Re: Need help with a quilting class

I wonder if you had several samples available for them to look at -- or perhaps something much more abstract than your cute fish -- would that give some of your students more things to think about and make it easier for them to come up with their own designs.

Maybe this description of a class I took last week will also give you some ideas. It was a 6 hour workshop with Sue Nickels called "Folk Garden Borders: Design and Machine Appliqué Techniques". She gave us a pattern for this runner that could be part of a quilt border <http://www.sue.nickels.com/img/Folk-Garden-Borders.jpg>. But she also told us how she went about designing her borders before going into the applique techniques that she uses. She encouraged us to design our own runners/borders, but she also had the pattern for the less adventurous in the group. She did encourage those who used the pattern to at least make a few changes to it -- move something around, change an element or two, etc. She had her notebook of photos of quilts that she uses for inspiration, some of her quilts, and her book available for those who wanted more ideas. I ended up doing something completely different; the fabrics I had brought were in fall colors -- greens, browns, orange -- so I ended up doing something with oak leaves and acorns. I finished my design in the class, but didn't get too far with the execution. I now have everything fused, but the stitching will have to wait -- other projects have higher priority right now :)

Julia in MN

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:
First you can see the *very rough* prototype of the class project- I *think* I'll call the class "Free Motion Fun"....

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/566975852PYXNXP

Now, my problem: This class is one where I'll teach the basics of free motion but with the emphasis on beginner's thread painting (or machine embroidery with a standard sewing machine- not an embroidery machine) as a prelude to free motion quilting. Then the students will need to jump in and play and have fun as they make their project. I want the students to get used to the way the machine works and moving the fabric with the feed dogs down- but in a project where long/short stitches or wavering off the lines won't matter. I want the students to gain confidence with free motion in a relaxed way before they tackle free motion quilting. I need to word the class description so those with less self-confidence or who are very self-conscience won't come to this class and stress out because I won't let them mark stitching lines or make their project to be an exact copy of the teacher's sample.

How on earth do I discourage those students who need an exact pattern with lines to follow and yet still encourage beginners to jump in and play??? I need to word the class description to not offend anybody but discourage those who will not enjoy this free-for-all playing with thread and fabric and put a damper on the entire class and waste their time and money. Geez, that makes me sound like an awful person, but it really is to the benefit of those who can't handle this type of class. And anybody who has taken a class- or taught one- with someone who is not enjoying it and feeling miserable will understand. It's not fun for anybody in the class.

Also, what would appeal to you in this class and how can I make the project better or offer more options for learning about free motion?

TIA

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.


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