Probably not really the worst idea for everyone, but it didn't work out for me. On a quilting program, they said to cut the first cut a little bigger and then trim it down to the correct size. OK did that. When I got to the last snowball, I was short! How much would I need to 'get by'? The amount I overcut at the beginning- of course!! Then I tried to find that fabric- not a chance! I called every quilt shop within 60 miles or more with no luck. One nice lady finally said to just piece it- once it was quilted you wouldn't notice. That is what I did and it is one of my favorite quilts.
So bad advice? Not if you have plenty of fabric! But for me it was kind of a nightmare! haha

@ Sandygirl- That's like saying the jeans I'm wearing aren't 'real' jeans because they were commercially made v. the ones someone else made by hand. Silly.
@Sewmom- I'd love to see a pic of your favorite quilt "nightmare."

Every time I hear someone say they don't wash their fabrics before sewing, I just cringe. I have washed some of the best brands in my kitchen sink and the water turns the deepest purple, blue, yellow etc. I have washed some of my fabrics even up to 8 times and the water is still very dark. I put them aside and do not use in my quilts. Once on this board, a woman said she never washed her fabrics, but then she never washed her quilts either. I wash my quilts in my washer and I still use color sheets. Anytime I hear someone say to not wash fabrics, then I think that is the worst advice ever. I have been very lucky in that I had a great teacher who had been a high school sewing teacher for 20 years and she gave wonderful advice that I have been able to pass on. I try and stay open to what I hear but I do know that some people have hidden agendas (like promoting the LQS and their classes). I started making clothes when I was 11 years old and have sewed now for 56 years, I just use my common sense and experience now.

Maybe they meant not to iron, but to PRESS. I teach quilting and I stress over and over that you must press, but not iron...or you will stretch your shapes out of shape.

The "always" and "nevers" are generally the worst advice I hear.

Can you tell people get really twitchy over the prewash/don't prewash argument? :shock:

I wash my fabrics to make sure they are preshrunk and color fast. If I happen to buy precuts, which is not often, they do not get washed. To wash or not to wash is a personal choice and I will not tell someone they are wrong if they choose not to, just as I don't want someone to tell me I am wrong for prewashing.
Yes JulieR I have noticed how "twichy" people get over this topic!

I worst advice I ever got was that if I used a Color Catcher my red fabric wouldn't bleed onto my other fabrics. Boy, was I ever glad I didn't listen to that one!!!!

During my first and only FMQ class the teacher told us to use cotton thread for FMQ because polyester thread would melt when you iron the quilt :eek:

I was told to never use poly or wrapped poly thread because it would "cut" the cotton fabric. Superior Threads debunks that all the time.