Here is a sneak peak at the upcoming workshops for 2026 Mid-Atlantic Mod!!! Please note that you will not pay for the class at the time of registration (it will say the ticket is free), but there is a cost of $15-20 (+ some workshops have a materials fee) that is payable in cash at the time you sign in for the weekend. You may not cancel after April 1 and you will not be admitted into MOD until you have paid for all the workshops you signed up for, so please have your cash handy.
Friday, April 24 Classes
9:30-11:30am - Sometimes it’s about the fabric! with Shari van der Grijn
Learn how different fabrics can affect fit and construction while sewing the Paper Theory LB Pullover. Craft a snuggly pullover for colder weather or a lighter pullover for cool evenings in the summer - with one pattern. Pattern adapts well to either knit or woven fabrics and is fantastic to showcase special fabric (including quilted fabrics!).
We’ll chat turn of cloth, drape and ease to ensure you can pick the right size and then talk seam finishes so you can quickly sew up a version for you to wear. Everyone will go home with a LB Pullover to wear.
During a prep hour on TH night, we’ll talk about sizing and we’ll work to determine the best size for you to make given how you want the garment to fit and the fabric you have. There will be a few sized samples for you to try. You’ll then have time to cut your pattern pieces out before class (only four!)—and you’ll easily be able to construct the garment by the end of class (maybe only a hem to finish if that).
It’s a pattern you’ll be able to use over and over again - even if sewing garments isn’t “your thing.”
Class Kit: $18
Paper Theory LB Pullover pattern (PDF file plus a large format print)
SewEKeys Fusible Stay Tape and Double Sided Fusible Stay Tape
Fabric samples
Supply List:
Fabric: Midweight or Heavyweight low-stretch knits (French Terry, double knit, Ponte) or Midweight woven (old quilt!, quilted wovens, cotton jacquard, boiled wool, even linen!). You can even go scrappy!
54” wide: 1.75-2.5 yards depending on size
Thread to match fabric
Binding to match fabric (optional - useful in sewing with thick, heavyweight fabric)
Bring to classroom:
Sewing machine, with bobbin wound to match chosen thread
Scissors or snips
Serger will be available for use
12:00-1:30pm - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags with Lynne Mackay-Atha
Some specialty bags that I have made for travel (chargers, accessories and toiletries) and a bag for my hiking poles.
Take this workshop to learn how to make zippered packing bags with fully finished inside seams. These bags are great for travel, the gym or any kind of organization. Ripstop nylon is used for the bags as it is light and water resistant. In class you will make a bag that is large enough to hold a half dozen shirts or a few pairs of pants. Starting with a half yard of fabric you will be able to make the packing bag as well as have some left over fabric to make some small bags on your own after class. Need a bag that is a special shape? We will talk about how to alter the dimensions to meet your needs. Learning how to work with ripstop nylon is often the first step to getting involved with MYOG - making your own gear - kites, stuff bags, clothing, backpacks, tents and more!
Class Kit available for purchase for $5 (I found a deal so it is much less expensive than sourcing on your own)
Half yard of white ripstop nylon cut into two 18”x 27” pieces
Two 16” zippers
8” of ribbon for tabs
Supply List:
Coordinating color thread
Sewing machine
Zipper foot (with proper needleplate) is helpful
General sewing kit with pins or clips
Additional supplies if not purchasing kit
Half yard of ripstop nylon
16” nylon zipper
8” piece of one inch wide ribbon for tabs (optional)
Approximate student materials cost for this workshop: $10 depending on source for ripstop nylon and zippers
2-3:30pm - Fussy Cut Patchwork Panel with Christina Miller from Fabric Pop!
Fussy cut your favorite designs and sew them back together to make a fun patchwork panel. I’ll guide you through an easy piecing method to ensure their squares are perfectly aligned. Incorporate your panel into a bag, pouch, mug rug or wall hanging!
Supply List:
A variety of novelty fabrics to fussy cut
Sewing machine & neutral colored thread
Small cutting mat and rotary cutter (28mm recommended)
Small square ruler
Small pair of scissors
Ironing station
Optional: Tiny Fussy Cut Templates by Fabric Pop
Optional kits containing fussy cut fabric ($12.50) and Fussy Cut Templates ($12.50) will be available at my pop-up shop Friday morning.
Approximate supply cost for the students: Up to $25 if they wish to purchase the optional supplies
4-5:30 - Artful Applique - adding a person touch to your tote with Michelle Rashford
This class will cover the basics for needle turned applique and to put it into practice, we will applique 3 hearts onto a tote bag, then discuss how to finish the bag off using your creativity, examples will be provided.
Supply List:
Basic sewing kit including hand sewing needles and thread
Sharp scissors (for applique - I prefer to use sharp pointed serrated blade scissors
such as Karen Buckley’s or similar)
Applique glue and/or pins
Fabric marking pen/pencil
Tote bag
Fabric for applique
Embroidery needle, thread and ribbon etc see example
Class Kit available for $15 with:
Tote bag (polyester tote)
Liberty fabric hearts (precut)
Saturday, April 25 Classes
9:30-11:30am - Quilted Sneakers with Ann Marston
Make a pair of quilted sneakers! Custom design your quilted sneakers with option of sole colors. Use that special fabric to make a whole cloth quilt. Perhaps you prefer patchwork. Your sneakers can be low tops, high tops or in-between. Other design choices to consider - binding color, eyelet color, and shoelace style and color. Learn tips and tricks for completing the quilted sneakers of your dreams.
After you register for the class, you will be sent a Google form to order your SneakerKit soles through Ann. Or you may order the sneaker soles on your own using the links provided below. If you order the soles through Ann, you will receive a 20% discount pricing. You can pick up your SneakerKit soles at the retreat starting on Thursday.
Before Class Preparation
Prepare and quilt your sneaker panels. Quilting Instructions - For the upper part of your sneakers you will need 1 fat quarter of exterior fabric and 1 fat quarter of lining fabric. You will also need a 5/8 yard of SF101 stabilizer and 1/2 yard of byAnnie's Soft n’ Stable.
Press the SF101 stabilizer to the wrong side of exterior fabric. Make a quilt sandwich with exterior fabric, byAnnie's Soft n’ Stable and lining fabric. Quilt as desired. Note - quilting stitches and design will show more with shorter stitch length (2.2 - 2.4) and spaced closer together. Batting is not recommended as it will make your sneakers floppy. Use byAnnie's Soft n’ Stable, Pellon Flex Foam, or Bosal In-R-Form.
If you are using a different fabric for the tongue, you will need at least a 10” square quilted panel using the same method as above.
Download and print sneaker template in your shoe size. Cardstock is recommended but regular printer paper is good too. Scroll to the bottom where it says: PATTERN DOWNLOADS and click Classic in your size to print. Sneaker Templates
Prepare bias binding. Cut 4 - 2” x 18” strips. Fold in half, lengthwise with wrong sides together, and press.
Required Supply List (approximately $65 - $100 depending on which options you choose)
* SneakerKit soles, waxed leatherworking cord - 8 yards, long saddlers needle size
https://sneakerkit-soles.com/product/bulk-sneaker-soles/ ($60)
https://tandyleather.com/collections/shoe-kits/products/sneaker-starter-pack ($70 - this retailer offers sneaker soles in tan color)
https://www.bucklebeebags.com/bucklebee-shop/happy-feet-quilted-sneaker-kit-3h2hf ($65 soles only, does not include needle and waxed thread)
https://www.bucklebeebags.com/bucklebee-shop/happy-feet-quilted-sneaker-kit ($90 full kit includes instruction booklet and notions)
You may purchase SneakerKit soles, waxed thread and needle through Ann ($50)
⅜” two-part grommets - 32 sets for hightops ($10-15 for a kit, or purchase the exact number of eyelets needed for one pair of sneakers from Ann for $1) Eyelet Kit or this kit
Shoelaces like this or this at least 60” long
Medium weight woven interfacing - 18” x 22” (Pellon SF101)
Foam stabilizer - 18” x 22” (Bosal In-R-Form, byAnnie’s Soft n’ Stable, Pellon Flex-Foam)
Optional Supply List
Ann will have the following supplies for you to borrow during the retreat. You do not have to purchase these items unless you want to make more sneakers when you get home.
Sewing stiletto
Eyelet/Grommet setting tool ($28) Crop-A-Dile or a kit with tool
2mm leather hole punch ($7)
Fray Check or permanent fabric glue
Hard thimble
General Sewing Supplies: sewing machine, thread, needle, walking foot, paper scissors, fabric scissors, presser foot and plate needed to do a zigzag stitch on your machine (or handstitch), fabric marker (can use permanent marker or pencil), etc
Fabric Requirements
1 fat quarter quilting cotton for upper and tongue
1/4 yard quilting cotton for lining
1 fat quarter quilting cotton for bias binding
If you are using accent fabric for the tongue, you will need 10” x 10” exterior and lining fabrics
For Bias Binding
Cut 4 - 2” x 18” bias strips (2 yards)
12-1:30pm - Create with Curves Workshop with Jackie Laba
If you’ve been avoiding curves or just want to improve your technique, this workshop will help. We will be sewing 4 and 1/2-inch drunkard’s path, orange peel, and square blocks that will blossom into a 16 x 24-inch mini quilt. Starting with the gentle curves of the orange peel block, we will learn how minimal pinning and careful sewing lead to smooth leaves. Then we’ll move on to the more challenging drunkard’s path block, using the same good practices to form the center and petals of our flower. Helpful tips and suggestions will ensure your success.
The pattern and templates for the drunkard’s path and orange peel blocks will be available for free when you complete registration for the class. To save time during the workshop, you should cut out several blocks at the retreat before we meet. I will be available for any help needed beforehand.
Supply List
Sewing machine; one-quarter inch foot if you have one
Ruler for cutting and trimming the 4-1/2-inch blocks
Pins, thread, scissors, and awl or tweezers for piecing
½ yard background fabric (you can use either one print or solid, or a variety of neutral squares)
½ yard for petal blocks
At least an 8 x 8-inch piece of fabric for the flower center
At least a 7 x 14-inch piece of fabric for the orange peel leaves
Approximate materials cost: $!5 if buying new fabric; $0 if using your stash
2-3:30pm - Skinny Insets — Exploring Three Methods to Add Strips to Your Designs with Robin Tilsworth
Come and explore three techniques to add skinny insets in your designs. The three techniques are:
slash and insert skinny pieces and/or wedges
inserting strips without losing background fabric
paper piecing.
We will practice each method and also discuss the pros, cons and uses of each method. One ruler will be provided to each student, no extra charge.
A. Slash and inset
This method is the most improvisational of all the methods. The effect can either be a very precise sliver through your piece or a slice with varying degrees of wonkiness. Tools used: Add three-eighths ruler which will be provided, no extra charge.
B. Inserts without losing background fabric
With exact seams, this technique will result in a fabric size that is
unchanged from initial fabric. Useful for gentle Tools
used: Regular ruler.
C. Paper Piecing
If you would like a particularly exact skinny inset, you can use paper piecing of an image that you have drawn. This method ensures a crisp inset. Tools used: paper piecing paper.
Supply List
Fabric scraps: please bring at least six strips of fabric at least 1” x 9” (these will be the insets) and 6 scraps/pieces of background fabric to insert the slashes/insets. These pieces should be at least 10” long and 4” wide but larger chunks will work as well. Solids, prints and stripes work well for these techniques. Estimated cost: less than $5.
Cutting mat, rotary cutter, rulers, glue (dots work best so something like Glue
Baste-It), sewing machine with neutral thread and ¼” foot.
To be provided by the instructor: Add a three-eighths ruler and fabric & pattern for paper piecing.
4-5:30pm - Bag Hardware Basics – Making a Wristlet with Linda Fasules
Hardware can make your bags more functional and beautiful! Take this workshop to learn what hardware is available, where to source it and how to add it to your bags.
During this workshop we will make a small vegan leather and/or cork wristlet. You will add rivets, Chicago screws, a clasp or snap, a grommet and a handle with a swivel clasp to this small accessory. Learn how to add this hardware AND walk away with this fun little wristlet.
Photo from GukWorks on Etsy.
Using vegan leather/cork instead of fabric to practice on during this workshop will allow us to finish this project in the short time (90 mins) we have together. However, all these materials and techniques are suitable for any type of bag.
Class Kit:
The $10 kit fee will cover a precut piece of vegan leather or cork, plenty of hardware to finish this small bag and tools to share during the class. It does not include any tools or hardware to take away from the class – however a guide to sourcing everything we use (and more) will be given to you.
I will have many finished bags to show and inspire you. If you have a bag or other project that you would like to add snaps or rivets to, please bring it!
Photo below for inspiration!
Photos are from the Noodlehead website. Projects shown include the Wax and Wool Tote, the Tiny Treasurers Basket and the Minimalist Wallet.
Supplies to bring to class:
Small sharp scissors
Optional if you have any of these:
Hammer (any size)
Leather hole punch (any kind)
Rivet or snap setters
Any other hardware tools you own – even if you don’t know how to use them.
