I came into quilting after 3 years of garment sewing for my kids and so I always wash first, too. I don't mind the pucker in the quilt that happens when you don't wash, it's just habit, especially since sometimes my girls raid my stash to make some skirts for themselves.

I think someone on TV said - "think of your body shape, small on top, bigger on bottom". Have found that very easy to remember!

I guess the worst "advice" I had ever been told was by a clerk at JA's when I first started quilting 10 years ago. She told me "If there isn't a pattern for it then it can't be done. It just wouldn't look right if you made something up on your own." She even had a very nice fake smile when she said it. I actually started quilting by following patterns on the net and in books to a T, even fabric and colors. Quickly decided that I don't want to spend weeks or even months making something everyone else has, what's the point in that?? She also laughed at me when I told her I was mixing 2 different blocks to create something unique. Said it wouldn't be worth the time to do that, why mess it all up? *Gasp*
I went back to that shop a few years later and talked to the manager, told her what had happened and that I didn't know why they even hired clerks like her as it really was the worst thing I had ever been told. Haven't been to a JA's since.

I was advised to buy Insul brite for baked potato bags -- and made a whole bunch before the light bulb went on -- e-mailed to ask if it was safe before giving them away. Have a lot of nice pads for hot dishes!

This made me laugh. Every one of my quilts has been slept under before it's finished . . . by ME! And I wake up with thimble and needle still in hand, sometimes mid-stitch. Ahhh, handquilting can sometimes be a bit too relaxing.

:lol: Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this . . . .

Gosh can I relate to this story - I was in a quilt store a few years ago and a new quilter was selecting fabrics for a beginners class, well the store owner was just dreadful in that everything the lady in question picked out the owner would be scathing about and tell her how ugly it was going to look. I was absolutely horrified and wouldn't be surprised at all if that poor woman never took to quilting after her ordeal. Some people just shouldn't be quilt store owners and if they are then they shouldn't be advising people in this manner as we all know beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Maybe1day

I don't really know about worst advice but worst class experience.
My friend and I took a class for a birthday table runner because we wanted to learn to machine applique. We were not allowed to cut our fabric ahead of time because of a couple of tricky pieces. We spent most of the class time cutting our pieces, sewed a few together and then the class was over. Never did get to the applique and haven't yet learned how. One of these days I will bite the bullet and just do it!

I quilted for 30 yrs before I found out what causes wavy borders. Now I always use lengthwise cuts and no more wavy borders. I asked everybody I saw about wavy borders but nobody seemed to know why.

I learned ages ago to ALWAYS buy more fabric than you need just in case you make a mistake. The fabric is not always avail, especially if it was clearance.