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.

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.

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.

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?

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

If you make the dimentional pinwheel, there are no bias edges, they are made from squares.

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.

Thank you all for your advice....I tend to jump in and just start....I had thought we would start with a small project to learn the basics that might include a block of each of the designs they want to do. Thought for a Christmas gift or fall project. their ages are 6, 9, and 11. It will be an adventure and I am excited. No matter what happens I think it will be fun! Any more advice is welcomed. Thanks again.

check the kids patterns at quilterscache.com

making a single block for a potholder is the best way to go...

If they have not sewn on a sewing machine, I have them practice on lined notebook paper and an unthreaded machine. When they can sew on the lines, but you cannot see the holes till you hold up the paper, they are ready for fabric. Then I progress to string blocks. As the seams get more consistent, THEN we move on to individual patterns. And until they are teens, I use the rotary cutter. NO EXCEPTIONS!

i would have them start on the same project. it will make it easier for you. And start with a 9 patch or rail fence or a very easy. Pin wheel is not necessarily a beginning project.
They all need to start simple and work up but as a group.
I would never give them the choice of projects to begin with.