Last Friday, I did something I had been considering for quite some time. I participated in a Kimberbell class virtually with My Girlfriend’s Quilt Shoppe. Even though it was virtual, it was still a little stressful, because it moved very quickly. But I had fun, and that was the important thing.

Not familiar with Kimberbell events? They are machine embroidery projects that Kimberbell puts out that you can participate in both in quilt shops and virtually. The one day event usually has three or four projects that you can stitch in class, as well as suggestions on variations for projects outside of class. If you purchase $100 or more of Kimberbell product during the class, you receive some bonus designs.

One of the things I really like about Kimberbell is how they encourage you to think beyond whatever project it is that the design was originally released for, and reimagine it with different colors, fabrics and settings. What they do not do is make you feel like personalization is wrong. They have both one and two day events, and while I can’t speak about a two day event (yet), I can tell you that the one day events are quite interesting.

Why a Virtual Event?

You might be wondering why I would decide to do a Kimberbell event virtually, since the first one I did, I drove from the Houston area to San Antonio to attend in person. It’s really very simple. I don’t particularly want to pack up everything to go into a shop to do the projects, and I’ve never really been much of a “joiner.” I am, by nature, a fairly quiet person, and while I am more than capable of small talk with people, these events move very quickly and as I alluded to earlier, I find them to be a little stressful. In fact, I skipped one of the projects they did because I got so far behind in the first one.

I think the reason why I fell behind was because my machine wasn’t going as fast as the instructors’ machine was (there were two of them), so I just couldn’t keep up. Even with that, I rather enjoyed the event, and I’m thinking of what I can do with the designs to “repurpose” them.

Deciding on Uses for Designs

I think the acorn is supposed to be a “bowl filler.” Obviously, this one isn’t finished, because I need to stuff it and then close up the right side (that’s why it looks a little lopsided). There is also a bigger acorn, as well as one with a different pattern. I’m going to make up a few of these to put in a bowl on the breakfast bar. I think they’ll be fun, at least.

I have to be honest, I’m not sure what the purpose of a “bowl filler” is, except to maybe look cute.

Kimberbell Uses Fun & Unusual Media

The Hello Pumpkin design above was stitched on a mesh screen, much like a window screen on the house. I need to remove the sticky backed stabilizer and put it into a bamboo embroidery hoop. I think it will be super cute once it’s completed.

Some other media that their projects have been stitched on include a clock, balsa wood (still waiting to do that one; it’s in the studio already), and water soluble stabilizer (not so ground breaking these days, but it once was!).

Future Events

There’s another Kimberbell event coming up that I’m considering doing, called Comfort and Joy. I plan to do that one virtually as well. As you can probably tell by the title, it will be Christmas holiday focused. That one will take place the week after I retire, so it seems like a great way to start a new chapter in my life.

If you’re a machine embroiderer, have you ever done a Kimberbell event? One challenge I’ve found is that there aren’t as many shops in Houston as you’d imagine that offers them. As in there is one shop I found that’s offering the Comfort and Joy event in Houston, and it’s the complete opposite side of town, about 1.5 hours away. Yeah, I’m not driving all the way over there for a class. I’ll just stick with the virtual events.

Have you ever done a virtual event like this? What tips do you have to help others keep up with the action?