When I took a class to get started last June, I came away with the basic idea of building designs by tracing various lines and shapes with the templates while freemotion quilting. What I felt was lacking were examples of how to place those shapes on a patchwork quilt. All our practice was just doodling randomly on a scrap quilt sandwich.
Having everyone bring a quilt to fill with motifs is a bit much for a beginner class, and different quilts would need different motifs and sizes and so on. It just isn't practical. However, I think drawing specific shapes and spaces on a plain quilt sandwich and filling those as though they were blocks or borders or sashing is a good alternative, and that's what these samplers are for. Between the two, they use all 6 templates I plan to discuss and demonstrate. Participants will have the choice of random doodling, or more intentional placement practice, or both.
This one uses a straight edge, a 12" arc, a 2" circle, a 6" spiral and the Circles on Quits Spinning Wheel 36 (except that spinning wheel, instead of spinning, is being shuffled sideways for a design in the last border, just because I can and it looks cool).
This one (which is actually a pretty yellow but washed out in every picture I attempted) uses the Spin-e-fex No.4 template, the straight ruler, and the 3" clam shell. I used the clam shell for the leafy bits and that curvy-pointy strip.
My biggest challenge is accepting that I cannot possibly both introduce how to use the rulers AND show or teach every possible design I can think to create with them! Maybe that can be another class.
Tonight, I'm going back to piecing. I need to finish the first round on the guild round robin. I wish I could show you a picture. Pam made a gorgeous mariner's compass with 32 points, fussy cutting and pattern matching. It is a bit intimidating, but oh so fabulous! I think our groups plans to go ahead and admire the progress on all the quits at each round, so I will ask at the next meeting if I can share pictures as I go.
