I am registered for a beginning quilting class next week as I will be a new "Grandmother" in July. I love quilts and have always wanted to learn how to make them. I work full-time, so I do not have a lot of time to spend days-on-end quilting. My job takes me out of town, so I could take hand-work with me. (If there is such a thing.) I am overwhelmed with all the information I have seen on the Internet as well as other media. Where do I begin? What supplies will I need? There are so many patterns! I love them all. I have a BabyLock sewing machine, but no quilting attachments. Where should I begin?

I made a king size grandma's flower garden all by hand. It's called english paper piecing and travels beautifully!! Search for it and see what you think. If you like it, I'll help you thru it. Welcome from Jacksonville NC!

I would assume your class had a list of supplies needed. If not, I'd say start with a rotary cutter, ruler and mat. Look for simple block patterns on the internet to practice.

As for sewing machine attachments, a 1/4" foot is a great tool. Of course you don't have to have any fancy attachments. There are ways around all of it.

I don't like hand work except embroidery, but there are many, many things quilters can carry as hand projects. English paper piecing is very popular with some quilters.

Start small. Don't spend more than you are comfortable with. Many beautiful quilts were made long before all the fancy gadgets. Get a feel for how you like quilting and add tools as needed.

Hi and welcome.

When you say that your job takes you out of town, do you mean that you have to drive or fly? If you drive then NO PROBLEM! Get a small lightwieght machine and take it with you. I'd do my cutting at home.
If you fly then you might have to pack more hand-type work. You could always sew the blocks together and sandwich a baby quilt at home and take it with you to hand quilt on your down time in a hotel.

Hello from Oregon!
A few helpful items: rotery cutter and cutting mat. Seam ripper - my best friend, good little embrodery sissors to nip your thread if you are hand sewing (remember about airline rules if you travel that way). Before i bought my 1/4 inch foot for my machine I used the painters tape (or the stack of post-its) to mark the 1/4 inch sewing guide line. The hard part is deciding on the pattern and fabric. I have a hole list of "I wnat to make one like that". Keep us posted !

Welcome from Georgia, I travel with work as well and like to carry something with me. I also am a new granny, my little guy is 10 months old. I made him a qult that was half aplique and half pieces. I will try to find a photo of the quilt and post.

As to supplies, a mat to cut on, a rotery cutter, a good pair of cutting scissors, small embroidery scissors (fiskar has a curved point pair that I travel with), thread, seam ripper, and pins

Hello and welcome from Alabama. Start with the basics- cutting mat, rotory cutter, ruler 4x16 or 18. The rest will come with the addiction. Enjoy.

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here.

Hello and Welcome to the board :D:D:D

When you go to your first class, after it is done, ask the instructor/store workers for help with a hand project.
There are many EPP patterns that are easy to take on the go.

You can also hand piece any quilt pattern, people have been doing that for centuries :wink:

Hi and welcome from VA.
I made my first quilt for my grandson, and it was a wonderful way to start. All that love pieced into a quilt made it all that more beautiful! Your class should answ. a lot of questions for you and all of the basics suggested here are perfect. You might consider a pattern that has a solid block large enough to either applique' or embroider a baby design in the center. You could easily carry little pieces and/or embroidery thread with you, and do the sewing-together at home. A special book I found is "Sweet Dreams Baby Moon" by Elly Sienkiewicz. I started it, found the applique' pretty difficult for a beginner, and culled out the more simple designs to use on my "version." But it was wonderful for ideas and maybe someday I will actually make the quilt in the book! ( :

Welcome from Michigan :-)

Welcome from Michigan.

Hello and welcome from Ontario.

Welcome from Ireland

HI and welcome from Alaska.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

welcome from MI

Hello and welcome from Idaho!

Welcome from another North Carolina quilter.

welcome!

Hello from West Virginia and welcome to the group.

Hello and welcome from Germany!

I also live in NC. I will be a great-grandmother in May. Just remember when making your quilt to look a one block at a time. Its so easy to feel over loaded and confused. The board is always here to help. No mistakes in quilts just new originals.

Hello from Michigan, one piece of advise I can give you is when it comes to buying an instruction book. "Better Homes and Gardens Complete Guild to Quilting" is by far the best one I have ever seen. Its my bibble. They sell for 20.00 at Joanns and if you use a coupon, its even cheaper.

Welcome from Kentucky

Hello from Western Maryland !!

welcome from se TX

Hi from GSO,NC. OT: I have a goldendoodle. Very warm intelligent loving mix of a Golden retriever and poodle. Welcome.

Welcome from Omaha, NE.

Welcome! You did the right thing: signing up for a quilting class. They will teach you the tricks of the trade and you will be quilting for the rest of your life! Enjoy your class!

Welcome from Raleigh! Also here to help if you need.

Welcome from northern Alabama!

Welcome from Winston-Salem, NC! Early congrats on being a soon-to-be grandma!

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

Welcome from San Gabriel, California

Hello and welcome from Boston, Ma

Hello and welcome from West Virginia. Glad to have you with us.

Hi, You are just down the road. What a lovely quilt. I hope to be able to do such beautiful work one day!

Thanks so much for your response!

Laura

Thank you for you help for the beginning student. I still do not have a supply list. Hopefully, I shall get one before Thursday.

Thanks so much!

Laura