A series of five classes exploring the heritage techniques of hand piecing, hand applique and hand quilting will be offered at the Taber Museum on Saturdays, September 17, 24, October 1, 8, and 15. Each class will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., with a lunch break during the time. The classes will be held in the Museum’s Community Room or an adjunct room. Ricki Moler will be the instructor. Price is $50 (per person) for the five sessions with a materials cost of $10. It would be of the greatest advantage to attend all five sessions, as each session builds on the one before it.
Ricki Moler has been sewing since age three and quilting in earnest since the 1970s. She loves all quilts, from antiques to art quilts. Ricki has lectured and taught quilting classes, written articles for quilt magazines, exhibited in fiber arts exhibits, had a business making hand-painted clothing, and has returned to the Taber Museum as a volunteer in the Textile Department. She hopes through this class to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the people who created the beautiful quilts we have inherited, and to pass along the techniques they used.
These five sessions are perfect for inexperienced quilters and veteran quilters alike who want to learn quilting from the historical perspective. Using block patterns taken from quilts in the collection of the Taber Museum, students will learn the basics of quilting, including choosing fabric, color theory, light and dark placement, how to set blocks in various ways, tools, marking, basting, binding, labeling and, most importantly, the very precise methods of hand piecing, hand applique and hand quilting. Each day will include a close-up view and discussion of an antique quilt from the Museum’s collection. Quilts discussed will be a very old 9-Patch variation, an Ivy Leaf quilt, an interesting Flying Geese quilt with a feedsack back, a beautiful but well-loved applique Rose Wreath, and one of a pair of star-like quilts. The instructor will add antique quilts from her collection to enhance the discussion and demonstrate ways to approximate dating quilts and how to care for them.
Most materials will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own supplies and tools if they have them. A task light might be helpful.
The Taber Museum is located at 858 West Fourth Street, Williamsport. Ample parking may be found behind the museum as well as on-the-street parking. Class size is limited. Registration may be made by calling the museum at 570.326.3326 or sending a check/money order to LCHS, 858 W. 4th Street, Williamsport, PA. 17701 Attn: Quilting Class. For more information, please call 570-326.3326.
