ftkls501

I am working on a quilt and the squares are off. My 1/4 is right. I think my cutting is not good. Can some one help. I also wanted to know what weight thread should i use if the fabric is light weight? and what size needle. I have been teaching my self to quilt and have a lot to learn I can not afford classes right now and i am looking for someone to give me some quilting and sewing lessons

Valerie Scherr

check out these sites might help ...
http://www.quilterstv.com
www.youtube.com type in beginners quilting

amma

Thicker threads can make you lose some size as well as how you press your seams.
Also you may want to try sewing a scant 1/4" seam. It is approx 2 fabric threads less than a 1/4". If you can adjust your needle position to the right, you might try this on some scrap practice blocks and see how it works for you.
If you can't, you can buy some moleskin and lay a strip of it a scant quarter in to the right of your needle and use it as a guide to run your fabric next to.

amma

I am also self taught :wink: and the board has been my instructor :D:D:D
There are many good tutes here on beginner quilting in the tutorial section :D:D:D
I also watched a lot of videos on YouTube, and other sites.
AND ofcourse you can ask all of the questions you want here too!!! :D:D:D

BellaBoo

My cutting is never perfect so don't get frustrated. If your cut pieces are not cut to match perfect, then iron the piece to a freezer paper cut to exact size the square should be. Then you can draw a 1/4 seam line and follow the seam line not the fabric edge. This is a good way square up blocks too. For lightweight cotton a size 50 thread will be fine. The universal sized needle will work with the size 50 thread.

ftkls501

when you say use freezer paper to fit the size of the square does that mean a strip that goes across the top of the squrare i am not sure i understand

deranged_damsel

ooooooh! good idea :)

samroberts01

I am also a new quilter and teaching myself as I go, but this is such a great place to learn! I feel like this is my class, everyone here is so hopefull, you will learn so many great tips! Good luck!

Oklahoma Suzie

yes, I learn tons here.

Mousie

also, remember: it's the size of your block that is the most important, not the size of your seam.
Your aiming for a 1/4" seam, but a few threads this way or that, is not a tragedy.
To get your seams etc. to line up, you HAVE to have an accurate block size.
I like to draw a sewing line on the back of my blocks sometimes, with a mechanical pencil, as lightly as you can, but still able to see it to sew on.
Using the corner of your rotary ruler or a T square will help you get your block accurate.
The freezer paper suggestion was very good.
I don't want to speak for BellaBoo, she may come back and explain what she meant.
I would use the corner of my ruler to get, say a 4" line going to the right, and on the left of ruler, go 4" down, (4" is just an example). Then I would fold the paper in half diagonally and draw the other half of the block.
Then I would iron the paper on to the back side of the piece of fabric and add my 1/4" seam allowances.
Then either sew right next to the edge of the paper, or draw around the paper for a sewing line.
If you draw the line, remove the freezer paper and I would sew one thread inside the line.
Another thing I do, that I will be doing ten years from now: sew a block and measure, sew and measure...
Better to rip out one block, than a whole row, or even more :shock: