Spark Your Imagination with the Northanger Abbey Mystery Quilt Along
Create a Dramatic 66″ x 66″ Quilt from the Comfort of Your Own Sewing Room!
Register before May 1st and Save $15 – only $89.95 when paid in full
Hi, I’m Ebony Love, and I’ve been doing mystery adventures for the last 5 years. This year, I’m starting a series of new mysteries based on the works of Jane Austen: the Austentatious Mystery Quilt Adventure series.
I’m excited to tell you about the first mystery, presented as an immersive class, the Northanger Abbey Mystery Quilt Along. Whether you’re a fan of Jane, the book or the movie, or you just have a love of quilting, I’m positive that you’re going to have an amazing time with us.
We’re set to begin live classes on July 18th, 2018, but you can join us at any time and work at your own pace. We have designed a quilt that will not only challenge experienced quilters, but will also provide newer quilters with the skills they need to be successful.
The quilt itself has been meticulously designed and tested, and is available in two colorways: Upper Rooms and Pump Room. You’ll recognize these names as the Assembly Rooms at Bath – which feature heavily in the novel. The mix of traditional piecing, curved piecing, and unique blocks are sure to delight quilters of all skill levels and interests.
The Upper Rooms colorway features 15 select fabrics from Edyta Sitar’s Sequoia collection from Andover Fabrics plus one Kaufman solid. If you’ve participated in my events before, you know Andover is a favorite and the fabric has a lovely hand and drape.
The Pump Room colorway is a dynamic combination of Robert Kaufman solids. The pops of bright color in the quilt give it a a more contemporary feel.
Our mystery quilt alongs often attract hundreds of participants from around the world, and we’re sure that Northanger will be among our most popular classes. We have been constantly improving them year over year, all geared toward making this a quilting & learning experience you will never forget.
You might be a little hesitant to join us because you don’t like mystery quilts, or you worry that you don’t have the skills or the time to keep up with it. Maybe you’ve even had a bad experience before, or you feel anxious to start something without knowing where it will end up. Trust me, I know how you feel, and I’ve worked hard to design a program that’s easy to follow, has everything you need to be successful, and is sure to result in a beautiful quilt that you’ll be proud to own.
How this Works
Once you register, you’ll get immediate access to our private Classroom under the “My Account” area, where you may review preliminary information before class begins in June.
You’re also able to order kits and supplies to take the hassle and stress out of hunting down fabric and products we recommend. Of course, you are welcome to use your own fabric, and if you have a local quilt shop that needs your support, I encourage you to do your shopping there.
Once the class starts, I release a new set of blocks on Wednesdays each week for you to work on, complete with a PDF pattern, full-color photo tutorials, fun stories, and the occasional giveaway. On select Wednesday evenings, join us for the live webinars to help you as you go.
Blocks are available precisely at the posted time, but we also send weekly reminders and other information about upcoming classes to our students via email.
You’re also encouraged to join our very active and supportive Facebook group with nearly 3,000 members (whether you’re taking classes or not) where you can post photos and interact with your fellow classmates. Add to that the personal support you get from me and our online class forums, and you’ll see that there’s a great network of support that’s committed to your quilting success.
What the Class Includes
I am personally invested in your success, and I want to make sure you get the support you need to get started and finish a quilt you can be proud of. Here’s what our class offers:
- Quilt in your pajamas! You don’t have to pack up your machine or haul your sewing room someplace to join us. You’ll always have your favorite snack and comfy slippers nearby.
- 9 amazing block lessons which have been specially designed & neatly tied into the Northanger story line. Even if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, you’ll be taken on a journey through the gothic novels of the time, getting to know Jane Austen’s work, and all while making beautiful blocks.
- The live portion of the course is 10 weeks, but you get permanent, unlimited access to work at your own pace. Once you pay your registration fee, the class is yours forever!
- Live Webinars hosted by me, Ebony Love. You’ll be able to ask questions, learn new skills, and replay the Webinars at any time if you can’t catch us live. We always have a ton of fun!
- Downloadable PDF patterns for you to keep, with smart file names to keep your computer organized; and printable, full-color Photo Tutorials in case you need more visual instruction.
PLUS:
- Downloadable badges to show friends & family your love of Jane Austen
- Well-organized class content & schedule to help you navigate and preview what’s ahead
- Our “Mark Complete” feature helps you keep track of where you are in the class, and you can always see your course progress within the classroom.
- Access to your class from mobile devices
- All patterns are notated for die cutting, and you’ll receive a die-cutting chart so you know exactly what dies are used in the quilt, no matter which die cutting system you own.
- Payment plans and scholarships are available to help you spread the costs.
Skills You Will Learn
This isn’t your typical quilt along, where someone just posts a pattern and expects you to figure it out on your own. We’re here to help you grow, and we’re targeting specific skills for you to learn in an approachable way. While making this quilt, you’ll learn:
- Curved piecing techniques to add interest and fun to your quilt
- How to use specialty rulers to create dynamic blocks
- Practical tips to advance and practice your existing piecing skills
- Die cutting preparation and our ingenious EDeN System for notating dies
- The best ways to sew & press strip sets for straighter, more accurate blocks & borders
- Ideas for quilting your blocks and piecing a fun quilt back
This class is simply packed with knowledge and fun!
Who Should Register
This class is ideal for:
- Fans of Jane Austen or non-fans who want the cliff notes
- Avid quilters who want a new challenge and a new experience
- Newer quilters who want to build skills quickly in a safe & supportive learning environment.
- People who don’t often have the opportunity to take a class from an award-winning National Instructor
- Quilters who appreciate thoughtful design & well-written patterns
Testimonials
I can tell you myself about how great I think my classes are, but the true test is what others have to say! Below are some comments from previous students (emphasis mine.)
“First time I have made a quilt with your pattern. I enjoyed completing each block individually and having it complete each week. Your video instruction was excellent.”
“I soooo love your classes by the way. The quilts are so beautiful and the instructions are great and then you add your tutorials. Wonderful.”
“I am still pretty new to quilting. I enjoy the feeling of community I get with the forum and webinars. I am sorry to say that I have not participated in the game you created, but that sure sounded like fun. Maybe next time!! Thanks for all the work you do.”
“I have been more than pleased with all 3 quilt alongs I have participated in. I was a bit apprehensive with the Downton Abbey pattern since it was my first experience with online classes and meeting Miss Ebony and her original design. I’ve been hooked ever since, it was a gorgeous quilt and couldn’t wait to sign up for the next one.”
“I really enjoyed this quilt along. It’s the first one I’ve ever done and my favorite part was probably the mystery. I’m a beginner and I don’t think I would have attempted this quilt if I had seen the blocks ahead of time. Now I know I can make a quilt like this and I learned so much.”
“I had an absolute blast working on this mystery quilt. My mom and I both decided to do this together to keep each other going and to have someone to bounce questions off of. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to your email every week as [the block release] approaches.”
“I have enjoyed the quilt along. This is the 3rd one that I have done. The printed info is very easy to understand.”
“The instructions and photos are very helpful. You answer questions quickly on the blog. The other quilt along of Downton Abbey with the different characters that had a story each–loved reading the stories–know that took a lot of work on your part! You are great at these quilt alongs!”
Payment Plans & Scholarships
I recognize that taking one of my classes is a huge investment, not only of time, but also of your hard-earned quilting dollars. I appreciate you spending your time and money with me, and I want to do everything I can to make this affordable and accessible to anyone who wants to take one of my classes.
There are three ways that I work with you to help cover the cost of the class:
- Early registration discounts, and higher discounts for continuing students.
- A 4-month payment plan to spread the cost to help you plan your spending (also available on select kits & supplies).
- Scholarships that can pay up to 75% of your class fees, funded by your fellow students. Learn more about contributing to & applying for our scholarship program here.
I’ve tried really hard to set my class fees at a level that is sustainable for my business so I can keep bringing these fun projects to you, while still keeping them affordable for as many people as possible. A comparable program at a quilt shop would easily cost 3-4 times more, and would likely take an entire year to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How big is the quilt?
- Answer: 66″ x 66″.
- Question: Can I make the quilt a different size?
- Answer: Anything’s possible. I can talk you through different border options, but I won’t be reducing the block sizes or coming up with alternate block layouts for you. Designing quilts is a lot of work!
- Question: Do I need to have a die cutter?
- Answer: Nope. We write the pattern for rotary cutting, and then add notations for those who want to die cut. In fact, even the rulers are optional. If there’s a shape in the quilt that can’t be rotary cut easily, we include a paper template.
- Question: Can I use my own fabric?
- Answer: Yes, you may, and it’s really easy! Just download the fabric requirements chart (it’s in the Classroom, under What You Need). Choose a colorway that matches most closely to the “tones” you want your quilt to be. The column on the far right gives you the yardage, the column on the far left is the fabric # you should assign to that fabric. Once you’ve chosen your fabric, number them in order, and follow that numbering in the pattern instructions for cutting & assembly.
- Question: How do I access the private classroom?
- Answer: Just click the “My Account” link at the top of the page. (If you’re on a mobile device click the 3 parallel lines at the top of your screen to open the menu to see it.) Log in to your account if you aren’t already, and then scroll down on the page to the “Registered Classes” heading. All your classes are listed there, so just click the title to enter the classroom.
- Question: What types of kits are available and which one should I get?
- Answer: We offer both yardage and die cut quilt kits for you. Yardage kits would have the total yardage you need for your quilt top & binding, while die cut kits will have all the pieces cut out and packaged for each week, plus the binding fabric. If you are planning to die cut yourself, you should purchase a complete yardage kit, so that you can cut your fabric based upon the dies you have available. If you don’t want to do any cutting (other than your binding), then purchase a die-cut kit. Die cut kits sell out really fast, so if you want one, buy it early!
- Question: What dies are being used if I want to cut my own quilt?
- Answer: We use the EDeN System to notate the pattern for die cutting. You will get an EDeN Chart for the quilt once you register. If you’re familiar with EDeN, the die numbers are: HST-2, HST-3, HST-4, QST-4, QST-6, REC-1×2, REC-1-1/2×2, REC-2×4, REC-2×6, REC3x6, SB-4 or TIS-4, SQ-2, SQ-4, and STR-2. In addition, we’ll be using the LoveBug Studios Orange Peel die (fits Sizzix machines or the AccuQuilt Studio). If you cannot use this die, you can use the provided paper template or purchase the acrylic template set. Links are in the supply list available once you sign up.
- Question: Are there any quilt shops that are carrying kits?
- Answer: At this time, I am not authorizing any other shops to carry kits. However, if your shop is carrying the Sequoia line, just take the fabric requirements with you and they will be happy to cut for you. Please do NOT add any additional fabric to your kit because you think you’re going to run out. If you want extra fabric because you love it, great – but my fabric requirements are generous enough to accommodate rotary, die cutting, and the occasional “oops.”
- Question: Can I use fat quarters?
- Answer: Sure. You may need a few extra as some of the cuts don’t lend themselves to fat quarters.
- Question: What if I’ve never seen Northanger Abbey or read the book?
- Answer: No biggie. I’m not the television or library police. Do it for the love of quilting!