fabric-holic

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:

LindaR

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

Gramakitten

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.

renee765

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.)

mpspeedy

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.

studio-christine

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!!

fabric-holic

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.

fabric-holic

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.

Quilter7x

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:

fabric-holic

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...)