Beginner quilter needs advice from all you experts!!!

[calicokat]

Since you already have a sewing machine, I'd reccomend a cutting mat, rotary cutter & ruler. You'll find these referenced in most quilt books, and that local quilt show can help you find them.

And I second the idea of checking out your local library for some beginner books. Eleanor Burns is a good author/teacher for beginners. She has simple directions and lots of pictures about the details to keep you on track.

Another good websight for blocks to piece is www.quilterscache.com - zillions and zillions of blocks to pick from, and she marks them for difficulty level too.

Have fun and keep us posted on what you are making!

 

[NanaKat]

Quote:
The first thing I would do would be to practice my stitch size. I do everything from piecing to binding by hand. Get some fabric scraps, broadcloth works well, and a sharp needle and practice getting 8 to 10 stitches in per inch without using a running stitch. This means each individual stitch has to go in, pull the thread through, push the needle back through, pull the thread, etc. so the material doesn't gather up. Once you get where you can stitch together two 4inch lengths of material without one piece of material winding up a little longer than the other, you will be good to go on actual piecing. I know I stitched a lot of 4inch sections until my grandmother finally decided I was neat enough to start actually doing something worthwhile, like cutting more squares

Still not quite sure why I had to cut all those squares since when she passed away 20 years later, all those dinky squares were STILL in the bag where she stored them.

Might be used in a nine patch or a stamp quilt.....

 

[Haunted Chicken]

Quote:
Ditto!! (Hey are you CalicoKat from MQR?)

Many of my local quilt stores have a day where women go to quilt together. It's free and the employees are there to answer questions. Trust me, there will be a ton of women that will be thrilled to help you. You may even find a beginner class that would be fun to take

 

[wyoDreamer]

Aside from the cutter, mat and ruler, you will want to have an iron and ironing board. I bought a "quilters" ironing board because it is wider than your average ironing board. I even recovered it with cotton fabric to match the curtains I made for the windows.

One thing I learned from the last class I took was to iron the stitching with the pieces still face to face, then open the pieces and iron them open. It really makes the blocks square up nice. They lay better if you use a starch when ironing also.

Oh yeah, practice your 1/4 inch seam allowance. Check and recheck that it is accurate. If the lines on the bed of your machine are set for making clothes (3/8" seam) like mine are, then your block won't come out right. If the line is wrong, put a piece of tape at 1/4" from you needle to mark where the edge of the fabric should ride. Check before you sew to save alot of heartache.

 

[dixie&trixie]

Geez, this all sounds so difficult. I've looked at the different websites you all listed and Im overwelmelmed already and I havent started yet! The words used are like a whole other language.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Don't let the mountain of information out there get you buried!

Go to a fabric shop and find a fabric you love.
Find an easy pattern to start with and just do it!

 

[sunrise farms]

..dont get discouraged!!...try something simple..a 4 patch..use fabric you really like..go slow and all the above..try it!!!

I have a friend who has made dozens of throws and qults from the 4 patch..no desire to do anything more complicated..and remember we all will help you.

 

[torrelee]

Four patches are a great way to start. Log cabin are pretty easy too, I did my first log cabin quilt when I was 12... lap sized of course. Start small, and work your way up! It took me about 12 years to do anything bigger than a twin, lol. Quilting is definately worth trying, and you can always look and see if there is a quilter's guild or something in your area.

 

[dixie&trixie]

Ok, well Im excited to do this. Im going to start with a small twin size quilt. Im going to the quilt shop Monday and I just found out that we're having a quilt fair coming up in my town!!! Im taking that as a sign. Im doing this for my daughters hope chest so its a special project for me. Ill be sure to keep picking your brains for advice and info. I love BYC!! Its so much more than just chickens.

 

[ginbart]

dixie&trixie :

Ok, well Im excited to do this. Im going to start with a small twin size quilt. Im going to the quilt shop Monday and I just found out that we're having a quilt fair coming up in my town!!! Im taking that as a sign. Im doing this for my daughters hope chest so its a special project for me. Ill be sure to keep picking your brains for advice and info. I love BYC!! Its so much more than just chickens.

That's a nice reason to start. Keep picking our brains there's a lot of us to pick with.​