How to Teach a Program for Quilt Guilds: What You Need to Know Before You Start
- Tori McElwain
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Tori McElwain
Teaching for quilt guilds, or any other craft guild, is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to generate income as a quilting or crafting educator. If you’ve ever dreamed of sharing your skills, inspiring others, or turning your expertise into a real teaching business, guild programs are a powerful place to begin.
And if you’re not a quilter? Don’t skip this one. Most crafts have their own guild structures, so everything I’m sharing here applies to anyone who wants to create a one-hour lecture, program, or presentation for a group of makers.
Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how quilt guild programs work, what they expect from teachers, and how to design a powerful, engaging, value-packed one-hour lecture that leaves members inspired (not overwhelmed).
This post is based on my YouTube video (linked below) and expands on a chapter from my book, Workshops Unleashed: How to Design Engaging and Successful Workshops for Quilters and Crafters. The book goes much deeper - but consider this your starting point.
What Quilt Guilds Are (and What They’re Not)
Before you can show up and teach well, you need to understand what you are walking into if you've never been a part of a guild before.
A quilt guild is a charity-based, member-run organization. Their funding primarily comes from:
Annual member dues
Fundraisers, especially their local quilt shows
Occasional donations or sponsorships
Guild members create items - quilts, pillowcases, NICU baby blankets, dog beds, and more - to support local and some national community organizations. Their focus is service, community, creativity, and enjoying time with people who share their passion.
Your audience are makers who come to meetings expecting:
Connection
Inspiration
Fun
Maybe one or two actionable tips when they have a presenter
Guild programs are not one-hour workshops. You’re not there to teach everything you know. You’re there to inspire, encourage, and offer a gentle introduction to your expertise.
Approach Guilds as a Professional
Guilds may be informal in spirit, but I highly suggest you approach them professionally. That means making sure you're prepared to start with:
A simple, clear contract (this is a strong suggestion, not legal advice)
A price for a one-hour lecture
Timely, respectful communication
Clear expectations about your program and needs (do you need quilt holders? Are you presenting slides? Etc.)
Some guilds provide their own contract. Read it carefully before signing, and don’t be afraid to clarify terms or request adjustments.
If you’re brand-new to teaching:
Start with the lower end of typical pricing, unless you bring deep experience or a niche topic.
For research, check the teachers listed on the Global Quilt Connection. Many post pricing and some have their contracts publicly, but do not copy their contracts. Use them as inspiration only and consult a lawyer for any questions (I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice).
My book Workshops Unleashed includes a full pricing framework you can walk through to set rates confidently and sustainably.
What to Expect the Day You Teach
Guilds usually schedule you for about an hour, though this can vary from 45 minutes up to 90 minutes depending on their format.
Many guilds:
Hold business meetings first
Follow with the teacher's presentation
Provide you with a merch table for patterns, books, samples, and email list sign-ups
Bring both:
A printed sign-up sheet
A QR code for digital sign-ups for your email list if you are a business
Quilters love options - and making it easy to connect with you matters.
You may be speaking in person or virtually. Even after the pandemic, many guilds - especially in the northern U.S. or rural areas - still meet on Zoom throughout the winter. Virtual teaching is alive and well.
How to Structure Your One-Hour Guild Program
Here’s the #1 mistake I see: Trying to teach everything in one hour.
Do not do this.
Instead, choose:
2–5 key teaching points, or
A single lesson supported by a trunk show, or
A story-driven program with strong takeaways
The goal isn’t mastery—it’s engagement.
Some approaches that work beautifully:
1. A Trunk Show With a Lesson
Share 9–12 quilts that illustrate your growth, your style, or a concept you specialize in. Tell stories. Make them laugh. Make them remember you.
2. A Concept-Based Lecture
Choose 2–3 ideas from a larger concept (like color, movement, improv, foundation piecing, free motion quilting, etc.) and illustrate each with a quilt or student project.
For example, in the Color Confidence* lecture, I taught only:
Understanding contrast
Choosing unexpected background colors
I saved everything else for my workshop.
3. An Inspirational Journey
Share how you went from beginning quilter to teacher, designer, or expert, and highlight the 3–5 biggest lessons you learned along the way.
Your quilt examples support your teaching points - not the other way around.
How to Sprinkle in Marketing Without Overdoing It
Guild members want to learn from you - not be sold to for an hour. Lead with value, but don't forget, or shy away from, sharing what you offer.
So here’s the balance:
Keep the presentation 80–85% teaching/inspiration
Keep marketing 15–20%
Sprinkle marketing naturally throughout
Examples:
“This quilt is my pattern Colors in Bloom - and it illustrates today’s point about contrast…”
“This student made this using a motif from my beginner free-motion workshop…”
“This design came from my star series…”
"I was inspired to design this quilt, Follow the Stars, for my book [title]...it illustrates..."
By the end, they already know:
You have patterns
You teach workshops
You help students grow
You’re a real professional
Now your ending CTA feels natural, not pushy.
End With a Clear Invitation
At the end of your program, tell them exactly how they can go deeper with you:
“I teach workshops on this topic.”
“I design patterns that support the ideas I shared today.”
“You can connect with me on Instagram at ______.”
“The best way to learn from me is through my email list - you can sign up at my merch table or scan the QR code.”
Then invite them to come chat afterwards. Guild members love meeting the teacher, seeing the quilts up close, asking questions, and telling you about their own projects.
Want to Build a Teaching Business That Actually Works?
If you’re serious about teaching for guilds - or building a sustainable business model around workshops, lectures, and courses - my book will help you create real structure around your teaching.
Workshops Unleashed: How to Design Engaging and Successful Workshops for Quilters and Crafters gives you frameworks, scripts, pricing support, teaching design models, and step-by-step guidance to create programs, workshops, and presentations that work.
Watch the Full Video
If you'd like to hear me talk through this in my own words, you can watch the full video here:
If you'd like help designing your next workshop or polishing your guild program, send the video to a friend, share it with your guild, or reach out—I’d love to support you.
*Color Confidence for Quilters is a curriculum and name that is trademarked by Shannon Brinkley. When I taught Color Confidence for Quitlers I was a certified teacher and designed a Master Color Class based on her curriculum and I designed the Colors in Bloom Pattern as a project for that class. You can find the Colors in Bloom Pattern, here.
Links:
Grab your Copy of Workshops Unleashed: Here! I host a book club twice a year where we will work through the book together!
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