2026 Caribbean Cruise Classes
Get ready for some serious stitching fun on our fabulous 2026 Caribbean Quilt Cruise! We’re bringing you awesome workshops with three amazing teachers, plus plenty of open sewing time so you can dive into those UFOs or work on whatever your heart desires.
This cruise is going to be HOT (and not just because we’re heading to the Caribbean)—we’ve had a ton of interest in this itinerary, so don’t wait too long to book your spot. It’s sure to fill up fast!
Class request forms will go out in December 2025. Each class needs a minimum number of students, and we also have a max limit per class—so plan ahead! Oh, and one quick note from our machine provider: no machine quilting on the provided machines, please.
The best part? You can take as many—or as few—classes as you’d like! Just one per sea day. Or, skip the classes and chill in the open sew room—it’s totally up to you. Seating for classes and open sewing will be limited, so your choices might depend on availability. Just know that all class requests will be released at the same time, and we can’t save spots early.
We can’t wait to see you in sunny Fort Lauderdale—let’s cruise and quilt in style
Classes With Allana Bryant
Oriana – 60″x60″
Do you love the look of curves, but have been scared to try? The Oriana Quilt Pattern by Lisa Hofmann-Maurer and Alison Glass makes a beautiful 60”x60” quilt that looks complicated and difficult, but it is not! I will show you how to confidently navigate curved piecing. Once you learn the basics and some tips you will be able to tackle curved piecing in any design!
Sample quilt made using Magic Colors 40 Karat Gems by Wilmington Prints and Indonesian Batiks.
Fabrics:
Jelly Roll or 30 2.5” strips and 13 Fat Quarters (kit is $92 available from instructor)
OR 23 Fat Quarters
Supplies:
- Pattern ($14 available to order from instructor)
- Template material (2 sheets 14”x20”)
- Small pattern weights for tracing templates
- Paper Scissors
- Fabric Scissors
- Rotary cutter (28mm for cutting curves) or you can use scissors
- Rotary mat
- Ruler
- Marking pens (does not need to be erasable)
- Seam ripper
- Pins
- Stylus/pointer/purple thing to feed edges under presser foot
*this is a great project to bring a leader and ender project to work on at the same time. - Bring charm squares, 2.5” squares, piano keys, etc.
Please order items by February 1, only available as long as the supply lasts.
For any questions, please email Allana at ajbryant71@gmail.com
Easy Clamshells
Quiltsmart Clamshells give you an alternative to curved piecing. You get the curved look, but without the curved piecing! The Quiltsmart panels include marked interfacing—you sew on a line, cut and turn, then applique in place. They make it simple to get fantastic results! All three sample quilts were made from a single package. The dark baby quilt was made with a batik layer cake. The sea life baby quilt was made with Ocean Motion Organic collection (available from instructor in custom sized kits). The Pink Panda quilt was made with 45 clamshells and is 46.5”x50”.
Fabrics:
For baby size-31 8.5” or 10” squares. Layer cakes can be used, no need to cut smaller. Must have 10” squares if print is directional.
For twin size-110 8.5” squares (layer cakes can be used—no need to cut smaller). Need 10” squares if print is directional and you want it to be straight
OR 28 Fat Quarter or quarter yard cuts
Supplies:
- Quiltsmart panels. One package makes up to a queen size quilt or 3 smaller quilts. ($40, available to order from instructor)
- Pins
- Seam ripper
- Fabric Scissors
- Optional : duckbill scissors
- Applique pressing sheet (1 needed, 2 is easier)
- Cutting mat
- Optional: Pointer-creaser or seam roller
- Optional: stiletto or chopstick for turning out seams
- 24” long ruler
- Steam a seam lite 2, pencil
- Scraps of black if you want to make Panda faces
Please order items by February 1, only available as long as the supply lasts.
For any questions, please email Allana at ajbryant71@gmail.com
Workshops with Peggy Gelbrich
Calypso – 62”x74
Calypso is a fun, creative quilt to make. You’ll learn to look at the 45-degree angle a different way, not just half-square triangles. Choose a focus fabric then add fun fabrics to match. Think about contrast, choosing a variety of lights, mediums and darks that contrast with each other. I look forward to having you in class.
Fabric requirements. (WOF – width of fabric)
It is helpful to choose a border fabric and pull colors and values from that fabric to meet the light, medium and dark
A – Variety of light fabric – 5/8-yard cut into 3½” strips, WOF
Variety of medium and dark fabrics equaling 3¾ yards.
B – 6½” strips, sub-cut into groups of four, 6½” squares of the same fabric. Need 20 groups of four.
C – Cut variety of fabrics into ten, 3” strips WOF
Border and binding- 2 yards
OR
Optional Pieced Border and binding 2½ yards
Diamonds in border – ½ yard
Supplies:
- Basic Sewing/Quilting Supplies
- Creative Grid Spider Web Ruler #CGRKA6 OR
Creative Grid Kaleidoscope and Dresden Plate Ruler #CGRTKAL45 - Pins – Regular quilting pins (Clover Double Pins helpful)
- Rotary Cutting Rulers
- 6”x12” ruler (Olfa brand helpful)
Questions? Peggy Gelbrich 971-237-5330,
E-mail: peggy@yellowhousequilter.com
Glorious Clams –60”x66”
In making the Glorious Clams quilt you’ll learn curved piecing and foundation piecing using freezer paper. There will be no paper to tear away from the seams.
The pictured quilt is five clams wide by eleven rows in height. It has a 1” accent border and a 5” outer border. If you’d like to make it bigger or smaller each row is 5”in height. Each clam is 9¾” in width. These are finished measurements. Make
sure you have good contrast between your points and point background.
Fabric
- Variety of 15-17 fat quarters for the clams (4-5 clams per fat quarter)
- Points – 1½ yards (can be a variety of fabrics) Pre-cut points into 2½” strips
- Point Background – 2 yards – Pre-cut point background into 2½” strips
- Inner border – ½ yard
- Outer Border – 2½ yard
- Binding – ¾ yard
Supplies: Optional clam template available from the teacher $15.
____ General sewing supplies
____ Freezer paper
____ Stapler and staple remover
____ Fabric and paper scissors
____ Cutting mat and rotary cutter
____ Add-a-Quarter Ruler
____ Seam ripper
Fabric Requirements
___ Background – 2¼ yards lights for block construction
___ Main – 3 yard of medium or dark fabrics for block construction and border
___ Accent – 1½ yards accent color for canoes, sashing and inner border
Supplies:
____ Freezer paper – Six – 6” squares
____ Stapler and staple remover
____ Fabric and paper scissors
____ Pins – Regular quilter pins
____ Rotary Cutting Rulers
____ Add-a-quarter ruler
____ 8-9” square ruler
____ Small cutting mat
____ Rotary cutter
____ Seam ripper
Questions? Peggy Gelbrich 971-237-5330,
E-mail: peggy@yellowhousequilter.com
Workshops With Ilaria Padovani
Blooms & Stitches: Textile Art with a Kaffe Fassett Flair
Join us for a joyful, hands-on workshop where you’ll create a vibrant still life using Kaffe Fassett’s fabulously colorful floral fabrics. This is your chance to play with bold prints, lively textures, and eye-catching layers to design your very own fabric masterpiece.
We’ll guide you through techniques for layering, texture, and composition as you dive into the world of expressive fabric collage. You’ll learn how to turn your fabric scraps into sustainable textile art, then bring your piece to life with hand-stitched embellishments that add depth, texture, and your unique touch.
Whether your piece becomes a stand-alone work of art, a study for something bigger, or the stunning centerpiece of a quilt, you’ll leave inspired—and probably a little bit obsessed with fabric collage!
Come ready to explore, stitch, and create something beautifully you.
Supply List:
- Fabric scissors with fine sharp points
- Glue pen & refills (Sewline or other brands)
- Assorted needles and pins
- All-purpose thread (50wt) in grey
- Kit
Kit is $50 and includes: all material necessary to complete your collage (background, vase and flower composition) and includes access to a large selection of Kaffe Fassett’s fabrics, Steam a Seam 2 Lite, templates and embroidery threads. Pick up kit in class, cash only please.
Seaside Stitches: Pebbles from the Caribbean
Play with color, pattern, and texture in this vibrant workshop!
Inspired by the soft, rounded shapes of beach pebbles and the joyful palette of the Caribbean, this hands-on class will show you how to turn fabric scraps into a stunning wall hanging full of movement and personality.
You’ll dive into raw edge appliqué techniques while exploring how to use color confidently—learning to mix bold prints, scale, and texture to create visual flow and balance. With no templates and no rules, you’ll cut and compose freely, discovering how to let the fabrics guide you in a design that’s completely your own.
Supply List:
- Fabric scissors with fine sharp points
- Glue pen & refills (Sewline or other brands)
- Assorted needles and pins
- 12wt cotton threads or stranded embroidery threads in various colours
- Sharps needles with large eye
- Kit
Kit is $50 and will be available to purchase and collected on the day of the workshop.
Cash only, please.
STAFF PROJECTS
We invite you to join us for a relaxed and heartwarming evening of stitching, laughter, and connection. Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on your class project, diving into a personal UFO (unfinished object), or simply stitching whatever brings you joy, this is the perfect time to unwind in good company.
We’ll gather in a comfortable space, a glass of red or white wine in hand, and the soft hum of conversation filling the air. It’s a chance to reflect on the memories we’ve made, share stories, admire each other’s work, and just soak in the creative energy around us.
And if stitching isn’t calling your name that evening, that’s perfectly okay—you’re warmly welcome to come simply for the fellowship. Sometimes the best part is just being together, surrounded by kindred spirits as the sun dips below the horizon.
Fee: $10 (waived if you’re not joining us for wine).
Sign-up is required so we can be sure to have enough wine for everyone who’s sipping!
**Does not count as a class choice.
Upscale Your Clothing
Give your clothing a creative upgrade! Whether you’re looking to add a personal and creative touch, elevate a plain garment, or cleverly cover up a stain or small tear, hand embroidery is a fun and stylish solution.
Join our friendly staff for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to decorate or upcycle your favorite piece—new or gently worn. Just bring a garment or two you’d like to transform, and we’ll provide playful, nature-inspired embroidery motifs to get you started.
We’ll walk you through the how to’s of embroidering on clothing, share tips on choosing stitches that best suit your fabric and design, and help you get comfortable with the basics. Each participant will receive a kit that includes an embroidery hoop, thread, needle, and stabilizer—everything you need to dive in.
This workshop is perfect for beginners—no previous embroidery experience needed. Come stitch with us!
Kit: $12