Mingei’s Outreach at Home Series provides teachers and students educational materials to learn and create art in their own art-making spaces.

Sewing and Quilting 101

Learn the basics of sewing while being introduced to the art of quilting. Students will learn how to sew a running stitch and whipstitch, and how to tie off their stitches, as they create their own unique four patch quilt.

Lesson PlanInstructional Videos

Explore Mingei International Museum’s online collection for inspiration.

This quilt is made from little scraps of fabric, requiring expert sewing skills by its maker because of the many small stitches and the intricate saw tooth outlines.

New York Beauty Quilt
New York Beauty Quilt This quilt is symmetrical with a white background and red trim. There are three designs vertically and three horizontally. The design is the same in every section. In the center of the design is a yellow sun with red sun rays. Behind the sun is a white circle inside a red square. Around the square are four large, red triangles with a saw tooth edge. These designs are separated, but create a circle. Separating the saw tooth pieces are horizontal and vertical lines of light blue think diamonds.

Log Cabin quilt designs begin with a center square, then strips are sewn in sequence around the sides of the square, varying the values between light and dark.

Log Cabin Quilt, Civil War Barn Raising
Log Cabin Quilt, Civil War Barn Raising Log Cabin Quilt, Civil War Barn Raising, c. 1865, U.S.A.

Art is for everyone! Mingei offers students and teachers the opportunity to interact with folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures. Our exhibition and curriculum guides complement detailed instruction and bring art historical periods to life.

This project was supported by a Craft Futures Fund Grant from the Center for Craft.