Help me please with the basics
 

I am new to quilting yet, i really didnt even start yet. I need help with the basics on it. I know how to hand sew a litle its been a while though.

Start with a small project. Maybe a potholder. Look at www.quilterscache.com for a block pattern you like. They are rated by difficulty.

Most important is to remember quilting uses a 1/4 inch seam. The smaller the pieces the more acuracy is needed. Start with large blocks to get the hang of it. Biggest tip is to just relax and enjoy the process.

Is there a guild you could join? Or a quilt store that offers classes? I was lucky enough to find both, and it really helps to have instruction and to meet other quilters.

I would invest in a book that covers all the ins and outs of quilting. It will give you a good foundation to start with.
Also, look at the tips page on this forum for some good information. One thing that I have learned recently (and I have been quilting for a few years, and have made a good 2 handsful of quilts) is the use of starch. I never used to use it too much, but as I have used it more, my results have been better. I also , as cjsews said, pay more attention to my 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Enjoy, don't be too hard on yourself, and keep learning. Gina

I would take a beginner's quilting class. That would pretty much teach you everything you need to know to get started.

Howdy and welcome, from Texas!

I'm gonna go against the flow and suggest you start with a 1/2" seam, instead of 1/4". Until you get better at making those seams, the wider ones will be much more forgiving. Consistency is what's important and as long as you don't work with the smaller pieces, 1/2" will be much easier to manage.

Gotta run now, as the Quilt Police are probably tacking up WANTED posters, as I type! :D

Welcome.

Good suggestions above, especially starting with pot holders as you'll get the whole quilting experiece (piecing, sandwiching, quilting and binding) in one little project.

Yes ... take a class or get some books. I can actually recommend "Quilting for Dummies" as it is very basic and takes you from start to finish. Some very good advice and tips in it. Seriously. The other book I recommend after you've learned the basics and the lingo is "Mastering Precision Piecing" by Sally Collins. Yes the word "mastering" is in the title but don't let it fool you because "mastering" the seam is a BASIC TENET of quilting. If you plan on making quilts with triangles, or quilts with small pieces ... you will love this book (and it's accompanying video). I call it the "piecing primer". I was a self taught quilter, had a back-ground in garment making, but the Mastering book really brought me that extra step further with regard to precision.

I started by using the edge of my regular sewing foot as a guide. It is a tad bigger than 1/4". Start small and go from there. Taking a class at a local store is a great idea because everybody there will be a beginner. You can also use Internet to get started. There are so many tutorials. Do not give up. You know the saying - Rome was not built in one day.

Get a good book and a simple little kit and HAVE FUN! We're here for you!

You Tube, You Tube, You Tube!!! Seriously. There are TONS of great how to videos. Just do a search on You Tube for what you want to learn. Rotary cutting, squaring up a block, half square triangles... anything. Then you can watch it as many times as you like.

Love it! :D

I found this website, planet patchwork with all kinds of information for beginning quilters. Take your time. I researched quilting for several months, mostly through this board and youtube videos, before I actually started cutting fabric to make my first quilted potholders. Have fun.

http://planetpatchwork.com/beginners.htm

I took one class and that helped me to understand the basics like what tools to use, how to sew the blocks together, etc. It's nice to have someone there to tell you how and why certain things are done and why they are done that way. Then I invested in some books/magazines for easy patterns that I liked. But I must say that even after 20+ years of quilting I got most of my education from this board!

Definitely sign up for a simple class at your local quilt store. You will make friends and develop a relationship with the quilt shop owner who will be able to help you as you learn. Watch the Missouri Quilt Company videos on YouTube by Jenny Doan - she makes simple patterns with beautiful results and is easy to watch. You have so much fun ahead of you!

You have done the first big step by jourining a reputable and friendly forum, the next thing is to go online, or your local LQS ( local quilt shop) and buy a pile of Charm (pre-cut squares) and just learn how to piece them together. We are all here for you but just remember one important lesson, there is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid person who doesn't ask! We are all here for you.







!

I have been a life long sewer but when I started quilting the best thing I did for myself was go to a quilt store and take a beginning quilting class.

Before I started my first quilt, I read a quilting book cover to cover. Two, actually. Quilt! Quilts!! Quilts!!! was the easier to understand, but you may not really understand until you actually sit down to work on your first project. Even so, if you learn well by reading, I recommend reading through all the steps first, and then re-reading each step as you go. You can also watch lots of quilting tutorial videos for free online if you're more of a visual learner.

The most, most, most, most, MOST important part is to give yourself the freedom to make mistakes. It's okay. Fabric is very forgiving, and no one is perfect the first time. Or, for that matter, the one hundredth time. Just accept that you will get better the more you do it, but you will probably never achieve perfection. Do it for the enjoyment of it, and after each quilt, ask yourself what you learned from it, and what you want to improve upon with the next one.

Have fun!!! It's really addictive, and the board is here to answer questions for you!

these are all good answers. be sure to check in the eugene and albany stores. there are several more in the area. if you can travel to drain, the lady in the shop there does a very good job teaching and if you talk to her, she may set something up for you.. it is just a little shop, but she knows a lot and has some good ideas about what to do. i took a class from her and traveled all the way from coos bay to take it. it was worth the time..... best advice, try to find something simple to do and just do it. start small, project size, not pieces, and you will do fine. good luck

If you're wanting to learn to hand-quilt, I recommend getting "cheater" panels. Find a few that are about 14"x14". Cut backing fabric and batting a little bit larger (16"x16"-ish) and sandwich them in a hand hoop. You don't need to baste it because the hoop will hold it all together. Get a variety of quilting needles and a spool of hand quilting thread (make sure it is for hand quilting!!) and a thimble that fits on your right middle finger.
Learn to quilt along the lines of the print on the pattern. My first panel was a dresden plate, but I've seen other traditional patterns, but also horses, wolves, Santa, Barbie, etc, etc. Once you get the hang of it, get a yard of Holiday print and follow the lines or learn how to use painter's tape to guide you to do straight lines. Start in the middle and quilt your way to the edges! Keep your stitches the same length-don't try to squeeze 10 stitches in an inch. Don't try to load more than 3-4 stitches on your needle.
When you finish your Holiday quilt, learn how to bind it and put a rod pocket and a label that proudly tells the world that you put your heart and soul into this work of art! Give it as a gift or proudly display it yourself!

Oh and those adorable cheater panels? Depending on how many you have... make throw pillows with them or if you have enough, learn how to use the technique to combine them (like "Quilt in a day") and make a unique lap quilt or throw!

You can find written tutorials or videos showing you how to do it all online for free, if you know what you are searching for! All these supplies can be found at Walmart (if they carry fabrics) or any craft store.
If you want to machine quilt, you can do the same (faster!). This is a hobby that is addictive and can be very expensive (or pretty cheap, if you want it to be!) so take things slow and try not to get frustrated.

Welcome from Maine. I learned by taking a few classes, we did an Eleanor Burns Trip Around the World quilt top. Watch some of the Eleanor Burns videos (link below). Also go on YouTube and watch the Jenny Doan videos, plus there are a ton of other videos on there that will teach you all the steps.
http://quiltinaday.com/theater/library.html

Youtube has some excellent video tutorials to help you learn how to do things also. You are going to love this!!

Welcome to the Quilt Board. You're going to get a lot of help and friendship here. Enjoy:)

There are many videos you can watch on youtube.com I've picked up a few new pointers, as well as watched when the quilting I'm wanting to do by hand needs a little boost. I've also watched a few videos on binding quilts....tremendous amount of information out there!

I am a self taught quilter, so it can be done, but it is easier to have someone show you. You can read books, and watch videos, but there is nothing like sitting by someone else watching, being able to ask questions. I would suggest a class, or have a friend help you learn. I hope you learn to love quilting as much as I do!

In addition to all the suggestions here, invest in some good basic tools - a 45mm rotary cutter, some really good sharp small scissors, a cutting ruler, a cutting mat, marking pens, sharp pins and good thread. My biggest problem when I first started was not how to sew, but how to cut properly.

Farmgirl22, I am going to tell you how it happened to me. I was in the 4th grade when my ailing mother decided she had to start teaching me what she knew. A guilt was the very first thing she taught me to sew. She said I had to practice straight small seams, and learn how to get the size right for the bed. Mind you this was before the rotary cutters and rulers, and spare time on your hands. She said it was a woman's job to keep her babies warm. So, she measured a yard of cloth from the tip of her nose to the tip of her middle finger with the arm outstretched to the side, then she would snip a cut 2 or 3 or 4 inches apart for whatever she wanted. She started me out with a strip quilt. It is just long strips of fabric, different colors and designs sewn at 1/4" seam allowance. Some strips are wider than others. Just keep adding and laying on your bed to get the right width and length you want. No mess, no bother. It is relaxing and so gratifying to see your completed quilt, AND EASY. you can do this while you learn the rest from books and classs.

Taking a beginning class will save you lots of time. You'll learn how to chain stitch, what foot to use when, what threads you can count on... and all sort of things. Also, consider buying an overall quilting book. I've been quilting for more than 10years but still go back to "Quilting for Dummies" (yep, one of those big yellow books) because, if I haven't done something for a while I can be very unsure of how to do it.

i learned my quilting from shows and books, though i was a garment sewer prior to quilting by machine. i would second using the edge of your presser foot for your seam allowance guide. Test them for size by stitching 2 lines with an unthreaded needle on a piece paper, a presser edge apart, and measuring the distance between them. There are many excellent beginner books out there. You can also use the classes at Craftsy and Quiltville to good benefit.

Look at the thread called Winners from the Iron County Utah. Look down to the quilt with the 4 long "runners". They are beautiful and would be easy to make w/o a pattern (a lot of us don't use patterns). You could make your first quilt as a table runner doing something like what you see there. You can't make a design mistake because you can reposition if you don't like some combination (before you sew it together). I think it is lovely. Yours will look nothing like it because you will be using different fabrics. If it is successful you can make place mats and pot holders (look up on this QB for "pot holders" so you know what is needed for them). Happy trails!

I totally agree that taking a class when you're new to sewing or quilting is a very good investment. If you're new to using a sewing machine, look for a basic sewing course. If you've got machine sewing experience, look for a quilting class.
I start my students learning to sew straight by following the lines on regular school lined paper. No thread, just follow the lines and learn to trust your machine and not fight it.. Once you can do that, taking on new tasks can be easier.

I got started by using a couple of Alex Anderson's beginning quilting books (purchased them thru Amazon) & watching You Tube videos. The picture of the log cabin on my avatar is the first one I did using Alex's books.

Watch out though - quilting is VERY addicting!! ;)

If you lived close to me I could give you free lessons. I would love to help you.

Eleanor Burns of Quilt In A Day is great for beginners. if you can, watch her show on t.v.
also ck your library for quilting books. free ways to look for info.
later, you can watch videos on the internet for more info.
good cutting mat, good rotary cutter (careful, they are sharp), good rulers are a must.

I love table runners. You can finish most of them in a day or so and you use most all quilting skills (piecing, quilting, etc.) and still have to follow the same guidelines as larger projects. This board lead me to You Tube videos that were amazingly helpful.

Welcome from Missouri.

I would try to buy a book of simple quilt patterns and just follow directions. I have made 107 quilts, 8 or so Biscuit quilts and 10 or so comforters and never had a lesson or class. I use to sew clothing for years and that did help to learn how to use a sewing machine. Do whatever will work for you.

My first suggestion:

If you can, it's worth the time and money to take a beginner's class. For many of us, it's just easier to learn by seeing something demonstrated in person than by reading a book or watching a video.

Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! is my favorite 'beginner' book. Maybe because it was one of the first I bought - and actually READ and made most of the blocks in it.
My second suggestion:

You don't need to actually USE every piece of fabric you experiment with. Remember all the homework we had to do in school? And all the paper that was used - that most of us eventually tossed? Some things are going to be 'learning exercises' and will end up unusable. That's okay. If you want to salvage whatever, that's fine, too. Many of us have a few 'hmmm - I know there is a better way to do that than this' items. It's part of the process.

I agree with what has been said here. I was fortunate enough to be dragged to the local guild's quilting class, but there is lots of info available on line. Some blocks, like 4 patch, 9 patch and rail fence aren't particular about seam sizes. For me, the hardest thing was learning to use a 1/4" allowance. It's counter-intuitive, but if you have access to a sewing machine, paper piecing is great because your blocks WILL turn out to be perfect. There is a thread on this site for a block of the month of New York Beauty. The directions given are great. Regardless of what you decide to do, we are here for you. Ask your questions. They will be answered. Quilters love to share.