Quilt in a Shoebox
Quilt in a Shoebox is a beginning quilter program of the Asheville Quilt Guild
which is offered thru the UNCA Super Saturday program for children in grades 3
thru 8. The goal is to teach quilting techniques and to help students develop
those techniques thru different quilting projects. Students will do both hand and
machine sewing. Each student will be given a shoebox with the following
supplies:
 needles
 thread
 quilter’s ruler
 scissors
 safety pins
 pincushion
 straight pins
 pencil
 embroidery thread
 Quilting terms and definitions
Beginning, intermediate and advance classes will be 6 weeks long. The class
room will be sectioned off into three different areas to accommodate the
different level. The instructors for these classes will be Asheville Quilt Guild
members. Julie Simpson and Joan Tolley are the lead instructors and
developed this curriculum.
2
Beginner Class Lesson Plan
Class1. Basic Four Patch
Supplies: shoebox
One (1) 9 inch square
Four (4) 5 inch squares
Embroidery hoops
Lesson: Student will create a four patch
1. Choose squares
2. Mark ½ inch seam allowance
3. Pin squares together
4. Thread needle, tie knot, hand sew squares together to
create four patch and iron block.
5. On 9 inch patch student will put their name or initials.
Students may also put a design on the square with
pencil. Students will then be given a choice of a basic
embroidery stich to do on the block. Students will then
embroider their name and design with embroidery floss.
3.
Class2. Half square triangles
Supplies: Shoebox
Four (4) 6 ½ inch squares
Sewing machines (guild members will bring)
Lesson: Students will create half square triangle blocks and
then create a four patch with the blocks.
1. Mark the diagonal on the wrong side of the fabric
square. Then draw a second line ½ inch on either
side of the diagonal line.
2. Pin squares right sides together and then stich on
the sewing machine on the ½ inch lines
3. With supervision cut with a rotary cutter on the
diagonal line and then iron block.
4. Decide how to sew their half square triangle blocks
into a four patch.
5. Mark ½ seam allowances, pin blocks together, and
sew on sewing machine and iron.
4.
Class3. Applique’
Supplies: shoebox
One (1) 9 inch square
Assorted fabrics for applique’
Fabrics should be larger than 5 inches square
Sewing machines
Graph paper/ spools of different colored thread
Lesson: Students will design, create and apply their applique’
piece to their 9 inch square by hand sewing.
1. Design applique’. Applique’ must be as large as an adult
hand. Add seam allowance to pattern.
2. Cut pattern out. Student will take 2 pieces of fabric that
are larger than the pattern and pin right sides together.
Student will then pin pattern to the fabric’s wrong side.
3. Sew on the sewing machine. Remove pattern. Clip
curved seams if necessary.
4. Make a cut into one fabric and then turn the applique’
right side out and iron.
5. Place applique’ on 9 inch square and hand sew.
5.
Class4. Continue working on squares
Supplies: Shoebox
Trims, ribbons, lace, buttons, beads, rickrack
Sewing machines
Lesson: Student will continue to work on blocks that are
not finished. Also, student will be shown how to
embellish blocks with assorted trims, ribbons, buttons
etc.
1. Finish working on blocks.
2. Decide how to put the blocks together to make a
wall hanging.
3. Mark ½ inch seam allowance
4. Pin blocks together, sew on machine, iron.
5. Embellish the wall hanging.
6.
Class5. Sandwich quilt together and tie
Supplies: Shoebox
16 inch square pieces of batting
20 in square pieces of fabric for backing
Thread to tie quilt
Lesson: Student will sandwich their top together with batting
and a backing to create a wall hanging.
1. Select backing fabric and batting.
2. Sandwich backing fabric, batting and top.
Safety pin together
3. Tie quilt
4. Fold backing up over the front of the quilt to form a 1
inch boarder and pin in place and iron.
5. Sew on edge of boarder with sewing machine.
6. Do some more embellishment.
7.
Class6. Finish wall hanging
Supplies: shoebox
16 inch batting squared
20 inch fabric squared
Fabric scraps to make flowers
Embellishment materials
Lesson: Students will finish their wall hanging today. Those
who have finished will have opportunity to make fabric flowers.
1. Students will finish wall hanging.
2. May add more embellishments.
3. Sew sleeve on the back.
4. Learn to make fabric flowers.
8.
Intermediate Quilting Lesson Plan
The intermediate quilting class will be instructed in
more advanced quilting techniques. The student will
create a 16 inch by 23 inch wall hanging use the
following techniques: trapunto, strip piecing and crazy
quilt piecing. Students will also be encouraged to use a
¼ inch seam allowance. Students will also learn to hand
and machine quilt.
Class1. Trapunto
Supplies: shoebox
8 inch by 17 inch fabric pieces
8 inch by 17 inch batting
Embroidery hoop, graph paper, masking tape
Lesson:
1. Choses fabric and batting. On graph paper print in
block letters first name or initials 3 inches high.
2. Mark center of material on wrong side. Align block
letters so they are centered on the fabric. Rub the back
of the graph paper with pencil covering the area where
you name or initials are. Pin paper to fabric and trace
name or initials onto fabric or tape graph paper to a
window, then tape cloth over graph paper and then
trace onto cloth.
9.
3. Pin fabric and batting together.
4. Insert fabric into hoop with name or initials centered in
hoop. Using a contrasting thread do a running stitch on
the letters of your name or initials.
5. Student will then trim off excess batting.
Class2. Strip Piecing using a ¼ inch seam allowance
Supplies: shoebox
8 inch by 17 inch piece of muslin
Assorted fabrics cut in various widths
Sewing machine
Lesson:
1. Show students samples of strip piecing. Talking about
color and texture or design on fabrics. Student will
decide on colors to be used and will choose their fabrics
and muslin.
2. Iron fabric pieces and lay out pieces on muslin. Student
will then number pieces.
3. Student will then learn to sew and flip their pieces.
10.
Class3. Continue strip piecing and introduce crazy quilt
technique if needed.
Supplies: shoebox
8 inch by 17 inch piece of muslin
Assorted fabrics cut in various widths
Sewing machine
Lesson:
1. Continue working on strip piecing with sew and flip
method.
2. Introduce crazy quilt technique. Students will be shown
examples and given paper to design their own design.
Students will choose fabrics based on their color and
design.
3. Student will then transfer design to a piece of muslin 8
inches by 17 inches.
4. Students will then sew fabrics to muslin.
Class4. Continue working on strip and or crazy quilt strip.
Students will finish putting together their strips.
11.
Class5. Put wall hanging together.
Supplies: Shoebox
26 inch by 16 inch fabric back
26 inch by 16 inch batting
Embroidery hoop, quilting thread and needles
Lesson:
1. Sandwich backing, batting and front of wall hanging and
pin together.
2. Put wall hanging in embroidery hoop so your name or
initials are centered.
3. Quilt name or initials using quilting thread and needle.
4. Machine quilt strips.
Class6. Finish wall hanging
Lesson:
1. Trim wall hanging to 16 inch by 23 inch.
2. Pin binding to back of wall hanging and sew on with
sewing machine.
3. Iron and fold binding onto the front of wall hanging.
4. Student my either attach by hand or machine depending
on time.
12.
Advance Quilting Lesson Plan
The advance quilting students in the fall semester will
participate in the youth quilt challenge from the American Quilt
Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. The student will be given 3
pieces of Moda fabric and will design a 16 inch square
incorporating the three fabrics and following the guidelines for
the challenge including using a ¼ inch seam allowance.
Students may include other fabrics in their design. These
Blocks will then be entered in the challenge.
In the spring semester the advance students will create a crazy
quilt pillow or a project of their choice. Students will use the
skills that they have developed in previous sessions.