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Some Thoughts on Workshops and UFO's
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Some Thoughts on Workshops, Performance, and UFO's I've been a quilt teacher since 1980 – that's 28 years of seeing quilters begin projects. But in those 28 years, I've probably seen less than 5% of those projects finished. Part of the reason for that is that I don't often return to the places I've taught to see show and tell after the class, although on occasion, people will bring quilts they've made from either classes or my books or patterns to a guild meeting when I'm speaking. Quilters also send me photos every now and again, which is a real thrill for me. Recently, I even saw a quilt that a student had received from her sister as a gift, after the sister took my class. The student was taking the same class! Lots of quilters state that they aren't taking any more classes because they don't want another unfinished quilt. To me, this is one of the saddest statements a quilter can make. First, it's sad that they have started so many projects that they find unsatisfying, causing frustrating; and second, they are denying themselves an experience that may open up their minds to techniques or ideas that might ignite their imagination. Quilters also talk about poor experiences working on a project in class. Some say they don't want to take project classes – they prefer process classes. Again, they talk about UFO's and not sewing well in class. This is the first area I'd like to discuss. Performance in class is a problem for everyone. I've taken lots of classes, and hardly ever finished the project because I wasn't happy with the quality of my work. But how can you do your best work in a class situation? Your machine is in a strange place, at a strange height, and the lighting is different (and sometimes really poor). You are sitting in a different chair, and there are people all around you talking and distracting you from what you are doing. And on top of that, there is a teacher calling you together as a group every few minutes for a new demo of some part of the quilt that you are not even ready to do yet! (Yes, I admit, I'm guilty of that as a teacher.) So it's hard to progress reasonably from one step to the next. My solution to those problems is not to stop taking classes, but to stop expecting to start a big project there. My expectations are to learn a new technique, maybe pick up a few little tips that make working at home easier or better in some way, and to socialize a little with some friends. I don't use my best fabric for the class project – I just use something that I don't treasure from my stash and make just the parts of the project that we can complete in class. After all, what if I decide I don't like the technique or the pattern after I learn more about it. That way I don't have a lot invested in a project that I have no interest in completing. Two specific strategies that I've seen students use seem like really good ideas to me. Some students make all their class samples using Christmas or other specific theme fabric (red, white, and blue for soldiers quilts, fall colors, etc.) for the project. Then they can use the completed project for a gift. Another strategy that one of my students used was to purchase several yards each of 4 or 5 fabrics and use just these fabrics for class projects during the year. At the end of the year, she put the quilt parts all together, puzzle style, and either kept the quilt or donated it to a hospital or homeless shelter. That way, she got to try out all the techniques, and make parts of all the projects, and had just one quilt to put together, plus she had a product that she could donate to a charity and feel good about it. My part in contributing to the solution to these problems is to make some changes myself, especially in my teaching projects. I've revamped my class projects so that they are almost all small projects – table runner or wall quilt size. The cost of fabrics for these class projects is less than about $30, and most of them can be pulled together from a reasonable-sized stash. The projects are designed to provide experience actually doing the techniques I'd like people to do; they are also designed so that they can be completed in class or within a couple of hours after class is finished. Hopefully I'll see more photos of completed projects, and people will be happy with what they have learned. They may even want to start a bigger quilt if they really like the projects! I sure hope to see more of you in classes, and I hope I don't ever hear that someone is not going to take another class because they don't want another UFO. Happy quilting, and happy learning to all of you. |