Explore the time-honored tradition of paper-pieced quilting with Carolyn Friedlander. In this two-part class, Carolyn guides you through her process of designing a paper-pieced quilt from beginning to end. Not only will you see how she turns sketches into schematics for paper piecing, but you’ll also learn Carolyn’s techniques for quilting using free-motion and straight-stitching techniques. This fresh take on paper piecing equips you with the knowledge you need to take your skills to the next level.

Take a look at the classes we're releasing in the month of July, plus an additional assortment of classes to help you beat the summer heat.

Crochet yourself a cuddly squid pal, perfect for dry land or ocean adventures (the bathtub works, too). Cute critter designer, Megan Kreiner, walks you through every step of the crochet process, from tentacle to eyeball. This class is perfect for intermediate stitchers or beginners who would like to up their crochet game. For best results, watch the video instructions alongside the downloadable PDF.

Professional designer and self-taught illustrator George McCalman writes and illustrates a monthly column for the San Francisco Chronicle. Called “Observed,” the column features sketches and illustrations of the people and personalities he meets on his adventures around the city. Drawing from this experience, George leads you through a month of drawing people by layering colored pencil, pens and paint. Use your own source material and capture the essence of your model’s personality by focusing on gesture, texture, and personality while playfully over-emphasizing features. Be inspired by George’s relentless curiosity and joyful presence as he encourages you to illustrate friends, family, and strangers alike, and reveals his sources for unlikely models and where to find them.

Make a perfect pair of basic pants customized to your own measurements. Cal Patch brings decades of garment-industry experience to the home sewer, taking tricky concepts and breaking them down into simple steps. Learn how to take your own measurements, draft your pattern, and sew up a pair of elastic-waist pants, complete with essential pockets. Cal recommends sewing them up in a medium-weight woven fabric but further customization is up to you: stitch up in a cozy flannel for around-the-house lounging or make in linen for a dressier look.

Urban sketching differs from studio drawing by strengthening your connection to the world around you. Artist and urban sketcher David Tenorio shares his love for drawing people and places in public spaces.  In this class he’ll demonstrate how to work with Micron pens to create shape, light and ground, and how to apply these principles to any sketch. He’ll cover the basics of the body including proportion, rhythm and identifiers. Then you’ll learn how to draw foliage and architecture, incorporating perspective, linearity and distance. Finally, he’ll take you to Alamo Square park in San Francisco to sketch what he sees there.  

There are many ways to make slime but pro-crafter Faith Hale shows you her very favorite method for making a sparkly, swirly version. Using liquid starch, clear glue, nontoxic pigment and fine glitter, we'll make three separate shades before swirling them all together. The slime comes together quickly and clean-up is a breeze.

Use text-weight paper and a few simple folds to construct an entire galaxy. In this class paper-crafter Faith Hale demonstrates three different structures: a spaceship, a planet, and a small star you'll make handfuls of. Try it now and discover which one is inflatable! With Faith's enthusiastic guidance and clear instructions, you'll make enough stars for your own milky way.

Learn how to make a reversible, floppy sun hat—the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. Ashley Nickels will show you how to measure your head to determine your hat size and how to increase or decrease the length of the brim to make it totally customizable. Best of all, this sun hat can be made with your two favorite fabrics since it’s fully reversible. This class is great for new sewers and for anyone who needs a stylish hat to wear under the warm, summer sun.

If you’re brand new to screen printing, this three-part course is the perfect place to start. Screen-printing pro Hilary Williams shows you how to create stencils using tracing paper and use them to make simple prints on paper. Once you’ve gotten the feel for pulling consistent prints, she shows you the ins and outs of printing on fabric. At the end of this course, you’ll know how to set up a screen printing studio, clean and care for your tools, and create successful prints on paper and fabric using any artwork you please.

Intarsia is a knitting technique that produces blocks of color by using separate balls of yarn. Knit and crochet expert Edie Eckman demonstrates this method of colorwork and gives helpful tips on how to read an intarsia chart, avoid creating holes, weave in ends invisibly, and more.
 

Every artist needs an apron, and making one couldn't be simpler when you begin with a ready-made button-down shirt. Creativebug staffer and upcycling enthusiast Faith Hale explains how to choose the perfect shirt, then shows how to disassemble it and turn the sleeves into giant patch pockets. This project is great for beginners and quick to sew for the more seasoned sewist. With ample coverage and large pockets for stashing art supplies and tools, the resulting smock is sure to become a studio staple.

Become endlessly inspired with avid art journaler, painter, and artistic explorer, Pam Garrison. On this month-long journey into botanicals, Pam dances from one medium to another via daily prompts that will keep you on your toes. Working at different scales on a wide variety of surfaces, Pam explores the many technique one can use to express a flower. Along the way, Pam shares her passion for painting and drawing flowers, encouraging you to play with pens, markers, watercolor, acrylics and whatever you have on hand to create and capture magnificent blooms.

Be sure to share what you make in our class gallery and on Instagram #cbdrawaday
 

Leather designer Elke Bergeron shows you how to dye, paint and embroider super trendy leather cuffs. These eye-catching bracelets are a great way to learn how to work with leather and get familiar with leather working tools. Elke provides ideas for customizing these simple cuffs with leather dyes and embroidered designs so you can whip up a batch of unique designs.
 

Amber of Damask Love shows how easy it is to make a custom-carved wooden frame with your Cricut Maker. The handy knife blade tool allows you to make woodworking magic by precisely cutting out a template in the Cricut Design Space. After cutting out the basswood pieces, Amber shows how to paint them in cheery shades and insert a favorite photo. These frames make thoughtful, showstopping gifts – especially when you tell the recipient that you made the frame yourself.