Classes and Lectures
Hiya! Thanks for checking this page out! If you are here, I’m probably assuming you are curious about what I teach.
I teach a range of classes/lectures designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced students alike. Some classes are designed for 5-weeks, others are one day intensives.
While I love to travel and teach in person, I recognize that is not always a feasible option for everyone. So, I teach both online and in-person. And every class can be customized to you or your organization’s individual needs. I also will do private instruction upon request.
Simply send me a message by clicking on the button below and we can discuss!
Workshops
Canadian Smocking (3 hour workshop)
Discover the fabric manipulation technique of Canadian smocking to create dimensional, textured surfaces. Students will learn to fold, stitch, and gather fabric into sculptural patterns that can be integrated into quilts, garments, or standalone art pieces.
Sculptural Embroidery/Thread Weaving (3 hour workshop)
Dive into the technique of sculptural thread weaving using free-motion stitching on water-soluble stabilizer. Students will learn to stitch intricate designs directly onto stabilizer, then dissolve it to reveal delicate, floating threads. While wet, the threads can be sculpted into three-dimensional forms, or allowed to dry and trimmed into shapes for quilt embellishment. This hands-on workshop emphasizes technique familiarization, texture exploration, and creative surface design.
NOTE: This is a technique-based class, designed to let students explore and dip their toes into surface design and art quilting.
Color Conversations: Working with Printed Fabrics (3 hour workshop)
Printed fabrics can be tricky. Why do some combinations look perfect while others fall flat? Take the guesswork out of using printed fabrics. Through guided exercises, you’ll learn how to understand value, identify dominant colors, and use scale and contrast to create successful fabric combinations. This beginner-friendly class gives you clear, usable strategies for working with prints in your quilts.
NOTE: This is a knowledge-based class, designed to let students explore and dip their toes into surface design and art quilting, beyond basic color theory.
Introduction to Free Motion on a Domestic Machine (3 hour workshop)
Learn to quilt creative designs without the need for a longarm machine. Explore the fundamentals of free-motion quilting, including practice exercise to help you build muscle memory in preparation to do free-motion. Practice techniques such as stippling, loop-de-loops, and geometric patterns. Gain confidence learning to control the fabric’s movement under the needle to create smooth, even stitches and consistent designs. Leave with the skills to confidently tackle free-motion domestic machine quilting projects on your own. Appropriate for beginning and experienced quilters alike! Appropriate for beginning and experienced quilters alike! Please bring a small project (12.5 x 12.5”- 30” x 40”) where the quilt sandwich is already basted and ready for quilting.
Lectures
Trunk Show and Personal Journey (45-60 Minute Lecture)
From growing up as an artsy kid to military service and using quilting as a way to deal with PTSD to getting into art school and teaching, this lecture dives into my personal journey with quilting and my current artistic practice. See early quilts that show ALL the errors to current large fiber installation art projects that are heavily influenced by the workmanship and craft that is quilting. This lecture bares it all and is designed to inspire others who may be struggling in their own way.
Designing Modern Quilts from Orphan Blocks (3 hour workshop)
Got an extra block or two left over from another project? Don’t get rid of it!
Turn your leftover quilt blocks into a cohesive, modern quilt design. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore layout, color, and composition strategies using simple sketching and paper techniques. No sewing required. Leave with a clear plan for transforming your orphan blocks into a finished quilt top.
Kawandi (3 hour, Multi-day workshop OR 6 hour, One Day Workshop)
This style of quilting is the ultimate stash-buster. Kawandi is a style of quilting that originated from the Siddi community - descendants of African slaves - to the western region of India. This hand-stitched quilt is made using scraps of fabric and, unlike Western Quilting, is assembled from the outside in using a basic running stitch. This is an improvisational, get-it-done, use-what-you-have style of quilting.
In two 3-hour hand quilting classes, you will learn how to create a Kawandi quilt and experiment in improvisational design using fabric scraps to make a placemat-sized quilt. This class is great for anyone who wants to dive in to the unique process of Kawandi-style hand quilting. No quilting or sewing experience is necessary. This class is beginner-friendly and welcomes all skill levels.
Quilting Around the World (45-60 Minute Lecture)
This broadly focused lecture explores and exposes quilting from various cultures around the world. How did quilting came to these different cultures? How these cultures made quilting their own? We’ll discuss the historical purpose of quilting and some of the earliest quilts still around, as well as the various cultural beliefs that influence unique and distinct cultural styles will also be discussed.
5 Week Classes
Is your arts or cultural organization interested in offering beginner sewing but don’t know how to get started? These 5-week classes are for you!
Introduction to Machine Quilting (5 Week Class)
Use your sewing skills to create your own quilt! Quilting is not only a creative art form, but a practical craft with rich traditions from around the world. Learn to utilize the tools and techniques specific to quilting; from specialized uses of a sewing machine to quilt math. Learn to plan a quilt, create patchwork, and connect layers with quilt stitches. Explore traditional quilting from various cultures and how it can inform contemporary practice. This course is ideal for beginners with little to no quilting experience.
Prerequisite: Basic hand- and machine-sewing skills.
Sewing: an Introduction (5 Week Class)
In this class, students will learn foundational sewing skills. Practice the basics of hand sewing and the essentials of using (and maintaining) a sewing machine. Learn the basic seven stitches needed to connect fabric pieces and hem edges: basting, running, back, slip, hem, catch, and blanket. Explore the basics of embroidery and appliqué. Use simple sewing techniques to create projects like patches, napkins, and tote bags. This course is ideal for beginners with no formal sewing experience.
Here’s what previous students had to say:
“[Karen] is very organized, clear, and thoughtful in her presentation and in how she navigates with the students. I really like her bringing up things like using scraps and thrifting for fabric. And showing us examples of various ways a technique can be used from her own collection or from the quilting around the world has been very inspiring and helpful.”
-Nancy T
Intro To Quilting
Mrs. Middleton is an excellent instructor: Organized, knowledgeable, and patient with every question asked. I really enjoyed her class and learning about the history of embroidery, technical terminology (the lingo) and embroidery stitches I did not know how to do, but now I do. I commend our instructor for all her hard work. Teaching online is harder and more time consuming (class prep and delivery) than in person. Karen went out of her way to buy an extra camera to assist her in the class.
-Jackie P
Intro To Sewing
Thank you, Karen! I wish you were teaching the other level classes. I admired your nerdiness for art history. It kept me engaged and excited…With the online classes, I could spend more time at home getting myself together first. Overall you did great. Very patient, very mindful, very demure!
-Claire H
Intro To Quilting & Intro To Sewing