General Information: The Thistle Pods has all the features of a traditional quilt designed for foundation paper piecing. This quilt is not difficult to make but it will take you a few extra hours of sewing and cutting to prepare for class.

Pre-Class Instructions: Purchase the Thistle Pods pattern, read your instructions, and select your fabrics: The yardage amounts are listed on the back page of your instruction booklet.

Set up a color chart to match the fabric layout on page 19. You can follow the layout with the same number of fabrics or you can combine the fabrics. How you choose your fabrics is up to you, but if you do change your fabrics I would suggest you build another chart identical to the chart provided in the pattern. Paste your fabrics over the boxes. Do not cover up the writing at the bottom of the boxes because the cutting instructions are written to corespond with those fabric numbers.

Templates: We provided the templates for you in this pattern. They were provided so you did not have to make copies, and they are intended for you to cut apart. Read the information about preparing templates on page 3 very carefully. If you do not understand how to cut out the templates then send me an email with your phone number, your time zone, and a good time to call. I will try to get back with you as soon as possible. If I am unable to contact you then I will have my assistant call and go over the templates with you.

Cutting Instructions: Complete the cutting for each unit listed in your instructions. Place all the fabric pieces into a bag or box along with the templates to class. The binder clips listed in the class supplies are used to clip the templates and fabric pieces together. They work great! I use both medium and small binder clips for this quilt.

If you do not complete the cutting for this quilt before class you will spend all your time in class cutting and very little time sewing. So please try to have your cutting done before class. You should allow yourself a full day to complete the cutting for this quilt. If you do not have a full day then allow yourself two or three evenings. You will save yourself lots of time and confusion if you cut the whole quilt out rather than just part of it.

Foundation Papers: Follow the instructions on Page 2 “Prepare your Foundation Papers”.

General Supply List:

Steam iron
Ironing board
Medium size cutting board
6″ by 24″ ruler
Small scissors
Size 45 or 60 rotary cutter with a new blade
Seam ripper
Template plastic
Surge protector
Extension cord
Sewing machine with a quarter inch foot.

Paper Piecing Supply List:

12″ add-a-quarter ruler
18″ add-a-quarter ruler
Scotch tape
Washout fabric glue stick
Flower pins
Large and small Ziploc bags
Stapler
Purple Thang
Size 70/10 microtex sharp sewing needles
(4) boxes of 12 small and medium size binder clips
High-quality cotton thread (poor thread has a tendency to break when removing the paper).

Note: If you own the large 60mm rotary cutter bring it. Make sure you have a new blade on your cutter before coming to class.

In this class you will have the opportunity to learn most of the techniques I teach and write about in my patterns. I teach a chain-piecing process designed for foundation paper piecing. This process is possible because all of the fabrics are pre-cut using templates designed for each section on the foundation papers. I also teach speed-cutting techniques for both paper and fabric. I teach both sewing, and pressing techniques that will enable you to do foundation paper piecing, curved piecing, and traditional piecing. I teach fast and easy ways to make templates, how to use them, and how to design them.

If you have any questions regarding this class, please contact your instructor directly. Contact information for Judy and her Certified Instructors is available on our website at http://quiltworx.com. Please include your correct email address, phone number, and name. You may also want to check out our website www.quiltworx.com and our facebook page quiltworx.com prior to selecting fabrics. There are many samples, slide shows, and color-changing quilts available for you to enjoy. We also have corrections and helpful hints posted for most of the patterns we have published.

Judy Niemeyer and the Certified Instructors