Things to Remember When Teaching

When the big kid was old enough to join 4-H, I was so excited to become a leader.  I didn't really step up that first year.   I wanted to make sure he liked it.  And luckily for me, he loves it.  That second year, I stepped up as the general sewing leader.  Me.  The quilter.  But we pushed through.  We started with tote bags, and moved onto pillows and pillowcases.  Then we headed into the clothing world with pajama pants.  It's definitely pushed me to keep learning things.

So I breathed a sigh of relief when this year, they wanted to do a quilt.  And since most of the kids are older, they wanted to do a "larger" quilt.  So to make things has "educational" as possible, I drew up a quilt pattern to incorporate several different quilting techniques.   So the basic pattern is a 9 patch with plain squares in between to learn some free motion quiltings and applique and hand quilting.  

Should be fun.  It's exciting to see all the different fabric choices.  but it is definitely a little overwhelming.  I'd like to think I have a house on the larger size.  Until you fill it up with kids and parents and sewing machines.

And I've realized that I have to do as much as I can before hand but still leave some to do to show them.  And I'm basically doing 2 quilts.  Haha.  The big kid is doing his own.  And he's doing a fantastic job.  but as I had all my squares for my 9 patch blocks cut.  I didn't have any of the squares sewn.  I did one at that meeting.  Sewing, iron, sew some more.  Iron some more.  So yesterday and over the weekend, I caught up with the kids.  

Since I'm making a throw size, I decided to make my quilt for #2.  He has this obsession with Curious George.  And he was ecstatic for his Curious George pillowcase.  Haha.   

And although I'm not that excited about this fabric collection, I'm sure he'll like the blanket too.

So now I just need to press all these 9 patch squares.  And at our next meeting in October, we'll be learning how to true up the squares.  And then cutting the larger plain squares.  My cheat move was to have them buy charm packs.  So we'll have one meeting with rotary cutters and safety.  So far, I've been able to avoid the rotary cutter.  It just scares me with kids and toddlers running around and so many kids.  Haha.  Until then, I'll be going back to other works in progress items and UFOs.