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Schedule: Eight three hour sessions Skill level: intermediate to advanced
Week one: Block one. This basic block covers many simple but important techniques. During this class take the time to cover rotary cutting skills, squaring up, proper pressing and chain piecing techniques. It is useful to begin work on the appliqué. Each student will need 56 of the four o’clock shapes, 32 posies, 44 bells and 32 leaves. Have the students start on the process: cut freezer paper shapes, plastic templates, or trace onto fusible web depending on the method of appliqué that you choose to teach.
Week Two: Block two. This block teaches how to use connecting corners. Practice pinning so that the connected corner seam crosses the pinwheel seam at the quarter inch seam line. This is preparation for success at the Star of Bethlehem. Demonstrate the next step in the appliqué. If you are doing the invisible machine appliqué, this is the time to start glue basting. Hand appliquérs can start thread basting if desired.
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Homework: Start cutting out the 6 1/2” squares and 6 1/2” by 9 1/2” rectangles for the appliqué backgrounds. Cut the strips and shapes for blocks 3 and 4. Just cut the strip for the blade fabric, the cuting on the bias will be demonstrated in the next class. Note: I have found that students are more comfortable cutting in their own sewing areas. Classroom tables are often too low, lighting can be iffy and the pressures of time combine to make cutting in class unpleasant. This way they are free to take their time to cut accurately.
Week Three: Block Three: This block offers practice in cutting the 45 degree angle needed for the Star of Bethlehem. Remind the students that they are working with bias edges. Watch out for quilters who pull their patches through the machine. It is important to let the feed dogs advance the bias edges without pushing or pulling.
Block Four. We will be matching pieced and unpieced triangles. Match the right angle corner, not the seam allowances. This way if there is any discrepancy in the sizes, the error will be hidden in the seam allowance!
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