New Class Ideas

Time for me to plan local classes for 2020. I'm ready to offer a few new classes and update my Quiltmaking 101 Class--for true beginners.

The sample I have used for QM 101 is now 12 years old. While the block is still perfect for a beginning class, I am making a new sample with current fabrics and making the overall project simpler. Most students in this class are really beginners and this will be easier for them.

New blocks in progress:

This is the new plan:

Somewhat easier and faster than the current project:

I am also eager to play with large prints, using the book "Organic Applique" by Kathy Doughty, a shop owner, fabric designer and author from Australia:

The project will be a fairly simple pot of flowers from her book--it can always be enlarged to make a larger quilt. It will be a fun and easy way to work with very large prints, something most American quilters are not used to. My sample might not get done until I return from Houston in mid-November but I've been reading her great book and ideas are percolating. Stay tuned...

Yesterday I was asked to create a class using Sylvia's Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts:

This will be a year-long, lecture/demo class--all sewing will be done at home. It will be a good Quiltmaking 202 class--for those with basic skills who are ready and eager to increase their knowledge and learn lots more tips and tricks.

Fortunately, one student has a completed quilt so the sample is ready. Now I have to work on the class plan and pick dates--not that easy when trying to schedule for a year-long class. The book is ordered--I will take it with me to Houston and work on the individual classes when I have free time--just the planning, paper to pencil--or more likely, Ipad Pencil to Ipad.

My ongoing hand piecing project just came down off the design wall so I can put up another project too long in the making--a patriotic Pineapple Log Cabin that will be a Quilt of Valor. Here is the hand piecing project--far from done but it is my travel project so who knows when it will be done:

Here are two of the pineapple blocks--I have at least 25 more of these done but-- I CAN'T FIND THEM! It annoys me to not be able to find something I know I have. Looked in all the places where they "should" be--nope, haven't found them yet. Guess it will stay on the back burner until those other blocks turn up:

UPDATE: I FOUND IT!! October 22, 2019. Not where it should have been, in a stack of finished quilts. Now I know I can finish this in 2020:

In 2020 I plan to finish a few long-term quilts since I don't have to make the 2020 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show--we did that earlier this year. Soon, it will all be revealed and I'll be able to show it to you--can't wait!

October 11 and 12, 2019 is the Heritage of Quilters of Huntsville's Quilt Show--Fanfare 2019. We only do a show every two years--it is a LOT of work--and our show is truly worth your time to see. Great quilts, terrific vendors, demos all day long both days. If you are anywhere near us--Nashville to Birmingham, Iuka to Atlanta, be sure you get to this show:

Heritage Quilters of Huntsville

Lots to do, little time to do it, but all this keeps me busy and happy.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Starts and Finishes

I worked at it to the exclusion of all else last week so I could count this one done:

It is the Block by Block quilt made for the Patches & Stitches 40th anniversary. It uses 40 fabrics and has 40 blocks. The first 40 to bring a completed quilt to the shop wins $40 and I was determined to be in the top 20. #17!  Photo of the top here. Quilted on my Bernina Q20 sit down longarm, I enjoyed doing the big loopy designs across the top. I chose 4 different designs for the borders. Finished is better than perfect.

Time for a new start. My Favorite Things is a new quilt/class I am designing that will run for 6 months, from June to December, 2018. It will feature my favorite blocks and students can either make a small quilt each month or make "parts" that will be combined at the end into one large quilt. It's a lecture/demo class, no machines to drag to class, just learn several blocks each month, different ways to make them and ways to use them in quilts. More about the class here.

My fabric pull for this project:

Where did this palette come from? How about the chickens of Kauai?

I often save photos that feature colors I love together. This has been saved since 2006 when my husband and I made a trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 30th anniversary. This will be fun.

The beginning class I teach at Patches & Stitches finished last night--only two students attended the last of 5 sessions but had great quilts to show for their efforts and both are hooked on quilting now, always my goal:

Sharon, her top is complete

Tricia, made 30 blocks and still has two more borders to go. She plans to lengthen it a bit.

They both enjoyed seeing my Block by Block and decided to try that next. I love when students get excited and say "What can I make next?"  Both of these women have their next bed-size quilt projects picked out.

From time to time I participate in online swaps. Lori of Humble Quilts has done a doll quilt swap for several years. I received this one from Judith B along with a pin cushion and photo of her Featherweight machine which she used to make it,  a great touch:

And I gave this one, to Katy S:

It's fun to share small quilts with like-minded quilters.

Time to get a few things done so I can play with My Favorite Things.

Let's Quilt.

Barbara

Progress

The quilting is done on two samples--they will be delivered to the shop this week:

Smitten--simply loopy swirly motifs

Smitten top

Strippy Stars

Very simple straight lines with free-form cables in the border.

I did some of the straight lines with rulers, some free hand.  The lines vary a bit but over-all it's OK.  Someday this may be a baby quilt and it's fine for that.

I'm keeping up with The Splendid Sampler.  Here is Block #13:

This week I'm working on some 4" sampler blocks and preparing for the demos I'll be teaching at Quilt Festival Chicago--have to pack all the supplies I need plus samples and still try to keep myself to one large suitcase.  We'll see how that goes.

I also start a new Quiltmaking 101 class for beginners tomorrow night--I love teaching beginners and am eager to get back in front of them.  Here is the class sample they learn to make in 5 weeks:

Mix N Match Stars by Glad Creations

They make the top, approximately 48" x 60" in the class.  Many of the students choose to have a longarm quilter do the quilting, quite a change from years ago when everyone hand quilted their first quilt.  Some choose to machine quilt their quilt themselves.  I can't remember the last time a student handquilted this project.  I wish more people handquilted but for now, just getting students excited about the process and eager to make another quilt after this one is my goal.  We have fun in class and most of the students are amazed at what they learn to do--especially if this is their "first quilt ever".

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Quiltmaking 101--the Beginning

Since 1989 I've been teaching the beginning quilt class, Quiltmaking 101, at my local quilt shop, Patches & Stitches. I love teaching beginners, encouraging them, watching them succeed when they didn't think they could.  I also teach the hard stuff:  feathered stars, mariners' compass, etc. but my heart is with the beginners.  I tell them I have 3 goals for the class:

1.  They feel they've gotten their money's worth from the class.  It's not inexpensive to start quilting.
2.  They finish this project so their descendants won't find a box under the bed and wonder: What was she doing with this?
3.  I addict one of them, completely and totally to quilting, so the industry continues to thrive--I am always successful, every 5 week class, with this goal.

Here is the project:

Mix N Match Stars, pattern by Glad Creations, my sample

While this is not the usual beginner's quilt, I have found it to be the right amount of challenge for the person who really wants to learn to make quilts.  It is also perfect for the self-taught person who wants to improve and learn tips and techniques.  People often come back a year or two later to take it again.

The pieced border is optional--when I tell them it took me 8 hours to make those borders, most of the students choose to go with the Super Simple Borders option.  I have prepared a 7 page handout with both options, instructions for a practice 1/4" test block, a Rail Fence, and lots of piecing instructions. 

The most difficult thing for beginners to intermediate quilters to master is the dreaded "scant" 1/4" seam allowance.  What is "scant"?  How do you find it on your machine?  I  have them practice that in the first week at home, between gathering their supplies at week 1, to making their first block in class week 2.  Most get it or get a lot closer than their first effort.  It takes practice and maybe, drawing a line on the fabric, using a taped guide on the throat plate, getting a 1/4" foot, etc. 

The next most difficult thing for beginners to intermediate quilters is choosing fabric.  I help them start with a focus or theme fabric, or a theme:  Christmas, Baby, Patriotic, etc.  Find that first fabric that will usually be the border and select fabrics that go with it.  It takes a little while but most get it quickly and they leave the shop excited about their quilt-to-be. 

We spend 5 weeks together and I can say many of these students become my friends and many join our guild, Heritage Quilters of Huntsville.  One of the best perks of my job is receiving a thank you note or email from a student who has found her/his bliss and is so excited to continue their quilting journey.  I received one of those just recently and with Terri's permission, I share a bit of it here:

      I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to
teach a beginner's quilting class. I learned so much and I am definitely hooked
on quilting. I have already started my second quilt.

      I finished piecing my quilt together on Feb 20th and found a sweet lady that said she would
long arm quilt it by the 27th. (The baby shower was on Feb 28th). She totally surprised me and had it done on the 24th. She did a beautiful job of quilting it in a butterfly pattern.
      Thank you once again for your time and patience! I hope to take another class from
you soon.

Sincerely,
Terri

 

Here is Terri's finished quilt, a baby gift for a new grandbaby, Ella.  Even though she was under a tight deadline, Terri made the pieced borders and got it done on time.  Great job, Terri!

One lucky tool my students have to help them is a series of videos I did several years ago for www.monkeysee.com   It's called How to Quilt and you can find it here.  It took 6.5 hours to video the seven 3 minute segments.  I wasn't paid anything for this but it has been very helpful for the students at home as they try to remember everything I taught at week 2.  Each segment covers a small bit of the process.  I laugh when I tell people about it:  I can teach you everything you need to know in 21 minutes!  I thought they were pretty hokey the first time I saw them but they sure have helped my students.

To finish, here are just a very few quilts from past students, some tops done, some not quite yet--one week between finishing the blocks and having a complete top can be a challenge when life gets in the way.  I am always happy to get photos of their finished quilts and I add them to my slideshow of QM 101 quilts:

Linda R

Debbie E

Peggy H

Rhonda St.

Sophie on the right

I'm off to Chicago today to work at International Quilt Festival . To help fill the schedule, I'll be teaching 2 classes at Make It University on hand-piecing Lemoyne Stars and doing 2 two hour demo sessions on String Piecing at Open Studios.  If you are anywhere near Chicagoland, come to the show--don't miss a great opportunity to see quilts and shop vendors and take classes.  I am also taking a machine quilting class with Catherine Redford--I've got a busy week ahead!  Two of my quilts that were in the book 500 Traditional Quilts will be in that Special Exhibit and the Red and White--By the Numbers, the 40th anniversary Commemorative Quilt will be displayed. I'll be very happy to see it again.

Let's quilt!

Barbara