I am such a newbie, tomorrow I am going to Joann fabrics to buy my first ever yard of fabric(well a few yards actually), cutter, mat and ruler. I am very excited! I would love to hear some opinions on using a sew machine or doing everything by hand. I don' own or have access to a machine so that would also be a purchase. Time is really not a factor as I have plenty now. Thanks in advance!

David

I would say definitely piece by machine unless you are doing English paper piecing. As for the quilting I would give machine quilting and hand quilting a shot and see what you like. Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting. There are many used machines on the market and you might find soemthing for around $35 off Graig's List. all you need is a machine that straight stitches.

Well not having a machine kind of settles it then, doesn't it? If you can't afford a machine right now, I would say sewing by hand is better than not sewing at all. I recently sewed Pat's tumbling block pillow by hand because it was easier to do with all those inset seams.

Long-term, I would not get anything finished, if I were only working by hand, so I'd say save towards a machine. Hope you get a good sale at Joann for the other goodies!

I'd say go for it. Handmade is neat, anything hand made is expensive nowadays. And as for lasting, think on how long some old clothing and quilts have lasted over the years. Some from the early 1800s, well before sewing machines, much more from the 20s, some of the hand made laces and clothing made by nuns in convents in France were unbelievably expensive, but almost unavailable now.
I have a book of pictures of ladies in clothes from the early 1830s, from the time cameras were developed. Of course these clothes were hand made by their seamstresses, since sewing machines weren't on the scene yet. Lots of these clothes are still worthy of seeing, now on display in museums, here and in other countries.

That said, I'll have to admit that I would get very little finished without my two machines, a fairly new cheapie Brother and an old but not too old Singer.

I really like hand piecing, and when I first started it helped encourage me to be accurate. If you're not in a rush, give it a try!

I'd say start with hand piecing. It can be very relaxing and also portable. If you decide you want a machine check the thrift stores for a good vintage model. Lots of us here use and love them.

I have seen beautiful hand piecing. I sew by machine only because of carpal tunnel and the surgery after.

Personally~there is a place and time for both. I would plan on doing my first quilt with the machine. But I would as I got a nice collection of fabric to do some English paper piecing. Having a Grandmother's Flower garden in progress is wonderful if you have a bit of wait time everyday... you just grab the little bag of fabric, thread and needle and go.
Recently I met a man that did applique, all by hand, it was beautiful... I haven't mastered that, at all! :)

Do a simple nine patch pillow size by hand. You will learn how fabric needs to be manulipated and then move to machines. Also don't strive for a fancy machine at first.
Look for a quilt shop that sells and repairs machines. They may have a good simple used one for little $$. At this point in your quilt journey you just need a machine that goes forward and backward with little backward.
Also since you are just starting, look for a basic book and do the projects.

welcome to the world of quilting!! from one male quilter to another!

It is a great hobby to have.

I definitely would buy a machine, but not a new Singer, old one, yes. I would also check out some dealers and see what they have in maybe a used higher end machine.

Piecing by machine is great, then you could consider hand quilting.

There are many older mechanical machines at thriftstores for $25 they would be perfect for a starter machine :D:D:D

Maybe check out a few English Paper Piecing books while you are at Joanns... it is a fun way to get started piecing :D:D:D

In my very first quilting class, we made a table topper, hand pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted. That was 10 years ago. My mom is still using it.

Doing a small piece completely by hand gives you a real appreciation for the quilt making process. And if you like piecing & quilting by hand, you'll love doing it by machine too.

I have so much more control hand piecing!

I've only hand pieced one pillow top and I've never hand quilted. I didn't have the time to invest in a long project. I always machine piece and machine quilt now. Maybe you could learn both methods. Just do whatever appeals to you and makes you happy when you do it. Sounds like my philosophy when I was 20 something in the 70's. lol

Hello and welcome...perhaps English Paper Piecing would be a good start..it is an accurate method and it will keep you occupied 'til you buy a machine (that's how I started). I then decided time was going to be an issue (lots on my to do list). So I dusted off my machine and haven't regretted it for a minute.

I am a vintage freak, I have a 1950's Pinnock (electric) and am now the proud owner of a 1912 treadle (to be restored in the new year). Old machines are beautiful, and are very easy to service and run...you can often buy them very cheaply.

Anyway, happy quilting, whatever you decide!

Hand piecing is great if you want to be "portable". I worked on one of my quilts at my moms nursing home when I went to see her every day. Would have went NUTS if I didn't have something to work on. I also felt my hand piecing matched better than by machine but lots more work since I marked the 1/4 seam.
Best wishes with whatever you decide! Can't wait to see what you make.

i love hand work and always have a quilt in the works that is all by hand. there are some wonderful award winning quilters out there who do everything by hand...like Ginny Beyer. if you are considering hand piecing i recommend checking out her web site. she has tutorials, videos and lots of tips. the greatest thing about hand piecing for me is how precise i can make my blocks...inset seams are no problem by hand! Nancy Zeiman(sp) has a PBS show called Sewing With Nancy...the longest running sewing show on the air...she does alot of quilting, has an on line shop (Nancy's Notions) and a book called 10-15-20 minutes to quilt. she offers lots of pointers too.
Welcome to the board. start with a small project so you get it done in a short period of time (we all love that instant gratification) and jump in there.
one word of advice. when hand piecing you really can not 'skip' the prep work...when i am starting a new hand project i start with making my templates, cutting my fabrics...then i do use a pencil and 'draw' every seam line on the fabrics...it goes faster than you may imagine. and really makes all the difference.
hand projects are totally portable, and once you get into the groove of your stitching (Ginny will show you how) they actually go pretty fast...i can usually hand piece a project faster than by machine...and never have to use a seam ripper... :thumbup: show us pics of what you decide to start with :thumbup:

I've been quiltling less than a year and I find hand quilting to be very relaxing. I can pick it up at any time and sew as much or as little as time allows. I do a lot in the evening when watching TV. Sometimes during the day there's a movie I want to watch, so I quilt while I'm watching the movie. Makes me feel less guilty. I also find hand quilting or piecing is very relaxing. Don't have to worry about the bobbin running out of thread, the thread breaking or my machine turning on me and bunching thread on the underside. Also, it's much easier to take the piece apart if it's hand sewn. Hope this helps you.

Ask at your local quilt shop if there is a guild in your area. There's probably someone in the guild with multiple sewing machine who would be willing to loan you one to try.

Both methods inspire but you need to do machine stitching as well as hand work so the investment in a good machine that sews straight stitches is wise. You want to make something quickly and a machine will do that for you. In the long run, you will need a sewing machine even if you do hand piecing. Seams a yard or more long will not hold up when you put the pieces together if you do them by hand. Start with a small project and your curiousity will take you to the outer limits. There is a need in quilting for both hand and machine sewing, the quilting world awaits you.

Go for it and good luck, be ready to learn and be open to help when offered.

Carol J.

Sew by hand. It is the best way of learning the craft and after all that is how it started. Paper piecing is also good, especially if you are using fiddly or very small bits but if you start with simple shapes just hand sewing is fine.

I taught the hand method some years ago and if you want any help, please do not hesitate to PM me.

The look of a hand sewn and quilted quilt is different from a machine one and it takes considerably longer, but if output is not important the hand sewing imparts a kind of serenity to life. Something we often miss in our hurry, hurry and bustle world.

When I first started, I did everything by hand. I learned a ton doing it. If you do it that way, you will be able to decide if you really like quilting or not. I'd hate to see you invest in a machine, then decide you don't like it...but then again..whats not to like? And every home should have a sewing machine anyway.

Have fun!

Me personally? I NEED a machine. I doubt I will ever try to piece by hand, though I do plan to give hand quilting a whirl, eventually.

Check with your local quilt shop and see if they have a beginners quilting class. My first quilt was hand pieced and I loved the experience. Also, if you want to machine piece your don't have to buy a machine that costs thousands of dollars. Good luck, your in for some wonderful hours of creativity.

i don't do hand piecing but i do love hand applique and i have a friend that goes to classes and she does all her quilts by hand. they're really pretty AND she's fast. i have another friend who has recently become the recipient of several of her grandmothers HAND pieced quilts. it's amazing how accurate the seams are.

I am new to quilting and have chosen hand quilting for 2 reasons..............gives me something to do with my hands when I am watching mindless TV or in the car and I am find it easier to be more accurate. Try hand quilting and if you like to quilt you might want to invest in a machine later on. But then, you might decide hand quilting is the only way. I do not find it that slow like some do...............I think it goes pretty fast once you get started.

My first quilt was cut out with scissors (made cardboard templates to draw both sewing and cutting lines), hand pieced, and hand quilted. I learned a lot doing that quilt!

If a machine is in your budget then it will go faster, but there's no reason you can't make a quilt without one.

I'm so proud of you. Go for it, buy your fabric and either way you will be creating something with your individual talents. My first quilt was for my king sized bed. I made it twenty five years ago and still use it today. I get a laugh out of looking for and certainly finding all the mistakes I had made on my first quilt. I still cherish this quilt and would not part with it for anything. You don't have to have a machine but, of course, it goes faster using a machine. I haven't made another hand sewn quilt since I finished my first one. Takes a long time to hand sew small pieces and honestly I think my machine stitched quilts are much sturdier. If you decide to buy a machine listen to the ladies on this site, they really know their machines and straight stitching is all you need from a machine. Dealers will try to talk you into buying a machine that will do everything but brush your teeth and they are really expensive. Best of luck to you and your new found art form. Be sure to share whats going on in your future.

Hey David,
Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting! Machine or hand I say do both. I take along hand sewing [patches] when visiting
Start with hand sewing to make sure that you want to quilt Than invest in a sewing machine. Good Luck

I have done both. I think hand work is very good to get used to cutting exactly, piecing accurately and feeling the fabric as artwork.
I have made several quilts with not one dot of machine sewing in them. They are rugged and loved by the people I gave them to.
I recommend for the long haul, piecing by machine and hand-quilting, but do what makes you feel happy and it will be right.
Try it first, and spend your money on great fabric, and after you have mastered accuracy and exact...cutting, get creative and wildly imaginative.
You would be amazed what you can do with one 1 1/2 inch square cut from dozens of different coordinating and clashing fabrics.
By the way, sew yoru name and the date into every thing you ever sew. Archivists of the future will love you. Happy sewing.

I have done both, and I prefer to use a machine. That said, you can't beat hand work for portability.
If you should decide to buy a machine, do yourself a big favor and look for a used vintage machine; all metal parts, easy to get replacement parts, and easy to maintain by yourself. There are some Yahoo groups for vintage sewing machines, and you can get a wealth of information there. Old Singer and Kenmore machines that are in good running condition are a great investment.
Good luck to you on your first project!
Stephanie

My Grandmother was a fine seamstress and quilter and did all types of hand work. I asked her about the use of machines and she said that women welcomed the sewing machine as much as they did electricity. They needed all the "Labor saving devices" as that freed up time to give more to their families. She did quilt by hand and machine and enjoyed both.

Thank you one and all for your opinions!!!!!! I believe I will do as many have suggested and start by hand. Learn and perfect as many basics as I can and later get a machine if I want. Again thank you all! wasn't sure what kind of welcome I would receive being a dumb clumsy male and all LOL But you all have greeted me with open arms!!!!

Thank you all again!

David

Go for it David, Can't wait to see what you accomplish

Go for it David, Can't wait to see what you accomplish

Go for it David, Can't wait to see what you accomplish

You got to laugh ,I got a phone call and my finger got stuck lol