String Workshop--Saturday Workshop #1 2022

Selvage example

Our Clark County Quilters guild Saturday Workshops got off to a later start this year. Before COVID, there would be one Saturday in January when members would teach other members a class. The variety of classes was always amazing and at most, you might be able to take two half day classes. We held the event at a church.

Last year, we had workshops via zoom. What a learning curve that was both for teachers and participants! We had classes every Saturday in January. Most of the Saturdays, we had a three hour class in the morning and a three hour class in the afternoon. On one Saturday, we had a full day class. 

Example of a selvage with not enough fabric 

I attended all of the classes and had a blast. Of course, I have yet to finish all the projects that I started; but, I have finished or made good progress to that end!

Example of wonky edge selvage

This year, the leadership for the committee changed on Thursday, January 13. To support the new chair, I offered to teach a three hour class on January 22. On Friday, January 14, I e-mailed the chair a photo of the quilt and a description/supply list for the class. On Sunday, January 16, the chair listed the workshops that she had scheduled on the guild's FaceBook page.

On Monday, January 17, the newsletter chair released a constant contact newsletter regarding the workshops. Bless the

Selvage variety

members as they began registering for the class as soon as they saw the class list! I taught the first class which was a string piecing technique. We used the "Scrap Vortex" pattern available through Quilting Daily. In our three hour class, we began piecing fabric for the string borders. I'm posting the photos for the selvage portion of the presentation. 

Glueing the selvages

Nineteen of the twenty people registered attended my class from 9-12pm on Saturday, January 22. The person who did not attend was ill. I spent the week working on a slide presentation and step outs for the class. 

I decided to not only teach the strip technique I taught last year; but, I also planned to teach how to string piece selvages. It is important to provide options for the class participants to choose. Not everyone will want to make the pattern and not everyone will want to use the materials that I consider strings. Options make the class more appealing to a larger pool of participants.

I chose a second class of strings because people would either have them or could create them without having to make a trip to the fabric store or local quilt shop. 

Checking if the selvage is straight

I worked with the Saturday Workshop chair to hold a practice session to ensure I could share my screen for the presentation. I tested where to position my cell phone for optimum view of the step outs or to answer questions if I needed to show a step. I also practiced making breakout rooms.

Last year, I felt we needed some time to be able to chat with each other. There were more than 30 people who attended. I found me trying to answer questions and watch progress was tough. I didn't feel like I supported each person as much as I would have liked. I decided that having a smaller group where people could help each other as well visit with each other would be beneficial. I've been in break out rooms where I was assigned; but, I learned there was a Zoom feature where people could choose their own breakout room.

I tried it and that feature enhanced the class. I was able to visit each of the three breakout rooms to provide clarity as well as listen to the conversations. One room, the selvage edge, had one participant. We chatted and I answered her questions and then she joined the room of people doing something different than the pattern. 

Stitch close to the selvage edge

We also used the chat feature of Zoom as a way to introduce ourselves. I loved reading their introductions as well as their answers to some of the questions that I posed during the presentation. 

Introducing ourselves in this manner was more efficient and most of the participants participated. I felt the chat went well and I would employ that manner of introductions and as an ice breaker again.

The participants liked the pace of the class. They asked if they could have a copy of my presentation. I made a pdf of the file and e-mailed it to them. I was honored that they felt the presentation was worth saving! 

Selvage fabric ready for insertion in a quilt top

The breakout rooms were a hit! After class, I loved seeing people post their string strip pictures on the guild Facebook page. They wrote that they appreciated my organization. Many wrote that they took my class last year, had had fun as a first experience into strings and wanted to refresh their knowledge. One participant wrote that she liked the things I make and the topic interested her.

Members paid $5 to attend the session. The fee goes to support the guild. Every little bit sure helps the guild. I was impressed with how quickly the program came together. I'm looking forward to being a participant in as many Saturday workshops as I can fit in my schedule. I did take the "Upcycle Apron" class that was the 1-4pm class on the 22nd. It was totally fun. I think the granddaughters would like a new apron to wear when they come to visit. (The youngest granddaughter has grown out of the one I made a number of years ago!)

What I accomplished in an hour

So, I had a detour away from my goals; but, I like taking the scenic route. I'll be back on task soon! By the way, Gertie had a ball putting together the presentation. She
became so excited seeing the variety of strings used! 

Yes, she has been sharing her ideas of all sorts of string/selvage projects that she would love me to tackle. She continues to chatter away at all the possibilities as she points to the rather large box of selvages that I have collected!

With Gertie, I know that I will NEVER run out of project possibilities!

Lecture--Complete

Some of the quilts chosen

 The North Star Quilters in Ridgefield Washington, invited me to speak to their guild on Thursday, March 7. Their president, Carol, said the group was going to participate in their first challenge. Since it was their first time to do a challenge, she said it would be helpful for people to get an idea of what to do. She said they had had a fun activity in receiving a page out of a magazine and the challenge is to create a 20x24 inch quilt inspired by something on that page.

Having participated in a few guild challenges and having completed a number of book club quilts, I decided I could share examples of quilts that I had completed and the inspiration behind them. We decided my topic, "Finding Your Artist," would fit well with the group venturing into the challenge. She asked me in December to be their March speaker. Right away, I completed an outline of what quilts I wanted to share and I wrote an introduction. At the beginning of January, I rewrote a good portion of the lecture.

Suitcase loaded for the lecture

Mid-February, I started pulling my quilts. I looked at my lecture notes.  I was surprised that I had 45 quilts from which to choose! Miss J helped me choose the best options. We pulled about 20 examples for the talk. In the evenings after my husband went to bed, I'd practice my talk. My practice sessions were awful. I was so nervous!

In one of my work life positions, I used to "get" to do TV interviews. Gosh, I'd be so nervous!! Practicing for this lecture brought up those old feelings. I've taught CPR type classes for many years and I was president of a quilt guild with about 400 members so I've had a lot of practice with public speaking.

Example of a Vikki Pignatelli  inspired facing

I completely rewrote my talk. This time, I approached my subject as if I were the first time challenge participant listening to me! I wrote note cards to use to keep my presentation on track.

I practiced holding my quilts and talking about each one's story. The note cards weren't working. I decided to rewrite the lecture AGAIN. This time, I would share a story and then show an example. I removed most of my explanation about what techniques I used. The nervousness eased a bit. I packed my quilts into a large rolling suitcase. I printed my lecture. Still, that "I need to tweak this talk a bit," feeling lingered.

Example of letting the fabric do the work

Driving the hour to my friend's house, I realized it was my delivery that needed the tweak. As I finished showing a quilt, I would share a point that would encourage or at the least give the participant another possible approach to their idea. I felt a calmness. I was still nervous; but, more of a buzz than outright jitters! A buzz, to me, means I'm nervous because I care and not because I haven't prepared well enough.

Back of "linen" quilt

I fully intended to take photos; but, I forgot so I'll get to rely on my memories of the evening. One smart move I made was to set the timer on my phone for 30 minutes into the talk so that I would have another 30 minutes left to pace myself. In my case I needed to speed up which really surprised me because when I practiced I was much slower!

The hour flew. I felt great while I was speaking. People were quiet while I spoke; there were oohs and giggles in the appropriate places. People appeared to be engaged the entire time. I received good comments after I finished. I watched people take photos of many quilts. I listened to a

Front of the linen quilt

few participants tell me what their page had on it. I answered a few questions of how would I approach the project if it were me. A couple people shared their first thoughts about their plan for their project. One person said she was new to quilting. She felt overwhelmed. I encouraged her to find fabric that had what she needed. . .like a panel or to use a fabric color to represent the object. The guild president e-mailed me the following day with great comments. I understand my passion for quilting showed. I call my experience a grand slam!

In preparing this lecture, I have even more respect for the speakers that I have heard in the past. A ton of thought and preparation goes into those presentations!! I also realized that I haven't documented many of my early quilts with photos and a story. Well, some of those quilts were documented in my old blog. Perhaps, a few times a month I'll write a post about a past finish.

I was surprised that so many of my projects included appliqué. Had I been asked about my quilting style before the lecture, I would have reported I was a piecer! Maybe if I were viewing all my work together, there would be more piecing. Also, I realized that in every project, I tried a new technique and/or I improved a technique. Often in a project, I had used several of each! I didn't realize how much I enjoy exploring possibilities and techniques!

If you were to ask me if I was an "Artist," I'd reply that I'm continually exploring possibilities and that exploration has helped me become an artist. I do plan to visit the group when they reveal their responses to their challenge. I look forward to that meeting!!!