Spirit Of The West Retreat Goes On The Road   SPIRIT OF THE WEST RETREAT GOES ON THE ROAD – Based upon the slates of classes that Debbie has designed for her own retreats that she hosts in New Mexico. Debbie carefully selects a wide variety of processes and projects to give quilters an overall feeling of being “in the studio with Debbie Caffrey”. Classes can be customized to fit your group’s interests.

Spirit of the West

Power Cutting & Power Cutting, Too   POWER CUTTING & POWER CUTTING, TOO – Based upon books of the same titles. Power cutting is a fast and efficient approach to rotary cutting. Power cutting is a collection of cutting techniques that allows quilters to choose the one that is best for the task at hand. For instance, making a few large half-square triangle units for a quilt should employ a different approach than making many small units. Working with scraps, strips, and charm squares requires different techniques than working with yardage of a few fabrics. I want quilters to bring fabrics to use for exercises to learn the various methods of power cutting. Even with this process approach quilters will have some time to sew on a project during the workshop. Much of the first day will be used for process and the balance of the workshop is for making a project. Quilters may choose to make any of the projects in either power cutting book, or choose another pattern of their liking from a book, pattern, or magazine. Using what they have learned in the process exercises, they may choose to cut and piece the quilt differently than the written instructions.   Please note that this workshop can be taught as a one or two day class. If given in one day, actual sewing time and some of the information must be reduced.	Framed Nine Patch
	Robo-Cats
	Click Here to See Other Projects

Scraps to You, Too SCRAPS TO YOU, TOO – Based upon book of the same title. I teach the strip-piecing technique that I developed for this book, how to make adjustments in size, how to use the unit in traditional blocks, and how to use the Bird in the Air blocks as a design unit by itself. After learning the basic technique, quilters can decide whether to continue to design with the units, or make a quilt using a design that I have presented. Please note that this workshop can be taught as a one or two day class. If given in one day, actual sewing time and some of the information must be reduced.	Scraps to You #2
	Click Here to See Other Projects

Open a Can of Worms & Another Can of Worms WORMS – Based upon books of the same title. While scheming about how to control the smaller pieces of fabrics in my stash, I began to get side tracked about multiple fabric quilts (my favorite), friendship quilts, and the popularity of charm square trading. All of these ideas have come together in this workshop which is based upon 2 1/2” wide strips. This workshop is designed to show you how many different ways you can dice a worm (a 2 1/2” wide strip of fabric) to create fast and fun quilts. The blocks you will make are various sizes, but with some creativity, they could be combined into one quilt. More likely, these will be samples for you to learn the skills for making dozens of quilts. In a two day workshop, there should be time to make the samples, as well as, start a quilt. Because the quilts are based on 2 1/2” wide strips, these are wonderful for friendship quilts, scrap quilts, and fabric exchanges! Don’t let the fact that the quilts are based upon strips fool you. There are a few strip-pieced projects, but there are many more that have triangles, trapezoids, and other shapes. It is a wonderful class for introducing scrap or multi-fabric quilts, and a variety of skills and techniques. There are no templates for any of the quilts! By the end of this workshop, you will agree that we have really “opened a can of worms”. Please note that this workshop can be taught as a one or two day class. If given in one day, actual sewing time and some of the information must be reduced.	Road to Oklahoma
	Sand and Sea

Noodle Soup NOODLE SOUP – Based upon book of the same title. This is the same format as “Open a Can of Worms”, but the quilts are made from 2” wide strips, and they are completely different quilt patterns. So many of the quilts I planned for “worms” did not fit my constraints of the 2 1/2” wide strips, but they were perfect for piecing from 2” wide strips. More techniques are introduced in this workshop. Be sure to read the description of “Open a Can of Worms” for more insight about what to expect from the workshop. “Open a Can of Worms” is not a prerequisite for this class. Conversely, those of you who take both workshops will not be bored with redundant information. Please note that this workshop can be taught as a one or two day class. If given in one day, actual sewing time and some of the information must be reduced.	Album (Block Style)
	Click Here to See Other Projects

FABRIC STIR-FRY   FABRIC STIR-FRY – You know the drill. You open the refrigerator wondering what’s for dinner, and in no time, much to your surprise, those mismatched odds and ends become something very tasty! Learn how to use traditional blocks, original ones, leftover parts of quilts, orphan blocks, and inherited pieces to make a one of a kind quilt. Class will emphasize making blocks or units in any size from scratch (scraps), using template-free techniques when possible, and fitting together odd sizes of units to make fun, and sure to be cherished, unique and personal quilts. Please note that this workshop can be taught as a one or two day class. If given in one day, actual sewing time and some of the information must be reduced.

Sample Project: Postcard From Cordova

Beyond Basics   BEYOND BASICS – Based upon pattern of the same title. This class will lead quilters through numerous techniques that improve precision and speed up piecing and cutting. By the end of this class students should not only know how to make the sampler, but have the skills to make a dozen or more quilts. Intermediate Level.	Beyond Basics

An Alaskan Sampler   AN ALASKAN SAMPLER – Based upon book of the same title. Purchase of the book is required. This quilt has twenty-one blocks with names that fit an Alaskan theme. The class will teach all the techniques necessary for making either version of my Alaskan Samplers. Intermediate Level.	An Alaskan Sampler

Hip To Be Square   ITS HIP TO BE SQUARE – Using the great Method #5 technique for making half-square triangle units from Debbie’s book Power Cutting, Too, you will learn how to make a variety of blocks including Split Nine Patch, as seen in the book’s cover quilt “Robo-Cats”, a scrappy simple Nine Patch Autumn Leaf, a scrappy Bear’s Paw, Friendship Stars, Delectable Mountains, etc…by making very simple, large (6" - 10") half-square triangle units.

September Song

Making Tracks MAKING TRACKS – Using the great Method #4 (bias strips) technique for making half-square triangle units from Debbie’s book Power Cutting, Too, you will learn how to make triangle units by the dozens quickly, precisely, with no individual pressing, no dog ears to trim, and no paper to tear! Use the units to make “Coyote Tracks”, “Winter Trails” (both of these quilts are in the Power Cutting, Too book), or any other quilt requiring numerous small half-square triangle units.

Coyote Tracks

Quilting Season (any of 4 patterns) QUILTING SEASON – Based upon book of the same title. This book contains four different patterns. Each of the patterns employs a different skill or technique. All four patterns are presented in the workshop. Most of the day will be spent sewing. Each quilter will choose which of the four patterns to work on and what size quilt she will make.	Show Off Your Fat Quarters
	Click Here to See Other Projects

FROM THE MOUNTAINS FROM THE MOUNTAINS – This workshop presents two quilts from Shape Up Your Fat Quarters (Delectable Mountains and Rocky Mountain Puzzle) and one from Scraps to You, Too (Gold Nuggets). During the morning, quilters will make one sample block of each of the three patterns. The quilters will spend the afternoon working on one of the three patterns, quilter’s choice.	Sample: Gold Nuggets

TO THE PRAIRIE TO THE PRAIRIE – This workshop presents two quilts from Shape Up Your Fat Quarters (Snail’s Trail with variations and Stacked Bricks) and one from Scraps to You, Too (Papa, Mama, & Baby Birds). During the morning, quilters will spend the afternoon working on one of the three patterns, quilter’s choice.	Sample: Papa, Mama and Baby Birds

Mystery Class MYSTERY -- I have designed over one hundred mystery quilt patterns. Most conferences where I teach offer a mystery as one of my classes. Since there is a lot of sewing, these classes are a great compliment to another day’s intensive design and decision-making class.	Mystery
	?

Classy Patterns CLASSY PATTERNS – My line of “Classy Patterns” is growing rapidly. Consult the website to see all the latest. Inquire about which ones make for better workshops.	Sample:Quilters Quandary

 

Back to the Top

 

Half-day or Late Night Workshops   Please ask for recommendations if half-day or late night workshops are part of your schedule. Mysteries are probably the most popular late night classes. Single quilt patterns from any of my books or patterns are good choices for half-day/late night classes, too. For further information or inquiries regarding Debbie teaching at your shop, contact her!.	Sample:Lightning Quick

 

Back to the Top

HOW TO HAVE IT ALL!   Move it, use it, and don’t lose it! This lecture focuses on stash collecting, organizing, and utilizing. Learn what to collect, how to store it so you can find it easily, and see wonderful multiple fabric quilts that result from having the stash at your fingertips. Some slides and lots of show and tell.

QUILTING FROM THE LAND OF THE MIDDAY MOON   This is a slide lecture about quilts that are inspired by Alaska. It includes beautiful scenic photos of Alaska, some “home movie” slides of Debbie’s life in Alaska, and many, many quilts that were made by Alaskan quilters.