Finish those quilts with these Quilt Techniques classes!
Monday, November 18, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Quilt Techniques: Double-Fold Binding
Double fold binding is the most common binding technique used by quilters. In this class, you’ll learn how to make continuous binding and attach it with your sewing machine. Along the way, you’ll discover helpful tips and tricks to help you perfect your corners and easily join the binding ends. This is a great class for those looking to improve their quilt binding skills. Skill level: Beginner.
**Students will be provided with a quilted sandwich (top/batting/backing) in class to use for practice.** Supply list and registration here
Tuesday, December 17, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Quilt Techniques: Alternative Quilt Finishes
Looking for new alternatives for finishing your quilts? In this class, you’ll learn 3 new methods for finishing a quilt, including:
- Facing which gives your quilt a clean, crisp edge by finishing the raw edges instead of binding. Facing gives a nice finished edge without visible binding on the front while providing a neatly finished back.
- Knife Edge Finish which uses the excess fabric from the top and back of the quilt to create a clean tailored finish on your quilt. This look is common with antique and modern quilts.
- -Prairie Points- which add texture and dimension to your quilt. These folded triangles can be made in many sizes and are a fun way to embellish a quilt edge.
T-Shirt Quilt 2.0: Layout, Assembly & Quilting with Maday Delgado!
Sunday, November 10, 10:00am- 12:30pm
This class will focus on next steps, wherever you are at in the creation of your T-shirt quilt. Maday will help you with layout and assembly as well as getting you started on layering and straight line machine quilting. T-shirts are a wearable memento and functional art. Making a t-shirt quilt is a wonderful way to preserve memories for yourself or a loved one. Maday has made countless t-shirt quilts for others since 2013 and will share her tips, tricks and design secrets for a fantastic finished piece. Skill level: Adventurous beginner, sewing skills required. Supply list and details here.
Building Blocks classes with Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts
Building Blocks: Flying Geese
December 8, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
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
November 10, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
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.
Butterfly Fields Block of the Month with Trisha Urben
Virtual options remain for this monthly 9-session evening BOM series. Beginning November 11, 2024
Full list of dates: Nov 11, Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 10, Mar 10, Apr 14, May 12, Jun 9, and Jul 14.
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.
Blue Bar Quilts JUKI Club
Hosted by Trisha UrbenPurchase a JUKI machine from Blue Bar Quilts and gain exclusive access to the Blue Bar Quilts JUKI Club! All future meetings will be posted in our private Facebook group.
If you have purchased a JUKI machine at the shop, visit our Blue Bar Quilts Facebook page and like and follow. Direct message us and we will then invite you to join the group where we will share JUKI news, tips & tricks, and answer your JUKI machine questions. Members are encouraged to share their own JUKI makes, news, and knowledge! For non-Facebook users, please email bluebarquiltsinc@gmail.com and we will add you to our contact list so you can get notifications and news via email.
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 Alexander Henry, 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! 💙💛❤️
A note from Gael:
We are so thankful for your continued business. This international health crisis is going to be a rough patch for so many small businesses and that worries me for all of us in that boat. On the other hand, it has heartened me to see how local communities have rallied in support of their friends and neighbors. May we all remain united in the face of adversity and come through this healthy and happy.