Welcome to our collection of
Modern Improv Quilting Videos!
Pay just a one-off rental payment and get access to any single video in the Modern Improv Quilting collection for
60 days!
Of course you're more than welcome to pay for and select multiple numbers of videos as you prefer - the choice is yours!
Follow along with our
previously broadcast
Modern
Improv Quilting
If you missed these Zoom classes when they were live, this is your opportunity to watch the full class now on video, at your leisure for 60 days from the date of rental!...
With our ever-changing live roster of craft workshops & classes via the Zoom platform (many of which sell out quickly), it can be so easy to miss one.
That's why, we offer the vast majority of classes as a Video Rental to anyone in the world - and you can pay in your own currency!
On this page you'll find all of our previous Modern Improv Quilting classes to rent, making it super-easy to choose which you would like to watch.
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Our Online Interactive Workshops are incredibly popular (you only have to look through the TrustPilot reviews at the bottom of the Home Page to see why!) We offer you a wide array of artists and teachers who've worked in their area of expertise for many years and now bring all of their valuable experience to you dear CraftyMonkies!
The classes always feature overhead cameras as well as front-on cameras so you get the best view in the house!
Here's how the Modern Improv Quilting Video Rentals work:-
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Simply choose a class below and click on any graphic, pic or the Rent Video button
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You'll go through to that video in our shop where you make a one-off payment for that particular class in the Modern Improv Quilting Video Series
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Once purchased, you will be sent an immediate link in a PDF along with any patterns...
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You then have 60 days to watch that video over & over from the date of your purchase!
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Watch the video/videos you've selected & paid for as often as you like and whenever you want...
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Learn & enjoy at your own pace...
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We'll be refreshing and updating the Modern Improv Quilting Video classes on a regular basis so please keep an eye on this page whenever you visit our website!...
Our current collection of projects in the
Modern Improv Quilting Video Series!
Scraps & Roll-Ups - Kate Sandford
Kate Sandford presents another fabulous Improv workshop - Scraps & Roll-Ups! In this class you will turn sewing room scraps, that you might have otherwise discarded, into vibrant unique fabric strips to use in your own creative way!
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Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube
Introduction by Kate:-
Hi, I've always been crafty! At high school I was in the art room at every opportunity, and I was encouraged to apply to art college and went on to study Glass Blowing. It turned out I was incredibly bad at it but it didn't dampen my creative spirit. Years passed and with two small children in the house, the need to find a creative outlet was overwhelming. My youngest child was given a Linus quilt during a hospital stay and I thought to myself “I could make that” and I haven't stopped making quilts since. I revel in the freedom of crafting colourful unique designs without rigid patterns. My quilts showcase a wide range of techniques, from precise piecing to playful improvisation. Embracing a balance of creativity and learning, I weave play into my studio time. My approach is rooted in a love for the craft and a belief in the importance of play, resulting in quilts that tell a story of personal expression and thoughtful artistry. I am also increasingly interested in the rise of sustainable quilting practices and saves all of my tiny scraps of fabric for use in my work.
Improv FPP Cushion Cover - Chris English
Chris English presents another fabulous Improv workshop - Improv FPP Cushion Cover. Chris will be teaching his Foundation Piecing Cushion Cover workshop in an improv-styley and we're convinced you'll absolutely love it!...
Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube
Introduction by Chris:-
I absolutely love using recycled fabric to create new quilts and cushion covers. For this cushion cover I wanted to combine the plaid/check shirts to create a dynamic and visually interesting effect.Every year I love making my friends cushion covers for Secret Santa! Much better than a shop bought gift. I love making these covers as provide a great opportunity to try a new technique or colour, if you don’t like it then get it gifted.I discovered and developed this foundation piecing technique that made getting the bold graphic look easier to achieve. I think this technique works particularly well with the plaids/checks and makes them work together in a really interesting and dynamic way. It would work equally well with solids or floral or a mix.I’ve used this technique in several of my recent quilts that were exhibited at Festival of Quilts 2022.
Go Wild with Prints & Solids - Cindy Grisdela
Cindy Grisdela presents another fabulous Improv workshop - Go Wild With Prints & Solids, a class where you will learn how to mix your favourite prints with solids or small prints like tone on tone or grunge to create a fun Improv quilt design that maximises the wonderful qualities of each type of fabric. You'll also learn how to cut curves freehand, without a pattern or template, and how to combine them in different colour combinations to create the design!
Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube
Introduction by Cindy:-
I’ve always loved curves, but using patterns or templates to make them match exactly wasn’t my cup of tea. Enter my Improv Curve technique, which embraces the wonkiness of freehand cutting, using your rotary cutter like a drawing tool. And in this class, you don’t have to choose between solids and prints - we’re going to use both to create a wild and wonderful design. Once you learn the technique, you can use it for all kinds of projects - from large quilts to small wall hangings to pillow cushions or table runners. You may never look at curves in the same way again!
Use Your Intuition - Victoria van der Laan!
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of the CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading designer, tutor & craft expert Victoria van der Laan and her fabulous Use Your Intuitions class, which first aired via Zoom in 2023.
Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube!
Introduction by Victoria:-
Hi, folks! I'm Victoria van der Laan, a textile artist and quilter living and working in Albany, NY! After attending an artist residency deep in the Catskill Mountains I was inspired to begin making nature-inspired work, including a piece that represented blades of grass. From there I developed my intuitive stacked forms technique and people have been asking me to offer a workshop on it ever since. The time is finally here! These are my favourite pieces to make and I'm so excited to be teaming up with CraftyMonkies to teach a class on all of the techniques involved. As quilters we can sometimes get a bit too hung up on the rules and be obsessive about precision - I know I can! Those things absolutely have their place but it can be a great practice to take a deep breath and lead with your intuition. That's what this workshop is all about! I know this can be a bit scary but I'll be there to guide you and I am certain you will learn something new about your creative self in the process.
Wonky Stripes - Cindy Grisdela
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Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of the CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading designer, tutor & craft expert Cindy Grisdela and her fabulous Wonky Stripes class, which first aired via Zoom in March 2023.
Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube.
Introduction by Cindy:-
As an improv artist, I’ve always loved stripes, but many of the techniques to make them seemed a little tedious—making strip sets and cutting them up, or adding strips to your units one at a time. Wonky Stripes are made from sets of rectangles that are cut into varied stripes, shuffled, and chain pieced to make the process go faster. They work great on their own in a variety of settings as blocks on their own, or cut up into various size stripes and combined. The asymmetrical lines created by putting the stripes together in a variety of ways add interesting visual texture to your final project. You may never look at stripes in the same way again!
Let Go & Push Through - Rachel Richardson
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Rachel Richardson and her super Let Go & Push Through class, which first aired via Zoom in November 2023.
Hi, I'm Rachel Richardson a Designer, Milliner, Maker and Artist born and based in London. I originally graduated from Chelsea College of Art with a Fine Arts degree in Sculpture and since then my path has been creatively varied! I've worked in the fashion industry for over 19 years, designing bag, hats, scarves, gloves and other accessories for numerous brands throughout the UK and Europe. My life began to change (like all of us) during Lockdown as I suddenly had the time to explore quilting, specifically improv quilting. My quilts are created without using a pattern, a ruler or rules! This technique has really captured my imagination and has allowed a creative fluidity to my design process, constantly changing and evolving. My inspiration is lead by colour and the element of surprise that comes from this quilting technique and I'm interested in the movement that can be created from this 2D art form that also has a practical use and a history steeped in stories, craft and the female perspective. In 2022 'Do You See' was selected to be exhibited in The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, and was hung in one of Grayson Perry's rooms.
Improv Toolbox - Carl Brown
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Carl Brown and his fabulous Improv Toolbox class, which first aired via Zoom in April 2024.
Introduction by Carl:-
As a fibre artist, I've been sewing and quilting for about 5 years. Like many fibre artists I began with simple traditional quilt patterns and then began to create more complex abstract and improvisational work utilizing my own designs. I have a tremendous fascination with colour, shapes and especially an appreciation with curve improvisation fibre work. My techniques include imrov quilting, appliqué and appli-piecing, as well as both machine and long arm quilting. Perhaps one of my best skills is completing the improv work at hand by fitting all those pieces into a final product. I've been a student with numerous well known quilting instructors to include Nancy Crow, Sheila Framton Cooper, and Irene Roderick. In my history as a fibre artist, I've had several quilts juried into national and international shows. Recently I was named “Emerging New Artist” at Interpretations 2023 at the Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego. I've been juried into International Quilt Show, Road to California semi-finalst the last two years, Quiltcon, Mancuso’s Quiltfest shows, and numerous American Quilt Society shows as well. Internationally, I was juried into Salon Pour l’Amour du Fil, in Nantes, France. I also have won awards for my fiber art, so I'm proud as punch and really want to teach you what I've learnt, I'm very passionate about it!
Sketching with Scraps - Victoria van der Laan
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Victoria van der Laan and her fabulous Sketching with Scraps class, which first aired via Zoom in April 2024.
Introduction by Victoria:-
Hi folks! I'm Victoria van der Laan, a generationally-taught artist and quilter living and working in Albany, NY. I'm thrilled to be back with Rachel and CraftyMonkies to teach another class. I'm a textile artist through and through and have never felt inspired to keep a traditional pen-and-paper sketchbook, though I do believe that every artist can benefit from a sketching practice. A couple of years ago I began sketching with patchwork and it has transformed my work in so many unexpected ways. I'd love to encourage you to give it a try, too!
Disrupting The Pattern - Russell Barratt
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Russell Barratt and his fabulous Disrupting The Pattern class, which first aired via Zoom in November 2023.
Introduction by Russell-
Whilst playing around with ideas for a larger quilt, I was looking through my fabric stash and found some with bold designs that I was not sure when to use. I began cutting them into strips then reorienting the strips to create new patterns. I was delighted by the new shapes and the changes in familiar fabrics. I particularly liked the results with fabrics printed with recognizable images –like a Kellogg’s Cornflakes tea towel! I thought this process would a fun idea for an experimental workshop where we play with colour and disrupt pattern. Using bold fabric designs and manipulating them to create new patterns can really lead to some truly unique and visually striking results. Lets all play together and see what we come up with, it's time to go with the flow!
Sustainable Quilting Demonstration - Sherri Lynn Wood
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Sherri Lynn Wood and her fabulous Sustainable Quilting Demonstration class, which first aired via Zoom in February 2024.
Introduction to Sherri Lynn:-
Sherri Lynn Wood is not only a notable modern improv quilting teacher and author of The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters but also a passionate advocate for the art of repurposing old clothes for quilts. With her unique approach to quilting, she encourages her students to see beyond the traditional notions of fabric and explore the potential in salvaged textiles. By breathing new life into worn-out garments, Sherri Lynn not only reduces waste but also creates one-of-a-kind quilts that tell stories of resilience and resourcefulness. Her classes are a blend of practical skills and artistic expression, inspiring her students to embrace their own creativity and find beauty in the discarded. Sherri Lynn has taught improv quilting as a creative life practice for over 30 years and was the keynote speaker at Quiltcon in 2019. Through her teachings, Sherri Lynn Wood is creating a vibrant community of eco-conscious improv quilters who are making a difference one stitch at a time and she wants to invite you lovely CraftyMonkies into her ever growing tribe of eco friendly quilters!
Quilted Postcards - Chris English
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Russell Barratt and his fabulous Disrupting The Pattern class, which first aired via Zoom in November 2023.
Introduction by Russell-
Whilst playing around with ideas for a larger quilt, I was looking through my fabric stash and found some with bold designs that I was not sure when to use. I began cutting them into strips then reorienting the strips to create new patterns. I was delighted by the new shapes and the changes in familiar fabrics. I particularly liked the results with fabrics printed with recognizable images –like a Kellogg’s Cornflakes tea towel! I thought this process would a fun idea for an experimental workshop where we play with colour and disrupt pattern. Using bold fabric designs and manipulating them to create new patterns can really lead to some truly unique and visually striking results. Lets all play together and see what we come up with, it's time to go with the flow!
Improv Crumb Blocks - Chris English
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Chris English and his fabulous Improv Crumb Blocks class.
Introduction by Chris:-
My name is Chris and I’m a quilt maker based in Huddersfield! I make modern improv quilts from primarily recycled and found fabrics. I love using a variety of fabrics to create something beautiful and unique and I'm very much looking forward to working with you on my inaugural CraftyMonkies workshop. Crumb blocks are when you take little pieces of left over fabric and repeatedly join them together to make something. This can be used as it is or cut up to make squares, triangles, whatever you fancy really, as part of a quilt block!...
Improv Sampler Quilt - Chris English
Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of a CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading craft expert Chris English and his fabulous Improv Sampler Quilt class.
Introduction by Chris:-
Learn and experiment with three super exciting improv techniques, then combine these to create the start of an amazing Improv Quilt Sampler! Add a reverse appliqué circle for extra visual interest!...
Be sure to find out more about our 2024 Craft Retreats in Lancaster PA, USA and Rutland, England plus our first release for 2025 in Ceredigion, Wales!
