Hi everyone, I've been roped into offering a class at community school this year. It's one evening a week, 7-9, for 9 weeks and the 'class' is for people who haven't sewed before but are specifically interested in quilting. I'd like to send everyone home with at least two small completed projects, and I was thinking about coasters or potholders for Valentine's Day and maybe a small mug rug for St. Patrick's Day. I'm also thinking about an evening of basic mending (sewing on a button?), and simple embroidery (stem stitch, couple of others). I'd love any and all ideas, suggestions, guidelines.........any HELP at all. It's my first foray into teaching and after worming my way out of volunteering for the 4th year in a row, the guilt has finally gotten to me.
I just want anyone who comes out to this to see how much fun fabric is, and to feel free enough to enjoy it. Love to hear from you, and thanks, it's a great board.

I want to join your class!

wow, I have some ideas for you:


coasters, potholders, placemats, applique heart for Valentines Day, criss cross coasters, pincushions, remote control holder, table runners, crazy quilt small project, maybe a small sampler quilt to show different unique quilt blocks, bookmarks, small wall hanging, doll quilt to show how to do binding something small, mug rug, appliques, tote bags

1. to discuss tools and how to use rotary cutter properly
2. sewing machine basics (get to know the sewing machine)

When i went to an quilting class...we learned how to used the sew machine basic and used shoo fly, churn dash, fence rail , 9 patch patterns then how to sew blocks together & pin batting on as well as the backing... that was all the time you have in 9 weeks but of course i missed the last couple classes due to chemo. The ladies had to talk a little and then ooo-ahh over each other projects before settled down. Your idea of coasters, mug rug, etc are all wonderful ! Keep it simple & fun will roll around !

I recently talked my mother into teaching a 3-4 week class for "Learn how to Quilt". What I learned was to have the material and/or patterns ready to be used. Our class had 10 people, and 10 different projects. :oops: We did have a quilt project selected, but gave the people the option of bring their own material. This didn't work out so well.

Everyone loves tote bags. For example
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projec...erns_ss_b.html

forgot to say when you call the school for enrollment,,,they tell u the supplies that is needed so all in on hand when they show up for classes.

After you decide on "what" - send out a supply list so that the students will have/bring what they need.

There will always be one or two that will have "forgotten" or "not got around to gettting whatever"''

If you are teaching in a shop - spending/shopping opportunity -

but if you are teaching in a community center - do you bring "extras" - or do you let the student "learn to be a responsible adult"?

Be sure to have your course outline available to the prospective students so they know what to expect, including materials they need to bring (pins? scissors? rotary cutter/mat? iron? machine? thread?). And I'd have whatever extras I could scrounge up with me for the ones who will come with completely different things than you suggest :)

Personally, if the course was to learn to quilt and I ended up making pot holders, that wouldn't make me happy.

If the course is intended for students who haven't sewn at all, they'll need to learn about cutting precisely and sewing the 1/4" seam, and pressing. So again, a pot holder wouldn't give me enough practice on seams.

What about having a number of strip sets ready to put together to figure out how to do the 1/4" seam - 3 strips, six" long, 2" wide. You could end up with dozens of strip sets ... and put them together into a wall hanging (without correcting anything!) or sub-cut into different shapes to show how much you can do with just strip piecing (tube quilts, rail fence, there are tons of books on this!).

I like your idea about incorporating other sewing methods into the class - but rather than 'mending', sew the button on to decorate an embroidery square!

I'd also suggest putting together a list of resources for the students - local library for books/magazines, any local guilds?, local quilt shops, websites (quilter's cache, quiltville, this board!)

Good for you for sharing your passion, good luck with the class!

A member of our church recently did a beginner class. The night I dropped in three people were making a simple wall hanging, one a darling doll quilt, one a simple prayer quilt in a lap robe size, and another a table runner. All in squares and rectangles - no triangles yet. They had learned measuring, cutting with a rotary cutter, piecing, 1/4 stitching and sandwiching. Most were ready to quilt - one by hand, then go on to binding. It was going very well.