Master Your Stripology Rulers with our certified Stripology instructor, Laura Boyd!
Saturday, December 14, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Additional dates: Saturday, January 11 and Saturday, February 8.
Master Your Stripology Rulers
Join Laura, our certified Stripology instructor, to learn how to use Stripology rulers to accurately and efficiently cut fabric into strips, squares, and rectangles, as well as master cutting 1/4” and 1/8” increments. During the first part of class, you will learn all the techniques and features of your Stripology rulers by making basic units like Half-Square Triangles, Quarter-Square Triangles, and Flying Geese the GEasy way. In the second part of class, you will put your new knowledge to use making a class project, the Back Home table topper/wall hanging, made with Flying Geese units. Once you have completed this class you will have the skills to Stripologize any project! Class details with full supply and fabric requirements here. Skill level: BeginnerLearn more and register here!
Place Based Mini Quilt with Leah Evans
Saturday, January 18, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Create a small-scale (3"-5") landscape or map quilt using a variety of techniques in this class with Leah Evans. Leah will introduce her personal style of reverse appliqué and cater it to different experience levels. Fabric and color selection, repurposing, composition, and hand stitching will also be addressed. Come with ideas or memories of places that have moved you, but more importantly come with a desire to experiment and have fun!
Inspiration suggestions from Leah: "You could definitely consider beforehand what you might want to make. Bringing an image is great. It is also fine to come up with a fantasy landscape or a completely made-up map on the spot. Or you could work from a memory as I do. You could choose to recreate a landscape drawing that your kid did. It can be as simple or complicated as you want. How ever you choose to interpret your map or landscape is great!" Skill level: Intermediate / Advanced Beginner.
Supplied by Leah: scraps to supplement student’s own fabric; a variety of scissors to borrow and test; batting; rulers; fusible; books on hand stitching to share.
Learn more and register here!
Beginning Quiltmaking with Rebecca classes for 2025 are now open!
Learn every step of the quilt-making process in this class designed for beginning sewists. The class project is an alternating 4-patch and plain block quilt with two borders and the pattern is included in the class fee. You will learn fabric selection, cutting, piecing, pressing, borders, basting, quilting, trimming, and binding. After taking this class you'll be ready to make any number of quilt projects. There's nothing like a handmade quilt - now you can make your own! Supply list and details here.
Wednesday evenings, 6-sessions January 8, 15, 22, 29 & February 5, 12 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday evenings, 6-sessions January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25 & March 4 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Sunday afternoons, 6-sessions February 16, 23 & March 2, 9, 16, 23 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday evenings, 6-sessions March 18, 25 & April 1, 8, 15, 22 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday evenings, 6-sessions April 16, 23, 30 & May 7, 14, 21 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Building Blocks classes with Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts
Building Blocks: Flying Geese
February 27, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
In this class, you will learn to create flying geese using 3 different methods: stitch & flip, traditional, and no-waste (4-At-A-Time). We will make flying geese in two different sizes 2" x 4" (2" x 4" unfinished) and 4" x 8" (4" x 8" unfinished) which can be used to make a mini quilt. Learn more and register here
Building Blocks: Stars Table Runner
February 20, 2025, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Star blocks are popular in quilt making - let's jump in and fearlessly learn three versatile blocks to up your piecing and design game. In this class, we will focus on star blocks that are made with half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles, and flying geese. These basic block units can be used to make a wide variety of different star blocks. In class, we’ll make the Ribbon Star, Ohio Star, and Sawtooth Star blocks which can then be joined into a 12" x 48" table runner. Learn more and register here.
Building Blocks: Half-Square Triangles
January 21, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
The half-square triangle is a versatile quilt block that every quilter should master. In this hands-on class, we will make half-square triangles using 3 different methods. Along the way, you’ll understand the pros and cons of each method, troubleshoot common piecing issues, and learn math to customize half-square triangles to any size. Half-Square Triangle Methods: Two-At-A-Time Method, Four-At-A-Time Method, and Eight-At-A-Time Method. Learn more and register here.
New 10th Anniversary Cherrywood Challenge - ABYSS
What ideas lurk in the depths of your creativity? Take the Abyss Challenge with Cherrywood Hand-Dyed Fabrics! Create a 20" x 20" art quilt of your own design using the limited palette of the Abyss Bundle. Shop the FQ Bundle, 1/2 YD Bundle and the Abyss Aurifloss Thread Collection
Direct to Fabric Digital Printing
Email your high-resolution photo, image, or text files (JPG, PNG, TIFF, PDF & DOCX are the best usable file extensions) ahead of time with the subject line “digital prints” to bluebarquiltsinc@gmail.com and include your name and phone number. We cannot print copyrighted images or artwork that does not belong to you. PDF files cannot be edited, if one is sent it will printed as received.- The price per print is $8.99
- The maximum image printout size is 11.7” x 8.3” and your image can likely be increased to fit this dimension. If there is a chance of distortion with a size increase we will print the file as it was received. If your print needs to be a specific, precise dimension you must provide the file as you would like it printed.
- Images will be printed on a 12”x 14” piece of PFD (prepared for dyeing) white quilting cotton.
- Please allow up to a week for the fulfillment of your order of 3 prints or less, an order of more than 3 prints could take longer.
Sewing Machine Service
Our service technician, Ginny, is accepting machines for service. We take all JUKI sewing machines and sergers, and any machines of other brands that are beyond the manufacturer's warranty. Bring your machine to the shop for service; the current wait time is within 30 days. Service times may increase if repairs and/or replacement parts are needed. Email Ginny at machineservice@bluebarquilts.com if you have questions and visit our service page.
Sharpening Services
Sharpening Services from 5th Dimension are now available weekly at Blue Bar Quilts.
- Drop off your scissors (or knives) at the shop by Monday and they will be returned the following Monday.
- Fill out a form providing your contact information; name, email address & phone number.
- No limit on how many items to be sharpened, bring as many as you would like.
- You will know your sharpened items are ready to be picked up once you receive an e-invoice from 5th Dimension for service.
- Any questions regarding sharpening services & invoicing should be made directly to Chessie of 5th Dimension: 5thDimensionknives@gmail.com or (608) 554-4203.
- Any blades that cannot be repaired will be returned with explanation and without a charge.
Pricing:- Scissors & Pinking Shears - $15 each regardless of length
- Knives - $1.50 per inch
Rent our Classroom!
Rent our Classroom for a sew day, event or gathering!
Rental charge is $25 per hour; please check our online calendar for availability - if nothing is scheduled for that day the classroom is available, please email Gael at bluebarquilts@gmail.com to request. Limited evening hours available.
Amenities include: irons, ironing boards, cutting mats & basic acrylic rulers, twelve 6’ tables, 20 rolling office chairs, 75” smart TV, 100” square quilt design wall.
Blue Bar Quilts is a Modern Quilting Community located in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Our focus is on modern quilters and makers and the fabrics they love. We stock designer fabric collections and fabric basics from Andover Fabrics, Art Gallery Fabrics, Blank Quilting, Charley Harper, Camelot, Clothworks, Dashwood Studio, Fableism, FIGO, Free Spirit, Island Batik, Michael Miller, Moda Fabrics, M&S Textiles, P&B Fabrics, Robert Kaufman, Ruby Star Society, Shannon Fabrics, Stof Fabrics, Studio E, Tilda, Windham Fabrics, and more.
We are a JUKI QVP dealer and stock a full line of JUKI sewing machines, sergers and long arm quilting machines, the Tajima Sai embroidery machine, and the Ricoh Ri 100 direct to fabric digital printer. Come into the shop to see our selection or call to schedule a demo.
Our quilt shop offers classes in quilting and sewing projects and techniques, both hand sewing and sewing machine, and often including other fiber arts crafts and surface design techniques. Our shop takes pride in featuring local Wisconsin pattern designers. Some of our favorites are Abby Maed, Indie Hipster Quilts, JD’s Custom Quilts, Persimon Dreams, Purple Pineapple Studio, Sew Hungry Hippie, and Studio R Quilts.
We believe in giving back to our community through service. Blue Bar Quilts is a donation drop-off location for Project Linus, for finished quilts and blankets, and Ryan's Case for Smiles pillowcase donations. We host a monthly sew day for Boomerang Bags Dane County and Mad City Quilt Guild Community Service Committee. We are an in-kind sponsor of the annual online GSAFE Quilts & Fiber Arts Auction that takes place in late November. Check our online calendar for other community events and sew days.
Two Madison-area guilds meet at our shop, Madison Modern Quilt Guild and Madison Contemporary Fiber Artists. For more information on these groups please visit their websites or social media profiles.
Blue Bar Quilts is a welcoming Modern Quilting Community – We invite anyone with an interest in quilting, sewing, and creating to join us!
Your Full Service Quilt Shop
From custom kits for any pattern (yours or ours!), to sourcing and ordering specialty notions and tools, to cutting fat quarters at your request, we're your full-service quilt shop!
An Aviary of Affection
I was honored and surprised to receive this amazing quilt and pillow, made by members of the Blue Bar community. Titled "An Aviary of Affection", it couldn't have been a more perfect gift for me, full of birds and incredible collaborative artistry, two of my favorite things. I thank the makers for this quilt, but most of all for sustaining and nurturing the community that they have built in and around Blue Bar. My love to you all! 💙💛❤️