Hey, everyone!

Got precuts lying around, just waiting for the right project to come along? Great news — Janet Rae Nesbitt of ONE S1STER Designs is about to give them the adventure they’ve been so patiently waiting for! With over 30 years in the quilting industry, a hundred fabric collections under her belt, and a crazy piecing technique she has literally become known for, Janet’s the real deal — and she’s coming to The Gathering at Primitive Gatherings!

Janet’s story is as colorful as her quilts. In 1996, she and her sister Pam opened a quilt shop inside an old barn in Reardan, Washington — and not just any barn. A local elderly woman informed them their new acquisition had always been known as the “Buggy Barn,” and just like that, a name was born. Over the next 18 years, Buggy Barn grew into a thriving pattern business, producing over two dozen patterns and several books to show for it.

The Buggy Barn didn’t just produce patterns — it’s also where Janet’s now-trademark “crazy” piecing method was developed. Stack, cut, shuffle, and stitch — it sounds simple because it is, and that’s exactly the point. Basically, you stack your fabrics, cut through all the layers at once, shuffle the pieces so no two fabrics land in the same block, and stitch it all back together again. The result is a scrappy, colorful, one-of-a-kind quilt that looks far more complicated than it actually was to make.

Sounds like a blast, doesn’t it? What makes Janet’s technique even more appealing is that it truly works for quilters of every skill level. Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher with a fabric room that’s reached critical mass, or a newer quilter still building your confidence, the crazy piecing method is forgiving enough to let you relax and enjoy the process.

If Janet’s crazy quilting technique sounds like something you’d like to try, great news — you can! She’s bringing her knowledge and expertise to The Gathering this October for two back-to-back retreat sessions where she’ll teach you the madness to her method while guiding each student through any ONE S1STER Designs pattern of their choice!

Sessions are two full days with class from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The first is Friday, October 23rd through Saturday, October 24th, and the second is Monday, October 26th through Tuesday, October 27th, 2026. The class fee is $325 per student plus lodging and supplies for lodging students, and $350 per student plus supplies for daily students.

Not able to commit to a full class ? Don’t fret — there’s still a way to check out what Janet is all about while she’s here. On Sunday, October 25th, she will also be hosting a trunk show and brunch right here at The Gathering from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, or just $10 if you’re enrolled in one of these classes (please sign up ahead of time).

If you’re not sure if Janet’s style is for you but are still curious about what she has to offer, I encourage you to watch a quick video she posted recently from the h+h americas show last week by clicking HERE. It’s not a long video — just a couple of minutes — but it just might be the nudge you need to help you decide. Either way, remember that spots for both sessions are limited, so don’t wait too long to claim yours. Get on the horn and call the gals at The Gathering at 920-778-8031 to register! You can also email thegathering@primitivegatherings.us for more information!

Alright, stitchers. It’s 5 o’clock and time to close up shop for the day. I’ll be back in the studio tomorrow when we go LIVE on my YouTube channel STITCH with Lisa Bongean at 1:00 p.m. CST. As always, we’ll be discussing all sorts of fun stuff, including my upcoming Paris, France trip which I leave for this weekend. Join us! It’s always fun… and you might even win a prize! Tune in by clicking the STITCH button below and I’ll see you there. Have a great night! ~Lisa