ITM 2026 Crumb Quilt Coat

Crumb Quilt Coat

Taught by:

Meg McElwee

Offered:

Saturday, May 2

Sunday, May 3

Experience level: Advanced Beginner

“I designed this coat to embolden you to use
what you already have, to make something
that will be treasured for generations,
while also giving you a creative canvas
to let your imagination run wild and free.”
– Meg McElwee

Yes, by any definition, this gorgeous coat is couture (and we certainly could have titled this class with that word), but the Retazo Coat is so much more than a superbly designed piece of clothing— this pattern embraces the very best aspects of intentional making: beautiful + useful + enduring quality.

We are SO lucky to have Meg with us to guide and support us as we embark upon the making of her gorgeous RETAZO coat pattern in a way that aligns with our personal style and intention.

First up, let’s remember what the roots of quilting always were: using the fabric scraps that we had on hand. Sure, it is fun to go to a shop and buy brand-new fabric, but equally marvelous is the challenge to work with what we have. In addition, many times those preloved textiles come with a whole lotta sentiment woven in.

In this class, Meg will guide you through the preliminary steps of choosing fabrics, creating a palette and beginning the piecing so that when you head home, you are on your way to making a one of a kind, fabulous crumb quilt coat.

Expect five hours of old-fashioned quilting circle empowerment, where folks gather in community and use what they have to create something beautiful … subverting the oligarchy with a twinkle in their eyes in the process!

Kit fee: 25 USD

Materials:

Students need to bring a sewing kit (needles, thread, scissors, etc)
  • sewing machine
  • iron
  • 12 x 18 inch cutting mat
  • rotary cutter
  • Warm & Natural cotton batting (Twin size will be sufficient for the entire coat, but you don’t need to bring all of it to class. You will finish quilting a few pattern pieces; the rest you will finish at home.)
  • Mid-weight cotton or linen backing fabric for your coat. Your final coat will require more than 4 yards, depending on the size you’re making, but you can bring less to the workshop. (A second hand sheet works great for this!)
  • A small bag of SCRAPS FOR YOU! Anything goes here, from cutting up old clothes to using different kinds of fabric remnants from past projects. The decision is aesthetic and up to you.
    • Sticking to mid-weight cotton will produce a more traditional quilt coat, while using different textures (think silk + linen) will give a more modern feel.
    • What to avoid: fabrics with stretch, synthetic fabrics, and very thin fabrics. But when in doubt, bring it!
    • You can even bring laces and other notions which look amazing layered on top of other fabrics.
  • A small bag of SCRAPS TO SHARE! We’re building creative community here, and community members take care of each other!
Kit: Meg will provide a printed version of the Retazo Coat sewing pattern, both instructions full-size pattern pieces.
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