
It's fun to receive two interpretations of the same quilt design to work on. That's what happened when Lauren (top) and Joan (above), a daughter and mother who took a sampler class together at Cool Cottons In Portland, brought me their assembled blocks to be quilted.
Each quilt block was a traditional pattern and used the same selection of fabrics, but the students could chose how to arrange the fabrics in their piecing and in the borders.

For her longarm quilting, above, Lauren chose Razor Grass, a panto designed by Jodi Beamish. I liked the way it cut across the piecing and varied fabrics to help unify all the block designs.

Joan chose another Beamish panto design, Labyrinth, and it took a softer route over the surface of her quilt but still allowed her precise piecing to shine.
Taking sampler class is a good way to power past a fear of traditional piecing and actually finish a larger quilt. And you can compare notes with other students and get a gentle critique from the teacher. Bonus: You'll really notice improvement in your work. Check out your local shops to get a class list.
Summer's almost here in Portland, and business has slowed a bit, so if you have a top or project that needs quilting for the holidays, this is a perfect time to send it along!