Beginning Quilting

So, two very lovely and generous women (Annie and Margaret) in the Vashon Quilt Guild have offered a free beginning quilting class, and I signed up. I am totally amazed at all the work they have put into this - lesson plans, two different sampler quilt layouts (one small, and one full size for over-achievers like me), visual aids, samples, an excellent notebook of info and instructions for each of us, and even homework assignments! After only two sessions I've already learned so much and had so much fun, too.

The first class session was in January, and covered basics of choosing and preparing fabric, measuring and cutting, sewing the all-important 1/4 inch seam, and matching corners - not as easy as it looks! Our first homework quilt block (after we went out shopping for our own fabrics) was a "Nine-Patch Block"


February was all about 1/2 square triangles, and different methods of creating them. Then the added challenge of matching up not just the corners, but the points as well (grumble, grumble, reach for seam ripper). And pressing the seams in the right directions so they don't cause a major glomp of fabric where many small bits meet up.

In class we made two blocks - "Churn Dash" and "Flutterwheel"


and then the homework blocks (after more grumbling and seam ripping and much careful pinning and some whooping and celebrating) I give you:
"Hovering Hawks" and "Bear's Paw"


"Jacob's Ladder" and "Windmills all Around"


And my personal favorite, "Annie's Block" - a block design created by one of our teachers.


It is challenging to be so precise, but very satisfying when it all comes out right.

This month it looks like we'll be up for 1/4 square triangles and who knows what surprises our teachers may have for us. A very fun class with a lovely group of people and hopefully, an amazing finished quilt at the end!

And I'm still weaving - just finished another scarf on my wee little Cricket loom (OK family members - it's time to start asking for scarves!), and I bought myself a larger rigid heddle loom - a 15 inch Schacht Flip - that is currently being warped up with some Malabrigo (color "stonechat") for a "painted skein warp" shawl (probably the color block stripes technique).

More later.