Over the last couple of years, everytime my Admin saw one of my quilts, she'd say "Oh, I wish you'd teach me!" I kept offering but, as so often happens, life is busy and it didn't happen. :)

Well, we finally got off the pot, so to speak, and I am now teaching three women at work (including my wonderful Admin) to quilt. I wasn't quite sure how "dedicated" they were going to be but I have certainly been surprised!

We took advantage of the big 50% off sale at Joann's two weeks ago. They got everything they needed to start; e.g., mat, rulers, rotary cutter, scissors, etc. And, !!!, all three bought a new machine!!

Last Tuesday was our first night. We unpacked the machines, threaded them (we all had a good laugh at the fact that most of us couldn't see the needle hole to thread it! :-P ), and started practicing on some muslin I'd brought. They were so enthusiastic!!

Good sports all, even when the thread broke on one of the machines -- she'd used the smallest plastic cap on the spool, the spool being older had the niche to hold the thread in place when finished with it, and boy! did that niche work!! She'd stitched about 10" before the thread caught and snapped. We could have spent all night looking for why (thread tension? old thread?) but for some reason, I just happened to notice what had happened. I cracked up laughing because it brought back memories of when I'd done the same thing, years ago!

I'm glad to report that the night was full of laughter. We reached the stage of using the rotary cutter a couple of times before I told them my golden rule "Don't use sharp objects when you're tired!!" So, we put everything away until next week. I'm really looking forward to it!!

What great fun it sounds like you are having. Are you going to rotate who is the host for the sessions? Which block will you start them on?

All three have never quilted and barely know how to use a sewing machine so I'll be "teacher" for most of our initial meetings. At some point, I'd like to be able to leave them to their own sewing and get some done myself but that's a few weeks off.

I'm starting them with muslin and how to sew a consistent 1/4". Then we'll go onto the Chinese Coin pattern which is simply 2.5"x3.5" rectangles sewn in a strip. I had them buy six FQs, two sets of light to dark. Hopefully, these FQs and pattern will give them enough practice using the rotary cutter & ruler, etc. I'm also hoping Lesson 2 will give them some practice with re-arranging blocks to get different patterns.

I've attached my first two lesson plans, the first will probably be started next week but no rush. I've never taught before so it's been interesting, to say the least!

Dentist appt. Will logon tomorrow.

How fun!!! It is so nice of you to take the time to teach them quilting :D:D:D I can't wait to hear more about your classes.

Oh no you recruited!! Let the addiction begin!

What a neat idea. That will be 3 more that will become addicted, just like the rest of us.

How neat ! sounds like a blast :thumbup:

Aw, wish I had some ladies who wanted to quilt with me. I work with all guys....boring!

I've had several ladies at work ask me about teaching a beginning quilting class. As I had never taken one (I've been sewing since I was pre-teen and quilting for the last 10 years), I took a beginning class at my LQS, just to see how it's done. Since we will have our classes during lunch, which doesn't give us enough time to set up machines, etc., I'm going to bring one of my machines to demonstrate on, then let the ladies do "homework" and bring it in at the next class. If they have any questions, I'll leave my machine here and can give them help during the week. The goal will be for each person to create a quilt by the end of the classes, while learning to sew a good 1/4" seam, strip piecing, chain piecing, sashings, borders,layering and quilting. Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

Of course not! If they are interested, they will get it. Great idea.

It sounds like a fun time.

It sounds like so much fun. You have your own little guild. Great job.

If you've bitten off more than you can chew, I'm in BIG trouble because that's basically the path I'm leading them down. Good luck to both of us. I posted my lessons 1 & 2 in my original message; if I create more, would you be interested in them? I'd be interested in anything you create!! We don't have to follow the same agenda but one of us might include something "important" that the other didn't think of.

How bad can we do? They'll learn something, if just not to be afraid of taking a class somewhere.

We laughed so hard Tuesday night, that made it more than worthwhile!! It also helped that we met after work so no real time crunch such as lunch time. Being a bit older, and a long time sewer, I have an extra machine that I can leave in work plus, at the recent Joann's sale, I duplicated enough basic tools that I don't have to lug anything back & forth. That's a big help.

This sounds like so much fun!!!
My co-worker and I share quilting and collaborated on making a quilt for a special student of ours. It is such a nice thing to share non-work related something. Great relationship building going on there!

There are mostly men in my profession so I don't get a chance to interact with too many women during working hours. This is a wonderful opportunity to do just that! Not to sound sexist, which I'm not, but I've found that groups of women create their own type of energy that can radiate out to do good things.

I'm really hoping that we reach the point where we can all contribute one or more blocks to create a quilt for a raffle here at work around Christmas time. That would be such fun!

'Virgin' quilters! How fun to be able to teach them correctly right from the beginning and to have so much fun. Enjoy this time with them.

awesome, glad you are having fun!

how many in your group, fun fun!

What fun you all had. I always enjoy quilting with others, too.

3 students, to begin with.