Hi friends,
I have agreed to teach a class for homeschooling friends to learn to quilt. We are going to start with a small project and then let them progress. There are 3 children so each will get to do his own pattern. If you have any tips or hints please share. one has selected a pinwheel, one a square in the center of a block, so suggestions or patterns welcomed. Thanks....keep me in your thoughts...it will be fun I think. |
You don't say how old the children are. In the schools, the home ec. 9th grade teacher used the 9 patch which they colored on paper 1st. When I taught beginners to sew/quilt, I would have them make a pot holder so that they learned everything from seams, piecing, batting, & binding & had a finished product.
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Yes that's what I did (make a potholder) when I was teaching my neices and their friends. They were about 9 or 10 and needed to learn how to thread the machine, etc, cut fabric, everything. I also had them all make the same pattern. Less confusing that way for them and me.
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My grand daughter has used warm wishes (google that for pattern). Her first quilt at age 9 was 6.5" squares of 3 fabrics laid out in a nice diagonal arrangement.
It is easier if all are using the same one so that they can learn from each other. |
I teach 4H sewing. I keep an extra sewing machine on hand in my car. Gremlins. They like to get in the kids machines when youre not looking. I had 6 girls and only 1 machine working one night. Now I keep an exra machine handy. I just asked at church if anyone had a machine they were thinking of getting rid of and why I needed it. I got two. My dad went over them, gave him something to do. Clean and tuned them, nothing wrong with them and I have backup. Saves a lot of tears from the kids. And me.
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I'm leaning towards something with vertical & horizontal lines, and I agree with the 9 patch. Maybe all 3 make a 9 patch potholder first, then branch out for 2nd larger project. I've been sewing my entire life & still have a hard time with HSTs. How old is the child that wants to make the pinwheel?
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pinwheel=bias side
bias=problem for beginner explain bias & recommend on grain blocks such as rail fence, 4 patch and others for them to choose from |
I think your plans are wonderful and very generous, but I would start with a simple project to get them used to the sewing machine and sewing a straight seam. Maybe the same project in different colors to start. It would be hard to help all of them with different projects. Just MHO.
Sue |
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
I'm leaning towards something with vertical & horizontal lines, and I agree with the 9 patch. Maybe all 3 make a 9 patch potholder first, then branch out for 2nd larger project. I've been sewing my entire life & still have a hard time with HSTs. How old is the child that wants to make the pinwheel?
do a search in the tutorials on this board for the instructions. I still dont think they are for an absolute beginner. |
I agree with potholders. Students seem to learn & remember better when going from step to step without a long time spent at any one process.
If you can 'keep it a secret' they make nice Christmas/birthday gifts. |
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