Submitted by Sandra Jahnle St. Anastasia School in Newtown Square, PA

Description:  The Eighth-grade graduating class wished to gift the school with an artwork symbolizing the Peacemaker Theme.  The students chose to use their handprints in a palette of bright fabrics to create a quilt. 

Materials and Tools:  Fabrics for handprints, blocks and backing, fusible web, iron, scissors, batting, thread, fabric paint, sewing machine, quilt magazines and books, quilt exemplars.

Student Objectives: 

Students will:        

1 - Create a symbolic fabric wall hanging relating to Peacemaker Theme

2 - View works by quilt artists

3 - Discuss the use of color and design in works viewed

4 – Decide on color scheme and design for their quilt

5 - Experiment with a variety of sewing and fabric painting techniques

Vocabulary:

Quilt, fuse, seam, embroidery, block, embellishment, collage

Activity:

1 – Show students exemplars and discuss theme of Hands in Art – symbolizing character traits of giving, honesty, gratitude, work ethic, etc.  Students will decide on the color and design of their quilt.  (Note: My students chose a palette of bright color fabrics on a black and white patterned background blocks.  Their design consisted of nine handprints joined in a circle on each of nine 18” blocks – there are 81 students.)

2 – Discuss and demonstrate techniques and procedures for working with fabric and fusible web.

3 – Have students trace their hands on fusible web, iron the web to fabric of their choice, and cut out. 

4 – Students will arrange their fabric handprints in desired composition and fuse to fabric backing blocks. 

5 – Students will use fabric paints, buttons, and embroider to embellish the surface of their blocks.

6 – Students will sew the blocks together, add borders, layer with batting and backing to complete