d.swindle

I have found when people start to sew ,weather it is quilting or clothing, you don't want to get to technicle until you know if that is realy what they like.
in our club we tried a quilting class and the lady who taught was very strict about the pros and cons,needless to say the class didn't go over to well.
the class kneeds to know upfront that you are starting them out easy and later they will know the particulars . to leave a class with a lot of new terms and measurements is very discouraging.
If a person has somethink to say about what they are interested in things go a lot better,good luck,

d.swindle

AliKat

Grab a friend who can act like a 'newbie.' She/he will be able to find where you might need to do more explaining. it helps if this friend really is a 'newbie' or at least has a different thought process than you.

Table runners are quickly completed. The students can do the various steps in class and then do another at home.

Rail Fence is the easiest to do. Then graduate up.

Lots of printed instructions help as well as being able to contact you via e-mail. [No phone calls unless you really want them.]

When I taught in schools we had to make a supply list, skill list, and then an outline of each class with measurable outcomes. This works with any teaching.

Enjoy.

ali

tjradj

I recently taught a group of 6- 11 year old girls how to quilt. Only one had used a sewing machine before. Our project was a mug rug. I had all the parts precut. They made a four-patch, sandwiched it and did a "pillow case" method. Then they quilted it in straight, and not so straight lines. It was completed in a 1 1/2 hour session.
By the end, each girl learned not to fear a sewing machine, had accomplished a finished project, and ALL of them expressed interest in learning more. I consider that a success.
With adult learners, I would still start with a pillow=case style mini quilt. If they have time, they can still put a binding on it to learn the technique, but it is finished even without.
IMHO

jdeery

I am curious how you would be paid for this venture?

quiltmagnet

I went to a class years ago..this was once a week we did a sampler but the teacher expected us to do 3sblocks in one week and then bring them back to class. Most of us worked and we were lucky if we could get 1 block done. I just thought she went to fast. I didn't think the squares were easy

Tirolgirl

I taught beginners' classes for 19 years - and that's what I did: the first evening was just for orientation, and I always brought a bunch of quilts with me. We talked about supplies, fabric - just basic stuff, and THIMLES!!! Nobody had thimbles, and all hated them - was the same every time. Anyway - I started with handsewing hexagons over papers (I cut the papers), hexagons make pretty flowers, that covers applique. After that I picked easy patterns - Log Cabin, Nine Patch, and then triangles. And I did show them how to quilt.
I am a self-taught quilter, when I started, there were no quilters in Germany (I lived with my family in the States for 4 years).
I always stressed quality - cheap fabric is no fun to work with. If you have more questions, just send me a PM. I'll do my best to answer all questions. Tirolgirl

Phyl

I AM teaching a beginners class in September. I think it is my fourth or fifth year and it ALWAYS starts with the cleaning of the sewing machine, threading, bobbin making, and the proper way to sit at the machine. I also show them how to set up a sewing area with cutting place, ironing place and sewing place. Now, that being said, there is a fabulous book....I Can't Believe I'm Quilting! distributed by Leisure Arts. It goes in order of what you do from beginning to end of a completed quilt.
I have made a table runner with three simple blocks...
a six block and sashed floral wall hanging amongst other things but I NEVER assume they know anything, I encourage questions, and give simple, slowly explained and shown answers. This coming September, I will be working with half square triangles and solids only. Once they master a HST and learn how to check it and square them off all to the same size, we will spend time moving them around to form all different patterns and they will decide which way to put them into a small lap quilt. we will do sandwiching IN CLASS. I have them sandwich my quilt I work on with them. You can't believe how many little hints you get when doing things in class! I never realized how some people don't line their pins up for easier sewing, how many pull on the fabric while pinning which stretches the fabric, etc. so doing one in class is a great way to help them. We then make binding, and learn how to place the binding with mitered corners until, VOILA, they each have a beautiful first COMPLETED quilt. I always demonstrate one in class, slowly and I have people who love to quilt when we are finished. My students, who become better at quilting than I am, keep coming back and they start what we are doing and wind up with king size quilts and more friends. It is a joy to bring the love of quilting to others, BEST HINT....SIMPLE, EASY, COMPLETE AND GIVE LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. HAVE THEM BRING IN WHAT STEP THEY HAVE DONE AND GENTLY GUIDE THEM TO PERHAPS A DIFFERENT WAY OR BE EXCITED THAT THEY FOUND A WAY THAT WORKS. We begin each class, and spend most of the time, sharing what we each have done and suggesting what to do next, what went wrong and why, how to correct it. We are all around one very large table....there are usually 14-16 of us in each class.

LOVE IT, LOVE THEM AND ENJOY. Good luck from another Phyllis