The Fear-Less
Quilt Maker

Share your story in cloth!
A Journey into Improv Quilting for Creative Souls

Create your story today ➛
Hands sewing a patchwork quilt with fabric squares in shades of blue, beige, and brown, on a white surface with pink ranunculus flowers and a spool of light blue thread nearby.

Once upon a time I looked at blogs sharing quilt patterns and felt scared that I wouldn't be able to make the perfect 1/4" seam allowances they were talking about. So - I stopped myself from making a quilt! 

 One day I realised that this limiting thought meant I wasn't making the usable huggable textile heirlooms I wanted to make. In all my other creative work I just do the thing. Why not with my quilting? 

 That's when I started my first Fear-Less Quilt. I had the fear, but I allowed courage to be my guide to make the wonky, imperfect "this is me" quilt! 

 I'm excited to be able to share this with you too.

Improvisational quilt pinks orange and naturally dyed linen with floral fabric, held up high, with trees in the background

Are you worried about making quilting mistakes?

I once was too!

But I decided to embrace my inner wonky way of working, and do away with the idea of perfection I was being held back by, and doing the work anyway!

Since then, the quilts I’ve made are works of art, expressing my own story in textiles.

I will give you the skills, but more importantly the courage, to create a quilt.

Textile art project with various fabrics, embroidery, lace, needles, thread, scissors, and a wooden spool on a light-colored cloth background.

Let me share how you'll feel when you finally make that quilt!

You’ll learn how to:

  • Work with colour and pattern to discover your own visual voice. 

  • Overcome any barriers - so you can sew this quilt, and embrace the beautiful piece of art that you'll make!

  • Make gifts for loved ones that become family heirlooms. 

  • Create a quilt that speaks of your own story and not a cookie-cutter pattern. 

  •  Learn the joy of playing with your materials, having conversations with your fabric, and seeing where to process evolves.

Share your story in cloth!

Learn how to embrace your inner creativity with this quilt course that will be unlike any you’ve ever done.

Join today for only $149Aust

Converts to approx. $97US, £73UK

YES! I want to make a quilt ➛
Improvisational quilt pinks orange and naturally dyed linen with floral fabric, held up high, with trees in the background

Of course this is not just about quilting…

The slow mindful process of Improv quilting allows you to connect with an inner quiet that is often missing in today’s fast-paced world.

My way of working with process over perfection means that you’ll be able to see the quilt evolve under your hands and the story to come to life as you continue the conversation with your fabric.

Which is why I’m so pleased to introduce my favourite and most beloved course

The Fear-Less Quilt Maker

Learn how to quilt beyond the edges, lean into your own creativity, and stop feeling the fear of not being quite good enough.

Collection of digital devices and fabric craft materials, including a computer, tablet, and phone displaying videos and photos of quilting projects and sewing supplies.

Lovely words

Ellie’s class is absolutely fabulous! It introduced me to new techniques with videos showing her thought process. She walks you through many different processes. The videos and instructions are clear and easy to watch, and incorporate into your current style. She is very generous with her knowledge and I highly recommend this class for anyone looking to begin or expand their knowledge of improve quilting.

- Cindy

A large quilt made from various fabric scraps in neutral and pastel shades hanging on a white wall.
Close-up of a patchwork quilt with various fabric squares in shades of beige, tan, blue, and white, some with textured patterns and stitching.

Share your story in cloth!
Learn how to embrace your inner creativity with this quilt course that will be unlike any you’ve ever done.

Over 6 hours of videos in small bite-size segments, with written instructions. Shared in a casual way as if you’re sitting right beside me, with a cup of tea and conversation.

Close-up of a quilt with geometric green and white patterns, pin fixed on the bottom right corner.
A pile of folded, rustic, multi-colored, textured cotton or linen fabrics with visible hand-stitched details, resting on grass.
A quilt with various patches including floral, plain, and embroidered pieces, hanging outdoors in a wooded area with tall pine trees and sunlight filtering through.
A collection of sewing supplies and fabrics, including spools of thread, embroidery floss, sewing scissors, needles, and fabric pieces in neutral and pastel shades, arranged on a textured surface.

“I absolutely love this class! You are such a joy to watch and listen to. I’ve had lots of years of sewing and embroidery experience, but still enjoy learning from others. Thank you so much for making these classes to share with others.”

Debbie

“Thank you for the wonderful refreshing inspiration. At this time it is just what I needed to help me feel calm, yet inspired and motivated.  I love the imperfections and style of your art.  I am a watercolor artist and love the imperfections, random, abstract, uncontrolled marks, much like the fabrics dyed and wrinkled and imperfectly creating a look all of its own, that I want to touch!

 It makes me smile inside and out.

The segments were just long enough, and contained digestible bits, that focused on a specific aspect. I hope you will continue to share your unique style of art in the same manner. I found myself reviewing and enjoying the segment while I waited for the next one.

Thank you again”

Faye

What tools and materials will I need for this course?

  • My quilts are made primarily with fabric scraps from my supplies stash, my experiments in my natural dye studio as well as second-hand clothes. Small scraps of fabric are great to use as well.

  • It’s hard to say exactly how much, as each quilt is a different size or shape.
    You will probably need at least a giant pile
    enough fabric to use as a backing for the quilt; this might be an old bed sheet or similar.

  • NEEDLES in various sizes. The size depends on what fabric or threads you’re using. I often use Sashiko needles as I use thicker fabrics, but embroidery needles are great too. I say use what you have, experiment, see what works.

    PINS - glass headed and fine sharp point are good. As well as safety pins for basting your quilt. You can get special quilt pins which are slightly curved, but regular safety pins are ok too.

    THREADS Again this depends on the fabric that you’re using and the process with which your quilting / stitching. Read my blog post here for what I like using.

    Tape measure and scissors (sewing + embroidery).

  • No, not at all. If you have one and know how to use it, then please do for the piecing process. But I have made whole quilts that are fully hand stitched, as have many of my students.

    I show how to make a quilt both ways.

  • It’s called wadding or padding, and you can (probably) buy it from your local craft or sewing shop. Big box sewing shops will definitely have it, but I hope you’ll try your local place first.
    You can find synthetic, cotton, wool, bamboo, as well as blends of these. They come in different weights (thicknesses) and what you chose will depend on how warm you want the quilt.

  • THIMBLES really help a lot with the quilting process. I suggest you try out some different ones and see what you like best. But I’ve found that a harder plastic on my ring finger (the orange one in the pic) and a soft plastic on my thumb. Some people like using a traditional metal thimble, some like using a leather one.
    BINDING CLIPS are also super helpful (those red clips in the pic). These are used for holding the binding in place.

A sewing project workspace with a quilt, sewing pins, a spool of white thread, sewing scissors, pink and orange thread holders, a piece of fabric, and a pincushion on a white surface.

Lovely words

I look back on the (fearless quilt) workshop I did with you,
and it is really the best one I have been to.

- Alison

Ready to join me?

add some mindful making to your life

enrol now

$149AU

  • Over 6 hours of videos presented into bite-sized segments

  • Step-by-step how to make a quilt from start-to-finish

  • Traditional quilt blocks, so you can then make them your own

  • Quilting stitches & slow stitching process

  • Bonus of watching along while I create my own quilts

  • On-demand and lifetime access to the whole course

start today →
A table covered with a white cloth, with various art supplies and decorative items. There is a hand holding a light blue cloth with fringed edges, a sketch of colorful flowers on paper, a cup of coffee, dried branches with red berries, a small blue vase with dried leaves, and a ceramic leaf-shaped dish.

The slow mindful process of Improv quilting allows you to connect with an inner quiet, that is often missing in today’s fast-paced world.

My way of working with process over perfection means that you’ll be able to see the quilt evolve under your hands and the story to evolve as you continue the conversation with your fabric.

Hi, I’m Ellie

I’m a textile artist & maker, a creativity coach, web-designer & mentor, a writer, photographer & soul-sharer.

I have online courses, in-person workshops and 1-to-1 sessions

Are you ready to delve into the gentle, good, slow work of making, creating and sharing?

Let’s make a pot of tea and share our stories together.

Close-up of a quilt with green and white geometric patterns, some pinned and stitched.
Smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a navy polka dot blouse, a statement necklace, and multiple bangles, standing with hands in pockets against a black background.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • This is an online course with immediate and life-time access. You can watch the videos as many times as you like, whenever you like.

    The course is housed on my special online course site, Teachable. Upon purchase you’ll receive links to create your own account.

    Teachable can be viewed on your desktop as well as via their app (alas, not for android)

  • You’ll get lifetime access to all my courses, and can watch them whenever you want. This is an on-demand video course.

  • The course is available for immediate access, and you can watch the videos whenever you want for as long as you want.

  • Yes! With step-by-step videos you’ll feel like you’re in our studio and garden beside us.

    If you’ve never done any natural dyeing before, Rebecca will help you feel confident to step into the world of creating colour using plants, leaves and metals.

    I share my basket weaving from the very start, so if you’ve never done anything like it before you’ll learn right beside me.

  • Due to the digital nature of my courses I don’t offer a refund. But of course I always want you to be happy, so if you feel the course isn’t as described please contact me.

  • Oh, yes, send me an email and I’ll help you out. ellie@petalplum.com.au

  • My online courses are all sold in Australian dollars AU$. You can check out a currency converter here. Your credit card will automatically work out their conversion.