Translate Photos Into Fabric Art

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Turn your favorite photographs into fabric works of art with this class from Leni Wiener. Using a still life photograph, work alongside Leni to break the picture into sections, make a pattern, and choose just the right fabrics for each of the sections and the background. Leni shows many of her own quilts and examples of why some fabrics work while others do not. Use her freezer paper method and see how your piece comes together like a puzzle with all the pieces fitting together. See options for constructing your project with or without batting. You can finish it as a quilt or as an art piece with her special pillowcase treatment that allows for easy turning once the stitching is complete. Leni shows how to use her technique with portraits and more complicated images also so you can select photographs you love and use them to make stunning art quilts of your own.

Course Curriculum

Translate Photos Into Fabric Art by Leni Levenson Wiener - 1 hr 34 min

Lesson 1. Class Introduction 0 Hours 3 Minutes00:03

Lesson 2. Selecting Your Photo and Fabrics 0 Hours 15 Minutes00:15

Lesson 3. Turning Your Pattern Into Fabric 0 Hours 17 Minutes00:17

Lesson 4. Completing the Quilt 0 Hours 28 Minutes00:28

Lesson 5. More Complex Images 0 Hours 13 Minutes00:13

Lesson 6. Portrait Quilts 0 Hours 13 Minutes00:13

Lesson 7. Building Your Stash 0 Hours 5 Minutes00:05

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Fabric

A selection of small cuts of fabric or fat quarters
Batting: low loft, traditional loft, or Warm & Natural® cotton
Backing fabric: The amount will depend on the quilt size.
Note: If you wish to use batting in your art quilt, cotton for the back is fine. If you prefer to have no batting, you will need cotton canvas so the art quilt is stable enough to hang properly. Cotton canvas, also called cotton duck, is available at most fabric stores.

Thread

Clear monofilament
Smoke monofilament
Bobbin wound with black
Bobbin wound with white

Pins & Needles

70 or 80 microtex or universal needles

Sewing Machine Foot

Darning foot

Cutting Tools

#6402 - Fabric scissors, large

Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect 7½” Scissors

The blades of Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect 7½” scissors are sharp to the very tip, with a soft grip handle and a plastic protective cover. One blade is micro-serrated and one is a regular blade which can be sharpened. The serrated blade pulls the fabric into the scissors rather than pushing it away like traditional scissors. Easy for right- or left-handed users in a great size for cutting single or multiple layers of fabric.

Member Price: $23.96

Members Save: $5.99

Regular Price: $29.95
#4419 - Fabric scissors, small

Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect 4″ Scissors

Karen has been using nothing but serrated edge scissors to cut her fabric for the past 25 years. This special blade pulls the fabric into the scissors rather than pushing it away like traditional scissors. Things you will like about these scissors…cushioned handle, easy for right or left hander to use, blades sharp to the very tip, serrated blade keeps fabric from fraying, light weight and comfortable. The 4″ size are great for detail cutting on curves and points.

Member Price: $15.96

Members Save: $3.99

Regular Price: $19.95
Paper scissors

Other Supplies

#4828 - Fabric glue

Sewline™ Fabric Glue Pen

Throw your pins aside! This clever glue stick contains a water-soluble blue glue that dries clear and is a quick, convenient way to hold fabrics for sewing. Great for quilting, applique work, hemming and general sewing. Once glued, the fabric pieces can be pulled apart if they need to be readjusted.

Member Price: $6.36

Members Save: $1.59

Regular Price: $7.95
Freezer paper
Iron
Light box or window
Mechanical pencil
Straight pins
Toothpicks
Tracing paper

Optional

#10261 - Rotary cutter

Purple Splash Rotary Cutter

Experience precision with pizzazz! Your creations aren’t boring, and your rotary cutter shouldn’t be either. That’s why Olfa introduced the new Splash rotary cutter. The vibrant purple handle is contoured for comfortable cutting, and integrated grooves at the head of the cutter help prevent finger slippage. The quick blade change feature means you simply slide the blade-lock down to release the old blade, load the new blade, and re-secure the blade-lock to begin cutting again. There is a blade cover for additional safety. It includes and fits a RB45 blade.

Member Price: $14.36

Members Save: $3.59

Regular Price: $17.95
#12083 - Cutting mat

Double-sided Cutting Mat

Double-sided, self-healing cutting mat is 22″x16″ on one side, 570×420 millimeters on the other. A high-quality, sturdy mat with proven long-lasting endurance.

● Five layers thick to protect rotary blades and workspace
● Multi-angled grid lines offer more creative cutting options
● Fabric and mat won’t slide during use
● Outside dimensions: 24″ x 18″
● Gridded area for measuring: 22″ x 16″

Member Price: $15.96

Members Save: $3.99

Regular Price: $19.95
#12082 - Ruler

6″ x 24″ Fabric Ruler

Large enough for all of your quilting needs, yet small enough to travel with you.

● 6″ x 24″
● 30, 45 and 60 degree lines
● Versatile front and back measurements
● Easy-to-read markings for accurate cutting.

Member Price: $16.76

Members Save: $4.19

Regular Price: $20.95
Foam core board
Binoculars

Instructor Gallery

Student Gallery

H J DRENNAN – March 20, 2017:

Great tutor and easy to follow. Inspired and more relaxed about having a go. Thank you.
Nancy Wilt – February 16, 2017:

I purchased Leni's book that she co-authored "Photo-Inspired Art Quilts: From Composition to Finished Piece (Create With Nancy)" by Leni Levenson Wiener (Author), Nancy Zieman (Author) which I highly recommend. Now I'm going to purchase her other books about thread painting and pictorial art quilts. I am new to quilting and just started to do hand applique but my main interests are painting and…

photography and how to turn my own images into quilts. I turned to this lesson to glimpse Leni's process. The 7 lessons were so succinct and efficient I watched them all immediately. If you are interested in the art part of fabric selection. color analysis such as understanding value and complimentary colors, and composition this is an exceptional guide. I think I've finally found a process and mentor as the creative part is forefront and the sewing part is the tool, more free form than painstakingly precise as some traditional structured approaches are. Thank you, Leni, for your generosity in putting together this presentation that I will watch many times once I start an actual project. Nancy Wilt

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Lori Boyter – November 30, 2016:

This is a great class. It has very comprehensive clear directions. It allows you to use inspiration from lots of different sources. You get so many good ideas it is hard to pick one to start!
Silvia Sarinana – September 25, 2016:

Leni is a master teacher! She makes difficult concepts easy to understand and her directions are clear and easy to follow. I learned a lot in this class, I highly recommend it to beginners and
advanced students. She has something for every one.
I hope she teaches more classes, specially one on quilting your work of art.
Kari Speckman – September 16, 2016:

I am just getting started with my project in this class. Leni has been wonderful! Her teaching is superb!
She created a couple options for me to choose from for my quilt and when I selected one she completed the pattern and emailed it to me.
I am all set to create, and cant wait to work on my quilt and will post as soon as it is done.
Thank you Leni!
Kari
Teri Green – September 14, 2016:

Excellent class. Very comprehensive instructions. Leni takes what appears to be a very difficult process and demonstrates how easy it can be. When you finish the video- you leave really believing that "I can do this too". Thanks Leni.
Alex Anderson – September 12, 2016:

Leni is a wonderful teacher with a gracious style. In this class she completely explains her process from beginning to end. Personally, I can't wait to play with her process. Congrats teacher - Job VERY well done!
Sharon Lily Selvey-willar – September 12, 2016:

I have waited a long time to take a class with Leni, being from the UK it's rather difficult. Iquilt has given me that great opportunity. This is an excellent class full of great tips and techniques and she makes them all fun and easy, really loved this class.
Angela McPherson – September 12, 2016:

I loved this class. I had already purchased Leni's book but the class really helped me understand how simple it is to make wall arts. Leni had many new techniques that I have already used and I made a copy of the fabric scale to take with me while I shop. Thank you Leni for the wonderful class.
C Lynch – September 11, 2016:

I have actually taken an all day workshop with Leni. This video class is just as comprehensive as if she was in the room with you. She goes into depth on many topics and I love hearing her thought process when it comes to choosing fabrics. The addition of alternate ways to finish a quilt was appreciated. The filming with close ups while sewing made it very clear. I would definitely recommend this …

class.

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Phyllis Vineberg – September 8, 2016:

Loved the course. Leni made the techniques seem so easy. Can't wait to attempt a fabric art piece from my photos.