This seems to be a fairly usual answer to some of these questions:

1) Should I wash my fabric before cutting?

2) Should I use starch or sizing on the fabric before cutting?

3) What kind of batting should I used?

Can you think of any more questions that this is a typical/usual answer to? ??

How should I quilt this?

Which rulers/mats/rotary cutters are best?

How much fabric should I buy?

What colors should I use for this pattern?

Where should I buy fabric?

What sewing machine should I get?

How much do long arm quilters charge?

If someone asks me to make them a quilt, how much should/can I charge?

which thread?

What do all these abbreviations mean?

Why are my pattern pieces smaller than they are supposed to be? aka What's a scant 1/4" seam?

Why is my stripe of fabric bowed in the middle?

Do I press the seams open or to the side?

Should I press with steam or with a dry iron?

Why is my border wavy?

!!!!

Has anybody seen this pattern or know where I can find it?

How do I join two pieces of batting?

I sure hope the new quilters are not considering this to be a list of what's considered "stupid questions" by others. I know that wasn't the intent, but I would hate to see anyone discouraged from asking ANY question of us at any time...wouldn't you?

I am new to quilting and know I have ask many of these questions. What seems easy or obvious to experienced quilters is not obvious to newbies and if you have never sewed or used a sewing machine and decided to take it up like I did after I retired the language is different than what you are use to and you are so intent on doing it right that you ask about everything. The talented people on this forum have such a wealth of information and are always so kind to share. You will never know how many times you have helped people through a mess or helped to get them started. You have me. Thanks so much.

Oh ghost...I would sure hope that newbies (I still say I am one) would not think that...these are truly questions that have many answers...so always good ones to ask related to the specific thing they are doing!

And to add another.... should I add embellishments??

should I attempt to???

I do not think new quilters will think this is a list of "stupid questions". I think they will realize that this is a list of questions that will have many different answers-depending on the quilt being made, the maker of the quilt, the pattern and fabrics chosen, etc.

We each have our own way of doing things--what works well for us. A great way to find out a new way to do something is to ask the question of this board. We can all learn something new from the answers.

I am new at quilting,too. I am male, 61, never have sewed before except one class. So I have sewing machine issues as well as quilting. It's nice to have a resource as this.

Welcome Phil....bring on the questions...there are lots of talented people here (both female and male) who would be more than happy to try to help you!

The intent was and is -

that there are many questions that have more than one "right/correct" answer -

and that can be confusing - especially to a newcomer.

None of these questions were meant to be thought of as "dumb" - they were meant to illustrate that there are many ways to accomplish something.

And I think we all learn something new every time the questions are brought up.

An example: Should I wash my fabric before cutting it? There are some that see no reason to do so. There are some that have at least three reasons that it is imperative to do so.

Another example: How to make Half Square Triangle units (and why are they called half-square triangles, anyway? a half square is a rectangle to me)

We give our opinions and experiences about whatever - eventually it does come down to the person making the item having to decide what/how to do

Eventually, most of us find a "way of doing things" that seems reasonable and comfortable to us.

I still do some things the way I was taught in my first quilting class - that first "imprint" tends to stick in my mind.

My answer to most all the questions is do it all the possible ways and then pick the way that you like the best or come up with a new way. I don't wash my fabric because I don't want to iron all that yardage not because I think it's better not to. I've met new quilters who want to follow an exact way and I think they are not going to have a good time making quilts.

As I said, I know that was not the intent. I just wanted to clarify that no one here would consider any of these to be 'stupid' questions. We all learn from experience, and that includes the experiences of others. As an isolated quilter I very often benefit from asking these types of questions to see what others would do in a given situation. It's like seeing my work with a fresh set of eyes. No criticism was meant by my previous post and I humbly apologize to anyone who may have taken it as such. :oops:

A local TV station was advertising some of the shows that were reruns:

"If you haven't seen it, It's new to you"

which I think about sums up this thread.

It is helpful to get other people's viewpoints - and why they feel/think that way.
I, too, am more or less isolated in that I don't have any in-person "quilting buddies"

I think in some ways it is easier to have "an exact way" until one has enough confidence and experience to be able to improvise.

It is a major bummer if one starts out with a pattern that has errors in it.

I know some of us are so worried about "making a mistake" that we get nothing done.

It's only fabric - not brain surgery - the worst case scenario is that we've used up some fabric getting some experience - I prefer to think of these "throw-aways" as experience and/or entertainment - think of all the homework that we used up paper on -

People play golf - do they think they have to "salvage" the x amount they spent on the game if it was a lousy game? People bowl - not every toss knocks down all the pins. People play baseball - not every time up at bat results in a home run -

Why do we think every attempt at a block will be a winner? Some are - some are - hmmmm -

I love when a question is asked, and there are multiple answers given. That gives me more options to try and find the one(s) that work best for me. It can also open the door to another technique or idea to try :wink::D:D:D

Just rememeber ALL of us no matter what level of quilting we are now started at the same point. Just know there is never a stupid question, we were all there when we started.

This is not a question but something I did not know.
I belong to a small group of quilters and we did a round robin with each doing a row on someone elses quilt.
Some of the group cuts fabric on the selvage edge which makes the cut with no give to the fabric. It drove me crazy cause I like a little stretch for fitting pieces together.
So I am wondering how many cut that way instead of putting the selvage edges togather and then cutting toward the fold.

Are you saying they use the selvage edge itself?

I will use the selvage edge on a garment facing if it isn't puckered.

Or that they cut on the lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvage edge)?

Another "it depends on who is doing it" - I think it's Marti Mitchell that likes to make her first cut parallel to the selvage - I do, too, because then at least two sides of my pieces will be more or less on grain.

I am fairly new to quilting and posting questions on this board as are many others. I seriously did not take this posting to be offensive and I would ask questions here because I trust to get the answers I need. I really thought this was a cute and fun thread to join. I listed a question about quilting that I had a few weeks ago. Hey lets make this fun!

Yes they cut on the length wise grain, just could not remember what it was called. Age does that to you.
It messed me up when I needed a strip also. I was trying to make a strip set and with the fabric cut that way it made it to short for other fabric strips.

And sometimes the way I make the first cut depends on the size and shape of the piece of fabric - - -

I am very conscious of grain lines -

I think if the word This was changed to There, it wouldn't be confusing.
:wink:

My least favorite question is the one NON-quilters ask when they see one of my quilts - How long did it take to make it? Unless you're making it to sell, who keeps track of the time?

Do you count planning time? Do you count shopping time? Do you count washing and ironing time?

I don't keep track of ANY time!!! LOL

I don't keep track of ANY time!!! LOL

I wish someone could tell me how to get every piece just exactly the same and how can you stay in the ditch when you are trying quilt in the ditch. Is there some magic I don't know or am I just plain dumb. I cut my last quilt showed it on here in an another thread I was so careful cutting each little square and still half of them were not the same. And as hard as I tried to stay in the ditch I got off several time because the points of the squares didn't meet right. uggggggggggggggggg I think I will give up and just make blankets (one piece blankets)lol

Sherrylea, it gets easier! It is that quarter inch that gets me every time! The more seams there are, the more off I can get! It is one of those things that you get used to. I often cut more generous to off set my sewing. And I square up often! It all depends on the fabric and the pattern!

My machine has a stitch-in-the-ditch foot that works really well. It has a little blade that runs down the ditch. Weeeeellll sometimes it jumps the track. hehe.

Another tip is to press the top firmly and have the seams go in the same direction if possible. Make sure the top is nice and flat in the sandwich.

It is easy to get tired and when your shoulders get tired, you have less control over the quilt. So sew smaller increments at a time. Then take a break from SIDing.

A glass of wine helps me relax, but I would not suggest that anyone else should drink.

A last point: When the quilt is finished, bound, and washed, odds are that nobody but you will know that some of the ditches are a little wobbly.

I hope nobody mistook this post as a criticism. I think these ?? are all very valid and important. Even today, I still learn new tricks and ideas about tried and true quilting concepts. This forum is what helping and supporting each other is all about.

I really thought for the longest time that there was supposed to be ONE way to do things. Color me surprised!

Thanks to all of you I am gong to start another quilt that I bought the material a year ago for and I printed all of your suggestions, and madquilter I 100% agree with having a glass of wine. My Dr. told me to drink a glass a day and it would help my nerves, but he did stress 1 glass lol lol
I have the sew in the ditch foot for my machine, but forget to use it I definately use it next time. I always wash and starch my stuff before I start. Thanks again and everyone have Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season.

I also thought SITD was in/on the seam line

I have my own variation of SITD - I call it 'a drunken stroll in and out of the ditch' OR 'taking the scenic route'! :mrgreen:

:? :)

The stitch in the ditch foot works really well when you are sewing the binding in the ditch.
For quilting the walking foot is best as the ditch foot is not made for even feeding thru the feed dogs.