[I’m afraid it’s too late to join the class, but you are welcome to pack your own shoe box for a child in difficult circumstances. Follow this link and let a young person know someone cares. It means more than you can know.]
How could I have known how much fun I was about to have?
Two weeks ago, after brewing up the idea just days earlier, I launched a little online class. Well, I thought it would be little.

A still shot from my “Welcome” video, made in the guest bedroom. I accidentally got the bed in the frame.
I regularly receive questions from blog readers about making blankets: “How do you make your binding?” “Do you back your blankets?” “What kind of sweaters do you buy?” I do my best to answer these sewists, one at a time, generally through email. They are always enthusiastic and eager to learn, and are filled with questions. I love this interaction.
But each time I’ve been asked, “Do you teach a class somewhere?” I’ve simply said “No.” That limp answer started to bother me. What was stopping me? I knew: fear of the unknown.
Then I received a notice about Operation Christmas Child coming up and was reminded I wanted to make a child’s blanket again for a shoe box. It clicked. This could be the kick in the pants I needed! How fun would it be to create something beautiful for kids alongside a bunch of stitch-loving women?
I thought of other ventures in life I had waffled on because of fear of the unknown—going to grad school, starting a blog…having children :). Without a doubt, great outcomes, all. I certainly appreciate having my ducks in a row, but that can’t always be.
Two weekends ago, with me needing to master several things quickly, the unruly ducks waddled everywhere:
How do I use the format of a private Facebook group to teach a class?
How do I sequence MailChimp’s forms and confirmations to move people
into a virtual classroom?
How do I make videos, edit and post them?

The dining room set up with lights and camera for a session on laying out a blanket. I had to be careful not to trip on cords while taping.
Fortunately, I already had an outline of course content because Tara Swiger’s practical book Map Your Business recently propelled me to draw up action steps toward some goals (even though I was avoiding executing them!).
So I borrowed photography lights, watched YouTube videos about how to make a video, made two videos using my outline notes, and sent out an invitation to my email subscribers to join me in making a child’s blanket for an Operation Christmas Child shoe box.
I expected three people to join me, and I am not kidding. I was a bit off. Two dozen people signed up!
Now there we are, over on Facebook, having a ball. A group of fascinating women teaching, learning, encouraging and spurring one another on. And doing our level best to hit the National Collection Week deadline of November 13-20 for our blanket-filled, lovingly packed shoe boxes.
I’m learning so much from these women! It’s spurring me on to make a plan for more teaching.
[I’m afraid it’s too late to join the class, but you are welcome to pack your own shoe box for a child in difficult circumstances. Follow this link and let a young person know someone cares. It means more than you can know.]
[…] Last month I hung out in a virtual classroom with several women who made a child’s blanket and packed it in an Operation Christmas Child shoe box in exchange for learning how to make a wool blanket, Green-Sheep style. […]
I hope you will make the videos available. I love what you do and would like to learn more about your techniques! Thanks for sharing your incredible photos.
I think it’s great you are offering this class, meeting your audience where they wanted to be met! Sounds like a win-win. Excited to see the blankets that are made by all your students :)
Same here! There’s great creativity buzzing in the class.
Way to go, Mrs Green Sheep! Well done for stepping right out of that old comfort zone!
Thanks for all your encouragement, friend :)
I wanted to join this class so badly! So I could do some good for a child, learn how to make a baby blanket in your style that I have been in love with for YEARS! (I already have a large batch of sweaters felted and ready to go) I just knew I couldn’t commit to the time as I was going to be away for a good portion of it and am having knee surgery as well…
I think your blankets are amazing works of art and are hoping you offer this class again. I can’t wait to hear how many blankets are snuggled into shoe boxes for children to open then have something to snuggle under.
How wonderful, Patty–you are all ready for a project! It would be great to have you in the class :). I wish you the best with the things going on for you…and for recovery from surgery.