Considering Quilting
 

H ello everyone! I am retired and looking for a new winter activity. I have never quilted anything but I am fascinated by sewing geometric shapes together to make something beautiful. I'm reading and watching instructional videos on the web trying to figure out the basics. It's a little overwhelming at this point. I guess I'll have to take the plunge and actually pull out the sewing machine and some scrap material to practice. If all else fails I can take a 2 hour class at Joann Fabrics. Eventually, I need to figure out what I want to make. While bed quilts are beautiful I'm not sure I want to make something so big at this stage. What are some smaller projects for a beginner? Also, I want to purchase the bare minimum of equipment at this time. What should I purchase besides a rotary cutter? (I have a sewing machine.)

Welcome from Texas. Did you get the mat for the rotary cutter? You'll still need scissors, a ruler (if I only could have one I'd get the 6" x 24" one). And pins. I'm sure everyone else can expand on this list. Have fun.

Welcome to the QB! Yes, you can start small - make a quilted pillow top. Or a baby quilt or a lap quilt for somebody in a wheelchair. My best advice would be to start with a simple pattern - my first project was not simple and is still unfinished in a closet for the past 40 years. You already have a sewing machine so you obviously know how to use it. If you have sewn garments, then you already know how to follow directions. Just remember that most quilt blocks use a very accurate 1/4 inch seam. HTH

Welcome from Quebec city. Congratulations for your retirement.
I took 3 one-day quilting classes when I retired a few years ago and did placemats and potholders. Than I wanted to try my hands at a lap quilt which ended up big enough for a double bed. One of the mistakes I made was to buy small yardages of different fabrics that did not particularly match with one another. Now I am trying my hands at scrappy quilts to use up those little bits and pieces. I did some grocery bags with the leftover fabrics and they are washable and all differents.
I am planning to buy some more fabrics for a quilt that I want to make for my sister in law. this time, I will choose a pattern first than...... go and buy the fabrics I want to use in that quilt. I don't have nor don't want a stash. but there are so much beautiful fabrics out there... loll

A class to get you started is a very good idea. Than the rest will go on its own one project or two or three at a time!

Did you look at this page here on the board?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/resources/articles-2/

Welcome from NJ. Start small indeed. As someone else suggested, table runners; lap quilt; wall hanging to get started. Yes, mat along with your cutter and at least a 6 x 24" ruler. I'm also a 'non-stasher' and only buy for projects. But do over-buy a bit so you have some room for cutting/sew boo-boos. Make sure your ruler has 30/60/45 degree markings on it. When you pick a ruler, lay it over some different colored fabrics to make sure it's easy for you to see the lines/markings on it. Get one with the smallest measurements possible so as you progress you won't have to buy more. JoAnn Fabrics coupons are your friends. I would even suggest starting with fabric from JoAnns so you're not spending an arm & a leg on fabric for a small project that may not be your best work. Use tape or an index card to mark the 1/4" seam guide on the bed of your machine - no need for a 1/4" foot at this point. But that visual reminder will help get you in the habit of remembering that seam allowance vs the 5/8 or 1/2 for garment or home dec sewing if that is your history.

Do a google search for free quilting patterns and pick something you really like. I truly believe you need to start with something that you like/love so you will be more inclined to finish. Try not to pick something with curves or partial seams to start but otherwise, all patterns are pretty much cutting and sewing straight lines regardless of how complicated they look. Jump in with both feet and you'll have great fun. Everyone here is very willing to help if you have questions or get stuck.

Enjoy the process. This is supposed to be fun!

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

Welcome from Michigan!:)

Welcome from Wisconsin! I think neat smaller projects are seasonal wall hangings or table toppers. It's nice to change those out to freshen up your door or dining area. I've made some larger quilts, but it's harder for me to handle now that I'm older and have more aches and pains! Have fun on your new adventure and enjoy your retirement.

:) welcome from se TX -- you can make placemats, tablerunners, wall hangings, small quilts, and this is the site to help and inspire!!

I had sewed garments all my life. My first quilt was a Just Can't Cut it. It is a very beginner friendly quilt. You only have to match the corners where the pieced and solid blocks meet.

I didn't buy the pattern. I looked at the pattern and the finished size and figured out that is was a 12" finished block. Therefore, the 12" pieced block would be 2 pieces cut 6 1/2 square and the other half of the block would be 3 fabrics cut 6 1/2 x 4 1/2. The hardest thing was figuring out where to place the fabrics. I made it with WM fabrics. I didn't want to waste any money on "good" fabrics. 30 washings or more later, it is still going strong. The one thing I would have done differently would be to have made the outside border wider. I had the material, just didn't see the need.

Welcome to the board! You've come to the best place for ideas to help you get started. Just remember that you can get some of your best material from garage/estate sales. Crazy quilts are a good way to get started since the materials can very. Strip scrap quilts are also great. This board is like an encyclopedia of all things sewing/quilting. Just have fun.

Welcome to the board and the exciting world of quilting. Looks like others have some great advice on patterns and things to buy and I completely agree with the be sure to start something you like its so much easier to finish it.

I would only add that if your machine has just been sitting for quit awhile, before you actually start sewing get the manual out and follow the directions to give it a good cleaning and oil it if your manual recommends it. Start with a fresh needle too. If you are not comfortable doing it on your own you can call around to sewing and vac stores, or quilt shops to give it a good cleaning and tune up.

I hope you start small and work your way to learn as you go-pillow top,small wall hanging or place mats,pot holders,candle mats are all nice small items to practice on.Try going to you tube and search the many sewing demos from beginner to advanced.

I am a self taught quilter. I started small. VERY SMALL. I made a bunch of different pot holders. With one 9" pot holder I learned: piecing, sandwiching, quilting and binding. The WHOLE quilt in 9". Lots of people got pot holders for christmas that year :)

You can find scads of different and FREE 9" (or larger) block patters on

http://quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

Wow! Thanks for all the responses and good ideas. Potholders and shopping bags sound small enough for my first projects. Also, the suggestions the specifics of rulers will help my selection process. Thanks again.

You've already got your best tool, this Quilt Board! I would also suggest that you make friends with your LQS. If you can take a quilting class there instead of Joanne's. IMHO Welcome from Colorado :wave:

hi Tiki and welcome.
you are obviously ahead of where I was when I started. I did not even own nor had ever touched a sewing machine!
the lady at the sewing machine shop had to orient me to machine basics...lol.
I know you said you didn't want to start big, but I did a BOM (block of the month) at Hancock fabrics. I learned something new each month and didn't have a big investment in fabric. just an idea for ya

Hi from Ohio!

Welcome from OHIO! It sounds like you have been given a great list of things to start with.

I am a new quilter and jumped in with a six block (one row) pillow topper, basically I modified a table runner pattern. I hope you find you LOVE to quilt!

There's something to be said for taking a beginner series on quilting from a regular quilt shop. It might cost more than a quick class at Joanns, but you get what you pay for. The shops near me all seem to have some kind of "Quilting 101" that walks you through everything from accurate cutting with a rotary cutter to reading patterns to piecing to finishing. I've seen too many people who get frustrated because their quilts don't look as nice as the picture on the pattern because they overlook things like consistent 1/4 seams or cutting on the straight of grain.

There are beginners classes on line -- here is an interesting site with links to a lot of others: http://www.quilthowto.com/Online_Qui...nner_Tips.html

As someone else mentioned, Jenny Doan's tutorials on YouTube are terrific!! For me, back when I started quilting 30+ years ago, Elinor Burns' "Quilt in a Day" books were like my Bible - I went to them all the time. I started with her Morning Star book, and made lap quilts for my kids... then got her Log Cabin quilt and made twin size quilts for my kids' beds.
I would say that lap quilts will get you the "feel" of quilting (better than a table runner, I think), without being as overwhelming as a larger quilt. And, yes, if you have access to a "real life" class, by all means, take it. Often when you take a class, you will get a discount on the supplies (rotary cutter, mat, rulers - fabric and pattern).
I ALWAYS use a pattern - I'm way too much OCD to try to "wing it".
Good luck, and be warned - this is an ADDICTIVE hobby!! But you will definitely be in "good company" with the rest of us!!

Welcome from Madrid Spain!