Thread: Looking for new hobby

Hi. I am wanting to broaden my horizons so I thought I would try quilting. I love colors and they way they can be paired in different designs to make something simple or complex and beautiful. I love the smell of new fabric and they way it feels. I am very green so I will be reading and looking around to see what is possible and then try my hand too. LOL I said I am green, I have a pair of scissors, some straight pins, needles and a thimble. I inherited a couple of thimbles from my late MIL recently and that made me realize that I would like to try quilting. So, I plan to make a run on a store and get some supplies, fabric and I will need a machine. I hope someone can maybe point me to a list of basic supplies I would need and what to look for in a machine.

I am looking forward to finding a new love, and learning. Thank you all for any and alll help.

MistyK

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. Start with a simple design like a 9 patch just to get the basics of cutting accurate squares, sewing a good 1/4 inch seam and matching the seam intersections. You can start by cutting your pieces out with scissors and hand sewing your blocks but it will be more accurate if you pick up a few basic supplies. I would suggest a rotary cutter, mat and ruler for easier cutting. Can you borrow a basic machine from someone to see if you will like quilting? If not you will have to decide if you want to invest in a lower priced machine for now ($200) or invest in a higher priced machine that will last longer (Janome, Brother, Baby Lock). I love my Bernina 440 QE but I don't think a $3000 investment is what you are thinking of right now? You will find lots of good advice on QB for every stage of your new hobby. Good luck and happy quilting!

Originally Posted by littlehud

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here. When my sis and I started quilting we went out and got a cutting board, rotary cutter, a ruler for cutting, fabric and an easy pattern. Thread of course and my DD found a bottom of the line Brother machine at Walmart for me. Have fun and remember quilting is addictive. LOL

LOL addiction? Will it be fatal?

Originally Posted by Tartan

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. Start with a simple design like a 9 patch just to get the basics of cutting accurate squares, sewing a good 1/4 inch seam and matching the seam intersections. You can start by cutting your pieces out with scissors and hand sewing your blocks but it will be more accurate if you pick up a few basic supplies. I would suggest a rotary cutter, mat and ruler for easier cutting. Can you borrow a basic machine from someone to see if you will like quilting? If not you will have to decide if you want to invest in a lower priced machine for now ($200) or invest in a higher priced machine that will last longer (Janome, Brother, Baby Lock). I love my Bernina 440 QE but I don't think a $3000 investment is what you are thinking of right now? You will find lots of good advice on QB for every stage of your new hobby. Good luck and happy quilting!

Great idea about borrowing a machine. So far I suck at quilting since I haven't actually cut any fabric or put them together. But THAT is going to change. Maybe I should go just LOOK at machines and ask questions and see what they look like. Thanks

Originally Posted by littlehud

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here. When my sis and I started quilting we went out and got a cutting board, rotary cutter, a ruler for cutting, fabric and an easy pattern. Thread of course and my DD found a bottom of the line Brother machine at Walmart for me. Have fun and remember quilting is addictive. LOL

Thanks for the suggestions. I am making a list. Definitely need to find out what a cutting board is as I don't think you are talking about the one I chop veggies on. I sound like I am dangerous to be let out on my own. Well I wanted an adventure!