My second quilting class was last night. Our homework over the past week was to purchase our fabric, wash, dry, and iron it, and cut out the pieces for at least one 9-patch block. It took a lot longer than I expected! But I was happy with the results - I chose some very muted turqoise patterns and a verm warm dark red to set it off.
I differ a bit with my instructor on approach: Her attention seemed to be on the individual quilt block - she wanted the focus of our composition, contrast, patterns, etc to go into each block. The theory being, I guess, that if each block stands on its own as a composition, then when you peice them all together the entire quilt will "work."
On the other hand, I am approaching the entire quilt first, and then addressing each block individually. And so I am going to intentionally create blocks that don't have much contrast and don't use too many colors. I am intentionally creating monochromatic blocks and placing them next to high-contrast ones so that parts of the quilt recede and parts advance when you look at it.
Its a difference of opinion, I suppose. Plus the real learning in this class is in the details - down to the very type of stitch you make at each point in the process. Its fascinating to learn all of the minute details of a quilt and then look at completed pieces. Its mind boggling how much work goes into it!