I've been asked to help a "start up" quilt group at my church make their quilts. They didn't use the word "teach" but I guess that's what I'll be doing.
I don't want to.
I'll help them make them and remind them there's no quilt police, any "how to's" that I might know, etc.
"Guiding", "suggesting", that's what I feel comfortable with, but teaching?
They want me to be in front walking them through the process as each one of us individually make the same quilt.

Mostly they'll be for charity but they also want to make at least one quilt each year for auctioning to raise money to use for church things (helping pay bills for parishioners, repairs, new computers at the church, etc).

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the above uses. And I'd love to help with the quilts.
But "teach"?
My knees are knocking.
I'm very much a wallflower. I love being in the shadows.
Our priest was standing there and told me, with a grin on his face, this might be God's way of helping me bloom. :shock:
Bloom??? I'm too old to bloom!!! :)
My grandkids should be blooming....

Anyway, I'm going to do it. Not because of the priest (who I'm suggesting gets transferred immediately to someplace horrible!! :-D )
but because I'm a sucker for quilting and want more people to see how fun and satisfying it can be, and what is a better way to spend an evening than surrounded by fabric, humming machines, common good goals, etc.
We can even bring our kids and grandkids to watch and "help". Fun.

I know I'm doomed....I'm going to do it.
How have other wallflowers dealt with this?
And where did you send your priest?

You will do just fine, probably most of them have never made a quilt so like you said, guide them, suggest ways of doing things and you will all learn thru the process. You might want to make of list of things they will need ahead of time so they can be ready. good luck.

Make a list?
Great idea.
See...I'm behind already lol

Be careful where you send priests...... ;^) You will do fine and have a great time. You'll see! Talk to the ladies and see if you can enlist a helper. Someone to hand out written information they can take home with them, help you help individually, things of that sort. You can do this..just compile a list of equipment they need, pick a simple block or pattern along with a fabric requirement list and go from there. You'll love it!

Just remember.....you're never too old to bloom! Just think of the blessing you'll be to these women!:^)

You must be in cahoots with my priest :wink:

I haven't taught quilting, but I used to teach crochet. Keep in mind that everyone learns and works at a different pace. Many people will catch on quickly and love the craft --- some will never catch on and will hate quilting. Try to not take the negative Nellie's grumbles personally. Believe me, they will grumble, but it's not directed at you as a teacher.

I teach quilting weekly and the most important thing is to plan ahead and get organized so that there are no last minute "oops". Decide on the skill or techniques that you are demonstrating, make some samples, gather all of your supplies well ahead of time (check them off from a list)pack your needed things in an easily accessible bin or rubbermaid container, go a little early to get set up and relax. This will be interesting and you will be sharing great skills with others who will appreciate your efforts. Adults are usually eager students wanting to learn. You will probably learn something too even if it is not about quilting. As for your priest, send him to Canada as our charge is searching for a minister!

Samples!! Another idea I hadn't thought of. Thanks!
As for sending my priest to Canada...nope. He was born there....lol. And I said "someplace horrible"....I love Canada. I've been there alot.

LOL, sorry for laughing, but i was remembering my first class, i was so scared and once i got into it, everything was fine. You will do fine.

It sounds like you will be a great teacher!

Just follow Shelbie's advice, and plan ahead. Everyone is there to learn because they want to, not have to like kids in school.

Relax and enjoy! Anything you aren't sure about, you can always call on the knowledgeable people on this board.

As for blossoming, remember Spring is coming, you will become a beautiful flower! :) :) :thumbup: :thumbup:

When I took my only quiliting class (at church) she gave us a folder with copies of the blocks we were going to make (and some extras). She also brought in some of her stash for us pull from.

I don't think she had ever taught a class before, but we had a really good time.

Remember to have fun, and everyone else will.

Well HE does work in mysterious ways...lol
But seriously, I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement from everyone here.

As for my priest, I've known him all my life. Like an older brother. He's a year older than me and used to tease me endlessly in school. So when I say I want to send him someplace horrible......I mean it!! :lol: :lol:

You will do fine! as for your Priest I say put him behind a sewing machine and make him help!

I bet you'll do just fine!

:-D :-D :thumbup:
Actually I think I will try to do that for a photo in the bulletin or newsletter. Oh I wish my brain worked like yours!

You are going to do great. If you are passionate about quilting it will come out in your teaching. You and your class are going to have a good time. All of my quiting teachers sit as much as standing because they have to demonstrate, so you should be able to sit in front of them most of the time and that way they can come up and look at what you are doing. You will probably be walking around more than standing up front. Do you have a podeum for when you are standing.

You go girl. Easy for me to say, huh. :roll: I have been ask to teach also and I can stand in front of a group all day if it deals with politics, but I won't teach a class. I teach my friends all the time, but there is something about a structured class. :lol: I think once you get started you students will end up being quilting friends and it will be easy.

Pick up one of the Eleanor Burns books and just follow thru the instructions with your "class". Pick something like log cabin which is super easy. You can ad lib as you go but the bulk of the instruction is there so you don't have to work about missing some important detail. Just my thought!

Remember, they are to this also and there no teachers police in the group:)
The students are going to think you are great and know everything they want to know. Smile and tell them all what a great job they are doing...
I have been teaching tole painting then quilting for over 2o years, I remember the first class I taught, I called everyone I could think of to sign up for the class so I would not standing in front of strangers LOL

:-P :-P That's brilliant (and I'm going to steal the idea). Thanks

All I can think is, how wonderful you are to give your time. It may be a little uncomfortable for you at first, but I'll bet the rewards will be many. I hope you'll keep us posted on your journey. Big hugs for you.

You guys are helping me so much!!
I love the Eleanor Burns suggestion. I think I'll steal her trademark of ripping the fabric and tossing it. That sounds like it'll make everyone laugh. And maybe I can have the priest sweep it all up....I better stop with the priest sarcasm. :oops:

one thing the girls in my guild like when I show a technique is a supply list ahead of time....the newletter just tells them to bring blah blah...and then everyone has what they need. If these girls don't sew at all, scraps help alot. One girl just cut out scads of 3" squares and showed a nine patch...they had a finished block when they left and one girl had a quilt done (9 patch) the next month...really got into it LOL

Do you plan on using a rotery cutter? Have some demo's on how to use it safely, with the mat. I agree something simple such as a nine patch to start. have some handouts ready and some sample blocks to choose from. Are they bring supplies or are you supplying all? Get there early have a block cut out and have a cup of tea to relax you. You might be suprised to find that you are a GREAT teacher. Good luck.

Remember that you know something they don't know, and you are offering to share that knowledge with them. Also, HAVE FUN! (People tend to learn more when smiling, and you'll enjoy it more too.)

Where to start? I think the most important question to ask those interested is "have they ever sewn before". A lot will depend on the class's basic level of skill. I would make the first class show and tell of some of your work and then maybe a quilt in progress showing the various steps. As a handquilter I always made up pillowsize quilt sandwhiches with a simple line quilting motif. I then let them try their hand at handquilting. It isn't a quilt until it is quilted.
In group quilting the work is generally done by handquilting on a frame. It is the only way a group of people can make a "group" quilt.
If they are truly intersted then you can start with something as simple as a 4 patch using a wonderful print and a solid. It is a quick way to produce an attractive quilt with a minimum of cutting and piecing. In our instant world simplicity speeds up the process. When and if they master that you can move on to something more challenging.
My church is currently celebrating it's 250th year of existance. We are creating an anniversary quilt. It will consist of paperpieced houses with hopefully a picture of each family in the congregation in the window of the house. I am embroidering the name of the family members on a white strip at the bottom of the house. The center of the quilt will be a large square with an embroidered line drawing of the building. We hope to machine embroider some Lutheran religious symbols like the Luther Rose in cornerstones of one of the borders. It is still a question of how and whom will do the actual quilting. We are having a paperpiecing workshop for those who are willing to assemble the house blocks.

taught some of my mom's group, hand pieced a lap sized I Spy quilt

have become the "fixer" at the Baptist craft group (and have machine quilted two "first" quilts) will be designing a KING sized quilt from the three centre blocks out tomorrow

also will be teaching next term, another church group, this time it is a simple quilt with sashed charm sqares (pre-cut) and wide borders

best thing is to pick something easy...everyone will work at their own pace

and have something to go on with in case someone gets really enthusiastic!!

oh, and if you are doing a sampler, BIG blocks are the way to go......NOT 7.5 inch (finished) square with zillions of pieces!!

I was thinking "quilt as you go" then we'd all put it together. Each one could stitch in the ditch or whatever we decide on that's easy.
Maybe I'll have to re-think that.
But the "auction" quilt could be hand quilted by the group.
Thanks.

I agree...but I'll have to see how many actually are in the group. The smaller the group, the larger the blocks, eh? And definitely make blocks with only a few pieces, at least for the charity ones. We need to get them out on a regular basis.

I don't recommend quilt as you go for first time quilters since you have to be careful lining up the top, bottom and batting so it doesn't shift or get creases underneath.

You'll do fine. The absolute best place to teach your first class is at a church with church members as the students. I love the thought of having the priest do some of the sewing - maybe you could get him to make an entire 9 patch or something simple like that.

There are some great ideas here, a list of things to bring to class, having a helper (a child would be a great helper), creating folders for everyone with hand outs and samples.

Some type of design wall with each stage of the block in progress would help people see what their block is supposed to look like as they're making it. I'm a visual person, I can figure it out if I can see it rather than reading about how to do it. You can use a flannel backed tablecloth for your design wall.

Good luck! :thumbup:

Me too. I'm sure there'll be some way to hang a flannel backed tablecloth or something for a design board. (uh oh...I just thought of another job for the priest..he can hold the flannel backed tablecloth up.. :lol: I'm going to hell for sure...)

When I first started a training postion I was nervous. But it is so different than just giving a speech in front of a group.
They will be working and not just staring at you lol!!!
But trying to teach a quilting class with kids running around, bless you!

What part about this is bothering you? Is it standing in front of a group of people or preparing something for them or maybe fear of the unknown? See if you can figure that out, cause there's something about this that's really eating at you.

I love the idea of calling many friends to take the class so you will know some of the students. They will encourage you during class. I really think you'll do just fine. Have faith! You'll realize after class that there's no other place for you than heaven. :)

I never cared for the idea of teaching either but when I was working I was the leader of the mom's group and we did crafts. They all loved it. I find that if you pretend to know what you are doing it goes easier and trying to figure things out as you go to make it easy for them to do. Don't panic, (I hated group day) I always made it through and had so many compliments from the mom's and staff that I was proud of having been able to do it. It really is easier than it sounds. Just have fun!!

I am sure that you will make a great "teacher". To teach is in it's simplest form is leading by example just as Jesus did. I say that not only should you ask the priest to participate, but I am sure that there are other male members of your parish that would enjoy and probably be very good at some or all of the quilting steps. GOOD LUCK!!!

If you take it one step at a time and break up the projects into small lessons it goes smooth. I make up samples of the different lessons and go through them once for everyone and then help anyone who is stuck after that. If the group is filled with all levels of experience then suggest that a newbie sit near the experienced quilter. And I rarely get to sew on the days I teach.

I say go for it and thank your stars that your priest is encouraging you. Do you want to trade priests. We'll take him, he sounds like he is helpful. I have seen your work and you do an excellent job and will do great.

Maybe the Priest wanted to learn how to make a quilt and was embarrassed to ask anyone. So he wanted to make up a reason to have a class.

That's a great idea. I never would have thought of that. Thanks

I know I know. You're so right. I've always been this way when it comes to being in charge, or the lead, etc. Like I said earlier, I'm a wallflower. And I'm very good at it!! :-D
But I have to admit that after reading how many of you have taught things at church or in a group, I'm beginning to think I can do it too. I mean, what'll they do to me if I can't answer all the questions? It's a church group....they have to forgive me, right? lol