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Karen Jarrett · Wild Rose Quilting
Paper piecing classes from a Certified Quiltworx Instructor
Karen Jarrett is a Certified Quiltworx Instructor who has been teaching quilters for more than 35 years. She teaches Judy Niemeyer's foundation paper piecing technique in classes and workshops, and travels to teach guilds, quilt shops and retreats.
- Years teaching
- 35+
- Quiltworx projects
- 40+
- Teaching certifications
- 9
Why learn from Karen
What a Certified Quiltworx Instructor teaches you
A Certified Quiltworx Instructor is trained by Quiltworx, the company founded by Judy Niemeyer, to teach her foundation paper piecing method exactly as the patterns were written. Karen earned that certification through Quiltworx training and has finished more than 40 Quiltworx projects of her own.
In class you learn the whole system: how to read the pattern, cut and label your fabric, keep every unit organized, and sew sharp points on paper. Karen is known for a calm, supportive classroom, and she is especially good with quilters who are new to paper piecing.
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The exact Quiltworx method
Learn the cutting, labeling and piecing order the patterns were designed around, so each quilt goes together the way it should.
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Patterns only certified teachers can teach
Technique of the Month workshops are taught only by Certified Instructors and Certified Quilt Shops.
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Help with the hardest part: color
Karen plans colorways in Quiltster, the Quiltworx coloring software, so you choose fabric with confidence.
Ways to learn
Classes, retreats and help for your next quilt
- Quiltworx classes and workshops Learn the Judy Niemeyer method on a real pattern, from cutting and labeling to the last seam, with Karen at your side. See classes
- Retreats Join a retreat Karen is teaching, or invite her to teach yours. See retreats
- Your guild or quilt shop Bring a Quiltworx class to your group, close to home. Invite Karen
- Color planning in Quiltster See your quilt in your own fabrics before you cut a single strip. Ask about color help
- Video lessons Short lessons on the technique, to watch at your own pace. Coming soon. Preview videos
How a class works
From pattern to finished block, one seam at a time
Judy Niemeyer quilts look intricate, but foundation paper piecing breaks every pattern into small, numbered steps. Watch a block come together.
The pattern on paper
Inside Karen's classroom
Real quilters, real Quiltworx classes
Made by Karen
More than 40 Quiltworx projects, made by Karen
Karen teaches from experience. The Judy Niemeyer patterns she has finished include these.
- Arctic Star Mixer
- Carnival Flower
- Fields of Aster
- Jungle Magnolia
Questions
Quiltworx classes, answered
Still wondering if paper piecing is for you? These are the questions Karen hears most. You can also browse the Quiltworx Certified Instructor directory (opens in a new tab) to see how the program works.
What is a Certified Quiltworx Instructor?
A Certified Quiltworx Instructor is a teacher trained and certified by Quiltworx, the company founded by Judy Niemeyer, to teach her foundation paper piecing technique. Certification takes training events with Judy or other certified instructors, more than ten finished Quiltworx projects and an active teaching schedule. Karen Jarrett holds this certification.
Is Judy Niemeyer foundation paper piecing hard for beginners?
No. The patterns look complex, but the technique breaks each quilt into numbered, color-coded units that you sew one seam at a time on paper. A certified instructor shows you how to cut, organize and piece those units, so a confident beginner can finish a quilt that looks advanced.
Why take a class from a certified instructor instead of learning alone?
Certified instructors teach the exact Quiltworx method, so you learn the cutting, labeling and piecing order the patterns were written for. They can also teach the Technique of the Month patterns, which are only taught by Certified Instructors or Certified Quilt Shops.
Can Karen teach a class for my guild, quilt shop or retreat?
Yes. Karen travels to teach, and guilds, quilt shops and retreat hosts can ask about bringing a Quiltworx class to their group. Send a note through the contact page with your location, group size and the pattern you have in mind.
Does Karen help with choosing fabrics and colors?
Yes. Karen plans colorways in Quiltster, the Quiltworx coloring software, and helps students see a quilt in their own fabrics before they cut. Choosing color is the step most quilters worry about, and it is a big part of what she teaches.
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Hear about new classes and retreats first
Join Karen's email list for new Quiltworx classes, retreat dates and the occasional paper piecing tip.