From Don-isewman--???
 

I'm asking for a little help. I need a quilt top FAST. The reason, I'm asking is at my Oct quilt meeting, were going to have some different demo's, from our group, going on. I was ask to do a demo, on my hand quilting, technique, I use. Me being a person, of not being very courages, I said yes. I thought, of using my GFgarden, quilt top. But, I may be thru with it, before Oct's meeting. I thought, of a quilt top, because, that is what I make most of the time. Not much on wall hanging's, unless it catches, my eyes. Don

why not use some cheater cloth or a panel that will give you plenty of room to showcase your quilting?

Are you looking for a pattern or someone to make a quilt top?

Who said it had to be a full sized quilt? You could make a table topper or a small wall hanging. Heck, even hot pads. That way the other members of the guild would see a finished product that much sooner.

How about a pillow to go with your grandmother's flower garden quilt? Maybe you have some extra fabric or already cut hexagons.

That's what I thought of, and what I'd do.

Why not try your hand at a wholecloth? You could get it all marked out by then quite easily or you can purchase one of the pre-printed wholecloths found on line. Our member Holice has some and you can also find some at the Stencil Company:
http://quiltingstencils.com/preprintedwholecloth.aspx

they have mini ones and bed sizes here.

As the demonstration is on your handquilting technique, I would think it most appropriate to showcase your handquilting skills instead of your piecing skills and nothing will do that better than a wholecloth. You can start working on the wholecloth prior to the demonstration so a large portion of it will be completed for showing participants as well as being able to demonstrate the technique itself in the unfinished portion.

How big does it have to be? I am not sure I have one, but I can look. This is for October's meeting??

I understand your shyness. I have been asked by 2 guilds to teach and I just couldn't do it.

You can do it Don. I know you have many skills. I have seen them in the past. Whole cloth or cheater cloth would also be an idea. Good luck.

I don't think you even need to use a quilt or wallhanging. I think a plain fabric with a contrasting thread, while perhaps not what you might use in a real project, would accent the stitches you are demonstrating. The group could better see how your stitches are made and how they work together, rather than blend into a patterned background.

Exactly what I was thinking!! Even if it is only straight line stitches, they will be seen easily for a class/demo.

Total agree with quiltmom. Demonstration is about your hand quilting not the quilt top.

If you really need a quilt top, there is a pattern called Easy Breezy. Fabric requirements: 2 yards of focus fabric; 1st border fabric; 5-6 coordinating fabrics for piano key boarder. Trim selveges off focus fabric, add one 2-1/2" border around, and final piano key border of strips 4" to 6" long of various widths. It really is easy breezy.

go to u-tube and see 10 minute quilt blocks, you can make one in just a couple of hours and then do echo quilting or swirls to show off your skills.

I agree with this also..

From Don-isewman THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. I know I have until, Oct, to figure something out. I may just do something, in white/off white, and just show, my stitches. Or maybe something, in just a simple/quick wall hanging. Again THANK YOU, EVERYONE, on your suggestions.

When I took my hand quilting class - the instructor provided us with squares of white cloth and batting - I think they were about 16 -18 inch squares -

Then we were shown how to mark the design, layer the three thicknesses, and then how to stitch.

As a teacher by profession (AP calculus for 25+ years) I would like to put in my 2¢ as to what would be best for your "students" to see. Since this is to be a demonstration I'm thinking there will be clusters of people moving from one demo to the next. Probably small enough groups so that everyone gets a "close up" look. That being the case - and your technique being the point of the demo - here is my thought... As others have said, plain whole cloth with contrasting thread will give the best visual. What I would add to that is by way of preparation for your "class", consider basting your quilt sandwich together emphasizing 10" or 12" pseudo blocks. That way each time one group moves on and the next group arrives you can begin in a new "block" showing them how you start, handle curves, points, etc. and then end. Each of your groups will get the whole package and your technique will be the star of the show.