My Favorite Designers - Chapter 3 Judy Niemeyer

I have just finished a terrific week in Bakersfield California at Quiltworx University with Judy Niemeyer, her daughter Judel and about 10 Certified Instructors. I’m writing about my project in separate posts. And boy, is there a lot to write about!

I’ve known about Judy Niemeyer for several years-most quilters have. I knew her designs were intricate, mostly paper pieced and I knew she had her own line of batik fabrics. WOW so little did I know! 

Judy designed and made quilts by hand for 20 years. Then she discovered foundation paper piecing and recognized the revolution that it could be to help quilters make complex looking quilts. Although I don’t know the exact history of how she got from then to now, I’m sure it’s been quite a journey.

Now she has 75 or so Certified Instructors that are trained in her methods that help quilters make intricate quilts in a very efficient manner, saving hours by using an assembly line approach. For those of you thinking that this might take the fun and tradition out of quilting, I would argue that the fun is still there, you just spend less time pinning and trimming. There are also hundreds of patterns, lines of batik fabrics, and a great on-line program called Quiltster that is absolutely going to revolutionize the design and fabric buying process. 

Both Judy and Judel are down to earth, easily approachable, smart

women. Quiltworx is a family company. Son Bradley does the computer based drawing and designing. The other employees and CIs are also like family. The family lives in Kalispell , Montana.  It’s not an easy place to get to, but WOW is the area gorgeous! Just outside the west side of Glacier National Park.

Every year or so Judy designs a technique of the month quilt that incorporated several techniques for quilters to learn and master. The last technique of the month was Vintage Rose and I fell for it in a big way. Vintage Rose was my introduction to Judy’s designs and techniques. The technique of the month patterns can only be done through a certified shop or a certified instructor. I made mine through a certified shop in Illinois - Peddlers Way. I went to a retreat center in Illinois, just over the Missouri border by Hannibal. It was a beautiful old farmhouse with a modern retreat center added in a separate building.

So here is why I like Quiltworx patterns:

• Quilts can be designed in Quiltster so that you can visualize what the quilt will look like in different color ways.

• Quilts can be designed with mix and match sections. Choice of 6 center stars, 9 borders, etc.

• Papers are newsprint so they are easy to tear off. 

• Papers can be stacked so they can be cut out in layers as opposed to one at a time.

• Pieces are drawn to take advantage of grain line, so that each piece is either on grain or on bias as appropriate.

• Fabric is stacked under template layout and cutting sheets so that it can be cut out in layers.

• Fabric pieces are of a generous size so that they will easily cover the section.

• Parts can be assembly pieced so you reduced thread, and needle up and down time.

• Parts are put together with smart corners and transition points so they easily match up.

• Appliqué piece templates are lazer cut on a sticky leave-in material that makes it so easy to prepare shapes.

They have thought of everything, and if someone thinks of something new, it can be easily incorporated into the next series of quilts and updated into older patterns.

This company has a great history, but more importantly, they are really pushing into the future with a vision. I can't wait to see what comes next. 
Check out Quiltworx and Quiltster! You won't be disappointed.