A Year of Embroidery, Creativity & Quilting
Join us for Sew Joyful: A Modern Baltimore Album, an exciting six-block embroidery and quilting adventure that puts a fresh, modern spin on the traditional Baltimore Album quilt! Throughout this program, you'll build your machine embroidery skills, explore new techniques, and bring beautiful, personality-filled quilt blocks to life.
Each block introduces new techniques, including appliqué, couching, cutwork, metallic threads, and more. Whether you're looking to expand your embroidery skills or take on a new creative challenge, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn, create, and connect with fellow embroidery enthusiasts.
And the best part? We're hosting an in-store quilt-along for every session at North Shore Quilting! We'll gather in our classroom to work on our blocks together, share tips, troubleshoot challenges, and enjoy the creative process as a group. You'll have the opportunity to learn alongside other stitchers and get help as you work through the embroidery and quilt-making process.
What We'll Explore
Our six-block journey will introduce a variety of embroidery techniques:
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Block 1: Thread Tangle – Get started with the course, prepare your supplies, and explore hoop options and embroidery basics.
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Block 2: Shining Seam Rippers – Experiment with stabilizers, Mylar embroidery, and additional stitch-out options.
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Block 3: Machine Love – Explore combining and editing designs at the machine, along with fill types and outlines.
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Block 4: Playful Pincushion – Learn appliqué and couching techniques.
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Block 5: Tumbling Thimbles – Discover cutwork, cutwork appliqué, and precut appliqué.
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Block 6: Sparkling Snips – Experiment with metallic and 12-weight threads, branching, and outline designs.
Choose Your Sew Joyful Experience
When registration opens, you'll have two enrollment options, depending on whether you'd like to purchase your project supplies with your course.
Option 1: Skill Hub Course
Includes access to the Sew Joyful online course through BERNINA Skill Hub, including the embroidery lessons, downloadable designs, instructions, and project resources.
Option 2: Skill Hub Course + Complete Project Supplies
Includes everything in the Skill Hub course, plus a complete fabric and thread supply package for your Sew Joyful quilt project. This option conveniently bundles your project materials so you can focus on creating!
Pricing, dates, kit details, and registration information will be announced soon.
A Bonus for Software Enthusiasts
Your Skill Hub course also includes bonus software tutorials for those interested in exploring embroidery digitizing and BERNINA V9 Software. These lessons offer an opportunity to discover how embroidery designs can be created and edited using software.
Please note that our in-store program will focus exclusively on embroidery and quilt making. Software instruction is not included in our classroom sessions or quilt-alongs. The software tutorials are an additional resource for you to explore independently at your own pace.
Machine Compatibility & Recommended Accessories
Sew Joyful is designed around BERNINA embroidery machines, and participants using compatible BERNINA and bernette machines are welcome.
Recommended hoop sizes:
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BERNINA 5 Series: Small Clamp Hoop or an equivalent hoop compatible with your machine.
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BERNINA 7 Series and up: Medium Clamp Hoop or an equivalent hoop compatible with your machine.
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bernette 79: The largest hoop available for your machine is recommended.
Some lessons require additional machine accessories, including the Free Motion Couching Foot #43C and the BERNINA Cutwork Tool. Other accessories may be needed for specific techniques as we progress through the blocks. We'll provide guidance to help you identify the accessories required for your machine.
Have an embroidery machine from another brand? The embroidery design files are available for other makes and models, so you may still be able to participate. However, accessory compatibility and availability vary by machine, and we cannot guarantee that the recommended accessories or techniques will be supported by every brand and model.
Don't have your own BERNINA machine? You can still join us! North Shore Quilting has BERNINA classroom machines available for participants to borrow during our in-store quilt-along sessions.
Is This Program Right for You?
Sew Joyful is a Level 2 embroidery program. Participants should already be comfortable with the basic operation of an embroidery machine and familiar with preparing and stitching embroidery designs.
We strongly encourage participants to have attended our Hoop Camp or participated in our Embroider on Everything program.
Not sure if your experience is a good fit? Give the shop a call! We're happy to chat about your embroidery experience and help you decide whether this program is right for you.
Dates & Pricing
Program dates and pricing are coming soon!
We're putting the finishing touches on the details and look forward to sharing registration information, supply-package details, and our in-store quilt-along schedule.
Get ready to learn new techniques, make new friends, and create a beautiful collection of embroidered blocks with us at North Shore Quilting. We can't wait to Sew Joyful with you!