by Margaret J. Miller
Description
Glimpse refreshing new ways to put blocks together! In this 6-hour workshop you'll learn to cut half-size and pieced triangles with AnglePlay™ templates. Spend the day with us and make gorgeous blocks to take home! Basic rotary cutting and machine piecing skills are required, but all skill levels are welcome.
Instructor Supply List
- Required text: AnglePlay™ Blocks by Margaret J. Miller
- Several sets of AnglePlay™ templates for students to work with
- Sample blocks: Simple blocks (pinwheels and stars, 2 of each, "spinning" opposite directions)
- Directional blocks (at least 4, to rotate on wall for different design possibilities)
- "positive-negative" blocks (reverse value position in block)
- 4 versions of one block (p. 43)
- 4 blocks of a single pattern that lends itself to being offset from its neighbor (pp. 43, 47 Quilt(s) made using sampler blocks; 1 with checkerboard "X" and "O" feeling
- 1 Sampler "with a twist" (like pieced sashing strips, camouflage where quilt stops and border begins)
- 1 quilt with blocks that are offset from each other
- 1 quilt made from 4 versions of same block
- Blocks with "X" feeling - to intersperse with student blocks
Student Supply List
- Required text: AnglePlay™ Blocks by Margaret J. Miller
- AnglePlay™ templates, or supplies to make templates from book
- Sewing machine in good working condition; cords, extra needles
- Straight pins - very thin ones
- Rotary cutting supplies; cutter with sharp blades, spare blades
- cutting mats (at least 24" one direction to cut width of fabric), plus a small one to cut triangles on 6 x 24" ruler, 6" square ruler
- Iron, ironing surface
- Design wall, wide masking tape to adhere it
- Fabrics: half yard pieces of five different values (Lt, lt-med, med, dk-med and dark)
- Fabrics should be one main color family, but have at least one accent color (or, 1-2 prints that bring in an accent color)
In the Classroom
- Demonstrate how to rotary cut using the templates. (All fabrics right side up; show blocks made with fabrics right side up vs. wrong side up; i.e. pinwheels spin two different directions in the blocks made with right-side up vs. wrong-side up fabrics).
- Have all students start with a simple block (like Double Star).
- Demonstrate how to cut a pieced triangle (pp. 8-9), then have them do one block that involves a pieced rectangle.
- Students use the rest of the time to make as many blocks as they can. They may choose to 1) make 4 versions of one block (p. 43), or 2) make 2 color versions of same block (p.47), or 3) make at least 4 blocks in a pattern that lends itself to being offset (p. 43), or 4) make "positive/negative" blocks; i.e. with a single block pattern, reverse the darks and lights from block to block (p. 47), or 5) make whatever block patterns catch their fancy!
- Last hour or so of class: students play with blocks on wall.
Shop owners should stock:
- AnglePlay™ Blocks by Margaret J. Miller
- AnglePlay™ Templates; Set One, "Angles Aweigh," Set Two, "Angles Up!" (sets Three and Four will be available in 2006)
- Rotary cutting equipment
- Mats: small 8 x 11 or 11 x 17 (to rotate while cutting triangles) and large enough to cut 22" selvedge-to-fold
- Rotary cutters, spare blades for rotary cutters
- 6" plexiglas square
- straightedge 6" x 24"
- Fabrics in good range of values from very light to very dark
