Your invitation to join The Patchwork Hub at Home
The Patchwork Hub at Home
Build your patchwork skills at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. Inside The Hub you’ll find a steadily growing (but never overwhelming) collection of patchwork-quilting tips, tutorials, patterns and skill-boosting projects — all designed to help you grow in confidence and feel part of a supportive patchwork community.
Join me, Allison Reid, at The patchwork Hub at Home.
A pressure-free membership. Grow in confidence as you practice skills and techniques at your own pace.
£18 per month. Cancel anytime.
The Hub is all about making the most of the time you have to sew. It’s NOT about keeping up with schedules or being crushed by perfectionism. We are a group of people who know what it’s like to have life circumstances impact our motivation and the opportunities we have to sew. Whether that’s through a lack of local classes and groups, health issues restricting our mobility or the responsibilities of caring for a loved one.
What’s In The Patchwork Hub at Home?
- Short, easy-to-follow tutorials covering a range of patchwork techniques.
- Practical tips to help you make the most of the time you have to sew.
- Quilt patterns with guidance to walk you through the process.
- Skill-building projects to help you grow in confidence.
- A friendly community where we can share, encourage and learn together.
That’s it. No pressure. No rushing to keep up. Just steady progress, in your own time.
The Patchwork Hub at Home is designed to help your confidence grow, to build your skills and give you opportunities to explore techniques at your own pace.
About Me
I fell in love with patchwork quilting in 2010 when I joined a thriving local quilt group and took a beginners course. A few years later I found myself teaching at a local fabric shop and running classes locally.
These days I’m part of the ‘sandwich generation’ — enjoying being a Nana while also caring for frail parents. I know first-hand how life circumstances can shape the time, energy and opportunities we have to sew.
Why The Patchwork Hub at Home?
I really miss teaching patchwork-quilting and meeting people who are keen to learn but often feel unsure of their ability.
Over the years I’ve met so many lovely quilters whose sewing time is limited — by distance, health, caring responsibilities, or simply the unpredictability of life.
The Patchwork Hub at Home grew from experiencing some of those limitations myself and the desire to find a way to share the benefits of this wonderfully creative craft from my home to yours.
The Hub provides a way to learn gently, in your own time.
- Small steps.
- Expandable projects.
- New skills to practise.
- Inspiration without pressure.
- No rushing to keep up.
- No worrying about cancelling a class at the last minute.
- Just steady progress at your own sewing table.
Feedback from my lovely students …
‘A lovely teacher, very calm and patient, I learnt so many new techniques.’
‘Excellent instruction and presentation.’
‘Excellent, knowledgeable and friendly tutor. I’ve really enjoyed making my quilt.’
‘Allison is so patient and calming -perfect for inspiring confidence.’
If this sounds like the kind of learning environment you’ve been looking for, you’re warmly invited to join us…
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens when I sign up to join The Hub? You’ll receive a welcome email and instant access to all The Hub content, including the Welcome post to help you find your way around.
- How will I know when new content has been added to The Hub? You’ll receive an email notification with a direct link to the new content. Please make sure the email you use to join The Hub is the same email to which you’d like notifications sent.
- Can beginners join The Hub? Yes — advanced experience is not assumed. Some previous quilt-making experience would be helpful, as there isn’t a dedicated beginners’ section.
- I’ve made several quilts — will there be anything for me? Absolutely. We’ll explore a range of techniques, scrap-friendly projects, charity quilt ideas, and you’ll be part of a creative, supportive community.
- What equipment do I need? A sewing machine in good working order, plus a cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler. There’s guidance in the Start Here section if you’re purchasing equipment.
- What if I want to leave The Hub? We’d be sorry to see you go but you can cancel at any time from your account area.
- Can I re-join later? Yes — you’re very welcome to return at any time at the current monthly membership rate.
Monthly Subscription
The Patchwork Hub at Home is a monthly subscription of £18 which gives instant access to a friendly learning community with exclusive patterns, tutorials, skill-building projects and tips designed to grow your confidence as you sew. We’d love you to join us.
Hi! I'm Allison…
About My Workshops
Previous, in-person, workshops:
- Beginner’s Course: Including Rotary Cutting, Piecing, Machine Quilting and Binding.
- Scrap Buster Fun Day: Three patchwork techniques creating blocks from fabric scraps.
- Playing with Patchwork Triangles.
- Making Greetings Cards: Raw Edge Applique and Free Motion Stitching.
- Beginner’s Bag Making: Lined Tote Bag
Please do let me know if there are other patchwork-quilting techniques or projects you would like to tackle in a class.
subscribe to my email newsletter. to find out about an alternative to in-person classes: The Patchwork Hub at Home.
About Me:
I have been patchwork quilting for more than thirteen years. As my knowledge of this craft has grown and my skills have developed it has been my great pleasure to lead classes: passing on what I’ve learned; seeing anxious beginners gaining confidence; and more experienced students successfully tackling fresh techniques and challenges.
Feedback from recent courses
‘Super Workshop. Demonstrations very clear and lots of help if you needed it – but sensitively done. Instructions/pattern very clear and easy to follow.’
‘I achieved everything I hoped to. Allison’s patterns and instructions were excellent and her demonstrations were easy to follow and not rushed at all. Allison has great patience and is very encouraging . Foundations paper piecing has always been a complete mystery to me but I finished 3 tree blocks by lunchtime thanks to Allison’s 1-1 help’.
About My Workshops
I keep class sizes to a maximum of eight participants (six for the Beginners Course). Light refreshments are available throughout the session/day. Class venue has parking and is accessible. All my classes require participants to bring their own materials, sewing machine (in good working order), basic sewing kit (thread, needles, pins, scissors) and rotary cutting equipment. Additional equipment may be advised for some classes.
2024 Workshops
Crossbody Bag Workshop – Booking Essential!
The Venue
Old Down Hall, 364 Kempshott Lane, Basingstoke, RG22 5UY
Facilities at Old Down Hall: parking is free, there are spaces in front of the Hall and across the road; kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities; toilets with disabled access.
Booking and Payment
The Workshop & Sewing Social fee is £15.00. To secure a place the full fee must be paid.
Workshop & Sewing Social is limited to eight participants who must be aged 18 years or over.
On Receipt of your payment: I will confirm by email that you have secured a place. If you have any questions about the Workshop email me: info@patchwork-quilting.co.uk
To avoid missed messages: Check you spam box and add my email to your contacts!
Cancellation Policy
The workshop and sewing social will be cancelled if fewer than four people enrol. A full refund will be given if the course is cancelled. However, materials and equipment bought by you for the workshop cannot be claimed for.
If you book and then have to cancel a full refund will be paid up to and including Monday 26th August 2024. Refunds cannot be made if your notification of cancellation is provided after this date. In this case you are welcome to transfer your booking to a future workshop or to a friend – please notify me of their contact details. If there is a waiting list for the workshop I may be able to transfer your booking and provide a refund.
Sat 19th October 2024
9:30am - 4pm
Old Down Hall, Kempshott, Basingstoke RG22 5UY
£35
Maximum of eight participants
Workshop:
Learn how to make a crossbody bag. The finished bag measures approximately 8.5″ x 8.5″ and is fully lined. It has a zipper closure along the top, a zipper pocket on the front and an adjustable strap. Making this bag does have some challenges (all bags do!) but if you approach them as ‘steps in the learning process’ then I think you’ll get a lot out of this workshop that is suitable for bag making beginners.
Equipment Required
- General sewing kit – sharp scissors, pins, hand sewing needles.
- Sewing machine in good working order with manual.
- Zipper foot.
- Good quality 50wt cotton or polyester thread(s) for seams and top stitching.
- Binding clips.
- Rotary cutter, ruler and mat.
- Ruler and fabric marking pen/pencil/chalk
- Optional: Seam roller, double-sided soluble tape (Prym ‘Wonder Tape), stiletto.
Skills Required
- Able to stitch an accurate straight seam.
Materials Required
Quilting weight cotton is ideal for the main (outer) fabric and for the lining and pocket. Woven/light-weight interfacing provides a little extra strength to the Main Fabric pieces without adding too much bulk in the seams. Bag ‘hardware’: #5 continuous zipper and pulls, D-Rings and Swivel hooks.
I will send a detailed list of materials required, with cutting instructions, once you have booked your place on the workshop.
Preparation BEFORE the Workshop
- Cut out all the fabrics and apply fusible interfacing. Give yourself 1½ hours to complete the cutting and fusing.
- Find the zipper section in your sewing machine manual and practice installing the zipper foot.
- Practice stitching accurate ⅛”, ¼” and ⅜” seams using your machines standard foot and the zipper foot.
Spring 2025 Patchwork & Quilting Beginners Course
Early 2025 - dates to be finalised
£85 for 2 Saturdays
Old Down Hall, Kempshott, Basingstoke RG22 5UY
Maximum of six participants
Learn all the skills: .
Rotary cutting, machine piecing, machine quilting, binding.
We’ll be working through the process of making a quilted patchwork table runner. A small scale project designed to develop the skills and experience needed to create a larger quilt.
First Saturday:
We’ll practice using rotary cutting equipment to accurately create patchwork pieces; we’ll set up our sewing machines to stitch ¼” seams; make two Nine Patch Blocks; learn how to make Half Square Triangle and Quarter Square Triangle units; stitch our blocks together; and attach borders around our blocks.
Second Saturday:
We’ll use wadding and backing fabrics to baste the layers of our runner together; learn how to machine quilt; make and attach binding to the edge of our table runners.
The Venue:
Old Down Hall is a modern community hall situated on the Western outskirts of Basingstoke, near to Junction 7 of the M3. There is free parking outside the Hall. The Hall is accessible and well lit.
Equipment Required:
Sewing machine in good working order with manual; basic sewing equipment (scissors, pins); rotary cutter, mat and ruler; materials – 1.5m of quilting weight cotton plus backing fabric and wadding (exact fabric requirements are provided with the course details).
Any questions?
Please do contact me at info@patchwork-quilting.co.uk
For Course and Enrolment Details:
Please email me at info@patchwork-quilting.co.uk
£85.00 Course Fee includes:
- Ohio Star Table Runner pattern
- Free copy of my Patchwork Quilting Equipment Guide: Wise Buys for Beginners
- Two full days of learning and practicing patchwork quilting skills
Can’t attend a workshop?
If you are unable to attend the Patchwork & Quilting Beginners Course you can still benefit from the information in my Patchwork Quilting Equipment Guide: Wise Buys for Beginners.
Packed full of information and advice to enable you to confidently shop around in bricks & mortar premises or online for the materials and equipment that will give you the best start to patchwork quilting.
Ready to download for just £5.50.
Previous Workshops
Saturday 18th May 2024
9:30am - 4pm
Old Down Hall, Kempshott, Basingstoke RG22 5UY
£12
Maximum of eight participants
Morning Workshop:
Make a Fabric Basket
Afternoon Sewing Social:
Continue making your basket(s) or bring along another project to work on while we chat and sew
Saturday Workshop & Sewing Social – Booking Essential!
Saturday Workshop & Sewing Social
- WAS Saturday 17th February 2024, 9.30am – 4pm
- Old Down Hall, Kempshott, Basingstoke RG22 5UY
- Morning Workshop: Make Rail Fence Patchwork Blocks using the quick strip-piecing technique
- Afternoon Sewing Social: Continue making your Rail Fence quilt or bring along another project to work on while we chat and sew
- £12.00
- Maximum of eight participants
I-Spy Shadow Quilt
Course details – Make an I-Spy Quilt Top in a Day!
Beginners Patchwork & Quilting Course
Comments from participants of recent Beginners Courses:
‘Excellent, knowledgeable friendly tutor. Have really enjoyed making my quilt. Thank you.’
‘Lovely space to work in… I found this course quite hard with all the homework… Allison was so patient and knowledgeable. I have learned so much.’
‘I definitely achieved my aims. All the printed instructions and presentation was very clear. The alternate week sessions worked very well, giving me time to practice and do homework between. I really appreciated all the calm encouragement and quiet correction! Thank you for your inspirations.’
Make a Patchwork Bargello Table Runner
In this workshop we’ll look at Bargello designs and consider colour and fabric choices; we’ll work step-by-step through the process of creating a Bargello style block; take time to evaluate what we’ve learned from our fabric choices; and see how to complete our table runners using a no-binding, quick turn method.
Workshop: Two Ways to Build A Log Cabin
Learn two methods for making the classic Log Cabin block. And learn how to create curved Log Cabin blocks to add extra interest to a quilt.
Into the Woods Table Runner Workshop
Learn how to make patchwork blocks using two techniques: foundation paper piecing and crazy patchwork.
Scrap Buster Workshop
Scrap bin overflowing?? Not sure what to do with smaller pieces but don’t want to bin them? Come and join our teacher Allison Reid in the art of scrap busting. Raid your scrap bin and learn how to turn your tiny scraps into useful bigger pieces. Learn how to start your own leaders and enders project, crazy patchwork techniques and piecing strip blocks! This class is perfect for adventurous patchwork beginners who have made a few blocks in the past and know the basics of cutting and piecing. Please note, this class will cover the construction of the blocks giving you the skills to create your finished patchwork at home.
Purple Stitches Quilt Club
Each month, we will make two new 12” blocks that you can use to make an entire quilt or continue with our quilt club series and make a sampler quilt. This is a brilliant opportunity to learn new techniques and make friends. In this quilt club series, we’ll challenge you to work on traditional piecing techniques as well as tackling curves, foundation paper piecing and appliques.