MEN'S QUILTING BEE
Every Saturday, 10 am - 12 noon (10/11/08-3/21/09)
Manifest NE Studio

Create community & learn basic quilting skills with other men by creating a beautiful quilt of recycled neckties
 
GOALS 
* To create a quilt as a group - cutting patches, hand sewing them together, hand quilting and finishing.  This quilt will be a true work of art resulting from a regular, fun, social gathering. 
* Participants will learn the basics of making a simple patchwork quilt, starting with hand piecing techniques and concluding with hand quilting.  We won't need to use anything more complicated than a needle, thread and pair of scissors to make this quilt! 
* Learn to slow down in our lives and value community through the creation of functional, collaborative art
* Learn to work as a team, communicate, collaborate, & value each member's gifts & limitations
 
ACTIVITIES:  There are several stages to making this traditional 9-patch quilt.  
 
Stage 1:  Collect old neck ties!  Ask your friends, go to goodwill, clean out your own closet!  We'll probably need quite a few - and it would be nice to have some extra for additional side projects.
 
Stage 2:  Recycle the ties. We need to open them up, take out the innards and iron the useful part flat.
 
Stage 3:  Cutting the patches.  We'll cut as many squares from each tie that we can. 
 
Stage 4:  Design.  We'll arrange the patches into blocks as we like. There will be group input into the design process.  You'd be amazed at the possibilities that can arise out of a bunch of colorful squares.
 
Stage 5:  Piecing.  With simple stitches anyone can do, we'll put the blocks together and create the top layer of the quilt.
 
Stage 6:  Putting in the Quilt.  We'll connect the three layers of the quilt - top, batting (fluffy, warm layer) and back.  Again, using simple techniques, we'll be quilting.
 
Stage 7:  Binding.  The last stage is putting a border around the quilt that will finish off the edges.
 

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING:  Being a part of this project will give you a sense of accomplishment and might earn you a whole new circle of friends.  By working steadily on a collaborative art project, you'll learn creativity, communication, persistence, teamwork, patience, and how to make work & art fun.  You'll gain valuable basic sewing techniques that you can apply to making your own textile projects!  You'll also learn patience, since we'll be doing all of this without the assistance of any machines.  This is the perfect project for the coming fall and winter months.  You'll gain a sense of accomplishment since we'll be raffling off the final project to benefit men's wellness programs offered through Manifest.
 
DONATION: $5-$20 per person per session to benefit Manifest, a non-profit men's wellness community; no one turned away for lack of funds & work-study is available; we encourage regular members of the bee to buy a class card to encourage regular attendance & commitment:

5 Classes @ $12/class
10 Classes @ $10/class
20 Classes @ $8/class

Also, we'll all pitch in ties and a little money for materials (backing, quilt batting, thread, needles, scissors).  If we decide to have lunch afterwards at an Alberta Street restaurant, it would be dutch treat.
 
EXPERIENCE/PRE-REQUISITES:  Beginner's welcome.  No pre-requisites - just a willingness to learn and lots of patience.  Of course, prior experience with sewing and quilting will be helpful.

FACILITATOR:
John Ossowski is an amateur textile artist with nearly 20 years experience.  While his primary medium is crochet, he has completed several patchwork quilts.  John enjoys giving new life and meaning to found objects and finding new and unusual ways to mix media with traditional textile techniques.  Currently, John is a graduate student at PSU and teaches crochet classes at a downtown Portland yarn store.  You can learn more about John at http://www.myspace.com/blondandpolish 
 
INFO:  John at 503*223*8822 x1