06/27/26 - Discover the Blues: Cyanotype Basics Workshop with Jessie Swimeley
2026-06-27 10:00 - 15:30 (America/Boise) | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
No Sewing Workshop
Treasure Valley artist, Jessie Swimeley, will guide her students through the process of using CYANOTYPE – an historic photographic process that can be applied to fabric or paper.
Cyanotype creates beautiful blue and white prints using UV radiation (the sun) and the shadows of objects like leaves, lace, keys, small trinkets, or large format negatives such as photographs. It is an easy to learn and fun process that brings creativity and your own special magic to quilting projects.
You will learn the basics of cyanotype printing including the chemistry used, how it works on different surfaces, and composition. You may choose to use your own photographic negatives or to use a variety of organic materials in your creations. You will walk away with several of your own prints that can become a quilt block or be added to other projects.
Please Note: that Cyanotype is best suited for art quilts. The images you create will degrade if they are washed or come into frequent contact with the oils from skin.
Kit Fee: $10
Supplied by Instructor:
• Paper, for making prints
• Fabric, for making prints
• Chemistry
• Objects for printing
• Optional: photographic negative for interested students, see note below under Student Supply List
Supply list for students:
• Notebook and pencil/pen
• Optional- Unique items to make prints with, the best items have a strong flat silhouette – examples: keys, lace, small items, fancy glass, leaves and flowers
• Optional- Photograph to turn into a negative 3 x 5 or 5 x 7- this MUST be sent to programs@boisebasinquilters.org at least 10 days before the class so Jessie can prepare the negative to work with during the workshop.
Class registration will be open to non-members on May 27 and the last day to cancel with refund is June 15, 2026.

08/20/26 Modern Quilting: A Twist on Tradition - Darla Christiansen - Programs
2026-08-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Explore characteristics of Modern Quilting, and find out how a modern approach to quilting is, in many ways, a twist on tradition. See quilts that have been exhibited at QuiltCon in a slide presentation, followed by a trunk show with members of the Boise Modern Quilt Guild.
Darla Christiansen is a Boise native and a past president of the Boise MQG. Her quilt making leans heavily toward scrappy and she often uses rescued fabrics that otherwise might be destined for the landfill. She delights in the challenge of creating beautiful things from others’ discards, and describes her process as design-build. When she’s not sewing (which is most of the time), you’ll find Darla on her bike, in a kayak, tending to her yard, feeding the cat and finding outdoor adventures with her husband.

10/15/26 Post Modern Quilting by Joe Cunningham (in person)
2026-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | ID
Joe Cunningham has been a professional quilt artist since 1979. He began making quilts in his hometown of Flint, Michigan; eventually moving to San Francisco where he lives with his wife, Carol LeMaitre, above her Pilates studio, and maintains a gallery/ studio to make and show his quilts. Joe travels the world to show quilts and teach, as well as teaching his popular online classes from his studio. He has written ten quiltmaking books, and his quilts are in the permanent collections of several museums.
Here’s how Joe describes “Post Modern Quiltmaking,” the lecture he’ll be giving at BBQ:
We all know what “Modern” quilt making is. Sort of. Now that Modern Quilts have been around for a while the world is starting to move on, or maybe it’s just me. In this lecture I’ll talk about Modern Quilts and how they have influenced the wider quilt world, and explain how I have come to find my own style of “Post” Modern quiltmaking. With lots of examples and time for questions, this is a crowd favorite.
For more info about Joe and his quilts, please visit his website at joecunninghamquilts.com .

10/16-17/26 Creative Design Workshop by Joe Cunningham
2026-10-16 08:45 - 2026-10-17 15:45 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Here’s how Joe Cunningham describes this two-day workshop: “I will demonstrate and teach how to develop a small idea into an abstract quilt. Along the way I will teach the techniques I use for freehand piecing, working with bias tape, and creating memorable compositions. Under my instructions, students will develop their own designs and get them to a point where they can be completed.”
Since the cost is supplemented by the guild (making this workshop available at less than half its price elsewhere!), registration will be available only to guild members until Aug. 20, 2026. On that date, nonmembers are invited to register for any remaining workshop spots. The workshop price includes Saturday lunch (a half-sandwich and soup cup from Cafe Zupa’s). Lunch on Friday will be on your own.
Aug.20th is also the final day to cancel and receive a refund.
SUPPLIES
This is primarily a machine class but some hand sewing may be required.
Besides your sewing machine and standard machine sewing equipment, you will also need the following items:
Extension cord, pins, seam ripper, etc.
Rotary cutter, mat and rulers
Iron and pressing board (a few will also be available to share)
Scissors
Bias tape and matching thread (3 packs)
At least six yards of fabric, including fabrics that contrast strongly.
A 40″ wide design board (may be flannel or something similar, to be taped to the wall). Design board may be longer vertically than 40″, but only 40″ of wall width per person will be available horizontally.

10/24/26 "Fearless Foundation Paper Piecing: Tips and Techniques to Make FPP Easier and More Fun" by Esther Kleinkauf Schoolhouse
2026-10-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
This class is for someone who has done some FPP, especially if some part of the process is frustrating to you. I really want to invite anyone that has tried FPP and given up on it. You are missing so much!
We will discuss everything from what constitutes a quality pattern to why the size of the pieces is not what defines the difficulty (and what does). I will give you ideas on how to organize your fabrics and how best to cut pieces to minimize frustration from too small pieces. We will also look at what “paper” is best to sew on and you will get to try 3 different kinds.
You will be making at least 3 blocks designed especially to demonstrate and practice the ideas discussed.
Supply List

Sewing Machine – Set up with a #70 needle and a Straight Stitch Foot. (I prefer a clear plastic foot)
Thread – The “best” choice is 80 wt Deco Bob. If you are just starting out, buy a mini cone in a light shade of your favorite neutral. If you have 100’s of spools of thread , like I do, you can use other fine threads. I would not recommend anything heavier than Aurifil 50 wt.
“Add a Quarter” and “Add an Eighth” rulers. For this class you need the 6 inch ones. The ones labeled “Plus” are not more useful.
Small and large (45mm) rotary cutters, small cutting mat, small rotary cutting rulers (nothing larger than 6in x 12 in}.
Small Scissors or thread snips.
Small ironing board and small iron. The classroom will have irons.
A rectangle of heavy/crisp plastic for folding back pattern sections. Mine is 3.5 inches by 7 inches for no particular reason. You can also just use the heaviest advertising/political postcard that shows up in your mailbox.
Glue stick -I was once told that the UHU brand is the best for fabric to paper gluing.
Pins – You won’t need more than a half dozen. My preferred pins right now are Clover Patch work pins with the blue and yellow heads. They have the right balance of thinness and length.
Clover MINI clips. I have some to give out if you don’t already own any.
Acorn Precision Piecing Pen – You can buy the Essentials pack or the Starter kit and get their Easy Press fabric treatment, but you can fill the pen with other liquids such as Best Press, Magic Starch or even water…but you really need the pen!
Ballpoint awl/stiletto
Paper and pen to take notes.

Optional Supplies:

Light box with translucent mat
Roxanne’s or other glue
Tailor’s clapper
Seam ironing bar

11/21/26 Quilting on Your Domestic Machine by Madeline Trainor Schoolhouse
2026-11-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
More information to follow.
