Get Creative! with M'Liss Rae Hawley Class Plan

by M'Liss Rae Hawley

NOTES TO INSTRUCTORS AND SHOP OWNERS
Color is a hot topic, and Get Creative! With M'Liss Rae Hawley makes it easy for your customers to learn color theory in a fun and accessible way. This class is an introduction to the basics of color theory and how to construct the Century of Progress block that is used in projects throughout Get Creative! With M'Liss Rae Hawley. The class could stand alone or could be a prerequisite to a more advanced class in which students constructed a quilt in a "Color Story" (monochromatic, triadic, etc.) selected by the instructor, or of their own choice.

The instructor should collect fabric, block, and/or quilt examples of the different Color Stories to use in the lecture. She also may want to have pre-assembled sections of the Century of Progress block to use in the cutting and piecing demo.

For their Century of Progress block, it is suggested that students begin with fabric in a color they enjoy that they brought to class, then select additional fabric if needed to create a Color Story.

The instructor/shop owner should be prepared to supply students with supplemental fabric in colors and values they require to complete their Century of Progress block in their chosen Color Story. It would also be an option to kit fabric to include in the class price, or as an add-on for students who desire it.


Class Description: What's YOUR Color Story?
A 1-day, 6 hour class
An introductory class that teaches color theory and how to construct the Century of Progress block.

Student Supply List

Required textbook: Get Creative! with M'Liss Rae Hawley
Optional purchase: Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool—Revised 3rd Edition
Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
Sewing machine in good working order
Basic sewing supplies
A group of fat quarters and/or fabric scraps (4" x 8" or larger) in a variety of values of a color you enjoy
Fat quarters and/or fabric scraps (4" x 8" or larger) in a variety of colors plus black and white

In the Classroom

3 hours:
Learning about Color

  1. Instructor introduces the Color Wheel (pages 9-10) and talks about its uses. During the presentation, the instructor constructs the Color Wheel from fabric on a design wall.
  2. Introduction of the 5 Color Stories (pages 16-42), with visuals.
  3. Discussion of each of the 5 Color Stories in more detail, with simple block or quilt samples that show the concepts in each of the Color Stories.
  4. Which story is this? A group discussion in which students identify the Color Story of different groups of fabric samples or blocks the instructor holds up.

3 hours:
Constructing the Century of Progress Block

  1. Students select a Color Story for their block and assemble the 9 fabrics they will use. Instructor circulates to assist students.
  2. Instructor demos in several stages the cutting and piecing of the block for one Color Story, following the instructions on pages 14-15.
  3. Students construct a block using their choice of Color Stories, spending time to cut and piece after each stage of the demo. Students who cannot complete the block during class can complete it at home.