by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins, Piece O' Cake Designs
Notes to Instructors & Shop Owners
There are many classes that can be taught from this book. We chose the following four because they give you the opportunity to teach a nice variety of hand appliqué (and foundation paper piecing) techniques.
When we teach, we concentrate on specific techniques. We assume that our students know how to set their blocks together and finish their quilts. However, you know your students best. You may want to add those quiltmaking techniques to the classes listed below. You will need to add class time as well.
Class #1: Tossed Tulips. The emphasis of this 6-hour beginning/intermediate class is to teach the basics of hand appliqué while working on one tulip block. You will work on a cutaway stem, inner and outer points, a two-part leaf, and a circle. We use this pattern ourselves in many of our beginning classes. If your students are true beginners, schedule a second class to teach nine-patch construction and setting the quilt together.
Class #2: Pretty in Plaid. Use Block #3 from Pretty in Plaid to teach the basics (plus more!) in this 6-hour beginning/intermediate hand appliqué class. You will work on off-the-block construction, curves, circles, a cutaway stem, reverse appliqué, and outer points.
Class #3: Waltzing Stars. Teach the basics of foundation paper piecing in this 6-hour beginner class using the Waltzing Star pattern. Schedule a second class to teach your students how to make continuous bias stem and the teardrop leaves in the border.
Class #4: Neapolitan Nights. Use plaids and stripes to make some wonderful fussy-cut stars in this beginning/intermediate 6-hour class. Use our technique to piece the stars by machine and then hand appliqué them in place on the block.
BASIC STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
- Required text: Contemporary Classics in Plaids & Stripes by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins
- Small, sharp paper scissors
- Small, sharp fabric scissors
- An ultrafine-point Sharpie marker
- Clear, medium weight upholstery vinyl cut the size of the finished block
- One sheet of clear, heavyweight, self-adhesive laminate for templates
- Appliqué needles
- 1/2" sequin pins
- 100% cotton thread to match your appliqué fabrics (DMC 50-weight machine embroidery thread or Mettler 60-weight machine embroidery thread)
- White chalk pencil (we like General's charcoal white) to mark darker fabrics
- Quilter's Ultimate Mechanical Pencil (.05 lead) to mark lighter fabrics
- Sandpaper board (bring a sheet of fine-grain sandpaper if you don't have a board)
- Baggie for your templates
- Optional - lamp and extension cord in case the room is dark
TEACHER SUPPLY LIST
- Masking tape
- Extra laminate sheets*
- Extra upholstery vinyl*
- Extra ultrafine-point Sharpie markers*
- Extra white chalk pencils
- Pencil sharpener
- Fine-grain sandpaper*
- We always give our students a packet with a couple of the needles that we prefer, a few 1/2" 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 several spools of appliqué thread in a variety of colors. Students can then see what a difference good thread makes. *Some students don't make it to class with these 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. Other items can be returned to you to use in future classes.
SUGGESTED CLASSES
Class #1: Tossed Tulips
A 6-hour class focusing on beginning/intermediate hand appliqué techniques.
Fabric Required for Class:
- Background fabric: 8" square of fabric
- Bring scraps of fabric approximately 6" square in the following colors: brown for stem; pink for tulip; 2-4 different greens for the leaves; deep rose for the circle
Class Outline:
- Make templates (page 10)
- Make the placement overlay (pages 9-11)
- Show how to use templates and the placement overlay when you begin your stitching demonstrations.
- Teach cutaway appliqué on #1, the stem (page 14)
- Teach outer and inner points on #2, the tulip
- Teach the circle (page 15); if your students aren't ready to sew the circle to their block, encourage them to practice on scrap fabric
- Teach the 2-part leaf
Class #2: Pretty in Plaid, Block #3
A 6-hour class focusing on beginning/intermediate hand appliqué techniques.
Fabric Required for Class:
- Background fabric: Bring a pieced 4-patch as described in the book OR bring a 20" square for a background that isn't pieced
- Bring scraps of fabric approximately 12" square for the following pieces: flower; small flower petals; stem; flower center; leaves; vase; vase accents
Class Outline:
- Make templates (page 10)
- Make the placement overlay (pages 9-11)
- Show how to use templates and the placement overlay when you begin your stitching demonstrations
- Teach off-the-block construction and tight curves (page 15) with pieces #1 and #17 (Note: Trace around the #1 template onto its fabric. Don't cut it out! It is easier to sew off-the-block if the bottom fabric is bigger. Sew the #17 petals in place. Then cut out the #1 shape and stitch it to your block.)
- There won't be time in class for your students to get all of the #17 petals sewn onto the #1 flower.
- Teach outer points with leaf #4
- Teach cutaway appliqué with #8 stem (page 14)
Note: The flower and leaf #5 won't be sewn to the block yet. Have your students leave openings in the stem for these pieces. Let them know that under normal circumstances they would have these other pieces sewn down before the stem. - Teach the circle (page 15); if your students aren't ready to sew the circle to their block, encourage them to practice on scrap fabric
- Teach reverse appliqué with #11-#16
- The easiest way to sew the vase is to trace the #16 vase shape onto the vase fabric. Use the overlay to position the vase accents #11-#15 onto the vase fabric and trace around them. Finger press and then lay this fabric over the vase accent fabric. Keep the accent fabric big - it's easier to handle. Reverse appliqué the shapes. Trim away excess fabric. Sew the vase as a unit to the block.
- If there is time, show your students how to make the continuous bias stem used in the border
Class #3: Waltzing Stars
A 6-hour class focusing on beginning foundation paper piecing techniques.
Foundation Paper Piecing Class Supplies:
- Small, sharp paper scissors
- Small, sharp fabric scissors
- 100% cotton thread to match your primary fabric (DMC 50-weight machine embroidery thread or Mettler 60-weight machine embroidery thread)
- Sewing machine in good working order
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat
- Bias bars for the 2nd class
- Optional - lamp and extension cord in case the room is dark
Teacher Supply List for Foundation Paper Piecing Class:
- Make 4 copies of the foundation paper pattern (page 29) on vellum for each student. It's easier to supply this than to hope that everyone shows up with this essential supply.
Fabric Required for Class:
Refer to the fabric requirements in the book (page 28). You'll have to decide how much time you want to spend cutting fabric in class. We recommend that you have students cut enough to make one star. If they are making a scrappy quilt, they'll need to cut a little more fabric so that they have a variety of fabrics in their block.
Class Outline:
- Cut fabric
- Trim excess paper away from the foundation papers
- Sew fabric to the foundation papers as described in the book (pages 30-32)
- Sew an E and an F triangle to each unit
- Sew the 4 units together to make one star
Optional 2nd Waltzing Stars Class: Teach your students the appliqué techniques they will use in the border.
Fabric Required for Class:
- Background Fabric: Bring one 6" x 52" border background
- Bring scraps of fabric approximately 12" square
- 24" square of fabric for the vine
Class Outline:
- Make templates (page 10)
- Make the placement overlay (pages 9-11)
- Show how to use templates and the placement overlay when you begin your stitching demonstrations
- Make continuous bias stem (pages 16-17)
- Show how to position the vine on the background
Note: Use the overlay to get the vine in place; pin it first, then baste the vine in place - Position the center #1 and #2 teardrop leaves on the background (it's easy to scoot the bases of the leaves under the vine); demonstrate how to appliqué an outer curve (page 15)
- Sew the vine down AFTER all of the leaves are sewn down
Class #4: Neapolitan Nights
A 6-hour class focusing on an interesting 8-point star technique.
Fabric Required for Class:
- Background fabric: 8" square of fabric
- Bring scraps of plaid or striped fabric approximately 12"-24" for the stars
- The larger the design in your fabric, the more fabric you will need
Class Outline:
- Make templates (page 10)
- Make the placement overlay (pages 9-11)
- Refer to the specific star instructions on page 46; show how to use templates and the placement overlay when you begin your stitching demonstrations
- Show how to fussy-cut the diamonds from different striped and plaid fabrics to create exciting designs in 8-point stars
- It's nice if you have a variety of stars to show them; they don't have to be sewn - you can give them the idea of the patterns they can create by using loose fabric diamonds
- Teach your students how to piece the stars on the sewing machine; be careful not to stretch the arms of the star
- When your students have completed one star, demonstrate how to position and stitch it on the background block
