Check your local Sr. Center see if they have a quilting group. We make lap quilts for charity. It is fun and a good learning experience.

Check your local library for quilting books. I learned to quilt from books and back 40 years there were not a lot available. Check at local quilt shops to see if there is a club or guild near you. Our local guild has lots of new quilters coming in. I can't speak to all guilds, but ours welcomes newbies.

oops forgot, you can take classes online. www.quiltuniversity.com has beginner classes. Not sure when they run, but am sure you could check with them to see when beginner class will run. They do cost a bit, but hopefully you could save up to take the beginner class.

I have been quilting for over ten years mostly self taught but I have gone to big quilting shows and taken lessens from some of the top teachers out there.I would say most quilters help each other out,you do not say where you live but if you lived near me you would be invited to my quilt studio so I could show you what your doing wrong or right.First off cutting accuratly is most important,second learning to sew a scant 1/4 inch seam,third understanding the instructions,and yes pressing the right way your back should look as good as your front so when you start quilting you don't have lumps that your sewing machine has to go thru.A good ruler and rotary for cutting.I am a long arm quilter and live in Langhorne Pa.Ask your questions we would all like to help you become the best you can be.
Elaine from Pa.

Welcome but please don't be discouraged. Check out some quilting books from the library that will help. There's also tons of information on quilting on the 'net. There's a lot of us that have never had any kind of "classes", we just taught ourselves. As beginners, they may not be "perfect" but as we continue we improve.

You don't want to "iron" your seams though, you want to "press" them. Big difference!

This site has helped me tremendously. Even if I don't post a question, someone else has & I can read the answers. If Ido post a questions, everyone here is happy to help. Good Luck & don't give up.

Sorry you're feeling so discouraged, I get that way sometimes, too. I had to move away from a wonderfully supportive quilting group (free, too) & haven't found a replacement. But one day I decided to tackle a (small) project I've been wanting to learn to do & I DID IT!! What a boost it was. My husband is now my sole cheering section. So, I suggest you pick a small project, just one square even, focus on the instructions, complete it & post a photo here. Let everyone here be your cheering section. Altho' I don't often post anything I daily read here & feel so encouraged & even part of a quilting group.

Washington here, again. You need to let us know where you are. You might just have a neighbor waiting to give you some help!!

Carreen

Have you looked at the Missouri Star Quilt Company site? They have tutorials that are really easy to follow. You would be putting blocks together in no time www.missouriquiltco.com. Look under community too. It is a forum like this so you get even more input!

Have to thank you for posting this query, i too am like you and about to embark on a quilt, (just waiting for the material to arrive from Canada), and i've learnt something from this wonderful site, in fact this passed week since i found this lovely site i've learnt so much.
It's such a shame that you are all in the USA, i can't find anyone locally in the UK that would help me, in fact i thought i found a group and when i phoned i was told that they don't help people but meet to stitch and chat, and that they don't have time to help people, sort of put me off for a long time,
But hey, i've got you guys and gals now so i'm on my way, just wish my material would hurry up and arrive,

Welcome from Nebraska. You are just starting...stop worrying about perfection. No quilt is ever perfect. The important thing is that it is made with love. The world won't end if your seams don't all go the prescribed direction.

Just be sure to "press seams" not iron like you do clothing. You lay the iron on the seam and hold for a second and two, lift iron and move down down the seam. This keeps your fabric from stretching.

I hated to iron when I first started quilting but now it's become second nature and part of the fun and the experience because of the beautiful end product.

Take ur time, read anything u can, ask questions here. Start easy, 4Patch? 9Patch? Don't let it get to u. Its like every other skill, u gotta put ur time in lol. Something I ran into was to be sure and square up ur blocks. Either as u go or all at once. Then ur not sad when everything seems kinda wonky. There is a couple of ways, but the easiest might be for u to just buy a square of what ever block ur using ei 6 1/2,8 1/2 etc. My SIL made a bunch of blocks but they would not fit together so she gave up. She did not know about squaring them up.

Welcome from England. I'm learning so much from youtube and this forum. Keep on quilting and just google or do search at the top of this page when you have a question/problem and you'll get lots of helpful tips. Good luck.

are you anywhere near NYC? I'm willing to meet you and help

Laurie

Welcome to the site..... there are many here to encourage you.... just let us know how we can help.

Don't let all the details stop you from trying things.... I've learned so much from my own mistakes.... and I had a friend that said she didn't ever want to make something perfect..... others wouldn't know she made it.

I've been quilting almost 40 years.... pm me if I can be of help. I'll try to find the answer for you if I don't have it mayself.

Missouri Star Quilt Company has a tutorial series for a small baby quilt that is free on You Tube or connect through their website. They are great and you could take those same principles for a larger quilt. Also, if you have a LQS, they can be very helpful even if you don't take classes. Local quilds can do the same.

Search you tube for videos. Sometimes is easier to learn while watching rather than reading.

Maybe if you post where you are from someone here is from the same area and can help. I have met some great women here.

I have been instructed to always press toward the dark side. Then I press it on the other. You can also hand press, by squessing it and flattening it between your fingers. If you don't do either your quilting will not be as precise. If you are not pressing try pressing and if you are try not. You WILL see the difference.

ironing is tricky; it is ez to distort fabric & a good foundation{seams} = less frustration

http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....ms+open&u=&s=0

click on the above link,
{from the search feature} to read about ironing!

good luck!

You are on the right track; first of all you want to quilt. That is the most important; from there you will learn. This board is great. It's not all that scary. Just have fun and enjoy. Welcome to the quilting world.

If you have a Joann's store near you, go look in their book section. They have a book called "Quilt with Confidence" by Nancy Zeiman. I highly recommend it.

Hello from Western Maryland !!
I agree with JulieR, I am also self taught - library books to start, Elenor Burns , Fons & Porter, & Simply Quilts TV shows, which you can still check into online. Take your time , learn from mistakes, I still make them :-) and enjoy the creativity. :-)

Welcome to the board and quilting. MissouriStar Quilt Co. has some fantastic tutorisls on their website. This is a great place , any questions or problems you have someone on here has been there before and can help you.

cazann-the quilt group wouldn't help you? What a selfish group. But check the 'net and the libraries. You don't have to learn from a "class".

Welcome from WI!
Plenty of times I've put together blocks when both seams have been pressed the same direction and it still turned out fine so don't stress about it. It probably matters more when the fabric is thicker.
Don't get discouraged and keep at it because it's a lot of fun. Show us pictures of what you're doing and we'll help but will never criticize.

Definitely check out Eleanor Burn's books or videos. She is thorough in her teaching. Welcome from central PA

Learning alone is not impossible. I did it. Just read, read, read. Ask for help here.

I love the tutorials on the Missouri Star Quilt Company site as well, Jenny and her girls make it so understandable and fun. My quilt blocks got much better when I started having a consistant 1/4" seam and pressed all my blocks using starch and setting the seam, then pressing "to the dark side".
You will get better with each block you try and each quilt you make. I am self taught and my first quilt was a disaster in quilter's terms but it was well loved for years by my daughter!

Don't give up. Its like learning a new language... Practice makes perfect. I have been quilting over 55 years and I am still learning.
Press on :thumbup:

Ironing is as important to me as sewing - well, maybe not quite - but it does help reduce bulk. Usually you would press the seams to the lighter fabric. If I do a lot of triangles, I usually press the seams open because there is more bulk on them.

Just go ahead and sew enough squares together to make a lap quilt and finish it. That's the best way to learn. You'll love it!

Your public library is a great source of quilting books and magazines.

Don't be discouraged! I too am mostly self-taught. I learned a lot from watching Fons and Porter on PBS. Check PBS online for local listings. I press my seams open and this works better for me. I was always taught to press my seams to one side (the darker side). But this was confusing for me. I learned that Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle of FunQuilts press their seams open. So I started doing mine that way. As I said, it works for me!

Welcome! You have come to the right place for help. I've enjoyed and learned so much from this board. You can do it! Go for it!!

I haunt the library and also request the local library get any thing I want with an inter library loan...keep on, keeping on. You are not alone....I'm in the same place...and you are part of a great group here. Best wishes.

Don't be discouraged, type in quilt tutorials and I'm sure there will be plenty to watch and learn. Besides this site I use tutorials free on computer. And be ready to rip out seams alot, it's all part of quilting. If your upset, stop for awhile to clear your mind and than go back. Believe it or not that helps. Good luck, am pulling for you

Don't be discouraged, type in quilt tutorials and I'm sure there will be plenty to watch and learn. Besides this site I use tutorials free on computer. And be ready to rip out seams alot, it's all part of quilting. If your upset, stop for awhile to clear your mind and than go back. Believe it or not that helps. Good luck, am pulling for you

Go online to different quilting sites. There is alot of good information for beginners on these. Stay with it you'll learn. We all had to learn.

This is a great place to get answer's. but if you can't afford classed like me. Then watch a lot of quilting shows. Thats where I learned a lot from. Look on your t.v. guide for different shows.

What is with all of this ironing seams this way and that? i read the board every day.[/quote]

Others have answered the question as to why you press different ways but I want to emphasize that it is NOT ironing. Ironing is moving the iron back and forth while keeping the iron on the fabric. That can cause the fabric to stretch and your seams will not match up. Pressing, on the other hand, is placing the iron down on the fabric for a few seconds then lifting the iron up and off the fabric and then moving the iron to another place on the seam. Some people like dry irons and others like steam. It is your own preference.

Sandy in SE Indiana (near Cincinnati, OH)