LECTURES and WORKSHOPS
ROCKHOUNDING WORKSHOP
Abigail creates stunning large-scale rock portraits using a specialized turned-edge machine appliqué technique. In the Rockhounding workshop, discover her method for creating bold, intricate shapes with ease. Students will explore fluid, agate-inspired forms and learn how to piece complex curves without frustration.
This live workshop is designed for groups of up to 20 participants with an Intermediate or advance skill level. Students will choose one of three designs to complete in the workshop. Abigail will demonstrate how to cut shapes from a paper template and neatly turn the edges using a mini iron for clean, precise lines. Students will then use a placement guide to layer their shapes and secure them with machine stitching using monofilament thread.
Designed for intermediate and advanced quilters, this workshop focuses on building skills to create dynamic quilts rich in movement and color. Participants will leave with a completed block sample, along with the knowledge and confidence to design and sew their own complex appliqué compositions in the future.
SACRED STONES WORKSHOP
Discover how to create bold, stone-shaped blocks using improvisational piecing and intuitive design. Students will bring fabric scraps in a variety of colors and prints, orphan blocks to cut up, and/or smaller pre-sewn units such as checks, stripes, or curved mini blocks. This live workshop is designed for groups of up to 20 participants with an Intermediate or advance skill level.
In the first part of the workshop, students will use these materials to quickly create 4” or 5” improv-pieced blocks, relying on intuition and fast decision-making rather than over-planning. The second part of the class focuses on assessing the completed blocks and writing down visual inspiration drawn from the blocks. We will explore how these observations can spark ideas for future personal designs.
In the final portion of the workshop, students will transform their pieced units into wonky snowball blocks using background fabric. The class concludes with arranging the blocks into a final composition and discussing assembly with background sashing.
Designed for intermediate and advanced quilters, this workshop emphasizes building skills to create dynamic quilts rich in color and texture. Participants will leave with a completed mini quilt top or a set of blocks ready for a larger composition, along with the confidence to design and sew quickly from intuition.
BLOOMING AGAVE WORKSHOP
This live workshop is designed for groups of up to 20 participants with an Advanced Beginner skill level. The session runs 4.5 to 5 hours, and attendees should arrive with their fabric pre-cut. Prior to the workshop, participants will receive a supply list and a link to purchase the Blooming Agave Pattern as a digital PDF (class discount available).
In this workshop, attendees will learn to use a parallelogram block to create a modern, stylized Blooming Agave quilt. The goal is to complete one section, which can be finished as a wall hanging (26” x 72”) or combined into a larger 71” x 72” quilt with three sections.
The session begins with a discussion on cutting parallelograms and utilizing the fabric grainline for precise piecing. Hands-on instruction will guide participants through each step of the process. Tips and tricks are presented for accurately piecing together two parallelogram shapes. Additional topics include color variations, pressing techniques, grainline usage, and optional design elements to personalize the final quilt.
At the end of the workshop, attendees will have a solid foundation in these techniques and make significant progress on their Blooming Agave quilt.
PREPPY PRISM WORKSHOP
This live workshop is designed for groups of up to 20 participants with an Advanced Beginner skill level. The session runs 4 to 5 hours with the goal of completing a four-block wall hanging. Prior to the workshop, participants will receive a supply list and a link to purchase the Preppy Prism Pattern and Templates as a digital PDF (class discount available).
In this workshop, attendees learn to accurately piece gently curved pieces, stacking curved pieces to create an accurately pieced wedge and then join wedges into a cohesive partially circular design. I will also teach how to use the grainline of fabric for accurate piecing.
The session begins with a discussion on cutting pieces following the grainline of the fabric. Tips and tricks are presented for sewing smooth curved seams together into stacked gently curved shapes. Hands-on instruction will guide participants through each step of the process. Additional topics include different layout options of blocks, color variations, pressing techniques, grainline and optional design elements to personalize the final quilt.
By the end of the workshop, you'll have a strong foundation in curved piecing and will make meaningful progress on your own Preppy Prism wall hanging or quilt.
BUILD YOUR OWN EXQUISITE QUILT GROUP QUILT
This live workshop is designed for groups of all skill levels. The session runs 5 to 6 hours, and attendees should arrive with their fabric pre-cut. Prior to the workshop, participants will receive a supply list and a link to purchase the Exquisite Quilt Pattern & coloring sheets as a digital PDF (class discount available).
The group will pre-determine their color pallet and email me their color “rules” before the workshop. If needed, I’ll provide feedback.
In this workshop, attendees will learn to create two pre-designed Exquisite Quilt “connector” style blocks to use in the group quilt. Then we will work on starting the design of your own unique connector style block.
The session begins with a discussion on placement of connectors within the block. Tips and tricks are presented for accurately piecing the blocks and checking for accurate connector placement. After the two blocks are completed, I will assist attendees on starting to draft/design their third personal block.
At the end of class, we will place blocks on a design wall and talk about the final composition and construction of the group quilt.
LECTURES
FORM, FUNCTION, AND FREEDOM: PRINCIPLES IN MODERN QUILTING
This talk explores the core design principles that define modern quilting today—bold use of form, practical function, and the creative freedom that distinguishes it from traditional approaches. We'll examine the elements of composition including negative space, asymmetry, color theory, maximalism and minimalism, and how these principles are used to evoke emotion and tell stories. Through visual examples and process insights, Abigail Vargas shares how modern quilters are rethinking the quilt as both a functional object and an expressive art form. Ideal for those interested in a deeper understanding of the visual strategies that give modern quilts their distinctive power.
SALVAGED BEAUTY: REPURPOSED AND SCRAP MATERIALS IN CONTEMPORARY QUILTS
With over 20 years of experience working with repurposed fabrics, I’m passionate about transforming discarded textiles into meaningful and visually striking quilts. This lecture explores how discarded fabrics, studio remnants, and worn textiles become the foundation for innovative and expressive quilt designs. I’ll share examples from my own practice and others, highlighting how material limitations can spark unexpected creativity, storytelling, and aesthetic richness. I share techniques and inspiration for incorporating recycled, upcycled, and leftover materials into your quilting practice. From garment fabrics and vintage linens to UFOs and studio scraps, we’ll explore how to let these fabrics guide your design choices and help you create dynamic, story-rich compositions. You'll learn practical tips for handling mixed materials and blending repurposed elements with new fabrics.
MODERN ART MOVEMENT AND INFLUENCE ON MODERN QUILTING
This lecture traces the rich dialogue between 20th-century modern art movements and today’s modern quilting aesthetic. From the bold geometry of Bauhaus and the expressive abstraction of Abstract Expressionism to the minimalism and conceptual art of the 1960s and beyond, Abigail Vargas explores how visual art history has shaped the language of contemporary quilts. We’ll examine how examples from Abigail’s designs adopt, reinterpret, and challenge the formal ideas of modernism—transforming canvas-based movements into stitched expressions of color, shape, and meaning.
EXQUISITE QUILT COLLABORATIONS AND THE SURREALIST ART MOVEMENT
Exquisite Quilt was launched as a collaborative project inspired by the Surrealist game Exquisite Corpse, where multiple quilters contribute to a composition without seeing the full picture. Each quilter builds upon a hidden foundation, guided by a designated connector point, resulting in a quilt that is both unpredictable and interconnected.
Started 4 years ago, Exquisite Quilt has engaged 70 participants, generating 293 blocks across six quilts that are available for a Zoom or In-Person trunk show. Learn the history of the Surrealist Art Movement and their connection to the Exquisite Quilt collaborations. I’ll discuss how the pattern along with the ‘rules’ built amazing vibrant quilts.
Contact me.
Let me know in the message area which lecture/workshop you are interested in.