DogHouseMom

This is what you NEED to make a quilt ...

Fabric
Needle
Thread

Now, very few (present company included) make do with just those three basics, but the point is that you don't NEED anything other than those three items.

Sure ... a large sewing cabinet with a set-in machine positioned with the back and left side against helps to keep the quilt from falling and dragging while quilting, but less than 50% (an educated guess) of us have that setup (present company included).

Long Arms ... lots of space and even more $$$, not to mention time to know what the heck you are doing with it are nice, but less than 30% (another educated guess) have that (present company included).

Hand Quilting ... nice, but again probably less than 40% of us know how, and several of those that do know how, don't do it for various reasons. Some folks here specialize in hand quilting and I APPLAUD their skill ... mostly because it's a skill I don't have.

We have folks that quilt on so many different types of machines .... long arms, mid arms, sit-down long/mid arms, small domestic machines set up on frames, regular domestic machines in a set-in cabinet, regular domestic machines plopped down on any old table, and vintage machines ... including treadles!! We are either choosing what is right for us, making what is right for us, or making-do with what we have.

There is no "right way" ... there is only the way that works for you with the resources you have.

So. Jump right in!!

And welcome to QB

Prism99

Do you have access to a library? They usually have lots of quilting books with good information.

wesing

Welcome to the board from TN. The other replies are correct. None (or at least very few) of us has an ideal space for quilting; you will adapt your process to use the space/tools/skills that you have. My wife and I recently got a nice sewing room, but so far all of our quilts were made in our dining room. There are excellent beginner tutorials on this board, Youtube, Missouri Star Quilt Company, and other places. Pick yourself a simple pattern and start cutting. Ask questions here if you have them; there is lots of skill and mentoring on this board. Above all, enjoy the process. It's lots of fun picking pattern and fabric, cutting and sewing, finishing a project, and then giving it away (or keeping it for yourself if you can squeeze your name into your project list!). I look forward to seeing your pictures. Darren

nanacc

The first time I (remember) attempted a quilt.....I probably broke every rule of the 'quilt police' and good quilters everywhere!! I don't even remember having a pattern, and I was proud of it! Wish now that I had taken a picture. Be sure to do that, no matter what! I never thought of that for years, so I have no record of mine or my Mother's beautiful creations in sewing and quilting! You might say that I am self-taught in sewing and quilting. No expert, just for fun. I like a statement I read before.....rules have exceptions! Even some of the instructors have controversial methods.

Kitsie

Welcome from the other end of Washington! No, you don't need a fancy table. a left corner or any of that! Starting like you, but without even one machine, ruler or etc. you find how little you really need to make a heart warming, pride filling little quilt. There is no right or wrong. Hand quilting is a great pleasure and I like to do it after machine piecing and does not IMHO make the "quilt weaker". Just like pressing seams open instead of to one side does not weaken them if you are machine piecing.

I agree with the "just start" method of learning! Get a few pieces of fabric, look on a site like Quilter's Cache for million of block patterns and try making just one block. Like it? Make another maybe the same, maybe different.
Pretty soon it's the "Look what I made!" moment. Check out the library. There are often great beginner books on the shelves as well as more advanced if you are a book learner like me.

Have faith that you will figure out what works best for you. Just don't get talked into spending a lot of money on gadgets for this, that and the other thing when something you have around the house may work as well! Try anything! No one has to see it until you want them too! Go for it, we're all here for you!

Dina

You can certainly make a quilt with the sewing machine you have and on a round table too. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I have been quilting 3 years and it has been fun every minute.

Everyone has pretty much said it all already, but welcome to the board. Ask any questions at all as you quilt, and you will have immediate answers...or at least I always have had immediate answers. You can also google almost anything, promise. I just found out how to make a half square triangle by googling.

You might also want to keep count of how many quilts you have made, as many of my "experienced" quilting friends wish they had, and they advised me to keep count. I just put the number on my calendar and circle it.

Enjoy the hobby. It is great!!

Dina

dallen4350

Welcome from Florida.

I use my Brothers sewing machine, nothing special. I made my first quilt on it, and being the over achiever that I am, it is King Sized! So it can be done.

My sewing machine sits on an old computer desk. I place my ironing board to the left when I'm doing the actual quilting. My sewing room is also the guest bedroom, so the bed is behind my sewing machine. This helps support the weight on the back side.

Sorry, I haven't done any hand quilting, but don't understand why someone would say they they would fall apart.

So just do it.

Neesie

Howdy and welcome, from Texas!

I've been sewing for over 50 years but quilting, for less than 10. I've never had my machine even near a left-hand corner. It does help to have either a large sewing table or some other nearby table . . . but even a chair will work. Please don't let someone's "rules" discourage you!

Gay

I agree with everything said and would like to add - before sewing your blocks together, do look into 'quilting as you go' [QAYG]. It's rather simple to do on your domestic machine, much easier than handling the whole quilt in the machine, and will save you lots if you can't afford to pay a quilter. Do you have a quilting guild nearby where you could do some basic lessons? Spending time with a like-minded group each week is a lot of fun, and you will pick up heaps in tips.

Welcome to the board from me and please, please, do post pics of your work for us.

AliKat

You do what you feel is right for you. Have fun while you are at it.

Now you know what we mean by 'quilt police.' Those who have rigid rules. Most of us believe it is OK to break the rules. Though it does help to know a few before you do break them.

I hope you find a congenial group of quilters to have fun with.