Beginner questions
 

Hi, I'm interested in quilting and have enjoyed reading through the posts here, have learned so much!

For a long time I've wanted to make a quilt; I own a number of them and have always loved them. I just got home from the county fair and am so inspired by what I saw there. I want to do it (just start with something simple).

But I have some concerns. I've researched it in the past and got psyched out by what I found on some other pages about quilting. So here are my questions:

- One website said that in order to quilt you need a sewing table up against a left-hand corner of a room. I just don't have that possibility in my house, there's no available left-hand corner or anyplace where I could put anything to the left of a table. My dining table is round in the center of a small dining area room with no available walls to push it up against.

- So I thought, well, I can hand-quilt it. But I saw in several places where people say that hand-quilted quilts fall apart. (That puzzles me because I own an antique hand-quilted one and it's intact.) Is this true? I just don't know what to do.

- I don't have a special sewing machine, it's a Husqvarna Viking Huskystar. I can't afford to buy a longarm just for quilting. Is a basic sewing machine OK?

I'm no expert seamstress but have done some sewing (mostly projects for home decorating which turned out fine) so think I could do this, maybe start with kind of a simple one.

With these limitations, do you think it's realistic for me to be able to make a quilt? Or should I wait until I have more resources? I would very much appreciate your thoughts!

Thanks so much!
Denise

Hello, and welcome from Texas. I made my first quilt, which was a kingsize in my round dining table. I put a TV table to my left to help keep the bulk off the floor and from pulling against me. Turned out great. Oh, and I had a basic sewing machine. Loved my husky star. You do what you have to do in the space you have. Necessity is the mother of invention.

You will figure out what will work when you do your quilt. Welcome from Missouri

Linda from MO

Questions, in order of appearance:

1. My sewing table is my dining room table. It is not in a left hand corner.

2. Hand quilt - I've never done it, but, like you, have seen many antique completely hand pieced and quilted quilts. Clearly, who ever said that is wrong.

3) You can quilt and piece on the same sewing machine. Many Quilting Board members do it.

4) I hadn't in sewn in 20 years and hadn't sewn much even then. and certainly not well. I started quilting and haven't looked back. So go for it!

Can't wait to see your first quilt!

Cathy

I am fairly new, too. I've only made 3 small quilts and am working on my 4th. if you have a desire to quilt, you can do it! Your basic sewing machine will work fine. Very few of us have the ideal sewing space . I would suggest you pick a small project with a simple pattern (like nine-patch or 4-patch) to find out if you like cutting and piecing. Then you can try your hand at quilting it. Is there a quilt store near you that you could take a beginner class? That's what I'm gonna do in September because I'm only self-taught and I think learning faster, better methods is what I need. Your dining room table will be okay for working on something small. I have made my 3 thus far (and starting 4th) on a basic, mechanical, Sears Kenmore machine and have been pleased. Naturally I covet bigger and better:)

You might consider making a kids' quilt for charity. It will be appreciated and kids are not critical inspectors. Relax and enjoy the process.

Sew wherever you can. Some folks here sew out on their sun porches!
I have quilts my great-grandmother made in the 1920's out of old shirts, pants, and dresses that she would take apart and use any fabric that was still "good" in the quilt. They are fine, and I use them!
You don't need any fancy machine to quilt.

Finally, if you wait until you "have more resources," you won't do it. Jump in, do what you can, come on here and ask for help. Welcome to a great group of folks who love quilting and also love to help other quilters. :-)

Uh Oh....sounds like the quilt police have been talking to you! LOLOLOL You can make a quilt with whatever machine you have, and with confidence! You can set up your machine wherever it works best for you....my machine is in a table directly beside a window, when I need support for the quilt, I move my ironing board to the left of the machine to hold its bulk. I piece and quilt both on my machine...no long arm needed once I learned how to fmq. Definitely give it a try....after my first "not so perfect" quilt, I was addicted. I would look into a basic beginners quilting class as there are many differences between piecing a quilt top and making a pair of pants.....but remember that all the rules out there have exceptions and new methods almost daily. Please come back to the board for any questions you might have...there are so many members here who willingly give advice. Have fun!

Welcome to the Board! I'm excited that you are going to make a quilt! I made my first quilt at age 74 and am now hooked on quilting. I do have a sewing room; but it is small. My machine is not in a corner. I have a TV tray that I use as additional support to my quilt when I am quilting. I do all my piecing on a Singer featherweight and my quilting on a 13 year old Bernina. I have quilted an oversized king quilt on that machine; but now I send anything over twin size to a LAQ. Use your dining table. If you like hand quilting, go for it! You can do machine quilting on your machine or send your quilts out to a LAQ. Just get started with your first quilt. Best wishes!

I don't know where you got your information from, but suffice it to say, you don't have to have any of those to quilt. While I will admit that it's easier to piece with extra space to the left of the machine, you don't have to quilt there. You can piece on a regular sewing machine. Piecing is the process of sewing together pieces of fabric that have been cut up. You do need some space to the left of the machine. Quilting is the process of joining three layers together (top of quilt, batting, and the backing) with thread. I live in an area where I can go to a LQS (local quilt shop) and rent a LA (long arm). It's used there and it's $18/hr. A queen size quilt will normally take me 3-4 hours to meander quilt. One main difference between sewing regular clothing and quilting is the ironing. When making clothing, you open the seams and iron them, pressing each to it's own side. The majority of the time when making a quilt, you iron both pieces of fabric to one side. It's supposed to strengthen the seam. It helps you when you butt seams.

I'd suggest taking a 'Quilting 101' course somewhere in your area. There literally was a course like that being taught at a LQS. That helped me tremendously. Then I went on to take a 'Sampler Quilting' class.

Good luck and happy sewing, no matter how you plan on doing it!!!

Welcome to the world of quilting!! I highly recommend the Harriet Hargrave series of books called Quilter's Academy - start with book 1 - you will learn so much you will be amazed. This book will show you how to cut, sew an accurate seam, how to press, etc. There are several projects included in the book which include all the lessons from the book. Good luck in your projects.