Advice Really Welcome!
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I know that it can be intimidating the first time you start to quilt your very first quilt, but just jump right in and do it, you'll be fine. Once you start you may wonder why you hesitated so long. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
We all have to start with that first quilt and I am sure most of us felt just like you do. I think you will do well and be very proud of it when it is done. You have chosen a easy one to start with. Just go slow and have fun.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Gosnells Western Australia
Posts: 1,021
You could try a variegated thread and that would solve the quilting colour problem. I've been quilting over 30 years and haven't quilted one of my own yet, except for QAYGs and my hand made quilts! Good luck.
Last edited by Ada Shiela; 06-02-2015 at 02:26 PM. Reason: lack of info
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,252
Wow, so many kind replies, thank you! Imbued with all your confidence, I made a start... Well, I have the quilt sandwiched (I wasn't expecting it to be such a struggle - I suspect something that gets easier with time, shouldn't have tried on a bigger quilt first, I guess!), and I have a single wavy line stitched roughly across the middle of the quilt: the stitching looks fine - but the colour of the thread looks all wrong now!! I spent so long trying to find a neutral pinky colour that would blend in with the fabrics I used, but that line seems to jump out: I am going to leave it overnight before I make any decisions...
Hope your fmq goes well, jonese!
Hope your fmq goes well, jonese!
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1,141
Go for it! I look at each project as a snapshot of what I'm capable of at the time. You will learn something from every quilt, and eventually, you won't get nervous when it's time to start quilting. (I still get a little nervous when I start cutting the fabric for a new quilt... especially if it's quilt shop fabric at $10+ per yard.)
Enjoy the process, learn from mistakes, and don't require perfection of yourself.
Enjoy the process, learn from mistakes, and don't require perfection of yourself.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,198
If you are that apprehensive about starting, why not try sandwiching two FQs and practicing on those before you start on the quilt? Then you could cut them up for pot holders. I took a class from Harriett Hargrave and her advice was to always start on a practice piece and quilt for about 20 minutes to warm up your muscles before you begin your actual quilting.
#30
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 53
Well, when I got up in the morning, I realised I was happy with the colour I chosen to quilt - so very glad I hadn't ripped the stitching out in a panic! It was a little harder to quilt than I had anticipated - hadn't realised quite how heavy it would feel - and I have a standard machine, no bigger throat to give more space! But, all in all, I am more than happy with how it went (And while there are plenty of places for improvement, I did it! ). Still waiting for the binding to arrive so I can finish it off, but here it is so far (the bright patches are sunlight - tried to get a better picture, but...):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521829[/ATTACH]Thank you all again so much for being so encouraging!!!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521829[/ATTACH]Thank you all again so much for being so encouraging!!!
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04-01-2012 02:42 AM