Hi Everyone,
My name is Sharon and I live in the Southern California area. I am a beginning quilter. I have always had an interest in quilting because of my grandma's influence. I just never had the motivation to tackle a project, but in the last few years I have become very interested in quilting. I am a 1st grade teacher, and also like to read in my spare time.

I like to make quilt tops, but I am not sure how to start quilting once I get the sandwich together. Any hints for a beginner?

Thank you! I am looking forward to talking with all of you!

Welcome from Washington :D

I have made tied quilts or hand quilted ones for a long time, but am just learning to machine quilt myself. No hints from me except practice practice practice. And pin a lot.

There are some pretty good tutorials on sites like youtube. For me it helps to watch someone.

Oh- and welcome aboard! This is a great site with a very welcoming group of quilters!

A big welcome from Ireland. I hope you like it here. Are you intending to hand sew, machine sew, domestic or long arm machine? Ask away and we will try and help you.

Welcome from Spain, you will get loads of help here, just ask away.

Elle

Welcome from NE CA. Glad you joined.

*Waves from Iowa* :)

Welcome from Missouri! :lol:

As to how to actually make a quilt, check out the tutorials on this board. :lol:

Hi and Welcome from southern Indiana!

Hi - Welcome from New Hampshire. Glad you joined us! :D

Hi and welcome from Ninnie in NC.
I hand quilt all of my quilts, but there are a lot on her who machine quilt and you will get a lot of help!

Welcome from Ventura County, CA

Welcome from SW Iowa. I use basting spray to hold my quilts while I machine quilt them. Good luck with yours and have fun.

Welcome from Hesperia, just up the hill from you! Look into a guild near you. They have a good one in Redlands, don't know of any in Rialto, but I've not looked.

Welcome from Pine Grove, CA.

Do not, do not, do not miss the Long Beach International Quilt Show next weekend. It is huge! I don't know which is more wonderful the quilts displayed or the hundreds (yes, you did hear right-hundreds) of vendors with more tempting quilt stuff than you can imagine. For details, google it. I think it starts on Friday and goes through Sunday. I'll be there for sure!

Thank you so much for the info! I will google it and get more details. Do you go to the show in Ontario, CA? It's called The Road to California and it is usually in January!

Sharon

No, I haven't been to that one. I am actually 8 hours by car away from the L.A. area but my grandson is there! So, I frequently make trips down that way. Road to California is supposed to be a wonderful show, too. I had thought about going to it as well. Maybe, next year.

Hi and welcome from another new quilter!

I took a short beginner course where we quilted via machine. We used special curvy safety pins (made for quilting, the safety pins are bent into peanut shapes) to pin-baste the quilt. They were pinned in places where we would not be stitiching. Then we had a special quilting foot for the sewing machines... and I'm not a machine sewer, so I can't be too detailed here, but there was this trick of pulling up the bobbin thread... best check the tutorials on here.

Joan,
I am trying to decide if I want to go the Long Beach International quilt show or not. I just got back in town yesterday afternoon after being gone for 10 days. I'd love to see all the quilts! I have a friend that will go with me if I decide to attend. Maybe if I go we can meet somewhere? If I go, it will be on Friday.

I sent you a PM.

Hello and welcome from Madison, Wisconsin. You will love it! Marcine

Hi and welcome from Massachusetts.

Welcome from north western PA!
Did you want to hand quilt or machine quilt?
I'm sure if you ask, you will get good advice here!

hello from central nj

welcome brewsa, from sunny Florida. we have a lot of great tutorials here. You'll probably get told about them by others. have fun! :D