Keeping Us in Stitches Activity: Geometric Shapes Pieced Quilt Top Design

Purpose: to help students understand the design process of pieced quilt blocks and quilt tops and the

knowledge of geometry a quilter needs to design pieces that fit together.

Illinois State museum Web site used:

https://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/art/htmls/ks_piece.html

Objectives: the students will be able to create one or more paper

quilt blocks (and work in a group to create a quilt top) by arrang-

ing geometric shapes of cut fabric pieces so they fit together into

a block of a specified size.

Grade Level: 2-5

Time Required: one 40-50 minute period

Materials:

scissors, glue stick, poster board

one paper block foundation for each student (printout)

coordinated pre-cut (cotton) fabric pieces (for 25 students

making 1-2 blocks each

100 two-inch squares of fabric A

100 triangle half-squares (2") of fabric B

100 triangle half-squares (2" of fabric C

100 one-inch squares of fabric D

These pieces can be cut rapidly with a rotary cutter and a plastic quilter's rule on a cutting

board. Ask a quilter to help.

Motivation :

Students view the pieced quilts online, in books, in their literature illustrations, and in per-

son.

They discuss how quilters use geometric shapes such as squares and triangles to make blocks

and blocks to make quilts.

Shown the pieces they are going to use, students watch the teacher arrange pieces on a

foundation paper, noticing the variations possible and how the pieces must be inside

the edges of the block.

The teacher demonstrates how to use the glue stick on the paper section, then press down the

fabric piece (putting the glue on the fabric is messy, difficult, and time-consuming).

Procedure :

Pass out paper foundations to students

Have glue and scissors ready on desks/tables

Divide fabric pieces randomly among students or groups who share

Keeping Us in Stitches Activity: Geometric Pieced Quilt Block , page 1 of 3