Back to Back Quilting Fun!

Yesterday we drove over the river and through the woods to our friends' house to teach a quilting class...and a yogurt making class!

While Hannah was in the kitchen teaching two families how she makes yogurt, Sarah and I were setting up the sewing machines, arranging a pile of scraps from which the girls could choose to make blocks, and unbagging various quilts we brought for a show-and-tell to start the session.

Sarah began by showing her sampler quilt she made a few years ago from a Leisure Arts Learning to Quilt book. She wanted to show the girls the many different blocks that are possibilities:

Sarah decided to pick the rail fence block to teach the class since the project was an easy one for a beginner. Here's Hannah below holding up an example of a small rail fence quilt she made using the Alex Anderson Start Quilting book:

Each of us girls brought our mats, 6"x24" rulers, and rotary cutters--three basic necessities for a quilter to learn how to use. Sarah demonstrated the technique, and everyone started cutting the scrap fabric they had selected to make their own rail fence block.

I have some great pictures of the girls cutting and sewing and having fun, and I wish I could show them to you--I did think of a way to post the completed blocks without putting faces on the internet. Here are the four rail fence blocks the class of six beginning quilters finished. I think they did an excellent job!

And did I mention back-to-back fun? This morning Sarah and I attended our last Patchwork Plus class for this Saturday Sampler session.

Our class started out with a Show-and-Tell also. Here's one of the class participants, along with our teacher "QuiltinGal" Barbara, showing her last year's Saturday Sampler quilt all finished:

I have all these same 12 blocks finished...they just need to be made into a quilt--and, of course, that beautiful center medallion, the extra corners, and all the applique need to be done!

And today I saw the new fabrics (Alex Anderson's latest release Leila Rose by P&B) already displayed for the next sampler class beginning in March, and they are calling my name! Should I or shouldn't I?

Here's our teacher, Barbara, demonstrating how to set in some of the blocks as we work towards completing the quilt top:

And finally, Barbara reviewed how to attach a binding on a small sample:

I learned something in class today about cutting bias binding on quilts larger than a wall hanging...I've always cut my binding from selvage to selvage and never on the bias no matter what size of quilt it is. No one ever told me I should do it differently! Maybe that's just something everyone already knows.

I'm glad I learned this technique of cutting on the bias to make bindings, and I'll have to practice on these Saturday Sampler quilts!

We've had two fun days of quilting! I hope you enjoyed going along with us!

~Deb

Comments

[victoria]

What pretty quilts. Glad you learned a new way to make your quilting easier.

Victoria

[Heather]

Deb, It looks like y'all had a great time. I can't wait to see your finished quilt!
~Heather

[RubyJeans]

Oh My!!! I think I would of been the Only Lady RUNNING back and forth between the Yogurt Making and The Quilting Class... :) Those quilts are BEAUTIFUL!!!
Blessings
Angelina

[Kendra Sheard]

Wow, what beautiful quilts! It looks as though you had two very lovely days. You have inspired me to get to work finishing the table runner I started in my quilting class over at Rachel's last summer (YIKES! Has it been that long since I started that project????). Thanks for sharing!

[Tonya]

I have always heard that one should cut on the bias ALWAYS for binding..but it is such common practice nowadays to cut it straight grain..so that is what I do. I really should try the bias sometime. I really really should.

[Susan]

I've only done the straight-grain binding (like I'm so experienced at quilting!), but I did try doing a bias binding on a baby quilt once. It didn't work very well, mainly because I was in a hurry and couldn't take my time. But . . . binding the quilt is my very favorite thing! I love sewing it down on the back and seeing my finished product!

[Val]

Hello again ..... I am back in blogland and back to visit you .... and what a lovely visit is too. Oh how I wish I could have been one of your friends and enjoyed the day with you, but thank you for sharing so much with us. The railroad blocks look great.
In the county I am now living I haven't found any crafty outlets, so being able to read up on your blog has been a tonic.
Have a lovely weekend,
Val xx Berkshire UK