Master curved piecing
From Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
By Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins
This book was designed to be a teaching tool. The information on pp. 1-34 includes things that every quilter should know. Please do refer your students to this information and tell them as much as you can in class.
Class Description:
Curves are surprisingly easy to sew! Students will learn the secrets to perfectly curved shapes. This class is suitable for any skill level. Beginners should be able to sew together at least two Drunkard’s Path blocks and one set-in circle. Quilters with more experience should finish more blocks.
Class Length:
This can be taught as a 1-day class.
Class Supply List:
- Book: Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
- Fabric, as listed on p. 87
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat. Ruler should be 6½˝ ´ 24½˝
- Sewing machine in good working order
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Sandboard (or sandpaper) and a chalk pencil
- *Essential Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets for templates
- *fast2mark Essential Circle Tool
*You can teach one or both of the methods shown in the book for marking the curved edges. You can use the templates from the book and/or the Essential Circle Tool. Adjust the supply list so that students are prepared for the method(s) you want to teach.
It’s a good idea to make a fabric-choosing date with your students before the day of the class. Beginners especially like to have help with this step. We recommend that fabric be washed and dried before using and that will give students time to do that.
Classroom Preparation:
Each student needs room to cut. Cutting is an important part of this class, and it’s hard to do on a tiny mat in a cramped space. They also need room to set up their sewing machine. Once the sewing begins, students will need to iron. Two to three students could share an iron.
Class Agenda:
1. Teach how to cut accurately. Refer to pp. 35–37. Also refer to Using Rotary Tools, pp. 18–21.
2. Make the templates. Refer to Templates, pp. 17–18.
3. Refer to Cutting Instructions on p. 87. To make the most of class time, cut only the strips that you are likely to use in class. Cut 2 light and 2 dark strips 7½˝ ´ WOF. Subcut 8 squares 7½˝ ´ 7 ½˝ from each strip.
4. Follow the instructions to teach Drunkard’s Path blocks, pp. 87–88. Refer to Curves, pp. 79–82.
5. Follow the instructions to teach set-in circles, p. 88–89. Refer to Set-In Circles, pp. 83–85.
6. Continue sewing blocks as time permits.
7. Discuss how to finish the quilt.
Learn to cut and sew accurately
From Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
By Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins
This book was designed to be a teaching tool. The information on pp. 1–34 includes things that every quilter should know. Please do refer your students to this information and tell them as much as you can in class.
Class Description:
There is no time like now to learn how to cut accurate strips and sew a precise ¼˝ seam allowance! This quilt showcases two sizes of the fast and fun Rail Fence block pattern, and students will sew both of them. This class is suitable for any skill level. Beginners will sew at least two large blocks and four small blocks. Quilters with more experience could finish all of the blocks.
Class Length:
This can be taught as a 1-day class. If you are targeting beginners, it would be good to teach it in two sessions, focusing on accurate cutting in the first class.
Class Supply List:
- Book: Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
- Fabric, as listed on p. 39.
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat. Ruler should be 6½˝ ´ 24½˝
- Sewing machine in good working order
- Matching thread
- Scissors
It’s a good idea to make a fabric-choosing date with your students before the day of the class. Beginners especially like to have help with this step. We recommend that fabric be washed and dried before using and that will give students time to do that.
Classroom Preparation:
Each student needs room to cut. Cutting is an important part of this class, and it’s hard to do on a tiny mat in a cramped space. They also need room to set up their sewing machine. Cutting continues during the class. Once the sewing begins, students will need to iron. Two to three students could share an iron.
Class Agenda:
1. Teach how to cut strips accurately. Refer to pp. 35–37. Also refer to Using Rotary Tools, pp. 18–21.
2. If the class is moving along well, cut all of the strips described on p. 39. If you have students who are slower, cut 1 of each of the fabrics for the large and small blocks.
3. Follow the instructions for the Large Center Block assembly, pp. 39–40.
4. Follow the instructions for the Small Border Block assembly, pp. 40–41.
5. If there is time, set the quilt together.
6. Discuss how to finish the quilt.
Master half-square triangles
From Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
By Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins
This book was designed to be a teaching tool. The information on pp. 1–34 includes things that every quilter should know. Please do refer your students to this information and tell them as much as you can in class.
Class Description:
Take charge and be the boss of triangles! This class focuses on making half-square triangles and sewing them together, matching the points perfectly. This class is suitable for any skill level. Beginners should be able to sew together at least four pinwheel blocks. Quilters with more experience could finish all of the half-square triangles and be well on their way to finishing the quilt.
Class Length:
This can be taught as a 1-day class. If you are targeting beginners, it would be good to teach it in two sessions, focusing on accurate cutting in the first class.
Class Supply List:
- Book: Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
- Fabric, as listed on p. 68
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat. Ruler should be 6½˝ ´ 24½˝
- Sewing machine in good working order
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Design wall
It’s a good idea to make a fabric-choosing date with your students before the day of the class. Beginners especially like to have help with this step. We recommend that fabric be washed and dried before using and that will give students time to do that.
Classroom Preparation:
Each student needs room to cut. Cutting is an important part of this class, and it’s hard to do on a tiny mat in a cramped space. They also need room to set up their sewing machine.
Each student needs access to design wall space. This will help to ensure that the half-square triangles are sewn together in the correct orientation. Once the sewing begins, students will need to iron. Two to three students could share an iron.
Class Agenda:
1. Teach how to cut strips accurately. Refer to pp. 35–37. Also refer to Using Rotary Tools, pp. 18–21.
2. If the class is moving along well, cut all of the strips described on p. 68. If you have students who are slower, cut fewer light and dark strips. Focus first on the pinwheel blocks.
3. Follow the instructions for Making Larger Half-Square Triangles, p. 62, and What To Do With The Leftovers, p. 63.
4. Follow the instructions to Make The Pinwheel Blocks, pp. 69–70. Refer to Sewing Half-Square Triangles Together, pp. 63–65.
5. Continue making half-square triangles and setting units together as shown on pp. 70–71 as time permits.
6. Discuss how to finish the quilt.
Learn to cut and sew accurate strip-pieced squares and strips
From Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
By Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins
This book was designed to be a teaching tool. The information on pp. 1–34 includes things that every quilter should know. Please do refer your students to this information and tell them as much as you can in class.
Class Description:
This happy, scrappy, strip-pieced quilt looks more complex than it really is. Each 14˝ ´ 14˝ block contains 4 large squares, 4 four-patches, and 8 strip-pieced strip units. Put them all together to make a very splashy quilt! Students will learn how to cut accurate strips and sew a precise ¼˝ seam allowance. This class is suitable for any skill level. Beginners will sew at least one (and probably more) 14˝ ´ 14˝ block. Quilters with more experience could finish most of the blocks.
Class Length:
This can be taught as a 1-day class that focuses on cutting and sewing. If you are targeting true beginners, it would be good to teach it in two sessions, focusing on accurate cutting in the first class.
Teach this as a 2-day class if you want to teach color, and let students design their quilt on a design wall. If you choose this option, students will cut and sew units and play with their placement on the design wall before constructing the blocks and setting the quilt together.
Class Supply List:
- Book: Piecing the Piece O’ Cake Way, Revised Second Edition
- Fabric, as listed on p. 51
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat. Ruler should be 6½˝ ´ 24½˝
- Sewing machine in good working order
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Design wall, if you are also teaching how to color this quilt
It’s a good idea to make a fabric-choosing date with your students before the day of the class. Beginners especially like to have help with this step. We recommend that fabric be washed and dried before using and that will give students time to do that.
Classroom Preparation:
Each student needs room to cut. Cutting is an important part of this class, and it’s hard to do on a tiny mat in a cramped space. They also need room to set up their sewing machine. Cutting continues during the class. Once the sewing begins, students will need to iron. Two to three students could share an iron.
Class Agenda:
1. Teach how to cut strips accurately. Refer to pp. 35–37. Also refer to Using Rotary Tools, pp. 18–21.
2. Refer to Making Four-Patch Blocks, pp. 47–48.
3. If the class is moving along well, cut all of the strips described on p. 51. If you have students who are slower, cut 1 of each of the fabrics for 1 block.
4. If you are also working on how to color the quilt, have students put their units on the design wall before setting the block(s) together.
5. Follow the Block Assembly instructions, pp. 51–54. Be sure to follow the pressing instructions to ensure that the seams nest as the blocks and quilt come together.
6. If there is time, set the blocks together.
7. Discuss how finish the quilt.
