No substitute available for - - -
#31
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
all boils down to see what works best for you and that particular situation. I prewash everything because of allergies to the dyes in the fabric and fragrances. Same goes for when I baste. I must admit, I like the thread basting (Sharon Schamberg Houndstooth method. It is time consuming but basting is time consuming and spray basting is out of the question. Fragrances involved in that. Eventually, what works for you is what matters!
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
You will always find a variety of "answers" to our quilt questions, some will work and others will not. Also what works for one person will not work for you. I say listen to what people say, try it if it's feasible, if it works fine - if not, it's also fine. Whenever I take a quilt class I can usually learn something new that will make quilting easier. I once took a quilting class from a well known quilt teacher, when something needed to be "unsewn" she took out her rotary cutter to cut the stitches. When I asked about it she said that she used the rotary cutter because she didn't have her seam ripper available. It's crazy, but I've used it many times and it works. Always be open to doing something differently and if it works, fine, if not, go back to what you are comfortable with.
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: 25 yrs in TN; now back home in MI
Posts: 1,871
I have also learned to repeat what I am hearing someone suggest to me. There are times when I even put pencil to paper. Sometimes quilters assume a particular technique is obvious (a minor detail everyone knows needs to be done) and that part is left out. If you write it down, more often than not, that oversight will come out.
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: mesa, arizona
Posts: 418
There really is no substitute available for experience and practice.
When someone asks "Is it better to ___ or not?"
or
"How to _______?"
and receives different answers - all of which are valid to the responder -
Which answer does he/she choose to follow?
I know that there are things that I think are "essential" to my process that others blow off.
(Washing everything washable before cutting is one of mine.)
I also know that there are things that others think are "essential" that I don't do.
(Starching everything before cutting is something that I rarely do.)
How did you learn and/or decide how to do things?
When someone asks "Is it better to ___ or not?"
or
"How to _______?"
and receives different answers - all of which are valid to the responder -
Which answer does he/she choose to follow?
I know that there are things that I think are "essential" to my process that others blow off.
(Washing everything washable before cutting is one of mine.)
I also know that there are things that others think are "essential" that I don't do.
(Starching everything before cutting is something that I rarely do.)
How did you learn and/or decide how to do things?
#35
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Lots of times I read instructions for speeding up a process and sometimes that doesn't pan out. For example there are ways to make HSTs where you do many at a time BUT the outside edge puts in on the bias. While I agree with the speed part, I HATE working with those biased edges, even when they are starched well.
Most of my "experiences" usually come from an attempt to speed things up (read: find short cuts) and I pay for them every time. Fortunately for me, I don't repeat the same thing twice, so it is always a NEW joy. lol
One thing amazes me, and ghostrider has already talked about it: As many years as I've been doing this hobby, I still have questions, still learn new skills, still get excited about new methods or new color combinations.
A few truths had to be learned the hard way. I used to think that ironing/pressing was overrated - after all, I hate ironing clothes. After a few pathetic results in the quilting world, I am now a presser. Even if I finger=press, but press I will.
Most of my "experiences" usually come from an attempt to speed things up (read: find short cuts) and I pay for them every time. Fortunately for me, I don't repeat the same thing twice, so it is always a NEW joy. lol
One thing amazes me, and ghostrider has already talked about it: As many years as I've been doing this hobby, I still have questions, still learn new skills, still get excited about new methods or new color combinations.
A few truths had to be learned the hard way. I used to think that ironing/pressing was overrated - after all, I hate ironing clothes. After a few pathetic results in the quilting world, I am now a presser. Even if I finger=press, but press I will.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post