The Magic of Wales

A Virtual Workshop with Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh

Adventure Workshops

Current

Magic of Wales

Upcoming

French Countryside
Hawaii

Past

Magic of Wales

Block of the Month

Attendee Resources

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Join us for a live, two-day workshop. This is the first in our new Adventure Workshop series. Participate LIVE during the workshop’s premiere AND/OR enjoy it on-demand at any point thereafter.

September 30 and October 1 from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT
Hosted as a Zoom Webinar
Recordings for both days provided for access at any future time
Open to all experience levels
100% money back guarantee
Already attending? Visit the Attendee Hub

Immerse yourself in the magic of Wales and its extraordinary quilts. With hidden histories that are still coming to light, these extraordinary objects cast a spell on all who encounter them—from royalty and collectors to artists and the modern sewist!

The idyllic Welsh countryside provides the perfect backdrop for our first-ever Adventure Workshop.

How to Attend

Born from necessity, Welsh quilts were pieced with local materials, including soft lamb’s wool and the now-iconic local flannel. Their reach however extended far beyond the UK to the United States, where strong evidence suggests they may have even inspired early Amish patchwork.

Single Ticket

$120

Purchase a single-workshop pass for The Magic of Wales. Upon registration, you will be able to access all event details and resources on our exclusive Attendee Hub.

Adventure Passport

$90/Workshop

Best value! Access all three of our annual Adventure Workshops at a 25% discount when you buy a Passport. Plus, enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks, and more.

The Magic of Wales Highlights

Our virtual workshop highlights the fun and quirky personality of Welsh quilts as we teach you how to replicate the creative flair and stitches in your own keepsake quilt. Together, we will sew and learn through engaging snapshots of a country’s heritage and traditions, which without doubt, should be celebrated by quilters worldwide.

Getting up close and personal with patchworks made in Wales from 1800 onwards that are on show in The Magical Quilts of Wales exhibition.
Making yourself at home with Jen Jones, owner of the largest collection of historic Welsh quilts.
Looking inside the studio of the author and fine artist Valériane Leblond, whose lyrical compositions draw inspiration from real-life Welsh quilts.
Going behind the scenes at the National Wool Museum and flannel manufacturer Melin Teifi to learn the secrets of this traditional cloth stitched into many historic quilts.
Savoring the taste of famous Welsh cakes and Bara brith (recipes included!).
Stitching a uniquely designed Welsh-inspired frame quilt, while learning the stories behind each of the chosen elements.
Embracing the Welsh spirit of improvisation with modern quilter Nicholas Ball.

Dates & Times

WHEN: The Magic of Wales virtual workshop will take place over two days, approximately three hours each day.

Day 1: Friday, September 30 from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT

Day 2: Saturday, October 1st from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT

WHERE: This is a virtual workshop taking place via Zoom Webinar. You can attend from the comfort of your own home and/or sewing space! All you need is a computer, phone, or tablet and a reliable internet connection!

LIVE or ON-DEMAND: We would love for participants to join the LIVE workshops so that you have the opportunity to interact with our hosts and special guests. However, if you cannot attend the workshop’s premiere, you will have access to all workshop recordings for on-demand viewing.

LIFETIME ACCESS: Participants will have lifetime access to all workshop recordings so that you can reference the tutorials as often as you would like as you complete your sewing projects!

Spiral Star Quilt Project

Together, we will make a Spiral Star quilt, designed by Kay and Jenni exclusively for The Magic of Wales workshop. This pattern is accessible for all skill levels and combines their favorite elements from the Welsh patchworks and wholecloths they studied on the road; all of the storytelling details will be shared as you sew along!

The Spiral Star pattern follows a traditional frame construction with a beautiful star at the center and a dynamic sawtooth border.

You will be taught patchwork piecing, including clever tricks on four-at-a-time Flying Geese blocks and sixteen-at-a-time Half Square Triangle blocks, which is not as scary as it sounds and is brilliant for saving time! (And if you prefer, these blocks can also be achieved by hand stitching.) The outside borders will allow for a little guided improvisation (optional), for which gorgeous historic examples will be shared as inspiration.

And last but certainly not least, quilted spirals are a much loved pattern on Welsh quilts. You will learn how to hand stitch this simple motif along with several more, which you can use as an overall design or combine with machine quilting to finish off this special keepsake quilt.

As you can see from the illustrations, the quilt design works really well in many different color palettes and with printed or plain fabrics (or a mixture of the two).

A list of fabric quantities as well as a coloring sheet, so that you can start to plan your own design, will be available in our Attendee Hub upon registration.

Workshop FAQs

Is there a kit?
This workshop does not include a fabric kit. We will provide a list of materials needed to complete the project, as well as helpful prep videos to make sure you’re ready for the workshop.

Where can I access resources and recordings?
After you register for the on-demand workshop, you will gain instant access to the Attendee Hub located on the workshop page.

How experienced do I need to be to take this workshop? The Magic of Wales is open to all experience levels! Whether you just started quilting or you’ve been doing it for years, this workshop is designed to be fun and accessible to all.

Have another question?
Send us an email at hello@quiltfolk.com

First time attending a virtual workshop?

Our virtual workshops allow you to learn new skills and explore new places from the comfort of your home!

Hosted on Zoom, our live workshops are accessible from any device with internet access (computer, phone, tablet), and do not require the use of a camera. You’ll be able to ask questions during portions of the workshop using the Q + A feature, as well as chat with other attendees using the Chat function.

We will provide the Zoom link prior to the start of the workshop and when it’s time to join, you can click the Zoom link or copy and paste it into your browser. You do not need to download Zoom or create an account in order to participate. All you need is an internet connection, and you’ll be able to attend the live workshop!

We will also provide the recording of the live workshop to all attendees, so if you can’t make the live event or wish to revisit it at a later time, you will have lifetime access through the Attendee Hub.

About Quiltfolk's Adventure Workshop Series

Quiltfolk Adventure Workshops are part of a new, ongoing educational series designed to transport you to new locations around the world, all from the comfort of home.

Each year, we’re taking three trips to inspiring destinations, exploring local history, heritage, and customs in that region that have helped shape their quilting traditions.

Then, we’ll bring back the knowledge and insights from the talented craftspeople we meet along the way, and share those insights with you, by teaching a unique stitching project that will transform your approach to quilting!

Magic of Wales Workshop Demo

The Magic of Wales

A Virtual Workshop with Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh

Adventure Workshops

Current

Upcoming

Past

Block of the Month

Reserve Your Spot Today!

How to Attend

The Magic of Wales Highlights

Dates & Times

Spiral Star Quilt Project

Spiral Star Quilt Project

Workshop FAQs

First time attending a virtual workshop?

About Quiltfolk's Adventure Workshop Series

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