What would you include?
 

As a fund raiser at my church I am thinking of putting into the auction a 3 hour basic quilting class, one-on-one in my home.

Of course it will matter whether the purchaser already sews or not, but I am trying to come up with an actual lesson -- shapes, color intensity, accuracy -- and ideally the person would end up with a finished project to take home.

I bought a 14" pillow form, but now am finding no simple blocks that large (and I am geometrically very challenged). I also thought of making some of those bowl huggies, but that barely involves quilting, though it does cover color, batting and sandwiching.

I am somewhere between advanced beginner and mediocre intermediate in my quilting skills, the worst of which is FMQ.

What would you expect in a short basic class? Thanks for any ideas you can give me!

3 hours isn't a lot of time, especially if a beginner wins the auction.

A thought would be make a completed project to display and a kit to use to teach with. Due to the 3 hour time frame your fabric should also be cut, but that won't teach them how to do it.

Maybe use Take 5 and just make 2 blocks for the front/back of the pillow.

You're going to have to explain how to choose fabric, cut, sew, and put together a pillow. I just don't see it happening within a 3 hour window.

Maybe two 3 hour windows giving the winner at the end of the first 3 hour class the kit/instructions on what to do at home. Then the second class teach them how to complete the pillow.

You can use any 12" block and add 1" sashing all around to get your 14".

Maybe you could offer the winner a couple of options:

1) Very basic - this is a needle, this is thread, this is a sewing machine, this is fabric level - I think a pillowcase would be about it for three hours - and it still takes me longer than that to do it well.

2) Maybe a very small table runner or place mat thing - you could get -

3) Maybe a specialized class - how to apply binding - how to do flying geese - different ways of doing HSTs

For 3 hours, for a beginner, assuming they know how to use a sewing machine but not much else... I would skip anything to do with color theory. Perhaps supply the fabric and have them make a couple of pot holders. Use simple designs with no angles - log cabin with wide strips would work nicely. You can teach a lot (including binding) with pot holders. And everyone can use them.

So far all your ideas are great! I think maybe I can whet their interest in 3 hours and offer a follow-up course if desired.

Why three hours? Why not a 6 hour Saturday? Or a day good for both of you? The winner would be able to cut and start sewing simple blocks to make a table topper that is turned. If you two hit it off then you have a new quilting friend! If the person doesn't seem to get it or is whinny, then she has completed the project and you are done.

A word of caution, make sure you have a quilting glove. Don't need any accidents with rotary cutters. That could be something to take home along with the project. Try to get a coupon or go to a bait/sports store and get a fileting glove. They're about the same price.

This is what I teach in my Beginning Piecing Workshop: rotary cutting, sewing accurate 1/4” seams, quilting tools, thread, machine set-up, pressing, 4-patch, half-square-triangles, sparrow block, “twist and shout,” snowball corners, flying geese, square-in-a-square, matching points and diagonal corners, squaring-up, chain piecing, block construction, “needle down and stomp your foot,” “steering with the pin,” and borders. But we take 5 weeks to do it, and machine quilting and binding are separate classes.

Maybe a Friendship Star hot pad would be more appropriate. That may take more than 3 hours, though.

How about the disappearing four patch (Jenny Doan) made from 10 inch pre-cuts? You could let them choose the fabrics and how wide to cut the strip. then they can cut the block down to size. It's super easy but has a really complicated look to it. Would cover all the basics. Good luck to you!

Maybe a simple block like a 9-patch mug rug or other simple bock (check out Quilt Blocks Galore at Quilterscache.com) one where you sandwich the three layers then bind it..or, one where you put right sides together, sew around all sides leaving room to turn it right sides out. Then sew around the outside after turning.

Whatever you chose, maybe think of making a sample to show what that person would be making. I love mug rugs..my friend made one for me, and every morning when I put my cuppa on it, I think of her!

One thing they taught at my quilt guild was making a large 9 patch rag baby quilt. It can be completed except for the final cutting on the seams in three hours. Another project is a three piece pillowcase. You will include cutting measuring and color coordination in these two.

Just a thought.

I would do a D9P for the pillow front/warm wishes and maybe a rail fence for the back. This would teach cutting, 1/4 inch seams, and simple matching of seams.

I think if you're going to have a 3 hour time, you should be able to tailor the class to the needs of the winner. If someone is learning color theory is a bit much for some people (I'm one, but I know how it works and I have dropped classes when they got too into it for me - that's just me). If you can have a couple of choices, this will be more of a draw to more people. You could make up a pillowcase (and a pillowcase kit), this would be able to show what you are bidding on and how it will look after the class. Or you could do the same with a set of two placemats (show a finished one and the kit for the other two), you can make one in class and they can go home and make the second one. These are the kinds of things I would offer, just remember you should be able to show a finished example at the auction (people like to see what they are bidding on). Good luck

How about one of those Quilt in a Day log cabins? That is a really fun day and I love log cabins. It would seem to me that a booklet and instruction would be a good selling/bidding attraction.

Why not just stick with a mug rug for a 3 hour class? Let the person choose his/her fabric and do straight line quilting or put painters tape on and demonstrate how we use everyday other tools to quilt.

we do a 3 hour beginner class and do a churn dash block. It allows them to work on several things and play with their 1/4" seams. They can trim the outside to get it 'even' and either use it on a pillow or attach it to a basic tote bag. I like to give them a one page sheet with some basic info that they can refer to later at home. remember you are giving them a lot of info at once. We found that the churn dash is basic enough but complex enough that they can get it done in 3 hours and feel real good about themselves. Be sure and offer them additional lessons (great side source of income!!)

Another great idea! Thank you.

I would recommend teaching the "Disappearing 9 Patch" pattern. First thing is...both of you together watch Jenny Doan's YouTube on that title...that will be a good introduction to a quilt block and he/she can learn the process quicker this way. Have a charm pack ready to work with.
Hope you get a good amount for the fundraiser! I donated a new finished quilt to my church's fundraiser auction. I don't know who got it nor how much it sold for. There were 24 tables of items, and each was assigned a number...and you could write the amount of your bid on a provided sheet of paper on the table. Silent auction for that type, other types available too.