Shoal Quilt – Improv Quilting with Special Guest Nicholas Ball 28/06/2025

Who is the Tutor?
Nicholas Ball
@quiltsfromtheattic

When is it?
10 am – 4.30pm

What will you make?
During this fun and freeing workshop, you will learn to create an improv shoal of fish. The Shoal quilt from Nicholas’ book Inspiring Improv is one of his most popular designs. Improv makes a great introduction to improv piecing.  You will learn the basics of Nicholas’ triangle and freehand curve technique, plus how to combine them to create unique and varied fish units.  As a bonus, he will share how to add individuality to your fish with extra fins, gills and patterned bodies.  They’ll even be some seaweed!  After making the units, you’ll learn Nicholas’s top tips for joining using his jigsaw method, quilting, and finishing.

Skill level for this workshop:

The workshop is suitable for all skill levels. The triangle technique is a great introduction to sewing in a more liberated way and is sure to fuel your creativity. The freehand curves will provide the beginner with a firm foundation to cutting without rulers, upon which they can expand the technique. More experienced sewers can challenge themselves with more daring curves and different-shaped fish.

Fabric Requirments For this Class

Because of the nature of improv quilting, it is difficult to give exact fabric amounts.  Use the following as a rough guide:

For the fish, use an assortment of large scraps in your chosen colours. This fabric will be used for the fish bodies and tails, so a healthy assortment of different-sized rectangles and squares will work best.
For the background, use an assortment of large scraps in your chosen sea/watercolours. This can either be one fabric for a more cohesive look or a variety for a scrappy version.
Additional scraps from your stash in coordinating colours for gills, fins and seaweed.

The more fish you make, the bigger the quilt will be.  There is no right or wrong size.  Remember, this is your project, do as you like! Don’t stress about these requirements, we are trying to help you prepare but Nicholas is yet to teach a class where something couldn’t be made because of the wrong fabric pieces. If in doubt, gather a selection of prints and colours you like, and you can cut during the workshop. Accuracy at the cutting stage is not so important when using my techniques, so it won’t take long if you want to cut your pieces along with me.

This is a technique-based workshop. You will make fish units, which you will then piece into your finished quilt on your own time.  Feel free to make as many or as few fish units as you like.  Don’t feel any pressure to cut up all your precious fabric!

What will you need?

A sewing machine (if you are unable to bring your own, please tell us in advance, and we can organise this for you)
Good quality thread in an appropriate weight for piecing (I recommend Aurifil 50wt)
Rotary cutter with a new blade (essential for the curve technique)
Cutting mat (if you are unable to bring your own please tell us in advance and we can lend on to you)
Patchwork ruler, we can make any size work, but a small 1” x 12” is very handy, as is a 12.5” square.
Fabric Scissors

Whilst not essential for either the workshop, Nicholas Ball’s book Inspiring Improv (Lucky Spool 2019) will expand upon the techniques learnt and provide many more improv tips and tricks.  The original Shoal quilt is also one of the 12 projects.

If you want to purchase any of these items on the day, let us know, and we can have them waiting for you.

You will need to bring glasses if you wear them and your creativity. To complete this course, we recommend that you have sewn before.

Where is it?
This workshop takes place on the first floor of our beautiful CoolCrafting shop in the heart of Kendal, just off the historic Market Place. Please be aware that the only access to our first floor is via a staircase. There is no lift.

6 Available Spaces in total. Tickets available soon – £80 per person