The first quilt you make will be your worst...?

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01-30-2012, 07:34 AM

#21

Annie68

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Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: Maine

Posts: 1,469

My first quilt was definitely my worst. It was a ninepatch made from a booklet, teaching myself as I went along. The fabrics were cotton/poly even some 100% poly fabrics as that was all I could get back in the early 80s. Colors were red and orange, hand quilted. I loved it at the time, but looking at it today, complete horror show. It's full of pills where the poly batt came through.

I certainly enjoyed making it and continue to enjoy every minute all these 31 years later.

01-30-2012, 07:57 AM

#22

Rosewood9

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 664

My first quilt was a turning twenty, it has a lot of sentimental value for me :-)

01-30-2012, 10:25 AM

#23

Mad Mimm

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Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: Pacific Northwest

Posts: 1,126

I would not say my first quilt was my worst (though technically it is still unfinished and will not be winning any best in show prizes!) But I think the message is that each quilt is a learning process and you can expect as a new quilter that your subsequent quilts show improvement over your first. As long as your sister gets that point, and doesn't go crazy ripping and re-stitching, she will find the joy and keep on quilting!

I agree 30 times is a little much - is that a literal number or an exaggerated figure? I can't imagine a seam not fraying like mad after about 15! LOL! Just make sure she takes a class from another shop and can see for herself that there are as many kinds of quilters out there as there are quilts. She will be fine!

01-30-2012, 10:43 AM

#24

cmw0829

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Boston, MA area

Posts: 970

The workwomanship of my first quilt was just fine but I hate the fabric choices I made. I'm getting more and more comfortable all the time choosing fabrics but that first time was a bear.

01-30-2012, 10:56 AM

#25

ckcowl

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Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Northern Michigan

Posts: 12,861

my first bed sized quilt is a fabulous quilt! of course i have learned tons since that first one- but i think the first one was probably one of the best- and would take alot to top. so i whole heartedly disagree with that statement- the first ones may show (room for improvement) but i think that first one is normally one of the best you will ever make

01-30-2012, 07:40 PM

#26

Dolphyngyrl

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Southern California

Posts: 6,254

I think it depends on the person, i can personally look at my first now and my quilts are so much better, but I have seen some people post their first quilts on here and it looks like they have been doing it for years. Mine is my worst although i have not tried any incredibly difficult patterns yet so can't say it will be my worst forever

01-30-2012, 07:46 PM

#27

Grandma58

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: montana

Posts: 1,362

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyInTheSky

My SIL is getting into quilting. She's getting ready to do a queen for the guest bedroom and I volunteered to quilt it on the longarm. She said "I've been told that my first quilt will inevitably stick out among the worst quilts I ever make"... got me thinking about my first quilt. It's just the finished top (ugh! I need to quilt it! ), but I am really proud of it. I know I've technically improved since I made it and I'm sure the points won't be matched perfectly, but overall, it was pretty dang good. Same with the first quilt I did on my longarm - definitely has improved but overall pretty dang good.

Thought I would put that statement out there and see what you all think. Though I'm guessing this is coming from her quilt shop instructors who made her rip out the SAME SEAM 30 TIMES BECAUSE IT WASN'T PERFECT. Took a lot of will power not to drive the 8 hours to that shop and yell at them. But that's another story.

So what d'ya think?

I think I would have been in the car with you. I hope you quilt it for her and post a pic so we can all tell her how beautiful it is for a first!

01-30-2012, 07:49 PM

#28

Grandma58

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: montana

Posts: 1,362

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinkberrykay

My first was better then my second. I did a 9 patch and instead of strip piecing (didn't know about it then) I cut out 2.5 in squares and sew them all together. This created a huge problem when I went to match the seams and they didn't match up.

I would have never ripped out the same seam 30 times to resew, I would have packed up and left the class.

me too on leaving the class, what a pain!

01-30-2012, 08:15 PM

#29

jaciqltznok

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Enid, OK

Posts: 8,273

I don't find that to be true...unless the person is self taught and has NO guidance by way of book, pattern, mentor, or You tube!
I mean really...my first "class" with a rotary cutter was a rail fence...not perfect I found out years later when I put it all together, but still NOT ugly! Of course it is not something I would pick now, the colors are not me, but it was a kit at the time and the only one I liked out of all the ones we had to choose from!

So yes, I suppose if you are "trying" out quilting, and not using the best fabrics, or fabrics you LOVE, then perhaps it is not the BEST quilt, but by golly I doubt it will ever be the worst!

come to think of it, I have a pix of my WORST quilt..not in construction but due to fabric choices..it was a mystery and my fabric choices were placed wrong!

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Last edited by jaciqltznok; 01-30-2012 at 08:18 PM.

01-30-2012, 08:16 PM

#30

GingerK

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Ontario, Canada

Posts: 3,512

My first quilt--it took a lot of years before it was more than just a top. Back then I honestly did not know that diagonal cuts would stretch and that you should press seams a certain way to minimize bulk. Sure there are a lot of 'mistakes' in it, but it really was the start of an incredible journey. And every time I spread it on the spare room bed, I have to smile because yes, I am dang proud of it!