One week ago today, I had the great privilege to teach a class on my Triangle Transparency quilt at Bolts in the Bathtub. I had three students in the class with varying confidence in their fabric selections: one student had cut a full quilt yet *really* wanted to do the two colorway but was unsure of her darkest fabric selection, a second student had cut enough to piece one block, and the final student got to the store and bought her fabrics that day!
Student 1 – Evaluating Dark Fabric Selection
The first part of class covers some color theory and I demonstrated fabric selection by taking my bin of yellow fabric (I pulled one randomly off my shelf on the way out the door) and having us play with selection. It was a good exercise and got us all loosened up a bit. The students then talked about their fabric selections a bit and we used my iPad or their personal iPhones to look at their selections in grayscale. What a great tool! The third student quickly made her purchases after that reinforcement, and the first student was ready to re-cut fabric to do the two colorway.
Student 3 – Fabric Selection
One of the very nice parts about having a smaller class is that I was able to be a “helper” and get each of the students further along than they had ever imagined. I helped cut fabric, press seams, trim HSTs, rip seams, or anything else that was needed (like encourage breaks for lunch!).
Student 2 – First Block Complete
And getting to see blocks coming together was really so much fun for all of us! The students were so encouraging with one another, and the variation in color selection was fun for me to see.
Student 2 – Prep for Piecing Final 3 Blocks
After piecing together her first block, the second student had 2 hours left in the class, which was enough for her to cut all the pieces for the 3 other blocks and do all the piecing required so that all she has to do is sew the blocks together.
Student 3 – Ready to Piece First Block
The third student needed to leave a few hours early, but she was able to get all her fabric prep work done and piecing complete so that she could lay out the first block to photograph. Having that visual reference for when she gets home to work from will hopefully be very helpful!
Student 1 – First Block
And the first student, well, after completing her first block she was really excited to piece a second to see how the darker colorway would compare.
Two Blocks
Don’t they look fantastic together? Even better, just a day later, she emailed me a photo of the finished quilt top!
Finished!
I had a blast teaching this class. There is nothing like seeing a design come to life, and these three students did beautiful jobs.
How wonderful. It looks as if you and your students had a marvellous time.
A beautiful block and I think they all did an awesome job love the colour choices they made xxx
Having a small class has it’s perks! Sometimes you need a little extra help to help guide you in fabric and color selections. You did great and they did great!
Nice blocks.
What a fun class. Will you be offering it again?
Felt like I was in class myself! Great post, Yvonne! That last pic says it all. 🙂
How fun! Great to see all those different colors.
Fun class for you and your students. Three beautiful quilts in the making.
What a terrific class!
Wow, to get that all done in a one day class, amazing,And those 4 blocks together, that is fantastic. You must have been thrilled at the way that day progressed so well.
What a great design!
Wow! It must be very rewarding to sew other quilters making versions of your pattern.
Oh, this is so cool! It must’ve been a really great class!
Wow, it really came alive putting the blocks together in a quilt – so much better to see than just a block. Now I wouldn’t mind doing that exercise. Looked like a great class.
Good Afternoon Yvonne! Oh how lucky all three students were for getting so much of your one on one time and you for getting to have that time with them! Each one of their quilts are lovely! Plus, thank you for sharing this post it really helps to encourage me that I can accomplish this fabulous pattern of yours! Have a fantastic creative day!
What a productive class!
Great job, teacher and students!
This sounds look a wonderful class and your student’s blocks look great! You really helped them nail the transparency effect!
They were so lucky to get so much individual attention, and it really paid off. Love all the pics.
Apart from making the actual quilts it’s great you were able to talk about greyscale and values too, always a tricky thing to understand
Oh Wow! They do look fantastic Yvonne. This sounds like the ideal class and a whole lot of fun!
Looks like so much fun – I would love to have you as a helper for a class!
I loved hearing about the success of your class. How exciting to even see a finished top so soon. The purples are gorgeous!
Such a great opportunity with a a smaller class. It was a win-win for everyone. I loved that she was able to send you a photo of her finish. It looks great!
That sounds like the ideal class experience, for you and for them! Their quilts/blocks look fantastic and it’s a lot of fun to see the quilt in different colours.
Oooh their fabric choices are so great! Sounds like a really successful class, I’m glad it went well!
a great experience for you and them! I would like to have a class with you!