OLLI Presents: Folded Log Cabin (Manx) Quilt Block Workshop with Aaron Sanders Head

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (break for lunch included) | Sunny Slope Annex

Fee: $35 (OLLI membership required)

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to create a folded Log Cabin, or Manx, quilt block - a distinctive interpretation of the traditional log cabin design. This method utilizes a series of simple measurements based on the hand of the maker, ensuring that each block is uniquely shaped by its creator.

Traditionally, fabric was torn rather than cut. A straightforward folding technique gives the block a rich, textural finish while allowing it to come together quickly. Participants will leave with one to two finished quilt blocks.

No prior quilting experience is required. Those new to quilting do not need to bring anything—core materials will be provided.

Materials Provided:
Muslin foundation squares, crewel embroidery needles (size 3 or 4), neutral button or craft thread, glass-head pins, cutting tools, and select naturally dyed and vintage fabrics. Irons will be available for shared use during the workshop.

Optional Items to Bring (for those who already sew or quilt):

·               Fabric scraps (up to 3 inches wide and 2–10 inches long)

·               Several half-yards of assorted fabric (if desired)

·               Small quilting ruler

·               Personal scissors

·               Preferred hand-stitching thread

·               Sewing lamp or magnifier (if typically used)

Participants may also bring backing fabric for foundation piecing if they prefer something specific; otherwise, neutral muslin will be provided.

About the Presenter

Aaron Sanders Head is a Southern, Alabama-based textile artist raised in rural Grady and Hope Hull, Alabama. The youngest of three children of an artist mother and an agricultural worker father, Aaron developed an early appreciation for both art and the rhythms of rural life. His grandparents, both rural mail carriers, often took him along on their routes—experiences that deepened his connection to rural communities and sharpened his powers of observation.

That sense of place, combined with inherited family traditions of textile work and agriculture, informs the unique visual language Aaron practices today in quiltmaking, handwork, and natural dyes. He creates quilts and hand-stitched, naturally dyed textiles that explore the lived experiences of rural Alabamians.

This program is made possible with support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts, and the Alice M. Leahy Memorial Endowment Fund for Excellence.