We're really delighted to be hosting this Learn Kawandi Quilting workshop with our wonderful & hugely talented craft expert, Gary Mills! This class, which focuses on Kawandi (also known as soulful stitching) is a captivating art form with its origins in Africa and will see participants learn how to layer, build and assemble a pieced mini-quilt by hand, using the Kawandi method!…

 

Introduction by Gary:-

What is a Kawandi Quilt you may well ask? Well, the traditional Kawandi is a hand-stitched quilt, made from scrap fabric, traditionally including old cotton saris. These creations were originally handcrafted by the Siddis, descendants of African immigrants who found their way to India through various historical routes -courtesy of the Portuguese, French, English, Dutch, and Americans. One unique aspect of a Kawandi quilt is that it is assembled from the outside in. The edges are turned under and stitched together, and batting is laid inside. Then the quilting proceeds in a spiralling line, about a finger width apart.

 

I do hope you'll join me for this 3-hour Zoom Workshop and learn this beautiful creative and traditional practice to piece together and quilt along in a relaxed workshop setting!...

 

What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

In this workshop you will learn how to layer, build, and assemble a pieced mini quilt by hand, using the Kawandi method. You will be using hand stitching throughout the construction process, with little cheats and tips to help you obtain a good result.

 

The outcome to this workshop, you will turn your sample quilt into a decorative folded and stitched bag.

 

Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Would suit all levels from beginner to intermediate. As an experienced teacher Gary will guide those less confident but willing to practice new skills through the workshop to achieve something you perhaps had never tried before and will be proud of.

 

Fabric requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

The following fabric-based items are required for this workshop:-

• Thin batting approx. 12 ½” X 8 ½” (thin blanket / wool will also work)

• Pure cotton backing approx. 15” x 11” (must be larger than the batting)

• 30 plus x Coordinated squares and  rectangles pressed scraps of pure cotton fabric. (Size should be varying, nothing too small approx. 3 ½ x 4”, but vary these or have larger pieces you can cut up as you piece and quilt along. Consider the colourways and the prints which should not be too big, also add a plan      solid in amongst them, Gary used bright colourful colours, see finished photo image)

• Pearl cotton thread size 8 or stranded embroidery cotton (use 3 strands) (consider the colour with your fabric choices)

• Some ordinary taking thread to hold the decorative triangles in place before quilting between the layers.

 

Additional to turn your mini Kawandi quilt into the bag:-

• For the decorative folded triangles leading edge, you will need 5-6 cotton solid colour squares 2" x 2”.

• A button - approx 1” - to cover with a disc of batting and cloth.

• For the tie, either a co-ordinating thin ribbon or a thin strip of fabric, approx 7” long

 

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

• Sewing Needle with a good size eye to thread Perle or stranded cotton, sharp enough to go through several layers (1 ¾” long, is ideal)

• Small sharp Embroidery Scissors

• Fabric Scissors

• Pins

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Optional:-

• Soluble Fabric Marker Pen or Heat-Disappearing Pen

• Ruler - maybe useful to draw stitch lines as you practice

• Iron and Ironing-Board to hand is also useful

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Tickets for this Online Demonstration (via the Zoom platform) will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! The ticket price of £35.00 (approx $40.00) is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

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This CraftyMonkies online interactive workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location! Here's a great world time zone reference:-

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com

 

Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone? Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news! This class is being recorded and a link will be sent to all classmates a few days after the class, so you can watch in your own time!

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