what's most important or most needed is always going to depend on the student(s). time is the second most important factor. if I was developing a "one-shot" workshop for beginners, i would make sure to cover the following:


- the words "I can't" are a quilter's worst enemy. help them train themselves to say, instead, "I don't know how ... yet."
-introduce them to a variety of the most commonly used tools. include a selection of brands and style so they can experiment to see which is likely to work best for them as individuals.
-have a variety of fabrics on hand, also, so they can see and feel the differences; a basic introduction to the different categories of fabric.
-point out that there is rarely only one right way to do anything. try to demonstrate at least three different methods for each skill you want to include in the class.
-a "what if" section would be invaluable, i think. learning [if and] how to recover from an error will serve any quilter well as the years go by.

-the best advice? warn them to never listen to anybody who offers information, opinions or advice from a high horse. any words sent through or down a nose should be ignored completely.

I like your best advice best P!

Due to lack of knowledge when I want curved blocks (not pieces of blocks) I have to default to appliques on top of square blocks. Is there basic knowledge for making curved blocks, curved lines in a somewhat traditional looking quilt? I would like to know the why of things - why are seams 1/4"? why are quilts built along grid lines? why do most people like sharp contrast of color and distain low contrast unless they are watercolor quilts? Why are hodgepodge color selections of scrappy quilts considered by some preferable to careful color schemes that are more harmonious with color theory?
Why is texture in a quilt not a good thing usually? Why do LQS often offer a beginning class that just teaches a person how to make someone else's quilt pattern?Why are bindings almost always just a flat piece of fabric along the edge, seldom a ruffle or a ruche a pleat or anything else?

I think it is valuable to have plenty of samples of how things should look like and perhaps some examples of what a quilt looks like when not done with precision. Explanation should accompany these samples. When you are a beginner, you need to see the quality level you are working toward. I don't mean to have a very complex quilt design, but have a very simple quilt to show that is square, has matching seams, no bulk or puckers, flat borders, filled out binding, etc.

Dayle

So many people want simple and fast. The first class I took was at our local Library. We made a whole quilt, consisting of 12, 12 in. finished blocks. They taught us everything. The blocks got progressively harder as we went along, they were all star blocks. One had the flying swallows around the center. Anyway, they told us, by the time we finished this quilt, we would be able to make anything we wanted to. They were right. I learned more in that one class, 25 years ago, then I have learned since then. It was taught by 2 very talented ladies who were fantastic quilters. I will never forget them.

What a response. Thank you all. Keep it going. I do appreciate this feedback.
I read this quote somewhere...."No matter your level of workmanship one can always improve by going back to the basics".

isn't that the truth!
I have found a NEW book that is just amazing for beginner's. It comes out of the UK and chock full of VITAL information in the learning processes.
I have in the past always recommended Fons & Porters in the SPIRAL bound version if you can find it!
http://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Compl...0217624&sr=1-6

HOWEVER, while this is a fantastic book, and goes the distance on starting to finishing your quilt, it does lack the newer terminology and charts that are available today. That is where this new book comes in. It is amazing. By Linda Clements, it is the BEST teach all book I have found in the last 5 years!

http://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Bible...0217767&sr=1-1

I have only had this book for a few weeks and I am still reading through all the info, but at this point, I think I can safely say it is worthy of ANY quilter's book shelf!

Teach your students how to use online resources, and how to separate the good from the bad and the ugly.

I began making quilts about 18 months ago, and I got a lot of my first help from this site. At the time, I was trying to skip the basics, and some patient QB members set me straight. (I must also give credit to Harriet Hargrave's books, Quilter's Academy, though I've only truly studied the "Freshman Year.")

I've read through many of the tutorials offered here and at other sites and bookmarked a number of them. (I've even made a Cathedral Windows quilt following Eddie's tutee.) YouTube has also been very helpful for learning certain techniques, such as how to sew a Y seam. I've read tutorials at other sites, and sometimes they're wonderful, too.

After I got beyond that totally beginner stage, what I've particularly appreciated about the QB is that, when I've come across an intriguing pattern or book or tutorial, I've been able to post questions about it here, and have always received thoughtful, knowledgable responses.

Another way to use the internet as a resource is to look at the ratings at amazon.com. If a particular quilting book is really good, you can usually tell by the ratings. I usually read only one or two of the positive ratings and then focus on the negatives. If those negative comments relate to things that might bother me ("directions are confusing," "requires skills I don't have," "poor graphics,") I leave it alone.

When I am a beginner at anything, I crave information and support. I need a place where I can get answers to my most basic questions. So in addition to teaching your students about how to sew a scant 1/4" seam and how to cut strips that don't bow, I recommend teaching them where to get help and/or inspiration when they need it.

Just my $.02

If I could learn anything, it would be how to make flying geese. Mine look horrible. And I love star quilts and have some kits that need flying geese, but I won't make them because it's torture to see what they look like after I spend so much time cutting correctly, sewing 1/4", pressing and then they are warped. Also, I lose my points. I am working on a quilt and I had to sew 1/8" so I wouldn't lose my points. If I could master the flying geese and not lose my points, I could make so many more blocks. I'm limiting myself because of, could it be, cutting on the bias? Other people make flying geese and don't lose their points, so why do I when I go slow and try so hard. I've been quilting since 1992. I took a 12 week beginner's class where we picked out all the fabric for the quilt and then each week we made one block. It also went from easy to hard. I learned so much from that class. I see now they offer a 4 block beginner's class at my LQS. What can you learn from making 4 blocks? And they charge $50 for the class. It's crazy. When I took my beginner's class, we had the whole quilt sewed together at the end. That's important. And we had borders to put on too. But still, flying geese and losing points are what I would love help with.

I would recommend a notebook of examples - cloth pages, one page each of correct seams, intersections, flying geese,curved pieces, appliques bindings, etc.instead of finished blocks. One technique per page. That way the technique can be referred to no matter what block is being sewn.

That's the way my sewing lessons were done when I bought my first sewing machine and the example book which I created in class was invaluable.