Originally Posted by fabric-holic
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?
I'm replying to this before I read anymore. You are NOT too old to do this. It won't be as hard as you think. There is an awesome book (actually there are two) that could be a great help to you to give you more confidence. You will see that you know so much of this stuff already and all you need to do is help someone else learn how to do it. I strongly recommend the books by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, QUILTS! QUILTS! QUILTS! and QUILTS! QUILTS! AND MORE QUILTS!
I didn't teach from these books, but I taught myself to do a lot from these books. Each block (quilt) is set up in "lesson plan" form. There are excellent pictures and diagrams. And the basics that are included are the best next to none. I don't know these ladies (except from what I've seen on them on quilting shows), I don't work for these ladies, but I love their books. I highly recommend that you take this opportunity to teach others. You won't be sorry.
Now I'll read the rest of this thread. :wink: