Susan Edmonson

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Susan Edmonson is an award-winning quilt maker who started this journey in 1981 and today continues to wow her audiences with her unique artistry. She has designed quilt patterns and kits for two national stores as well as her own pattern line.
Her specialties have been folk art, crazy quilted purses and wall quilts, and “flower doodles.” Fabric collage books and mini art quilts are among her newest creations using mixed media techniques. All of her work is lavished with beading and embroidery. She loves working with vintage style fabrics and colors. The patterns she designs have evolved from original pieces inspired from vintage quilt designs and nature that showcase her own unique style.
She is a native of Charlotte, NC and now lives in Concord, NC.

Lecture: All about binding. Friday afternoon

Class: Endless Hand Embroidery for your Quilter’s Toolbox
(3 hours – Friday morning)

This is the class to learn how to add embellishment/Hand Embroidery to any and all your quilts no matter how large or small they may be! Susan is passionate about hand embroidery! She will walk you through many stitches from very simple to textural 3-D stitches! This class is to teach you ways to increase your knowledge of embroidery and to simplify the mystery of the stitches. Anyone can do these stitches, with just a little extra instruction. If you’ve wanted to do a Crazy Quilt, we will discuss ways to enhance all those beautiful fabrics! We will also be using Glass Seed beads to enhance the stitches. Susan will have lots of patterns and examples of her creations made with hand embroidery stitching. These squares could be constructed into a little fabric book of stitches if you like for your reference.

Materials and Supplies:

  • No sewing machine is needed for this class.
  • Linen Fabric (or Linen Cotton Blend fabric in any color) 6-8 6” squares
  • Quilter’s Dream Fusion Batting (Request weight)
  • Hand Embroidery Threads: Pearl Cotton #12, 8, 5, and 3
  • Chenille Needles Size 22 and Size 18 or 20
  • Embroidery Scissors
  • Glass Seed Beads (size 8/0 or 6/0)
  • Quilting needle or straw needle or applique needle
  • Embroidery Stitch Book (Sue Spargo’s stitch book, they will be available for purchase during class.)

Note: If you would like a kit, they will be available to purchase in class for $20. Scissors will not be included.

***There will also be Hand dyed fabrics, batting, needles, stitch book, scissors, and all the threads available to purchase during class.

Class: Not in my Martini
(6 hours – Saturday all day)

No, we are not having martinis! We are going to make a fun circle appliqué quilt using Layer Cake squares & Charm squares. This is a great faux hand appliqué technique using your machine. There will be lots of talk about color & placement of fabrics to give you the look you want for this fun olive shape design! Simple piecing & fun appliqué to make for your special someone or yourself. You can also use a panel fabric if you like, but it is just as pretty with any fun fabric! This technique can be used for future projects to make your applique look as if you did it all by hand. Susan also has another pattern called, “Mountain Moon” that is the same technique, so if you prefer that design, it’s fine!

Materials and Supplies:

  • Sewing machine in good working order
  • Not In My Martini” Pattern (available in Class $10.00) Metal templates are available upon request for $15.00 a set (if the price does not change). Please contact Susan to be sure you get a set, they are very helpful for this technique. Susan also has another similar pattern for this technique called “Mountain Moon”.
  • 1 or 2 Moda layer cakes & 1 charm pack (this depends on how large you want your quilt) or 45 10” squares, if you are using fabric from your stash, notice the diagonal line of background fabrics. The other design is all polka-dots, anything will work.
    Optional: I used “Tranquility” fabric line from Moda & I used the bird panel for the bird blocks, you could use other panels as long as they are compatible with a 10” cut square, borders could be added if they are a little too small. Batiks are great too!
  • 1 yd. inner border fabric (small print)
  • 2 yards outer border fabric (large prints work well for this)
  • 2 yards of Pattern Ease or Easy Pattern (this is a replacement for Do-Sew which is not made anymore, it’s a light weight fiber type material that can be used for tracing patterns, but it not paper.)
  • Blue wash away pen or Pigma Pen .05 permanent
  • 60 wt. Mettler or YLI, or 50 wt. Aurifil cotton threads to match your fabrics
  • 70/10 Universal needles
  • Sewing machine & ¼” foot (Bernina #37, #57 does not work as well for this technique.) If you have another brand of machine please bring an applique presser foot. You will need a machine that has a blind hem stitch if at all possible.
  • Pinking sheers
  • Basic sewing kit (scissors, pins, rotary cutter, ruler and mat, etc.)