Learning has never been so much fun!

Quilting in the Hills

September 4-6, 2025
Featuring Karen Bolan

Join us for three days of workshops and SOYO while we learn new techniques, make new friends and enjoy spending time with our fellow quilters. The retreat is Thursday through Saturday at Hilton Garden Inn, 815 E Mall Dr, Rapid City, SD.

Registration will open at the Quilt Show in June

Open Brochure           Open Brochure Pictures

Retreat Refund Policy
Cancellations before July 31, 2025, will receive a 25% refund on class or SOYO fees.  The registration fee is non-refundable. There are no refunds after July 31, 2025.

Meet the Instructor - Karen Bolan

Karen is a quilter in Santa Rosa, California.  Drawn to the layers of design and expression possible in quilting, she loves the learning that comes from experimenting.  Her designs are out of the box and integrate a love of geometry, experimentation, interconnection, depth and texture.  Her work has been featured in magazines including Curated Quilts, Modern Quilt Guild Journal, Make Modern, and Modish Quilter, and her quilts have been exhibited at local and international quilt shows, including Pacific International Quilt Festival and QuiltCon.  Visit her website:  www.KarenBolan.com. 

Workshop Descriptions 

Supply List for all Classes

Piece Curves and Play with Transparency Workshop
Thursday, September 4, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Are you intimidated by curves but love precision piecing?  Start the Cool as a Cactus quilt in class, featuring pieced curves, a unique border treatment, and color palette that features transparency.  Class will begin with an exercise in creating transparency effects, then we work from paper templates to accurately cut and piece large diameter curves.  Learn to cut and precisely piece large-diameter curves from templates, assemble a quilt top with pieced borders, and plan a color palette that includes a transparency effect.  Students must purchase the digital pattern from Karen's website prior to class.  Leave class with at least one block and border complete.  

Design an Original Modern Quilt Workwhop
Friday, September 5, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Explore and create your own minimal geometeric composition.  Turn your original design into a mini quilt by drafting your own paper piecing template.  Whether you are new to paper piecing or seasoned, learn tricks for efficient use of fabric.  Learn the freezer paper method for easy construction and avoid ripping out paper when you are done.  Leave class with a completed design and at least one block complete.   

Design a Quilting Plan Workshop
Saturday, September 6, 9:00 am - noon

Do you get stuck asking yourself "How do I quilt this?"  In this class, we experience the adventure of developing a quilting plan.  In a "choose your own adventure" style, we work through a variety of exercises to learn to analyze, strategize, and implement a unique modern quilting plan.  Students may be beginners through advanced quilters.  This class focuses on design, and not instruction on how to quilt.  Learn to identify constraints, evaluate quilting options, follow a decision-making process, and make a quilting plan that strengthens and aligns with the quilt's message.  Leave class with newfound confidence and a plan to quilt on your own qults.  

SOYO (Sew On Your Own) is offered Thursday, September 4 - Saturday, September 6.

Open Sew for all Workshop Attendees
Thursday - Saturday
The classroom will be open until 8:00 pm on Thursday and Friday for anyone who took Karen's Thursday or Friday workshop, and until 5:00 pm on Saturday.  The instructor will not be available; this is a time for you to work on your class projects.  Please specify on the registration form if you would like to attend.

Schedule of Events 

Thursday, September 4

Friday, September 5

Saturday, September 6

Meals and Lodging

Meals are $20 per day

Thursday:  Build your own Salad Bar:  Spring mix and iceberg lettuce, pulled chicken, julienned steak, grilled tofu, assorted toppings, Italian, Ranch, Balsamic vinaigrette & French dressings, side of cottage cheese

Friday:  Your choice of Apple Goat Cheese Salad (Roma blend lettuce, sliced apples, candied walnuts, crumbled goat cheese, pickled red onions drizzled with sweet balsamic vinegar) or California Crunch Wrap (crispy chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato garlic aioli, herb wrapped with with house made chips).

The deadline for adding lunches is August 5, 2025.

The Hilton Garden Inn offers casual dining for breakfast and dinner at the Garden Grill and Bar.  Rooms are available through the hotel.  Prices vary.

No outside food or beverages are allowed.

Calling All Teachers

We are always looking for new instructors offering techniques that provide a variety of interest for our guild. If you would like to teach a class, please submit your application online OR download and print the form, fill it out and mail it to us. Please provide as much information as possible.  We will try to contact you within a few weeks but if you don't hear from us, submit your application again or Contact Us.  Thank you!

   Click here to open the ONLINE Instructor Application Form

   Click here to Download and Print Instructor Application Form