work, and a variety of stitching techniques applicable to the project. No artistic ability required! The essential specialist ingredients for the class will be supplied at a small extra cost. The finished size of the sample shown on the right is 60” x 16” but the project is adaptable in length to suit. A Requirements List will be supplied on confirmation of the booking.
Elephants on Parade (one day class)
Experiment with Indian Block Printing using a variety of wooden 
blocks to create your own printed fabrics from which you will then cut the component pieces for your appliquéd elephant. You can then assemble the ceremonial elephant and set him on a background. Click on the image on the left to see the class sample. The elephant can be stitched, beaded, sequinned and braided to great effect. Click on the image on the right to see details of my embellishments. If workshop time allows we will start the day by experimenting with the blocks and inks by printing onto a calico bag that I will supply. There will be a small fee for the use of my blocks, inks and calico bag. Students should expect to have the piece assembled and partial stitching completed and trimming and embellishments choices made by the end of the day. A Requirements List will be supplied on confirmation of the booking.
Painted Figures on Fabric (one day class)
My figures are easily created on Lutradur (a spun bonded textile) 
with paints and then applied to a beautiful background fabric. Machine stitching secures the figure and also creates an opportunity to work with lovely variegated threads to give additional shading to the garments. In the workshop you will have the choice of two different patterns to work with featuring Indian ladies wearing flowing saris. The specialist ingredients for ethics workshop will be supplied for a small extra fee. I will go over a step-by-step process of how you can create your own figures so that you can work this into your own pieces .A Requirements List will be supplied on confirmation of the booking.
The Lights and Shades of Nature (one day class)
I use acrylic inks to create translucent figures in my work. (See 
the image on the left). This gives a ghostly but atmospheric effect. In this workshop you will learn how obtain this effect by stitching leaf outlines in a variety of graded sizes. I will then teach you how to brush on acrylic ink to achieve the shadows. More depth is achieved by layering and stitching nets over the leaf shapes. No artistic ability is required. Students should have basic sewing machine skills. A Requirements List will be supplied and a small fee charged for a partial kit. Students will be very close to having a completed item at the end of the workshop.
One-Fabric Bargello (one day class) Can be taught on Zoom
In this workshop you will learn how to make a dramatic Bargello 
style quilt using only one fabric. I will teach two versions on the day of the workshop (both are shown here). I suggest using one of the lovely ombre (shaded) fabrics that are around just now. Alternatively, use one of the Hoffman hand-painted fabrics or you could even paint your own fabric! By careful cutting and measuring you can achieve a top ready to quilt and embellish by the end of the workshop. Once you have completed this workshop you will be able to see how you could put your own spin on the technique. I will show you how to further embellish your piece and some other variations at the end of the day. This workshop can be taught on Zoom. As the workshop progresses each student will be sent personalised instructions so it is helpful to have access to a printer for the duration of the workshop. Students should be confident with rotary cutting and machine stitching. A Requirements List will be supplied on confirmation of the booking.