Monday, March 18, 2019

Ruler work samples

I have been invited to teach a class on quilting with Westalee quilting templates (AKA rulers) at the local quilt shop in April.  I have been playing with some of these for several months , on and off as I have a quilt that needs quilting and I am excited to share what I have learned.  I spent the weekend making two little samples to use in class.



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.

10 comments:

  1. Wow! What gorgeous designs! Wish I could come take a class with you. Looks like you had fun playing with the templates. Hope your group says it's OK to share pictures, the quilt sounds wonderful.

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  2. Wow--I love what you have done here. I missed the classes when they were teaching the Westalee rulers at out LQS. I am really sorry about that now. Beautiful work!

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  3. Nice examples of what you can do with rulers and easy to pass around in class! I think it is the combinations possible in one quilt that make ruler quilting so exciting.

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  4. A good idea to teach how to use the rulers in a block. Makes me want to try new things with my rulers.

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  5. Oh, I love these! And I can appreciate how hard it is not to be able to show everything all together at once. Ruler quilting is definitely on my bucket list.

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  6. Your ruler demonstration blocks are gorgeous! Wish I could be in you class so I could learn how to use the sampler set I bought 2 years ago at a quilt show! ---"Love"

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  7. Gosh you know a post like this makes me crazy-giddy - who needs wine! Wow! Love the designs/motifs you've created. Wish I could be in the class.

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  8. Great samples! I wish I could take your class with you.

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  9. Beautiful work! The blue one reminds me of the metal ceiling tiles in old houses.

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  10. Excellent! Your work fills me with joy!

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