See
what others are saying: Afterthoughts!
Contact Me for Workshop Dates!
See some of my students' work!
Central to Gyleen's success as a quilter is her willingness
to jump right into a project. Gyleen suggests that
you just grab some fabric and SEW IT! Small projects
lend themselves easily to this approach since they
don't require much fabric. It really isn't necessary
to develop a precise plan or to spend two weeks choosing
the "perfect" fabrics. Let's go with the
flow and make a beautiful quilt. All workshops use
a Colourful Stitches’ pattern.
Free instructions to Gyleen's Official Pieced Back was originally published in BERNINA's online magazine, "Through the Needle", issue 7 as "Baby's Got Back!" article. BERNINA no longer publishes that magazine, however they have given me authorization to add their PDF of my instruction to my site. And yes, it's still free. Thanks, BERNINA. Click here for the Baby's Got Back PDF.
I'm on The Quilt Show, Episode 909. See the behind the scenes slide show taken during the actual taping of my episode #909 on The Quilt Show. Watch the full hour to learn the Butterfly Seam and how to use the Pineapple Tool.
I'm on The Quilt Show, Episode 1403. See the behind the scenes slide show taken during the actual taping of my episode #1403 on The Quilt Show. Become a member and watch the full hour to learn the Butterfly Seam for inset seam. sSample makes a table runner with Tumbling blocks and 6-pointed Stars.
I'm on The Quilt Show AGAIN, Episode 2012. See the behind the scenes slide show taken during the actual taping of my episode #2012 on The Quilt Show. Become a member and watch the full hour to learn how to piece perfect Pinwheels, make a beautiful medallion quilt beginning with a panel or orphan block and yes, because you asked how to make my official pieced back. Check out the teaser trailer for the episode HERE.
Channeling MC Escher: The stack of bricks is an illusion of impossible objects. Do you see open bricks, or single dimensional rectangles cutting through each other? I can see both and this is why I love the work of MC Escher. Learn to recreate or create an original impossible objects wall hanging. Like Escher, no mathematical experience is needed. All you need is the willingness to see the world from a different perspective.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Evolution: English Paper Piecing: It’s a Polygon Affair! Learn English Paper Piecing technique to make a fancy pieced hexagon. Explore your creative side as you color or fussy cut the polygon shapes. Come relax, the class includes just about everything you need for a bright and colorful hexagon.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Shadows Fall: Earth moves, water flows and shadows fall. This free form design using split half-hexagon blocks is all about symmetry and movement. The bold split half-hexagons take form quickly when using Polygon2 Tool for the cutting and pieced perfectly using "Butterfly Seam" technique. Skills learned in class help you to master other inset seam designs.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Simon Says—Follow Me: Oh, my feeling stressed? Just follow these stylized modern geese on a new flight to stress-free piecing. The bold "pyramid" takes form using polygon cone and half-hexagon shapes with a stunning printed hexagon center. Quick to stitch by using the Polygon2 Tool with 3” and 5½” strips. You will learn how to construct a perfect "Butterfly Seam" for effortless stitching.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Suspended: A monochromatic three dimensional design made with half-hexagons and diamonds. As a fully pieced organic quilt: you’ll play with design and cube placement, learn how to construct a perfect "Butterfly Seam" for effortless inset stitching, and master partial seams to float the cubes within the pieced background. I’ll walk you through step-by-step and will not leave you "suspended".
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool, Polygon2 Tool
I Got This: Hmm, so what hints will I let out of the bag? Number 1: It’s a scrappy quilt. Number 2: It uses 2½” strips. Number 3: It has a modern appeal. Number 4: It’s part of my new series, “Bricks, Cobblestones and Pebbles.”
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Trio: It’s old school wisdom that things or events happen in threes. I tend to find my design balance using a trio or a visual repeat of three. Hence, how Trio got its name. Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pinwheelsthree blocks; light, bright and darkthree tones; three columns, three rows as the design get played. How do you play “Trio”?
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Caribbean Star 2: The view, the Caribbean is all about the view. The water and sky drinks every shade of blue. The daily attitude is relaxed with a hint of breeze. That”s the feeling I wanted in Caribbean Star 2. How do you see it?
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Mixology - Shaken and Stirred: Graphic and modern design using “hard to use” or “hard to get use to” fabrics. If you’re like me, some fabrics like outstanding plaids, bold large scale prints and ethnic fabric just seem daunting to cut." This project shakes up the mundane and stirs up your creative juices to simply “go for it”. You will learn how to cut all shapes using the Angle Trim Tool and master precision piecing.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Sunny Side Up: A field of sunflowers just makes you happy. Recreate your favorite sunflowers or imagine electric new varieties. Sunny Side Up cleverly uses two sizes of kite polygon cut from 3" and 5"; strips. You will learn how to construct a perfect “Crisscross” and "Butterfly Seam" for effortless stitching. It's so easy you'll fall in love.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon3 Tool
Gatekeeper: Inspired by ironwork gates of the 14th Century, the grills bold, brassy and Jelly Roll friendly! This is the second design in the “upcycling” series. I harvested the background fabric from a large men’s dress shirt. This is a relaxing workshop with a few tricks for perfect piecing.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Inner City: From brownstones to row homes, city architects use a basic formula for the exterior dimensions; adding walls later for functionality. As quilters we can do that as well.
Inner City is based on modules and clean building blocks to achieve a modern or scrappy contemporary quilt. Customize with color placement or a change is project size.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Modern Free-Wheeling Circles: Modern and bold stitched with speed and ease with an extra curve or two. Is that possible? This is my 2017 Iron Quilter Challenge design. Learn the raw edge technique to achieve perfect "stress-free" curves without piecing. Experiment with different layouts to produce a unique design. Game on!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Color Knots: Modern or Contemporary-you choose. Quick and easy, this bed quilt makes a bold or serene statement depending on your color choice. Learn to color balance as you make each Color Knot block. Fat quarter friendly or use 5" pre-cut squares. A background of two closely related solids creates intriguing negative space. It's a fun weekend project.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon3 Tool
Hashtag Tumbling Blocks: Play with modern tumbling blocks like never before. Keep it simple or go for add spark by playing with tone block to block. Consider great coloring and piecing ideas to design an original modern quilt. Learn to do the Butterfly Seam for stress-free effortless precision piecing all by machine.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Hashtag Meme's Garden: Meet Meme, a modern grandmother and create her original and organic flower garden. Learn to work with large scale hexagons and prints of any scale to create an original flower garden. Consider combining other polygon shapes for a menagerie of flowers. Learn to do the Butterfly Seam for stress-free effortless precision piecing all by machine.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon2 Tool
Over and Under Rainbows: Modern with a twist! "KNOT" as hard as you think! It's visually dynamic with fast easy piecing. Don't let cutting "Tie" you up. All you need is one 2.5" strip set and 3.5 yards of background.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Main Street Commons: Bold, geometric and modern. The design was inspired by architectural mason brick work. Color and scale enhances center medallion. Take one more border to put the design on point!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Star Struck: One day is all it takes to make this 4-block 22" x 80" table or bed runner. Awl struck by Star Struck, one day can make a difference. You'll love the Butterfly and Crisscross Seam techniques that make the piecing effortless.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon and Polygon2 Tools
Road to Redemption: By definition, redemption is the act of saving or being saved from sin, error, evil or fabric hoarding! The Strips, Stripes and Strata Series will help you use your stash, pre-cut, and scraps in a creative, functional and playful quilt. The piecing and coloring are straight forward. All the magic happens in the design layout where you are in the driver's seat. My job is to coach you through to the finish.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Modern Zip Zap: Dynamic, modern and fun is the formula for great day of stitching. The actual block size is huge, 15" square. You can make it scrappy or stick within a color palette or use a jelly roll. Oh did I say its pre-cut friendly? 1-2 Jelly Rolls and 1 yard of focus fabric.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: None
Matchmaker: Find me the match. Bold and modern sums up this wall-hanging or lap quilt. Have your been waiting for the perfect place to showcase your novelty or ethnic fabric? Then wait no further, this is the workshop for you. Learn the Butterfly Seam technique.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon and Polygon2 Tools
Celebration: Ribbons or Tamari balls-table runner to lap quilt, Celebration keeps the party rolling! For a modern look pick solids or semi-solids or for a scrappy look make sure you have lights and darks. Pieced Hexagon block can be made in two sizes, 10" x 11" or 20" x 23". If you decide on the larger size you can show case large to mid-scale novelty fabrics for a truly modern look.
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool (smaller block) or Polygon2 Tool (larger block)
Pyramids in Colour: Learn to colour blend and piece perfect pyramids while making and exquisite charm quilt. This charm quilt is designed to use 5" charm squares (1 to keep and 1 to trade). Continue the tradition of collecting charms and trading with friends; or consider this is a great opportunity to catalog your fabric collection.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool
Engaged: Are you ready for love? It's a Polygon Affair. Engaged combines 4 shapes (diamonds, pyramids, hexagons and cones) into one stunning quilt all cut from your stash. You will learn how to construct a "Butterfly Seam" for effortless stitching. It's so easy-you'll fall in love.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool
Feathered Star: How about those CURVES? Or should I say, those perfectly pieced curves! After this technique workshop you will never fear curves again; we're going to take it one step at a time. Once that is mastered, we're onto the wonderful pieced border. It's your choice to make a 1-block or 4-block wall hanging or go for the full size quilt.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool or any tool that cuts a triangle (optional)
Batik Interlocking Star Tessellation: Geometric and fun yet looks visually challenging. Go scrappy or use a planned fabric collection. Great for hand-dyed and batiks. Learn the technique of using simple shapes to make an interlocking design. Wall hanging can be completed in one day using Gyleen's easy to piece map technique.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Trash to Treasure Pineapples: Okay isn't it time to clear the clutter in your life? Oops, too much? What about using up all those bits and pieces stuff in nooks, crannies and boxes? Better? Let's make an old fashion favorite pineapple quilt with a new and contemporary twist. Effortless stitching without paper piecing! Go scrappy, random or totally stylized it doesn't matter just plan to join the Pineapple Par-tay! This workshop turns trash to a treasured one of a kind pineapple quilt.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Pineapple Tool by Gyleen
Going in Circles: Explosive! That is the one word says it all. This is a technique and color design workshop. Learn raw edge applique technique to achieve perfect "stress-free" curves. Experiment with layouts very similar to the Drunkard's Path with an extra curve or two to produce a unique design. Wall hanging (25" x 25") uses 16 fabrics from 4 colour groups."
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: none
Play Modern: It's fast, it's quick, it's geometric and it's Tumbling Blocks with controlled free-style piecing. We will start with the thought of having fun and being in the moment. The technique is to use Polygon2 Diamonds and Butterfly Seam to create a BOLD wall-hanging that shouts, "Modern" or "Contemporary". This workshop is about you with over 6 options for the free-style piecing.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon and Polygon 2 Tools
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend: Simply stated, you can never have too many diamonds. The diamond shape is so simplistic yet produces such elegant results. This wall hanging is comprised of 4-patch diamonds set with pyramids. Enjoy the fun of using the strippy layout. So easy to piece you may want to grow this wall hanging into a full size bed quilt."
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon and Polygon 2 Tools
Stripper’s Mystery: So what do you get when you combine 20 strips of fabric with one absolutely fantastic focus fabric? You are the only one that knows and this is your mystery to solve. The layouts are fun, fast and endless. The quilts range from 25" to 50". You can chose Half-Square Triangles, 16-Patch, Chinese coins or Pyramids (to name a few) to solve the mystery. So get out your Sherlock Homes attitude and begin the Stripper's Mystery.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Bring the specialty tools you have and I'll bring the Polygon Tools
Quilt of the Century: Remember the bathroom tile floor of the 60's made with little squares and octagons? You got the picture. This quilt uses just two simple shapes to make an old fashion favorite. It's called "Quilt of the Century" or "Melon Patch" but I call it pure fun for fabric collectors. Make a wall hanging or lap quilt, the choice is yours. All you need is 6½" squares and one accent fabric. Learn how to do a "double" Butterfly Seam'to set-in squares quickly and accurately.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: 6½" square ruler (any brand)
It Takes Seven Sisters: Nothing is more stunning than twenty brilliant stars made from diamonds. "Seven Sisters" block is what makes this quilt sparkle. The power in the sparkle is created by using 3" strips of 20 great fabrics from a narrow color palette. Assembly is not as hard as you think. In this workshop you will learn the Butterfly Seam for perfect set-in piecing. Come ready to relax and chat; you are not expected to finish this in class since there is no speed sewing. This beauty takes time to complete.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon Tool
Carpenter's Wheel: Oh my stars and cubes! Fun shapes that all come together for this old time favorite. Learn to master the "Butterfly Seam", it's a snap...enjoy the magic of effortless precision piecing. The illusion of difficult made easy. Plan to finish this as a wall hanging or use it for the center of a medallion quilt. Create the surprise of a perfectly pieced border, I promise!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool and EZ Eight (optional)
Spider Hexagon: Old fashion and striking is all I can say about this graphic quilt. It combines Half-Hexagons with Pyramids with plenty of other options. Got scraps or bits of fabric? This whole quilt can be cut from your scrap box and a few larger pieces from your stash. You can get to a large quilt in a hurry and it will look like you took years. Learn to use the Super 60 ruler.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon and Polygon2 Tools
Tokyo Fans: Can't you just see these fan blades made from exotic Japanese fabric? That was my first thought when getting a collection of antique 1930's blocks. Putting blocks in a strippy setting is super simple yet so elegant. This fan blocks are very adaptable to other fabric types; so why not try hand-dyes, civil war and retro fabric collections. Learn to do this all by machine to include machine blanket stitch or zig-zag!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: EZ Dresden Tool or any 9" Wedge Ruler
Anything Goes Star Tessellation: This is an encore workshop turning the Batik Star Tessellation pattern into a full size bed quilt. Begin by using 2" strips for a 9" block to get you to that bed quilt in a hurry. Geometric and fun for a little bit of this and that type of fabric; heck why not use your whole fabric collection. Feel free to mix in your batiks or homespun for added sparkle. Learn the technique of using simple shapes to make an interlocking design. Easy to piece with Gyleen's map technique.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Glorified Nine Patch: Illusion at its best! But how do you get those curves? With straight lines of course. Go figure but it's just that simple. You take two relatively high contrasting colors, you alternate two pieced "quilter friendly" blocks then float segments into the border and just like that you're done! You will learn how to make pointy triangle segments with the Tri-Recs tool and how to artfully transition and color blend from one block to the next.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool and Tri-Recs Tool
Big Stitch on Small Quilts: In this workshop students will learn three different "fast" hand-quilting stitches to use alone or as an added design element to machine quilting. Gain knowledge on which needle to use, thread choices and how to select and use the right stencil. By the end of class, students will have developed a personal "hand" stitch.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: none
Uptown: Relaxing, is the one word that describes the day piecing this graphic beauty. Never be afraid of pinwheel again, come learn the easy way to get perfect points! Plan to use or use up your stash. It's also, pre-cut friendly
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: none
So Square: Graphic and modern with cleanliness. Squares and rectangles do the work for a visually stunning quilt. Great for solids, semi-solids, and batiks. But wait, there's more! This same design can be scrappy to use your pre-cuts. A two for one class option!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Angle Trim Tool
Bending Star: Clean and crisp design lines colored to bend. Image is everything and that image is controlled by color placement and precision piecing. Learn the Butterfly and the Crisscross seam techniques. Plus learn how to inlay the star in Gyleen's signature pieced background. The entire design is machine pieced'it's easier than you can imagine!
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon3 Tool
Wish/City Scape: Diamonds create gentle watercolor-like movement for a modern lap quilt. It's the perfect design to show off machine quilting. And it's pre-cut friendly! Takes just 1 Jelly Roll and 1 yard of focus fabric. Change your view to the sea, woods or landscape just by changing your fabric selection.
Supply List
Special Tool(s) required: Polygon 2 Tool
