I hope some of you out there could help me with a little sampler quilt I want to teach this coming Fall.

I am in the process of coming up with block ideas that will teach my students various quilt block techniques. I plan to have 20 blocks. This will be a 12 week class and of course there will be homework where they may have to do some blocks at home.

Anyway, I need your help brainstorming some techniques in blocks i can teach. So far I have hand and machine applique, working with templates, working with the rotary cutter, Celtic knots, Paper piecing, English Paper Piecing.

All ideas are welcome! I really want to get started designing this quilt and having it ready for September 15th!!!

Cheers!

Curves?

Crazy?

Triangles - tips on how to make them, different techniques used to make them.

I thought I would use a dresdan plate for this one so they can learn that technique as well as a little bit of applique for the center piece

added to the list.. THANKS!

I was thinking of putting in a couple of star patterns where they can learn rotary cutting and perhaps templates too

Oh yes - a block that uses HSTs and QSTs - good one! :D

How about some dimensional inserts? They are just so cool.

hmmmm interesting.. have you any links to some ideas for me? Please and thanks???

oooh, what are those Red? Love the lilies in your avatar BTW! :D

Seminole piecing, perhaps for borders
flanges and piping
Y seams

cathedral window

oh, thanks KLue - They're my next thing to try, didn't know they were called that as well - learn something every day on this board!

you could also teach them how to do a flange or piping along the sashing strips and you could do continuous prairie points along the binding.

A block with Y seams :wink:

oh, yes, people are so scared of y seams, excellent idea!

A good one for that might be Attic Windows.

I think that the most challenging (and aggrevating) block is half and quarter triangles. Also the half square triangles that border an on-point quilt. I think that they should be introduced slowly and the 3/8th and 7/8th measurements stressed. They add so much to the quilt yet they are so intimidating. Good luck and hope the result is many great quilts.

I guess maybe this time I should talk a little louder, eh? :oops:

Partial seams is another technique, as used in Bright Hopes.
Also, Inner City is a good block for Y seams and is not often taught.
Be aware that flanges and piping added to interior seams, like sashing, are a bear to avoid if the sampler is to be machine quilted. You might want to stick with the outside edge for a learning project like this.

Good one. I was going to suggest it.

Can I come up and take your class. :D

Rag quilt techniques??? Maybe the curved piecing like on Quilter 1962's Mexican Star quilt??

And I wanna come take your class too!

Absoutley!! yourself and Sandpat come on up!!! I am getting new track lighting installed this afternoon so there will be a ton more light!

Getting outta this heat for ANY reason sounds great just now...It sure would be fun to make a sample quilt for your class in that wonderful new room of yours!

Thanks Sandpat!! I am having alot of fun in my new room. I'll have even more fun tonight when I get my track lights put in and a lot more light!

As for the heat, well you should DEFINETELY head up here.. we are having a little cold spurt right now. I think it was 8 degrees celcius around 6am this morning when I took Alexi out for her pee. I think it will be going only to 17 today. brrrrrrrrr... It's suppose to rain tomorrow afternoon so I don't think I'll be taking in any of the Canada Day festivities around here. It might be a good day off to start working on that sampler!

That is a great one!!
They still scare me and I shy away from them :shock: :shock:

Oh man, this sounds like it is going to be a great class. I wished I lived a little closer!! :(

Thanks so much for all your wonderful suggestions!!!

I knew this would be the best place to get some heads together to brainstorm with me!

I knew if I sent this out with the thought "if you were to take a sampler course, what would you want to learn" I would get some great ideas!

I have a little more idea what and how I'm going to do this project.

I promise to keep you all posted!!!

If you can think of anything else, just send it this way, or send me a PM

Cheers!

maybe a paper pieced one, I still can't do them.

Paper piecing is quite easy actually. I do have plans to make a paper piece block too :)

If I can paper piece, anyone can!

Oh, Aggi, what a fantastic class!

I don't have any additional ideas to add to your list since
most of them I don't know how to do yet! But, your idea is
wonderful. I like the idea of giving everyone a taste of all
of the techniques that go into quilting.

(I want to take it too!)

Hi Klue - speaking of which :D Any chance you'd be willing to do a tutorial for those of us that are clueless on the continuous prarie points? You are so talented and I'd love to get a lesson or two from you - seems like the prarie points would be a fun thing to learn...

I'll see what I can do when I get this project done!!!

Might consider having students select several squares and research the history of them. I have always enjoyed learning about the background of particular patterns.

Have to include a crazy quilt square! Also perhaps a stack-and-wack and a fused design of their own creation.

Thanks for the suggestions.. I had them on my list already before I posted this thread!!! Those two blocks show great techniques too!

Yes, I can't do paper pieced either - I still can't get past the first two pieces :roll:

Oh yeah - I want to come too!!!!! :D

come on up too and I promise to show you how to get to the 3rd piece and 4th piece, etc.. etc.!! I have more lighting here now!! The electrician left about 20 minutes ago!

Sorry ghostrider, I did not see that you had posted it before I did :oops: :oops: :oops:
Inner City blocks would be a good choice, too!! I would defineately need a class for those!!! :wink: :D