Sierra, where are located? i'm sure the board will have someone in your area if we knew where that is.

try Penny Helgren `s site its great . I found it VERY helpful with lots of tutes on it . to day I learned how to bind a quilt with praire pionts. GREAT. Her vidieos are treffic.I have learned sooooo much from her. Please let us know how you get on .

I am self-taught because I was not able to go to classes because of cost and mostly because I am hearing impaired. I bought a book by Eleanor Burns, "Quilt in a Day". She has many different ones out now. The one I bought was for the Log Cabin block quilt. I made it following all of her instructions and it turned out very well, and I also learned enough to continue to make quilts and to learn. I wish I had this board then, but I am still learning and enjoying quilting. Good Luck to you.

Sometimes it's trial and error. Some work, some don't.
Don't give up. Just keep asking questions and the experieced
ones on this board will help you out. Its a challange but fun at the same time.

Don't get discouraged. There's a learning curve, but wanting to learn, and asking questions are HUGE first steps. I have learned lots on my own. The library has TONS of books with patterns, etc. to help cut down costs. Mary

I took my first quilt to a Worst Quilt Contest and won! Boy, have I learned a lot since then. Keep your first effort so you can see your progress!

You NEVER iron your quilt blocks !! Ironing is a back and forth

motion that will distort (stretch ) your blocks. PRESS,PRESS,

pressing is a downward motion that prevents stretching but

flattens the seam. It is important which direction you direct

the seam, this prevents bulk in areas, as bulk would cause

problems getting a needle ( machine or hand quilting ) to pass

through your quilt. HAPPY QUILTING !!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Ditto on all the information supplied, just wanted to say be patient, follow the great tips and you will be making gorgeous quilts.

Your LQS may have a customer or someone on staff that can help if you let them know you are hearing impaired. I have taken classes at a shop that has that service.

Welcome. Know you are going to enjoy your quilting. I have had quilting classes and did belong to a quilt guild. I was told not to "iron" the seams open, but to gently put your iron down on the open seam. If you put your iron down too firmly on the open seam and iron back and forth, it can distort the block. Hope this helps a little. I do not claim to be a professional, but I do keeping trying to learn.

Sorry about that. I live in Newcastle, CA. I've meant to change my introduction, including put in a picture... but I haven't figured out how.

Sierra

I have nothing to contribute... I'm only trying to see if, with help, I've figured out how to add photos. :oops: Sierra

Well, I got the photos on, but my change of location didn't work in my profile others see. Probably put the vague response because we were moving about then and I put what I felt, not where we were going. I may not be smart, but, heck, my hubby thinks I'm cute :roll: Sierra

Please don't be discouraged. There is so much enjoyment, peace and satisfaction that comes from creating.

And... just because you're new, you're not alone... we are all new to something in quilting. There are so many different avenues we can take... and each is a learning process.

I actually enjoy the ironing part of it... followed by squaring and/or trimming. It just brings me closer to where I hope to end up... with a quilted creation.

Here you can get tons of information and input... and if you find someone who quilts... you will find their passion to share with you almost limitless.

Welcome from Northeast Pennsylvania

This is so beautiful... free flowing... liberated and colorful!!! WOW!!!

Welcome, Babes,
Look at all the help you have here online! Please don't be discouraged- look up art quilting, strip piecing and other kinds of quilting, your blocks do not have to be perfect... you can buy those in a store...

pawebdoctor, you are kind. Perhaps a bit wild, also. Your "name" quilt (is that what avatar is?) is wild and free, liberated and colorful!

Do you, or anyone who knows how these things work, think that the electronic quilter DVD(?) would have helped the flat area on that quilt from happening? I have no real knowledge of what it does. Oh, google it, right? Sierra

Do you get TV programs on Sat. like Sewing with Nancy, Eleanor Burns, and Fons and Porter, and America Sews. There are also a lot of books at the fabric stores that show step by step. You will catch on before long.

Go to "www.quiltinaday.com" She has really good instructional videos that don't cost anything. Just click on the one you want to watch. That's what I did with prairie points. I tried and tried and they kept coming out crooked,til I watched her do it.That's not the only website that has the videos that you can click on. If you have any questions,You have a whole lot of friends right here who will help you. If we don't know the answer, we'll find it.We all help each other here.Don't think you don't have any friends who quilt and do crafts.You have every one of us for a friend for quilting,crafting,talking about sewing,venting frustrations, or just talking.

This is the place for you! With all the Knowledge everyone shares you will be able to accomplish anything!

Why try and do a complicated quilt, where everything has to match up??? Try a small wall hanging or table runner or even a place mate or two, and use up any small pieces of fabric you might have, and do it in crazy patch, it is so easy, and no one cares about the seams, ironing, and such, and you know??everyone you do will be different.

It is what really attracted me to quilting in the first place. And it makes a beautiful background piece for some applique` too.

Try it and see how you feel, there are some good books out there on the subject, and am sure you can find something on the Internet too.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

Welcome from NE Colorado..dont give up! You will learn from doing...and from listening! The people on this board are awsome and so willing to help with any question you will ask. Pressing is SO important...I had to learn the hard way, but learn I did. Now my iron is on one side of my machine and my rotary cutter etc., on the other. Just standard. Love what you do, and do what you love.

Look for the book entitled, "Quilting For Dummies". My teacher has this book and it has a wealth of information.

We have a quilting group that meets at our local library. Myself and 6 friends meet at our teacher's house each Tues afternoon, I call it Quilt Therapy and it surely helps me get through the rest of the week.

As one said, check around your area for individual groups, or retired groups who would probably be more than willing to help you.

Good luck, and keep quilting, now matter what!

delma

Another thought, go to your local liibrary for quilt books, they have some new ones and old ones, check them out and read, read, read.

welcome!
You might try some books from the library for beginning quilters. The ironing is just to smooth things to make it easier to put together. Do not open the seams as you would if you were sewing garments, but press all seams in one direction so when you put pieces together, one piece will have the seams to the right and the other piece will have them oposite -- the same number of layers on each side, but it is easier to match seams and smoother in the finish.

There is also a book out from the dummies series called quilting for dummies, I got that to help get me started, it is very informative. The quilters on here are awesome too, ask questions, you will get answers. Hang in there!!

Hi Babes. I am also fairly new to quilting although I have sewn most of my adult life. I am a quilter wanna be. I have always admired quilts and have finally decided that I need to stop admiring and just get started which is why I joined this board. I noticed one of the suggestions was to go on line. Just do a you tube search for beginning quilting. I have gone on line and watched multiple video's to help take the fear away from getting started. I have had the experience of some classes years ago. There was a great quilt shop in Ironwood , Michigan that was about 35 miles away from where I had lived in WI but unfortunately with 6 children, I had little time left at the end of the day to cut and piece. Now, I have no excuse as my youngest is away at college so I am determined to stop being a wanna be quilter and just become a quilter. I have decided to try strip quilting. I have been researching on line and found a beautiful jelly role baby quilt that was done by one of the quilters on this board that became my inspiration. Don't get discouraged. Practice cutting on muslin which is relatively inexpensive rather than on the more expensive fabrics. Keep in touch and I will do the same as we are basically in the same boat, beginners. I love the wealth of knowledge on this board.