November 2026: Allie McCathren: Word Quilts with Exhausted Octopus

We all have a voice, and something we want to express! Fabric and thread are excellent materials for self expression. So many of us have so many things to say, and channeling them into quilts can feel very cathartic. Typing and even writing something by hand is a relatively quick practice when compared to taking the time to stitch each letter in place. Keep in mind that if someone took the time and effort to say something with needle and thread, it must be quite important to them.

In this workshop, students will learn how to figure out what it is they’re wanting to say, and how to design a quilt that expresses that feeling. Allie will teach how to make letters using different techniques including foundation paper piecing and hand embroidery. Together we’ll learn about and play with tools we can use to express ourselves through fabric!

Allie is creating a Foundation Paper Pieced Alphabet for our use in this workshop. Photos demonstrate words in quilting but not necessarily the alphabet we will be using.