LECTURES
Out-of-town lectures by Weeks or Bill are $700 per day plus travel expenses. Lectures within 50 miles of our studio are $400 plus travel. These lectures can be delivered alone or combined with a trunk show of our work for no additional fee. Facility equipment needed: Slide screen and tables for displaying quilts. We will bring our own computer and digital projector. The duration of our lectures is generally between 60–90 minutes depending on your needs.

You can download a compressed folder containing a list of all the classes below along with print-quality images and a sample contract here. Once downloaded, simply double click on the file and it will open into a folder.

Transforming Traditions: Modernism and Quilts
Early American quilts were born of necessity but have been transformed into a vibrant contemporary art form. We trace this transformation as it parallels changes in art, architecture, design and society. We will show how our quilts are expressive of the era in which we live.

Color in a Supporting Role 
Using examples of our own work as well as slides of art, sculpture, architecture, garden design, and product and package design, we will explain the role of color in design. We will show how great quilts, ranging from traditional to contemporary, use color to support a "Big Idea" or design intention.

Quilts Made Modern
What makes a quilt modern? Using examples from our book Quilts Made Modern as well as other quilts, learn what makes a quilt modern and how you might include modern techniques and design approaches in your next project.

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WORKSHOPS
Workshops are $800 a day for one 6-hour or two 3-hour classes by either Weeks or Bill. A single 3-hour workshop is $400. Travel and lodging expenses are additional.

The Role of Color in Your Quilts 
We will look at a variety of quilts as well as analyze art, sculpture, architecture, gardens, and images of daily life for inspiration to better understand the role of color in design. Using individual and group color explorations you will learn analytical tools needed to use color with confidence. You will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the role of color in your quilts and with a renewed excitement about making quilts.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, a wide assortment of cotton quilting fabric (bring fabrics you love to work with as well as others that have proved challenging to work with), extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students
• Note: This class is also available as a six-hour class and can be a no-sew workshop

Breathe New Life into Your UFOs
We all have them—projects that got away from us. Halfway through it we knew something wasn't working or we ran out of a key fabric and gave up. Now there's a half-done project we're no longer in love with but aren't sure how to fix. Learn what went wrong and how to redesign your project. Orphaned blocks, partially appliqued pieces, you name it; we'll help you transform them into a quilt you'll love.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, at least one unfinished project, a wide assortment of cotton quilting fabric, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

How Should I Quilt This?
Regardless of whether you do your own quilting or hire someone to do it for you, deciding how to quilt a quilt perplexes many quilters. Learn how different approaches to quilting can bring out the best in your work. Students will leave with a variety of quilted samples that will be useful for quilting future quilts.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, assorted fabric or leftover blocks for sample quilting, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Quilting the Modern Quilt
Modern quilts present unique challenges for quilting. Whether it's figuring out how to quilt a large expanse of negative space or how to choose the best thread for quilting a quilt made entirely of solids, learn how to choose the best quilting pattern and thread for your modern quilt. Students will leave with a variety of quilted samples that will be useful for quilting future quilts.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, assorted fabric sample quilting, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Piecing Curves
Learn to design and draft templates, cut precisely, and sew inset curves. You will conquer curves using our original Eclipse design (the pattern will be provided) to make either a wall hanging or a napping quilt. Using your own fabrics, you can learn about value and create a unique variation of our Eclipse quilt.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of cotton quilting fabric with different values and hues (small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints and solids work well. Avoid large-scale fabrics), extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting..
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Fabric Smackdown
You'll learn to analyze and understand fabrics then apply what you've learned to create palettes for future projects. Learn how a variety of illustration styles, scales and patterns in fabric make for a more interesting quilt while expanding the range of fabrics you can use with confidence.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, a wide assortment of cotton quilting fabrics from tone-on-tones, solids, plaids, batiks and hand-dyes to large-scale prints. Also bring fabrics that you love but have perplexed you.
• Facility equipment needed: Tables and chairs
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students
• Note: This class can be a no-sew workshop

The Role of Color in Your Quilts
We will look at a variety of quilts as well as analyze art, sculpture, architecture, gardens, and images of daily life for inspiration and to better understand the role of color in design. Using individual and group color explorations you will learn analytical tools needed to use color with confidence. You will leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of the role of color in your quilts and with a renewed excitement about making quilts. Participant will also begin a color portrait during the second half of the class.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, a wide assortment of cotton quilting fabric (bring fabrics you love to work with as well as others that have proved challenging to work with), extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students
• Note: This class is also available as a three-hour class and can be tailored as a no-sew workshop

Transparency Quilts
Based on our Transparency Quilts book, this workshop will guide you through explorations to help you develop color confidence in achieving transparency in your quilts. This class can be set up as a lecture and series of explorations or we can work on a project as well, depending on the interests of your group.

• Student supplies: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, a wide assortment of solid or tone-on-tone cotton quilting fabrics, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Understanding Value and Piecing Curves
Learn to design and draft templates, cut precisely, and sew inset curves. You will conquer curves using our original Eclipse design (the pattern will be provided) to make either a wall hanging or a napping quilt. Using your own fabrics, you will learn about value and create a unique variation of our Eclipse quilt.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of cotton quilting fabric with different values and hues (small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints and solids work well. Avoid large-scale fabrics), extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Improvisational Piecing
Learn different techniques for improvisational piecing and choose one to develop a new project. We'll guide you through a strategy that will have you making design decisions as you go. Students can begin making our Call Me Crazy or Just Passing Through quilt or a project of their choice if they already have something in mind.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of cotton quilting fabric with different values and hues (small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints and solids work well. Avoid large-scale fabrics), extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• If students wish to make the Call Me Crazy quilt with their own fabrics, they will need 2 3/4 yards white or other field fabric, 2 1/2 yards total assorted blue (or other color) fabrics and 3/4 yards binding fabric. The pattern will be available for $10 in class.
• If students wish to make the Just Passing Through quilt with their own fabrics, they will need 3 3/4 yards solid field fabric and a 1/2 yards contrasting solid fabric for the splicing and binding fabric. The pattern is in issue #4 of Modern Quilts Illustrated and will be available for $14 in class.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Kaleidoscopes Simplified
Learn how to use bilaterally symmetrical fabrics to create simple, yet visually stunning quilts. We'll also show you how to inset circles into our Gamelan quilt and choose the appropriate field.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of bilaterally-symmetrical cotton quilting prints, small-scale prints and tone-on-tone prints for use as field fabrics, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Solids Revolution
Piecing with solids offers new design opportunities for quilters but develop custom palettes. However, quilting becomes more obvious with solids than with prints so this class is unique in that it discusses both various methods for piecing with solids but also how to develop the best strategies for quilting with them.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, a wide assortment of solid cotton quilting fabrics, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Working with Large-Scale Prints
Many quilters love large-scale prints but find it challenging to combine them effectively with other prints. Students will learn the design concepts behind using large-scale prints and how to show them off to their best advantage. Students will begin making our Follow the Leader quilt or a project of their choice if they already have something in mind.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of large-scale cotton quilting prints as well as a variety of small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints and solids, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• If students wish to make the Follow the Leader quilt with their own fabrics, they will need 2 1/2 yards off-white or other field fabric, 1 yard tan or other fabric for links & binding and a 1/4 yard cut or one Fat Quarter each of 10 prints. The pattern is in Modern Quilts Illustrated #3 which will be available for $14 in class.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

Rediscovering Your Stash
Gain color confidence and plan creative ways to use your stash in one day! Mix a big dose of color theory with an in-depth discussion of combining patterns and a pinch of working with large-scale fabrics and you'll end up with a plan for projects that you want to make from the fabrics you already have. In addition, you'll have consultations about how to freshen up your stash while learning fabrics that you love but find perplexing. You'll see new possibilities for working with your stash and leave the workshop with beautiful palettes and plans for your next few projects. Bring patterns you love and fabrics you'd like to use or are unsure how to use and you'll be amazed at how you'll be able to pull it all together.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of cotton quilting fabric with different values and hues including small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints, solids, batiks, large-scale fabrics and whatever you love or find challenging, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Adventurous beginner to advanced
• Size limit: 25 students

From Idea to Quilt
You have an idea for an original quilt but you need to figure out the details. What size are the pieces? Does the palette need some work? How are you going to quilt it? How would different binding fabrics change the look of the final quilt? This class is designed to coach you through the process of making an original quilt. Come with the desire to try new colors, techniques and textures. Bring a sketchbook and ideas.

• Student supplies needed: sewing machine, rotary cutting equipment, an assortment of cotton quilting fabric with different values and hues including small-scale prints, tone-on-tone prints, solids, batiks, large-scale fabrics and whatever you love or find challenging, extension cord, thread, seam ripper, notebook or journal, and any supplies you like to have handy when quilting.
• Facility equipment needed: Slide screen (we will bring a computer and digital projector), tables and chairs for cutting and sewing
• Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
• Size limit: 20 students
• Recommended duration: 2–5 days

INSTRUCTORS
Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr are co-founders of Modern Quilt Studio (previously FunQuilts). Weeks and Bill wrote the first book on modern quilting, The Modern Quilt Workshop, as well as Quiltmaker's Color Workshop, Quilts Made Modern and Transparency Quilts. Their book A Kid's Guide to Sewing, written with their daughter, will be released in August 2013.

In 2011 they launched Modern Quilts Illustrated, the first magazine exclusively dedicated to modern quilting. Their work has appeared in American Patchwork & Quilting, Quilts Japan, Australian Quilter's Companion, Dwell, O:The Oprah Magazine, TIME, The New York Times, and Country Living.

Bill and Weeks design several lines a year for Andover Fabrics. Weeks teaches the Craftsy course, Designing Modern Quilts and writes the blog Craft Nectar. Bill is also head of the Department of Art, Art History and Graphic Design at Dominican University in River Forest, IL.