Quilt & Embellish in One Step! Class Plan

by Linda Potter

NOTES TO INSTRUCTORS & SHOP OWNERS

The Needle Magic techniques presented in Quilt & Embellish in One Step offer quilt makers a new unique alternative for finishing and embellishing their quilts.

To provide students a successful and rewarding experience using Needle Magic, it is important that your quilt shop make a commitment to stock the appropriate supplies, i.e. batting, #7 crewel embroidery needles, and #8 Perle cotton in a good selection of colors.

This book presents several different embellishing techniques, ranging from simple quilting to more advanced techniques encompassing appliquéing and beading during the quilting process as well as beading after quilting.

Since the inception of this technique in 1995 I have repeatedly taught four sessions or more of this technique per year. I routinely teach this class in two different ways. The simplest version is a short 2 3/4 to 3 hour class, which results in a stitching sampler for the students. For a more comprehensive look at the Needle Magic technique I recommend the Random Hearts project in the book taught in two separate sessions 2 1/2 to 3 hours each with 2 weeks in between the sessions. This project uses the first session to introduce the appliqué technique and the second session covers the stitching and beading techniques.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Single Session Title: Quilt and Embellish in One Step
Join (instructors name) to learn the art of Needle Magic an innovative embellishment technique combining quilting with embroidery, beading, and Sashiko.

During this Technique Workshop, you will create a stitching sampler while you:

  • Learn a variety of Needle Magic stitching, beading, and embellishing techniques
  • Explore the importance of thread color selection to enhance your quilts and
  • Discuss the supplies that affect the success of this technique.

SUPPLY LIST

  • Text: Quilt & Embellish in One Step by Linda Potter
  • One fat-quarter of a small stripe or plaid fabric to be used for a quilt top
  • One fat-quarter of fabric for the quilt back
  • One fat-quarter of Thermore™ batting by Hobbs
  • Scissors
  • A package of #7 Crewel/Embroidery Needles
  • One spool of #8 Perle Cotton in a color that offers a strong contrast to the quilt top
  • 10" or 12" round quilting hoop
  • Thimble
  • Beads: Using beads during this workshop is optional. Beads and beading techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. For tips on bead selection and collection refer to page 54 in Quilt & Embellish in One Step.

A WORD ABOUT FABRIC
Although batik's are beautiful to work with they are more difficult to needle than traditional cotton fabrics. Therefore, I do not recommend them for beginning projects.

PREPARING TO TEACH
To interest students in Needle Magic it is important to make a sample using the technique. Any project in the book, or any quilt quilted and embellished with this technique could be used as a sample for a single session class.

PRESENTING THE CLASS AND THE CLASSROOM
It is important that adequate lighting be provided. If adequate lighting in your classroom is not available, you may wish to add lighting to the supply list. It is also important to arrange the classroom so that the instructor can easily reach the students, to assist them with any problems they may have.

  1. Begin by reviewing the appropriate supplies for the technique.
  2. Show and discuss the samples in the book and the variety of ways in which the technique can be used.
  3. Talk about color selection and show strands of thread laid on various colors of fabric. This is a very important part of the learning process. If the students have pre-chosen a color of Perle Cotton that is not appropriate it is important that you allow them to exchange their colors if they have purchased them from the store.
  4. Demonstrate threading the needle and the 4 straight stitches on pages 37 to 39. Then have the students practice the stitches with the teachers help.
  5. Demonstrate the decorative stitches beginning on page 40 one at a time. Then have the students practice the stitches with the teachers help.
  6. Demonstrate the beading techniques on pages 55 to 57 and, as time allows, have the students practice the techniques.

Two Session Title: Random Hearts Quilt and Embellish in One Step
Join (instructors name) to learn the art of Needle Magic an innovative embellishment technique combining quilting with appliqué, embroidery, beading, and Sashiko.

During this Technique Workshop, you will create a table runner while you:

  • Learn a variety of Needle Magic stitching and beading techniques and an alternate faster method of appliqué
  • Explore the importance of thread color selection to enhance your quilts and
  • Discuss the supplies that affect the success of this technique.

SUPPLY LISTS

  • Text: Quilt & Embellish in One Step by Linda Potter
  • Background and Binding - 2 yards - Choose a simple tone-on-tone
  • Hearts - 3 or 4 fat quarters and 1/8 yard of 2 to 4 additional fabrics (choose a nice variety of prints)
  • Backing - 2 yards
  • Thermore(TM) batting by Hobbs
  • Heavy duty fusible - 1 yard (Heat n' Bond ultrahold(TM) recommended)
  • Rotary Cutter, Ruler, and Mat
  • Tracing Paper
  • Glass Head Pins
  • Heavy-duty template plastic
  • Small sharp utility scissors with a sharp point - (Fiskars Soft Touch(TM) recommended)
  • Teflon pressing sheet or pressing paper
  • #7 Crewel/Embroidery Needles
  • #8 Perle Cotton in a variety of colors to contrast and blend with your chosen fabrics
  • Color selection will be discussed during the first session
  • 10", 12", or 14" round quilting hoop
  • Thimble
  • Beads: Using beads during this workshop is optional. Beads and beading techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. For tips on bead selection and collection refer to page 54 in Quilt & Embellish in One Step.

A WORD ABOUT FABRIC
Although batik's are beautiful to work with they are more difficult to needle than traditional cotton fabrics. Therefore, I do not recommend them for beginning projects.

It is recommended that students measure their table at home prior to the first session, allowing them to vary the shape and size of their project as desired.

PREPARING TO TEACH
To interest students in Needle Magic it is important to make a sample using the technique. Although Random Hearts is the most comprehensive project in the book, any project in the book, or any quilt quilted and embellished with this technique could be used as a sample for a single session class.

PRESENTING THE CLASS AND THE CLASSROOM
It is important that adequate lighting be provided. If adequate lighting in your classroom is not available, you may wish to add lighting to the supply list. It is also important to arrange the classroom so that the instructor can easily reach the students, to assist them with any problems they may have.

First Session:

  1. Begin by reviewing the appropriate supplies for the technique.
  2. Show and discuss the samples in the book and the variety of ways in which the technique can be used.
  3. Talk about color selection and show strands of thread laid on various colors of fabric. This is a very important part of the learning process. If the students have pre-chosen a color of Perle Cotton that is not appropriate it is important that you allow them to exchange their colors if they have purchased them from the store.
  4. Discuss with the students their options to change the size of their Random Hearts table runner. This quilt can be adjusted shorter or longer, square, or round and the hearts can be arranged as desired.
  5. Assist the students in cutting their background pieces according to the project directions on page 64 or as desired.
  6. Using the appliqué directions on page 46 to 49 and the project directions on page 64 to 65, demonstrate how to prepare, cut, and press the fusible pieces for the 3 overlapping hearts.
  7. Press the 3 overlapping hearts to the background.
  8. At the end of the first session, instruct the students to finish fusing hearts to the background fabric and to hand baste their quilt tops prior to the second session.

Second Session:

  1. Demonstrate threading the needle and the 4 straight stitches on pages 37 to 39. Then have the students practice the stitches with the teachers help.
  2. Demonstrate the decorative stitches beginning on page 40 one at a time. Then have the students practice the stitches with the teachers help.
  3. Demonstrate the beading techniques on pages 55 to 57 and, as time allows, have the students practice the techniques.
  4. Demonstrate the appliqué stitches on pages 50 to 52.

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