Alpha & beta testing Dark sides

I have finished alpha & beta testing the Dark side class. It is very different from all my other classes, so I needed some extra quality control. Teaching the same technique to several diverse groups of quilters is the best way to do this and I have learned a lot on the way. Fortunately the students also enjoyed the class very much.

The third class was only one student and even though she missed out on the positive effects of being in a group, she had the benefit of my full attention. I would not have done this if I hadn’t known her and been sure that we would have fun together. 8 hours of awkwardness would most certainly not constitute as a benefit.

Auditioning fabrics is always an interesting process which some dread and others enjoy. 

I can always offer support and suggestions, but in the end it’s all about what the students like. There’s no point in making something which someone else likes, is there. 

The best design tool is taking pictures. Lots of pictures all through the process. It will give you something to flip through to see what worked and what did not. Little changes often make big impacts, so swap positions or a fabric or two and see what happens.

Accurate piecing requires full concentration; apart from the humming from the machines, you could hear a pin drop.

I love how different the projects turned out even when working from the exact same blueprint.

Quite a few have asked about the possibility for online Mrs Moen classes, and I have had some very interesting conversations with some of you about this topic. While the hands on approach is key to some of the techniques I teach, this particular class would transfer very well into such a format, so I will be setting up an online class in English for the fall season. I will need some guinea pigs, so stay tuned:)

The dark side, class No 1

Thank you for all your warm wishes and words of comfort, they were highly appreciated!

I went back to work in my studio today and it was such a relief to hear the happy hum of the sewing machine. I made progress on quilting this project, and attached new bindings on two old quilts. I’ll tell you about those later.

Last week was the first ever run of the “The dark side” class in my studio. It was a first for both the class and the venue. There were three students which gave us plenty of space on the huge conference table in the meeting room.

My samples pinned to a torn strip of Christmas fabric tied to a pipe and the remote control hanger. It worked.

(I just realized that I haven't photographed these properly yet..)

The dark side is quite different from my other classes with the main objective being a 3D piecing technique. Going through the design process, the students also learn how they can make their own 3D designs and calculate the measurements.

The technique in itself is not difficult, and it is so much fun to see the transformation as the projects move along step by step. 

Flannel diapers make great on-the-go design walls. I taped them onto the wall with masking tape, and then we moved them, with all the pieces in place, into the studio at the end of the first day, and back the next day. Wall to wall to wall. A little tip: don't wash or iron the (new) diapers; the fabrics will cling more easily to them when not.

That first ever class is a great teaching tool for myself as well as I get to see how my technique works for others. I am happy to say that it did.

It’s interesting to see how different the projects turn out working from the same blueprint. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished quilted projects.

Next week’s class is fully booked, but there are a few open spots on May 11-12. Just saying.)