It's hard to take that first step....
 

:shock:I'm a newbie to quilting but not to sewing. I took a beginner quilting course and made a wall hanging. Now I have two quilt kits just waiting for me to start cutting........but I can't get myself to the point to know where to start, which one to do first....where to start, etc. I don't have a dedicated place to set up my sewing....kitchen table is it. Also, my g/kids would want to 'help' and I get easily distracted and afraid to make the wrong cuts. One quilt is Terry Atkinson - Yellow Brick Road' and the other is 'Footsteps in the Sand'....both are beginner's quilts. Don't know which one to start on first. I enjoyed so much the interaction with others at the class but now I'm on my own with nobody to bounce my questions off of right there at the moment. I feel frozen......but excited....to get started. But why can't I get moving .....???

Like anything new to us, it's hard to jump right in... still, you know you're going to have fun so close your eyes, pick one and get started. You can do it! There will always be something to get in the way, just ignore that. :thumbup:

When I get in this mind set....I tell myself "This is not brain surgery. It is just fabric!" It wont' get done unless you begin. There is no perfect time so just do it. You will be happy when you get past that first cut:) Be sure to show us your finished project. You can do it!! Happy Stitches:thumbup:

Start with the yellow brick road, it sounds and looks easy. Just put on your big girl panties and just get going.

The Yellow Brick Road is a fun quilt. You can't mess it up. I have made two of them and really enjoyed the process. They turned out good too. You will do great. Pick some colors you like and go for it!

Thanks all for those encouraging words and tips to get started. I have so many interests that's there's just not enough hours in the day when working full time with a one hour commute each way. I have no plans tomorrow other than to groom my mini-schnauzer, Stitchie. After that I am free to do what I want. No babysitting plans or anywhere to go. I will let everyone know that I'm going to take over the kitchen and that's my space for the weekend! Tawannnnda!!!!!

I love your avatar! Looks like one of those grandkids with a new "toy"! LOL!

Depending on the grand kids ages, I would give them some spools and fabric scraps to play with, maybe a needle and thread to start stitching with or for the older ones, have them learn along with you and have them help you figure it out, or make one of their own, while you are working on yours. Often, the best way to learn how to do something is to teach it to someone else. Or do you have a girlfriend that wants to learn quilting also? If you do it together with a friend, you can bounce ideas off each other and talk out the questions you have.

Have fun with the process!

I remember being hesitant before making my first pieced block. I had prelaundered all of my fabric leftover (like you) from the babydoll-clothes-making days, it was all organized, sorted by color, and nicely folded. I had printed from the internet dozens of block patterns, quilt patterns, hints and tips, and I remember sitting on the couch looking at my sewing area and basically having to kick my rear end in gear to GET UP and GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! I reminded myself that I didn't do all this stuff just to collect quilting stuff, I wanted to do it, so just do it. I made a 6" pieced heart block and practiced some FMQ on it at a later date - this is now my coaster for my sewing room. After I finished that first block, I thought "See, THIS is what you were afraid of?" It was no big deal. Read your directions in your pattern (toss a coin to choose which one to do first), then read them again. Post questions on this board whenever you feel the need for guidance - everyone here is very helpful and encouraging.

Most of all, enjoy the experience! And I love the name of your dog!