Quilting demo.
 

I have been asked to do a talk and introduction to quilting. I only have two hours, can you suggest anything I could prepare so ladies could try their hand at patchwork.

Congratulations! How about having the ladies cut 2.5" strips from an assortment of fabric and then showing the number of patterns that can be accomplished just by cutting the strips into different lengths? Like Rail Fence, Log Cabin, Bento Box, etc. Or handing out 8.5" muslin squares and having them make Spider Web or Strip Quilts with their fabric scraps? I know that when I first started quilting and attended my first class, the fact that I went home with something was very rewarding - doesn't need to be a completed quilt, but just a few squares of something that could be continued at home.

Will the attendees be bringing their sewing machines? If so, you could have "kits" prepared for them to create a square.

Or.. you could demonstrate quilting via a table runner.

For me, it's fun to see how different fabric/colors can make the same quilt pattern look completely different. That might be something you could cover in your talk.

Two hours isn't much time, and I can't imagine the organizers of the event expect you to do anything comprehensive. I would suggest picking a topic that you can focus on during that short time.

Whatever you choose, for me having completed samples of quilts or quilted objects would be very inspiring. If you are doing a project, have some finished ones available, as well as samples in the various stages.

The goal can be for people to walk away saying, "I want to do that! I can do that!"

Have fun!

I think daylesewblessed as the right idea. Demonstrating what can be made with 2 1/2 strips and simple squares and HST. Would be easy and motivational enough for anyone wanting to learn. Also talking about how to pick a group of fabrics and using the color code on the selvages would be great info for any newbie.

I think the idea of demonstrating a simple block is a good idea. Maybe taking several blocks and explaining how to make them. Another idea is to take several quilts with you and explaining the different techniques used to make them. I agree, 2 hours isn't a very long time to teach much. Maybe a history lesson would be useful. Good luck, and I hope they invite you back.
Sue

This is something that the quilting club that I belong to did, maybe you could do something like this:

My ladies and I were asked to participate in a Kids Summer Art Camp in August. We were supposed to be helping the students (ages 8 - 10) with creating "blocks" out of ceramic. The blocks were then supposed to be put together to represent a quilt.

The day before the class, I got a call saying that none of the supplies had come in. I happened to have a box of 5" squares and a small lap quilt top. I suggested that the students could tie the lap quilt to show them how a quilt goes together.

The day of the class we arrived and were given a tour of the facilities and shown all of the art work that the students had done so far. Once we saw that everything they had done so far was individual, we decided against having them tie the quilt. Instead, we would give them squares that they could hand sew together, sandwich and tie together to make a placemat.

This way, they would have their own little quilts that they could take home with them. So, I piled all of the squares on a table and had them to pick out 12 squares. My ladies and I then began to instruct them on how to sew them together.

We completed these in about 3 hours. (That includes time off for lunch, cutting up the backing and batting, and remember the kids were all between the ages of 8 and 10). This was all kind of a "flying by the seat of our pants" thing, since we had never done this type of thing before. We also machine bound all the little quilts. I think your ladies would be able to do this in 2 hours.

There was another group of senior ladies that were supposed to be helping the students too, but somehow they wound up making a placemat too. Instead of the just the 9 or 10 students making quilts, we wound up making around 23 little quilts. It was a lot of work, but everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

We took along different styles of quilts (pieced, appliqued, tied, hand quilted, etc) to show them the different ways of completing the quilts. We showed them various sizes of quilt tops also. There was 5 of us doing the instructing (about a 4:1 ratio)

The kids (and the other group of seniors) were really excited about their quilts. A couple of them even said that they wanted to start their own quilts at home. The organizers liked it so much that they want to do the same thing next year. (Although, I think next year I would plan on taking more than one sewing machine, and be a little more organized.)

cad queen 2000,

That is fantastic! I would have been a nervous wreck, having to change the plan at the last minute.

Dayle

Thanks for all the ideas, certainly got something to go on now.

If not machines are going to be there how about english paper piecing .. the method with the hex templates. Or another that lends itself to handstiching is catherdral windows.