Quiltingboard Forums - Hope to start quilting from Washington State

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Hi everyone! I joined about two weeks ago and have been lurking, reading posts, and I've learned so many useful tips already I can't believe it! Such a generous, giving, and supportive group.

I love to cook, read, garden, and ride motorcycles with my DH and a bunch of scruffy grandpas. We've even ridden up to Canada a couple of times in recent years. Those BC foks are the nicest people on two wheels I've yet to meet. My avatar is my new bike that I bought just last month.

I have been sewing since jr. high and think it's a shame they don't offer sewing classes anymore (and haven't in so long). I sew mostly clothes, more when I was younger. Sewed my first wedding dress and my going off to college wardrobe. For years I went to SewExpo here in the Pacific Northwest with my friend, and although I admired all the quilts and loved the patterns, I would resolutely chant "No more new crafts" to her amusement.

Well... a few years ago I finally broke down. I've collected various tools, books, and even a few kits (because I, like so many of us, have a little more trouble "matching" fabrics). Now I have a quilting stash to add to my clothing-fabric stash. But I haven't, yet, actually started quilting.

I tried to "design" a simple pillow as a starter project, following a colorwheel and using pieces from my stash. But once I carefully cut out the bits and assembled them to look at the overall design, I realized it was hideous! I tried to get myself to sew it together anyway (it's just practice!), but working fulltime with a 17 yr old in college, I couldn't see putting so much time into something I would just... toss. Really, it would have been too awful to give to anyone.

Then I purchased a simple tote bag kit with 5" charm squares to sew into patchwork rows. It doesn't call for quilting, but I thought it would be a great practice project. It has a lining, so I'll just make a sandwich with batting and muslin before assembling the tote. So far, I have the columns stitched together, but I'm having trouble getting the seams to match up in the rows. And then my sewing machine gave me trouble (what IS it with the holiday season? I'm not even working against a gift deadline!), but that turned out to be my fault. My friend told me that I might find I had more leeway making clothes than I will with quilting. Who'd have thought such "simple" piecing work could be such a struggle? I've made clothes that people admired as "store bought" and have had people ask me to make them items over the years, but simple squares in rows are proving to be a challenge. But I'll soldier on.

Meanwhile, I love seeing everyone's work, and with my baby steps experience, have a HUGE appreciation of what it takes to have these beautiful projects turn out the way they do.

Oh, and one of my best recent moments: My DD, who most of her life has shown no interest in cooking or sewing, has suddenly begun asking me to teach her both. I love it!

Thanks for reading if you got this far!
Patty :D

Hello and Welcome from NC!

Welcome from Kentucky!

Hello, and welcome from Idaho!

Hello and welcome from Ontario, Canada.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

Welcome from Northern New York

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

Going from a approx 5/8" to a precise 1/4 or scant 1/4" is a bit different isn't it :wink: you will find it and it will help your piecing. Have you looked into a 1/4" foot for your machine?

Hi Patty, welcome from Minnesota!

Welcome from Louisiana!

Hello and welcome from California!

Hi and Welcome from Texas, you will love it here on this board, everyone is so nice and helpful if you have a question about anything related to sewing and quilting. Glad to have you hear.

Welcome from SC. Matching corners is a challenge. I've only been piecing for about a year and have shown some improvement, but have a long way to go.

You'll get where you need to be and it won't take as long as you think it will. My hands don't work as well as they used to and pinning is a real chore for me. A tip I picked up on this forum is to use washable glue to 'fix' the pieces together before you sew. Just a tiny bit of glue at the ends of each piece will keep the pieces together while you sew. I also have a tool that allows me to put a 1/4 inch line on the wrong side of the fabric before I sew. That has helped me train my eyes to "know" a 1/4" seam as I sew.

If you use the washable glue, you will have to wash the quilt after it is quilted.

Good luck!

Hello and welcome from TN...don't give up on the quilting, this board is wonderful to it's members and helpful too!!!

Welcome from Nevada!

Welcome from Ohio! You will love this QB!

Hello from West Virginia and welcome to the group
jazs2

Welcome from Oklahoma!

Hello from Spokane. Quilting is different from clothes, but such fun! Do you have a LQS nearby where you can take lessons? I sure learned a lot in a beginner class despite having about 20 years experience making clothes.

Hello from Wenatchee! You have some great quilt shops over there around Seattle.

I have my endorsement to ride!Took a class to get it. Motorcycles are great!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome from Germany!

Welcome from Michigan!
Happy Holidays!

Hello and welcome from England.

Hello there & Welcome to the quilting board from the state of Washington!! I live in the Yakima Valley, pretty close to you.
:D :D :D :D

Another from the PNW!
Hello and Welcome from Oregon!

Hello and welcome to the board from NY. I too ride a motorcycle, yours is a beauty! I also love riding in Canada and yes our neighbors to the north are so very welcoming. I have HD Roadking and we also tour distances.

You will get the hang of matching those seams and learning your consistant scant 1/4" seam allowance helps a lot. I pin quite a bit but definitely use glue with applique (what little of it I have done). You will get it. Stick with it, sounds like you are addicted already!

Welcome from Oklahoma

Hi Patty,
I used to live in Kirkland... forever! Now I am over in the desert and enjoying it very much.

I have sorta followed some of your experiences and finally found that if I kept aiming for perfectionism, like I did in clothing, that I was never going to get off the starting line.

It's been said by many to make chairty quilts for others and give them away. The recipients do not see the mistakes like we do and they will be thrilled with your gift of love. In the meantime, you will gain experience and thereby improve!

My DH and I are hoping to make it to the Sewing Expo this spring. Haven't been in years and not since I started quilting again. Lots of opportunities to add to one's stash. Glad to say hi.