The Cancer Quilt & the Quilting Class

Even though I did not feel like I had my act together to teach my 2nd quilting class this weekend....it seemed to come off okay.  However, I did forget to take pictures.  I introduced the ladies to rotary cutting and strip piecing.  I'm so proud of them and the progress they are making.  Almost all of them have decided they want to piece their quilt by hand...so they can say they have at least done one.  Although they did start using the rotary cutters to cut their blocks out. 

One of the most inexperienced stitchers (remember Emily who had never threaded a needle before?!) asked if it was okay to change her pattern up.  Don't you love that!!!?  To me, that is what the art of quilt making is all about....seeing a pattern and wondering what you could do different than anyone else.  We spent about an hour after the class with graph paper, drawing out her new quilt, still using only Nine Patches, but different sizes and variations.

A couple of things I have learned in teaching....use larger blocks to demonstrate the techniques (so they can see it better, but also have examples of the correct size too....visuals go a long way in teaching), use bright colors in your demonstrations.  Oh...one more thing....use contrasting thread for the sake of teaching and those visuals.

I showed the ladies a couple of extra techniques just to peak their interest in future quilts.  I showed them how to make half square triangles and the Disappearing Nine Patch.  One lady is going to add the half square triangles as the border around her quilt!  Wow...another courageous lady!  All the examples I made for the class will go into my cancer quilt....I really must find another name for it.  Until then....here's a slide show of the blocks and techniques I've used and taught so far.



Other quilting related updates:
I have received a couple of requests for quilts, so I'm learning how to put together a proposal for cost and design.  Sally has also received a couple of request for specialty designs.  I had a young girl bring over a prom dress for me to alter...but it was about 3 sizes too big and all beaded....I turned that down real quick, I would rather make a new one.  Sally is going to work with her and see if they can come up with something, even going so far as to shop for her.  (Just in case you need a personal shopper....Sally is the best!)

One of the ladies in the quilting class has a sewing machine that was given to her that she can't figure out, so I'm teaching her how to use her machine.  I spent yesterday assembling my orange Nine Patch (about half done) and hand quilting on one of Mother's unfinished projects.

While sewing, I put on old Cary Grant movies and had a wonderful afternoon.  Then later switched to Elvis Presley & Mary Tyler Moore in "Change of Habit" while I was quilting.  I guess I have had a change of habit as I am spending more and more time in the sewing rooms and loving every minute of it.