Tuesday Tutorial & Tip~ Fidget Quilts Teach Beginners to Sew

   

 

Last spring I taught 8 students at The Christian Academy of Bluegrass how to use a sewing machine and different sewing techniques.  Making a Fidget Quilt has been the best idea I've EVER had for teaching Beginners how to sew, and best of all end up with a project that benefits others. Please see links to suggested lessons below.  You'll also find "Beginner's Sewing Lesson" links at the top of this page.

 

 

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Tuesday Tutorial

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 I first started doing demonstrations on my machine for the lessons for students to get acquainted with machines.  Soon students used their computers to pull up the directions for the blocks and work at their own pace. I was able to then walk around and work with individuals.  Sometimes we took a break and came to my machine to see a demonstration.  Most people learn visually.

 

   It was easy to scaffold (a teaching term) the skills from beginning to higher levels through putting together a Fidget Quilt.  I first taught students how to set up the machine, wound a bobbin and thread the machine which one must know to be able to go home and use a machine, then we started by getting acquainted with the stitches each person's machines could do.  I decided the block of various stitches could be a sensory block to go in the Fidget Quilt.

 

 

 

Then the next lesson/block involved learning to manipulate 

the machine or really the fabric

 in various directions.

 

  

 Then a block involved lots of edge stitching.

I will say this group caught on fast in commanding the machine to do what they expected.

Edge stitching by all students turned out great. 

  

To see the entire unit of lessons for this Fidget Quilt please go to:

Beginner's Sewing Lessons 

which can be found at the top of this main blog page. 

Or just click here to see the entire Unit of Sewing Lessons in making a Fidget Quilt,

or click here to jump to the different blocks for each sewing skill.

I was very surprised how well this technique of teaching skills turned out.

I later worked with a couple of students,

and was thrilled to see how well they had caught on,

when they made something they wanted impromptu.

The lessons were posted under "Beginning Sewing Lessons" 

for students' reference.

I then forgot until I made the Fidget Towels recently

to share this event as a Tuesday Tutorial. 

Below are pictures of a student's finished work.

I will admit,

of all the classes I've taught sewing,

the boys generally catch on the quickest.

They certainly are more intrigued by how the machine works.

I definitely think sewing is a skill that will come in handy for anyone

some day.

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