Improvisational Quilting: Foundations of Freeform Design
Thursdays, March 5–March 26
4 Weeks | 1:30–4 p.m.
Location: High Museum of Art, Purple Workshop, Greene Family Education Center
Registration Required
Members get first access! Not a member? Join today!
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class.
Registration opens to the public on December 3, 2025 at 10 a.m.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class.
Join us for a playful and creative journey through improvisational quilting, exploring the medium without rules or patterns. Discover your creative rhythm through freeform piecing, spontaneous composition, and color exploration. Working with fabric scraps, learn to embrace imperfection and celebrate the unexpected while creating your own quilt top. Draw insight and inspiration from both historic and contemporary quilts in the museum’s collection, connecting your process to a vibrant legacy of innovation and storytelling through cloth.
- Week 1: Begin your improvisational quilting journey by exploring the core principles of quilting without patterns: letting go of perfection and trusting your creative instincts. Learn intuitive piecing and the basics of machine piecing and begin to assemble your one-of-a-kind quilt top. Visit the museum’s collection for inspiration, exploring quilts that embody bold expression and improvisational spirit.
- Week 2: Deepen your exploration of form and movement as you continue to create your free-form quilt top. Discover how contrast, repetition, and unexpected combinations bring quilts to life. Work at your own pace with the sewing machine
,and gain confidence while developing your personal visual language through playful construction and spontaneous composition. - Week 3: Start refining your quilt top’s overall composition by adding, subtracting, and rearranging to create a balanced and expressive piece. Finish machine piecing and prepare your quilt top for hand stitching. Discuss finishing techniques and the historical role of handwork in quilt-making traditions.
- Week 4: Bring depth and dimension to your quilt through hand stitching that adds rhythm, texture, and personal meaning. Learn simple hand quilting and embroidery techniques to enhance your design and begin the process of finishing your piece. Use this time to slow down, reflect on your creative process, and celebrate the unique quilt you’ve brought to life through improvisation, intuition, and joy.
About Studio Classes
Expand your art-making skills through guided, step-by-step instruction with expert teaching artists. Over multiple weeks, you will learn alongside other creative adults and delve deeply into the artistic process, explore new techniques, and build your practice.
This is an introductory-level Studio Class; it is designed to accommodate all levels of skill and talent. If you have never taken an art making class before, this is a great place to start. You will learn new skills that you can use in your artistic practice.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class.
About your Instructor
Loi Laing is a visual artist and educator specializing in fiber art, natural dyeing, earth pigments, and botanical inks. She is committed to sustainability and is passionate about connecting people with nature through art. Her workshops emphasize the use of locally sourced, ecofriendly materials, fostering creativity and respect for the environment. By sharing ancient techniques alongside contemporary approaches, Loi empowers participants to explore their artistic potential while honoring the earth. Her writing is featured in the book This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection (2021) by Jen Hewett.
Please note that in the event of a session being canceled, April 2 is reserved as a makeup date.