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Yes, this. As long as all the seams are consistent. The problem comes in when you swap. Can she push the guard on her foot in ward a little or set her needle to the right?
Originally Posted by jnagy1206
(Post 4653083)
My quilting instructor always told me that it was okay to be wrong with your seams as long as you are consistently wrong with the entire project. Then it all fits together, just smaller. With time I have gotten so much better with my 1/4" seams.
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We have been very blessed to have wonderful teachers at our LQS - usually they hand out two scrap pieces of fabric
2-1/4" wide by 3" long, have you stitch them together and press open, your scraps should measure 2" accross - this is a great way to test your machine for 1/4" seem accuracy before starting your project. |
Originally Posted by lynnegreen
(Post 4642478)
My first quilt teacher was like that, and, unfortunately my Mom was in the class and she does not, I repeat, does not follow directions well. The teacher was beside herself. She wasn't much of a warm and cuddly person to begin with, had just published a quilt book that became very popular, and admitted she was only teaching the class because she had commited to this one last one. By the time the six or so weeks of class were over you could tell she could barely look at my Mom, as well as another lady who was a bit of a challenge as well. On the last nigth of class someone asked if there were any guilds or clubs for quilting and the teachers response was "yes, but they are not for people like this group, they are for real quilters". I just about gave up on quilting, but, I already knew I was bitten with the bug, and fortunately, my Mom convinced me that we should try another class with a different teacher. She was right, the next class was a dream, despite my Mom being the problem child...... again...LOL
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I think that it is good to show an excellent example of what the students should strive for.
I also think it is good to show how to do it by example. After that, what the students do - unless they ask - is up to them. I'm not in favor of making a student redo a seam over and over - especially for a beginning beginner's class- but I'm not in favor of the instructor saying "that's wonderful - when there is lots of room for improvement. One can say things like "Good try . . . . " "Next time, try to . . . . " It is also good for an instructor to show how a boo-boo can be salvaged. That may be one of the most important things to learn! |
quilt police
One of the most positive things about this board is the encouragement one gets. We all strive to do our best at quilting as it is expensive and time consuming. It is a learning experience, like anything else practice improves us. All our first are less than perfect. There are those that do perfect everytime, hooray for them I celebrate their endeavors. Tell your Mom Keep on quilting!
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help her out by telling her about the 1/4 foot for her machine, this will help her not get frustrated. I used to live in Tucson and it was a wonderful place to learn to quilt. Not the same here at all!!
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I probably would have burst into tears!
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I think if that teacher wanted an exact 1/4" seam, she should have helped every one of the students find thier 1/4" and marked it for them on thier machine. I took a class with set in seams an that was the first thing we did in class.
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I guess I think differently than most of you. If the teacher is nice about it I don't see anything wrong with ripping out seams that aren't right. The quicker you learn where a quarter inch is the easier the whole quilt top will be. Why learn to do it wrong and then re-teach yourself to do it right? Now if the teacher is mean about it, that's a different story.
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Oh my gosh, how sad! Be gone with the quilting snobs!!!!! I'm a new quilter and I'm very shaky with my "quilting" confidence. If I had a critical teacher, I'd be lost. Thank goodness for the quilting angels out there to help us!
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I am so fortunate to have had thoughtful, caring teachers helping me to learn. We started with a small project, were told about doing a correct seam and how to do that and sew pieces together properly. We were encouraged and gently shown how to correct a mistake. I came away knowing it's important to do things "correctly" but to be able to enjoy the experience of the "doing". Even when I couldn't hear them well because of broken hearing aids they were patient and how much more enjoyable a class is now that I can hear well and participate.
My LQS is The Fabric Center in Morris, Ilinois. The staff and classes and fabrics are great!!! margee |
well that settles it for me, was thinking of trying a guild but i would not fit in, I try not to make mistakes but I always do, when something turns out really good I just can't get over it! lol
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I so agree!!
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I would struggle through the class and try to learn other good points being taught, but I would talk to the owner or head person signing up the instructors and express my feelings.
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now that would be a fun class.....
Originally Posted by Quiltersbox
(Post 4645733)
I teach classes and label them as Beginner, Beginner+(a person who has made a quilt or two) and advanced.
Often the beginner classes have students who have never quilted and I show them how to use the rotary cutter and cut before we start to sew. The classes are longer and I spend more time with them. There is always "homework" because this is where they will be doing most of their projects. We talk about and I show them how to do the 1/4" seam allowance. It's very important, but, when doing a beginner pattern, such as QIAD Log Cabin, I feel it's most important that the seam allowance be consistent. The blocks will be smaller, and we adapt. Not everyone invests in a the 1/4" piecing foot right away. They usually purchase one once they see the value of it or have cash flow. It all comes with practice. If a seam needs to be ripped, I help. It is never appropriate to be condescending to anyone in the class because we are supposed to be having fun. |
When I first began quilting, I had a perfectionist friend. She made me unsew a few times. But, she did not make me feel like a doof. She really helped me do a better job for the more complicated blocks. I am super-critical enough of my own work anyway. My husband keeps reminding me..."it's only a quilt, it is made to be used and enjoyed. No one will be as critical of your work as you are! Relax and enjoy it." He is right! So tell your friend to RELAX. She will discover why she needs to be more careful of her seams as she continues to sew.
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Oh, Vintageseamstress, don't think all guilds are as described here. My guild is so much fun. We are not the Quilt Police, we enjoy seeing each other's work and it inspires us to 'show n tell'. We also do charity quilts, a very satisfying activity.
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Darn. Such a bad experience with a class is so discouraging. Not all quilting teachers are like that. I have been lucky to have had good experiences with quilting classes. I hope someone told the shop owner what happened. Hopefully your SIL will have a better experience with some other teacher.
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It sounds like it's a very stressful class and maybe not worth going to she might do better on her own or go to another class. Does she have anyone who can help her on her own? Tell her not to get to upset that kind of class sounds like it would discourage you from wanting to continue. Good Luck to her. Sue
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One of the first classes I took at a LQS was just like this. The teacher would hold up your piece and ridicule your mistakes. I never finished the class or the quilt. Luckily I knew I wanted to quilt so continued on my own with books.
I recently signed up again at this same LQS & teacher (a friend wanted me to go with her) and the teacher is still the same. Even though I am not a beginner anymore and so she doesn't single me out I am making the quilt on my own again because I can't stand listening to her quilt police talk. |
I have heard that the Amish intentionally make a mistake in their quilts. Their thoughts on that is that only God should be perfect. I have repaired some quilts and if there is a flaw in the quilt I keep it. I feel that I would be removing part of the personality of the person that quilted it.
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Teaching someone to quilt is like teaching a pre schooler to write. It is never going to look just like yours. I think they should have complained from the start and ask for a refund or a different teacher. I would have just given up and never went to another class. I get enough critisim in this world without someone expecting me to be a perfect quilter. Keep on keeping on. Your quilts will be yours no matter how they look to others. My family has a game of trying to find the mistake I always leave in mine. LOL
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every teacher teaches differntly - this person probably doent understand that small mistakes or (imperfections to her perfection ) discourge people form sewing/quilting if all of her seams are that way then all of her seams are that way .... it isnt a problem I hope she is able ot find another instructor who is better at teaching newbys and not a discourging self-proclaimed quilt police person
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There are quilt teachers here that are not like that. As someone already said, there are people who can quilt, but not always able to teach. PM me and I can give you some names of shops and teachers who are good for beginning quilters. Also there is a great quilting guild I belong to that is a teaching guild where she would be warmly welcomed.
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please tell your SIL not to give up! that teacher should not be teaching...anyone!!!!
only machine are perfect - and sometimes they mess up! |
Wow, I can't believe people can't understand how hard it is for some to catch on quickly, and work with them so they can learn, not quit what they so want to do.
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OMG!! I am teaching a beginner/intermediate class and the theme, for me, is ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE!!!! When I see mistakes, I know what to teach again, politely, as an aside the following week so as not to make it so glaring. I use the last 1/2 hour of each class to review basics in general. As a matter of fact, we are all, including myself, bringing in our first quilts and things to see how beautifully we have grown. I love my first quilts. They are misshappen, mismatched, missing good points and are the loves of my life!!! Poor sister! Give her hugs and advise her to get to another class soon!
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