New to Quilting and the Board :)
 

Hello everyone! I am new to quilting, and this group. I think I have all the supplies I need to get started and want to learn a little more before I start cutting up my fabric and oiling my sewing machine!

Do you wash your whole bundle of fabric before you start cutting? I saw somewhere else that it was highly suggested when working with cotton to wash it before you start the project.

How do you revise sizing? I found a really cute pattern but it is the size for a baby and I want a little bit larger of a quilt.

Hello and welcome from Oregon!

i personally haven’t been prewashing my fabrics, in part, because I’m using precuts. Jelly rolls etc.

im not sure about resizing and will be curious to see what our more experienced quilters say.

Welcome from North Carolina.

I don't prewash, but I don't make those wonderful quilts that go to shows and/or hang on walls. I love to see them though and wish I had that kind of talent. You've come to the right place to get all your questions answered.

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

Welcome from NJ. You'll get many different answers on whether to wash or not. It really is personal preference but highly recommended for red or other highly saturated colors. I prewash everything.

As to making your quilt larger, the easiest way is to just make more blocks! Re-sizing blocks is a bit trickier depending on the pattern.

Good luck with your project. Remember, it's not a race. Take your time and have fun.

Welcome from Tennessee. I am in general not a prewasher. But if I have a fabric that looks like it may bleed I will test it. As for resizing it depends on the pattern. Some you can cut larger pieces. Some just make more blocks. If you let us know what pattern you are making we can give you some suggestions.

Welcome from Michigan!:)

Hi from Alabama! You will enjoy the friendly atmosphere here....and we will help you all we can, if we know the answer. About prewashing fabric, like NJ Quilter, I only prewash the darker fabrics, like red, black, and dark blue, and I have washed some teals before using, and I was glad I did. It bled into the water pretty bad.

Also like NJ Quilter said, the easiest way to make your quilt larger is to just make more blocks until you get your quilt the size you want it.

Thanks for all the welcomes everyone!

I will upload a picture of the pattern and fabrics I have picked out. I have a dark grey, blues, oranges, and pinks. I forgot how much fabric I purchased since I purchased it a while back. I do remember that I purchase more then I thought I would need so I had some fabric to play with to get used to my sewing machine again.

My quilting got a delayed start since I got engaged at the end of august. I planned wedding, worked full time, and back up both mine and my husbands homes in TX while he was doing job training in CA. We only had a two month engagement (his new job needed him to start immediately) and we moved and got married the same weekend! We've been married since October, and things have settled down enough for me to get started quilting!

Fabrics and Patterns
 

Here are the fabrics I have selected. I picked a dark grey fabric for the binding/backing, since I had lighter/brighter colors for the blocks. I think White would look good too, but I didn't think of that at the time I purchased them.
The light grey and bright blue colors have small polka dots, but its kind of hard to see in the pictures.

The picture of the book cover is one of the designs I really like (and the inspiration behind the blue colors I chose) I am trying to decide between the patterns I uploaded. The hexagon looks pretty simple. The clamshell looks really cute, but I don't know if it is a good beginner pattern? The book says it and the hexagon are both "easy" level. The third pattern (and the one I would need help resizing) is one I found on Pinterest. Its really cute, looks simple, but its baby size, I am wanting to make a quilt for myself, and as Christmas gifs for family, so I would need them bigger then baby size.

(Pintereste file : https://www.pinterest.com/offsite/?t...Dc2NTAzMzIwMwA )

I like the hexi quilt. On that one I would make larger hexis. It is hard
to tell how big they are by the pics. With the clamshell I would make more blocks. Just my opinion. I am sure you will get other suggestions here. More than one way to skin a cat you know one way is not any better than the other. Just a personal preference

the hexagons seem to be a decent size from what I saw in the instructions in the book, but then again I haven't made a quilt yet so I cant be certain. Here is the instructions page that helps with how many i need for each size quilt. I love the clamshell but I would want it as a blanket not a rug. Its super pretty, but i feel like it may be quite the task considering I am new. Maybe should start with the Hexagons.

Welcome from OZ.
I like the way the hexies are put together, especially for a 'newbie', also the size of them. It seems they will be cut at 7" wide, and if you can get an acrylic template that size cutting out several layers of fabrics will be so much easier. I've just finished a quilt with 2" wide hexies, and while I enjoyed making it, at times thought I would never be done. (but I had no background fabric, and sewed together by machine, and got used to those 'set-in' points). Wouldn't hesitate to make another, but would definitely use a larger hexie for the next one.
If you choose the clamshells, do make a practice block first, to get the hang of those curves. There is plenty of advice here if you need it.

Thank you for the advice! I do have the hexagon templates, they were actually on sale when I purchased the fabric, I guess I should of mentioned that earlier lol! I figured it would make cutting much easier and I may be able to save some fabric if I cut smart! I have a pack of 10-12 sizes I believe!

You've picked patterns that are not necessarily the easiest for a beginner but certainly not impossible. The hexie quilt will definitely be the easier of the two.

In both cases it might be worth your while to spend a couple of bucks and pick up a FQ bundle or two and make some test blocks. Even if you've purchased more of the 'good' fabric for your project, it might be a good idea to practice on totally 'throw away' fabric. I would pick those up at JoAnn's or Walmart vs a local quilt shop (LQS) since it would be totally for test purposes.

I definitely believe in making something you like regardless of 'recommended skill level' projects. If it's something you're not interested in, you're not going to finish it, IMO. So some way cheap fabric for test/practice of a couple of blocks could be in your best interest.

Good luck!

Your pattern does give instructions for all sizes. That is nice. They do all the calculations for you. Just pick the size you want to make and go from there. As a beginner I would not go too big on the first quilt. You don't want to overwhelm yourself

Welcome from Oklahoma.

I am not a pre-washer. I've not felt the need to wash something that is not dirty. However, if this is your route, I would use cooler water so that they do not bleed into each other.

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Hi and welcome!! You’ve been busy and Congratulations on your wedding! The pattern on Pinterest is simple. You can make it larger by adding more 5” squares or adjusting the pattern to accommodate 6 or 7” squares. Personally, I like the 5” and would simply make more rows and columns. Or add extra borders. Have fun!!

Thank you everyone! I have decided to start with a baby quilt, and picked up more fabric today! I am so excited!!!! I'll post the fabrics here!

I have my first quilting class booked for the 9th as well, super excited!!!

Welcome! There are lots of opinions. You can check out a Harriet Hargrove article that explains it in great detail

such cute fabrics! Welcome to the board. :)

I have started the quilt! Here is the lay out! I am sewing the sashing today!