12 Month Sampler:  # 101 Syllabus

Class Instructor:  Terry Crawford

Class Begins:  January 5^th, 2002

Class Ends:  December 31^st, 2002

Class Description:  The class teaches quilters a wide variety of methods used in piecing 12 different blocks.  The class is geared at all skill levels and at the end of the year, each participating student will have a finished quilt top, ready to quilt and bind.  The blocks are not seasonal.  Blocks can either be hand-pieced or machine-pieced.

Class Objectives:  1)  To learn basic piecing skills, 2)  To learn basic skills in quilt-top assembly (including adding sashing and borders), 3)  To go from beginner’s blocks to intermediate blocks, and 4)  To have a quilt top finished by the end of the year 2002.

Class Results:  You should have a finished quilt top made up of 12 blocks (12” blocks, finished) by the end of the year 2002 that measures approximately X” x X”, including 1 border.  The finished top can easily be made larger by adding more blocks of your own choosing and/or adding another border.

Class Materials Needed:  Pre-washed, 100% Cotton fabrics, 6 fabrics (Fabric A, Fabric B, Fabric C, Fabric D, Fabric E, and Fabric F).  There are really Four options to color choices:  Option 1, Option 2, Option 3, and Option 4.

OPTION 1:  Using a Focus Print

Fabric A is the background and should be a very light color (cream, cream on cream, white, white on white, etc.).  Or if you want to make this the opposite, then choose black as the background.  You need approximately 1.25  yards of Fabric A.  An example of this would be a white on white.

Fabric B is the same color as Fabric A, with a small print, but mostly the background showing.  This can be floral or any type of print that you like.  You need approximately 1.25 yards of Fabric B.  An example of this would be a tiny floral, spaced apart widely, on a white background.

Fabric C is an all-over print with the same background of A and B and that coordinates with Fabrics A and B.  You need approximately 1.25 yards of this fabric.  An example of this would be a floral print, with green leaves and a white background (that just barely peeks through).

Fabric D is a contrasting coordinate to Fabric C, with a light value.  It should read “solid” from a distance.  It can be mottled or tone on tone.  You need approximately 1.25 yards of Fabric D.  An example of this would be a mottled light/medium green.

Fabric E is a contrasting coordinate to C, in the same color family as D, but with a medium value.  It can also be mottled or tone on tone.  You need approximately .75 yards of Fabric E.  An example of this would be a mottled medium/dark green.

Fabric F is a contrasting coordinate to C, in the same color family as D, but with a dark value.  It can tone on tone, but probably not mottled.  You need approximately 1.25 yards of Fabric F.  And example of this would be a very dark green.

Note:  Fabrics D, E, and F should contrast to A, B, and C.  Overall, A, B, and C, should read light and D, E, and F should read mediumish to darkish.

OPTION 2:  Solids and/or Tone on Tones

Fabric A should be a warm color, such as bright, yet medium to dark pink.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Fabric B should be a warm color, a transition fabric between A and C.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Fabric C should be a warm color, moving on to the next shade. If pink was used, then purple would be a good choice here.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Fabric D should move to the next shade.  If purple was used as C, then an example of this one would be medium to dark blue.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Fabric E should move around the color wheel to the next value.  If blue was used in D, then a medium to dark aqua would be a good choice for this.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Fabric F should move around the color wheel once again to the next value.  If aqua was used in E, then a medium to dark green would be a good choice here.  It can be solid, mottled, or tone on tone.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1.

Note:  Option 2 would be great for jewel-tones!  Here are some sample colors!

OPTION 3:  Color Wheel Play!

Referring to the color wheel at the left, an interesting and appealing choice of colors would be to choose ANY fabric as A, then moving in EITHER direction, skip over six (6) segments and find a fabric that is close to that color for B.  Next, moving in the same direction, skip six more segments, and that would be C.  Do this until you have all six fabrics selected.

For example, if you were to choose 1 for Fabric A, and choose to move in a clockwise direction, then 7 would be Fabric B.  Using this same method of going the same distance in the same direction, then 13 would be C, 19 would be D, 25 would be E, and 31 would be F.

You can choose to go either direction and any amount of segments (as long as there is a noticeable difference in color range).  You can also choose the value on the wheel (with the lightest being on the outside edge and the darker values on the inside).  So, if you choose a color in the outer ring, then stick to that ring to select the other fabrics.  If you choose a color in the inner ring (the largest), then stay in that ring.  In other words, try to stay the same distance from the outside edge on all of your choices of fabrics.

These are just suggestions.  Explore the color wheel for yourself to see what you come up with!

Click here for the large size of the Real Color Wheel shown above, print it off, and take it to you fabric store with you.  To keep the color accurate, please follow these instructions by the author, Don Jusko:

"This Real Color Wheel is for everyone to print out and use, but not sell.  There are no pigment reference dots on this one.  Download it directly.  Notice that the image you down load is a png file, your printer may need it converted to a tiff file.  Also, for the internet in had to be a 72 dpi file, change that to 300 dpi for a 5" printout. Other wise it will be 11.5x11.5 inch printout.  The image was made in CMYK and converted to an RGB png.  Download it, convert it back to a CMYK tiff for the printer and print.  I like the profile in the image for printing with no profile in the printer."

OPTION 4:  Scrappy!

Fabric A should be the same as Fabric A or B (if it’s a sparse print!) given in Option 1 above.  Same fabric yardage requirements as Option 1, also.

Fabrics B through F can all be scraps of fabric.  If you’re tracking total yardage, it should be approximately 5 yards or so.

Additional Information:  Blocks are 12.5” unfinished,  12” finished.  The approximate finished quilt top size will be 62” x 77”.  The yardage requirements assumed 43” width of fabric.  If you want your quilt larger, increase the fabric requirements.  I’ll try to post some pictures of sample fabrics that could be used by December 23,  2001.  Don’t stress over your fabric colors!  

It is extremely important to practice safety when dyeing fabrics, so be sure to wear the mask and rubber gloves.  It is also important to follow safe sewing rules, such as when using the rotary cutter.  Neither the forum administration nor the membership (including teachers) are responsible for injury as a result of this or any other class.

Class Contact Information:  sregora@quiltingpassion.com

© 2001, 2002 RiverMOO, Inc.