by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins, Piece O' Cake Designs
NOTES TO INSTRUCTORS & SHOP OWNERS
This book is all about quilts with a circular motion. There are many classes that you could offer based on Quilts with a Spin. We stopped at three for this lesson plan.
Whirlygig is a colorful, new interpretation of a traditional classic.
Pennsylvania Pickle Dish has a decidedly folk art attitude. Either of these quilts would make a great 2-day class.
Dresden Dots is not your traditional Dresden Plate. The plates are broken apart and bubbly circles are added for fun. It will make a great 6-hour class.
Here are some key points to share with your students:
- It is very important to stitch an accurate 1/4" seam allowance when piecing.
- Put your entire quilt on the wall before you start to sew.
- Vellum and Carol Doak's Foundation papers are easier to paper piece with. You can see through vellum and remove it easily. Carol's papers tear away very well.
- Controlling only one stitch at a time makes appliqué easier and faster.
Basic Student Supply List
- Required textbook: Quilts with a Spin by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins
- Small, sharp paper scissors
- Small, sharp fabric scissors
- An ultra fine point Sharpie marker
- Clear, medium weight upholstery vinyl, cut to the size of the finished block. Keep the tissue paper that comes with the upholstery vinyl.
- Essential Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets for templates. Not laminating pouches.
- Rotary cutter, mat, and acrylic ruler. This is for classes #1 and #2.
- Vellum or Carol Doak's Foundation Paper. We use this crisp, translucent paper for paper piecing. You can find it at C&T Publishing. Choose white rather than colored vellum. This is for Classes #1 and #2.
- Appliqué needles
- Essential Appliqué Pins from Piece O' Cake Designs
- 100% cotton thread to match your appliqué fabrics (DMC 50 weight machine embroidery thread, Aurifil 50 weight, Mettler 60 weight machine embroidery thread, and YLI Soft Touch 60 weight thread are all good choices.)
- White Chalk Pencil - We recommend General's charcoal white pencil.
- An Ultimate Mechanical Pencil for Quilters (.05 lead) to mark light value fabrics
- Essential Sandboard from Piece O' Cake Designs (Bring a sheet of fine grain sandpaper if you don't have a board.)
- Quilter's Appliqué Caddy or a baggie for your templates
- Optional - A lamp and an extension cord in case the room is dark.
Teacher Supply List
Some students don't make it to class with all of their supplies. Your class will go more smoothly if you have these items. If you supply laminate and vinyl, know how much you are going to charge your students for these items in advance.
- If you are teaching a pattern that needs to be enlarged, it is better to make the enlarged copies for your students. This ensures that everyone has what they need. However, each student must buy a copy of the book before you can give them a copy of the block for class. Bring copies of the appliqué templates and paper piecing patterns you are using in class. This will save a lot of time in the classroom and insure that your students have accurate copies. You may want to charge a kit fee if you are making several copies for each student.
- We always give our students a packet with a couple of the needles that we prefer, a few 1/2" sequin pins to try, and a round wooden toothpick to use in turning points and curves. That way we know that everybody starts out with the key tools for appliqué.
- We bring spools of appliqué thread in a variety of colors. Students can then see what a difference good thread makes.
- It is good to have the following extra items on hand, just in case...
- Masking tape
- Extra laminate sheets
- Extra upholstery vinyl
- Extra fine point Sharpie markers
- Extra white chalk pencils
- A pencil sharpener
- Extra sheets of fine grain sandpaper
- Extra foundation paper pattern sheets copied onto vellum. This is for Class #1 and #2.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Class #1: Whirlygig
A two day 6-hour class
The emphasis of this beginning/intermediate class is to teach the techniques used in paper piecing and the basics of needle turn hand appliqué. On the first day of this beginning/intermediate class, learn the paper-piecing techniques and the cutaway appliqué used for the Whirlygig block. On the second day of class, learn how to set the Whirlygig block together and work on a variety of hand appliqué techniques on a border corner block.
Class sample: If you don't have time to make the whole quilt, make the Whirlygig block and one of the border corner blocks.
Prepare the pattern for class:
- Make 2 copies of the round Whirlygig block center pattern on 11" x 17" paper. Template B will come from one sheet and template C from the other.
- Make 3 copies of a Corner Block for each student to use to make templates.
- Make 4 copies of Whirlygig Arc E on vellum for each student.
- Make 1 copy of Whirlygig Corner Template A on 11" x 17" paper for each student.
Fabric Requirements
NOTE: The fabrics requirements listed below are what you will use in class. If the student plans to make the entire quilt, refer them to page 8 in the book.
- Black-and-white prints
- Whirlygig block background: Cut 1 square 13" x 13".
- Whirlygig block corners: Cut 4 squares 9" x 9".
- Pieced arcs: Cut 28 strips 2 1/4" x 3".
- Border corner: Cut 1 square 12" x 12"
- Blue fabric
- Whirlygig appliqué: Cut 1 square 13" x 13".
- Solid fabrics
- Pieced arcs: Cut 32 strips 2 1/4" x 3".
- Center circle: Cut 1 square 3" x 3".
- Bring scraps of fabric for the appliqué in the border corner block.
In the Classroom
Day One
- Make templates (pages 50, 51, and page 8, #1 and #2).
- Make the positioning overlays (pages 53 and 54).
- Teach cutaway appliqué (page 56). See page 8 and 9 for specific instructions for this block.
- Paper piece 4 arcs (pages 60 and 61).
Day Two
- Use Corner Template A and cut the 9" x 9" background squares to size.
- Piece curved block corners to arcs (page 62).
- Sew the corner/arc units to the block center (page 10).
- Teach the invisible appliqué stitch as you work on the different shapes (refer to The Appliqué Sampler book (pages 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.)
- Appliqué a leaf on the corner block (refer to The Appliqué Sampler pages 29, 30, 31, and 32).
- Appliqué a star flower on the corner block. (The Appliqué Sampler pages listed above and page 35).
- Appliqué a circle on the corner block (page 57).
Class #2: Pennsylvania Pickle Dish
A two day 6-hour class
In this beginning/intermediate class you will teach the techniques used in paper piecing and the basics of needleturn hand appliqué. On the first day of this beginning/intermediate class, learn the paper-piecing techniques used in the arcs and how to set the center of the quilt together. On the second day, you will work on a variety of hand-appliqué techniques found in the top border of the Pennsylvania Pickle Dish.
Class Sample: If you don't have time to make the whole quilt, make one round Pickle Dish block. The top border appliquéd will help sell your class.
Prepare the pattern for class:
- Use the top border pattern for your class. This border must be enlarged 200%. Make 2 copies of the border to have the entire border. Students will make their overlays from these copies.
- Make 3 copies of one appliqué flower
- Make 8 copies of Arc pattern A on vellum or Carols Doak's foundation paper
- Make 8 copies of Arc pattern B on vellum or Carols Doak's foundation paper
- Make 1 copy of template D
- Make 1 copy of template C
- Make 1 copy of template E
- Make 1 copy of template F
Fabric Requirements
Note: The fabric requirements listed below are what you will use in class. If the student plans to make the entire quilt, refer to page 14 in the book.
- Royal blue fabric
- Template C: 16" x 16" square
- Template D: 13" x 13" square
- Template E: 18" x 18" square
- Template F: 16" x 10" rectangle
- Colorful solid fabric
- Triangles on the outside of the arcs: Cut 32 strips 2 1/2" x 3" and 16 strips 3 1/2" x 3"
- Arc corners: 4 squares 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"
- Colorful striped or plaid fabric
- Triangles on the inside of the arcs: Cut 40 strips 2 1/2" x 3"
- Arc corners: Cut 4 squares 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"
- Appliqué fabric
- A variety of bright fat quarters for the flower, leaf, and stem
- Red fabric
- Zig Zag trim on the sides of the border: 60" x 3" (for teacher demo).
In the Classroom
Day One
- Make templates (refer to pages 50 and 51).
- Make the positioning overlay for top border (pages 53 and 54).
- Paper piece the arcs (pages 60 and 61). See page 15 for specific instruction for this block.
- Piece Corner background pieces E and F to the arc.
Day Two
- Appliqué 2 leaves to border background (refer to The Appliqué Sampler pages 29, 30, 31 and 32).
- Appliqué the stem using the cutaway technique (page 56).
- Appliqué the 3 flower centers using off-the-block construction and circle appliqué (page 56 and 57).
- Appliqué the flower using the outer point technique (refer to The Appliqué Sampler pages 29, 30, 31, and 32) and inner point technique (Appliqué Sampler page 32).
- Demo the zig zag used in the border (page 16, Appliqué Tips).
Class #3: Dresden Dots
A 6-hour class
Have a good time working with these fun fabrics! Appliquéing smooth curves and circles is the emphasis of this beginning/intermediate class. Learn how to piece a corner plate block. You will work on the invisible hand appliqué stitch while stitching the plate to the background. And of course you will learn to appliqué a circle!
Class Sample: If you do not have time before class to make the entire quilt, complete four blocks to make the center. Also complete the bottom left corner block of the quilt.
Prepare the pattern for class:
- Make 1 copy each of templates A and B (page 41).
- Make 1 copy of template 2 (page 42).
- Make 2 copies of the lower-left border corner block (page 43).
Fabric Requirements
Note: The fabric requirements listed below are what you will use in class. If the student plans to make the entire quilt, refer her to page 38.
- Pink fabric
- Cut one 10" x 10" square for background of Dresden Dot corner block
- Cut one 10" x 10" square for background of the lower left border corner block
- Colorful printed fabric for the plates
- Cut 5 colorful prints from scraps no smaller than 6" x 6"
- Solid green fabric
- Cut one square 3" x 3" for piece #2
- Blue and white polka dot fabric
- Cut one 2" x 2" square for a circle in the lower left corner block
In the Classroom
- Make templates refer to (pages 50 and 51). See page 38 for specific instructions.
- Make the positioning overlay for the plate block (pages 53 and 54).
Make the positioning overlay for the lower left border corner block (pages 53 and 54). - Assemble plate (page 38).
- Appliqué the plate to the block background (page 38).
- Appliqué the center arc to the plate.
- Appliqué a circle onto the lower left border corner block (page 57 and 58).
