DATE & TIME: Fri 21 Nov 2025, 18:00–20:30 GMT

Learn how to create bold, improvised stripes and combine them into the popular Broken Ladder block, first developed for my book Modern Quilting. This sewing-machine-based workshop explores freedom in strip piecing, colour play, and constructing your own quilt block with energy and rhythm.

Full Description

This workshop introduces you to improvisational strip piecing and the Broken Ladder block—a striking, flexible design made by combining irregular stripes with layered composition. Using your sewing machine, you’ll be shown how to cut, stitch, and reassemble fabric to create striped sections that move away from rigid uniformity and instead embrace character, variation, and spontaneity.

We’ll explore how colour, proportion, and placement affect visual rhythm, and how these striped blocks come together to create a larger broken ladder quilt top. Rather than working from a rigid pattern, the workshop focuses on improvisation and decision-making, offering you the tools to create your own version of this dynamic design.

By the end of the session, you’ll have made at least one Broken Ladder block, with the knowledge and confidence to continue building towards a larger quilt or wall hanging.

How to Join

After booking, you’ll receive an email with a link to submit attendee details. Zoom links will be sent to registered attendees before the workshop. A recording will be available for 14 days after the session.

Key Information

• Duration: 2.5 hours

• Format: Live Zoom workshop with moderated chat

• Skill Level: Beginner-friendly (basic knowledge of a sewing machine recommended)

• Recording Access: Yes, available for 14 days

Before We Begin – Your Workshop Checklist

• A quiet space to work

• Good lighting and a comfortable seat

• Your selected materials (see list below)

• Notebook or space to jot down ideas

• Zoom installed and tested

• Headphones or speakers

• A warm drink or glass of water
  

Materials & Tools You'll Need

• Fabric scraps or strips: Gather a selection of fabric in colours you enjoy—cotton and linen work best. Aim for a mix of widths and tones for variety.

• Sewing machine & thread: A standard domestic sewing machine threaded and ready to use. Neutral thread works well, as we are working with different coloured fabrics, threads that match or compliment will work fine.

• Fabric scissors or rotary cutter: For cutting strips and trimming edges. A rotary cutter is advised.

• Cutting mat

• Quilting ruler: Helpful for squaring blocks, though not essential if you prefer to cut freely.

• Iron & ironing board: To press seams as you go, keeping blocks neat.

• Pins or clips: For holding pieces in place before stitching.
  

Who the Workshop is For

This session is perfect for anyone who wants to explore improvisation through strip piecing. It’s accessible to beginners with basic machine sewing knowledge, but also offers new perspectives for more experienced quilters. If you’re curious about colour, texture, and intuitive making, this is a space to experiment and develop your own dynamic quilt blocks.

About Your Teacher: Julius Arthur

Julius Arthur is a textile artist, designer, and author of Modern Quilting: A Contemporary Guide to Quilting by Hand. He founded House of Quinn in 2014 as a space for making, process, and exploration—where traditional craft techniques meet contemporary design.
Working across textiles, collage, and objects, Julius creates works rooted in materiality, memory, and form. He holds an MDes in Fashion Design and Business, with a background in textile and 3D design.

Copyright Notice

All House of Quinn workshops and materials are protected under copyright. The content shared—whether visual, verbal, written, or conceptual—is intended for personal use only. It may not be reproduced, taught, adapted, or used for commercial purposes without express written permission. By joining this workshop, you agree not to replicate or teach its content in any form.

©HouseofQuinn2025 All rights reserved.

After booking, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete a short registration form. Please make sure to fill this out to confirm your place and receive your Zoom link and workshop details.