Be Honest Please - Quilting: love it. Should I quit while I am ahead?
 

Hello. You all are great. So much information here! I have been on this board so much the past few weeks. I mentioned that I was starting to quilt on a widow/widower's board, and one of the members referred me here. You may know him. He was married to Adrian'smom (I think that is it?). You all made he and his son the most beautiful memory quilts when she passed... For this alone I am forever thankful to all of you. (I have also looked up some of her work... fantastic!).

So here is my question. I live off disability in Boston. My funds are quite limited. I stumbled into a free quilting class with materials included (how cool is THAT). Note my computer will now only type in italic - huh...

So I am hooked! Love quilting. I am disabled, so it gives me something i can do most days that I don't feel well enough to do "other things". I am so excited to learn and try. BUT...

The expense seems astronomical. I made the lap top quilt in my class for free (the backing is a bit too small = 1 inch - maybe a label there???). I bought a bunch of christmas fabrics (1/4 yard) at joann's and made the missouri star christmas tree skirt (top only). The fabrics were under $3 a yard. I am now doing the Craftsy BOM 2012 (see how afraid i am of the quilting part???). I got all my fabric at a discount store in Chinatown (lucky) for $3/yard). I have 8 squares done - need to do more. I bought all the mateiral at a discount store in Boston that was selling their $5/yard at $3/yard. May be cheap, may suck. I don't care!!! I am learning.

So my question is this: Do I quit now??? I don't have several hundred dollars a month to throw into this. Should I really just quit?

Second question: If I don't quit, how in the H E double hockey stick do I learn to FMQ??? (Don't actually answer this part. I bought Leah Day's Craftsy class. Relying on her).

Third question: What do I really "need"? I now have a Brother XR 1300 (?) from Costco (christmas/birthday present). I have a cutting mat, rotary cutter and 6.5x24 ruler (Joann's, 1/2 off!!!).

I got a 12.5x12.5 ruler for xmas - for my Craftsy top :).



Now I feel like I need gloves, a slider, bobbin washers (whatever those may be). I just don't know...

BTW - I also took a free class on Cathedral Windows. Got a bolt of muslin at 1/2 off at Joann's. My nephew saw the start of this quilt and said he would like one "5'x7'" When could that be done??? Also, he is very kind and offered to sell my quilts, with a 95/5 split - 95% for HIM and 5% for ME. What an angel!!! LOL

Seriously - should I just quit while I am ahead???

P.S. Got the cutest little gadget holder at GW today for $2.99. No fabric there, but plenty of stuff (CD racks, etc).

I quilt my own quilts and don't use all the extra stuff...sounds like you have the set up needed. You can add other stuff as you learn. Sounds like you are pretty good about finding sale fabric...I say keep up the good work!

I forgot to add - which is most awesome and life-affirming!!! I got a care package from a board member. SO MANY FABRICS!!! and other items. and love... How could you ask for more than that??? Thank you special friend. I am forever in your debt!!!

P.S. I hope you don't mind, but I opened my gift at a homeless shelter. I let each sewer there (4 total) pick her favorite and keep it. (Except the hearts!!! I kept the hearts separate!!!). So many tears shed. So much love shared. You have no idea..

No quitting! Fabric can get pretty expensive, but you can be clever about where you find it. A good deal of my stash came from Craigslist at HUGE price cuts. If you are patient and willing to work for it there are always deals to be had.

As for what you "need" to quilt, well, the list of what you already have looks pretty good to me! Maybe some needle and thread if you plan to hand-bind? DO NOT buy gadgets at this point; if you choose a quilt that "needs" a gadget then come back here and someone can show you how to get the same effect without it.

Quilting can be very spendy, but you can be economical about it. If nothing else, try a hand-pieced or hand-quilted project to slow you down a little :)

People will always give you fabs. I do my own quiktuling by hand. Dont give it up.
You'll find fabs will come to you.
give linus a bit. They send you fabs and you can make for them.

Sounds to me like you are hooked on quilting!! I think you have the basics that you can do most of the simpler quilts with. Many of our members here have good luck at thrift stores either buying fabric or men's shirts for the fabric. Many members here also sell on our board fabrics for cheaper than in the stores. For patterns browse www.quilterscache.com. It is a free site. Also another good place for ideas and free patterns is http://quilting.about.com. Have fun!

Now is NOT the time to quit. It sounds like you really love what you are doing. Take it in small steps and get what you need as you can afford to buy it. I don't have a lot of the tools that others may have and I can't afford very much fabric at one time either. Ifit is the quilting that you like, you might consider doing some for charity. Quilters on the board here have mentioned charities that will send you kits to make up and return to them. You might want to check into that. If your nephew wants a quilt, maybe he could help you with the cost of the things you will need for it. You could try thrift shops for fabric and even some clothes are suitable for repurposing. There are many ways to continue to quilt without a lot of expense all at one time. I wish you many years of quilting. :):):)

Bonnie Hunter at www.quiltville.com has an extensive amount of FREE scrappy quilt patterns. You don't need a lot of yardage of any one fabric to make absolutely beautiful quilts from them. A strip or two plus other strips of like or other colors will eventually add up to enough to make gorgeous quilts. Check her out! :-)

If you really enjoy quilting then please don't quit. I also am on limited funds. buy the best quality fabric you can afford. Goodwill and Salvation Army and other thrift stores are great places to shop. I know a lot of people think that you have to use 100% cotton....but I also use some poly/cotton blends. I try to use a blend with as much cotton as possible. Bed ruffles are great a lot of them are polyester for the part that lays on the springs but the ruffle part is cotton. There is a lot a fabric in those ruffles! Good quality, gently used cotton clothing is great. You seem to have the most important and basic items so if you enjoy then continue to enjoy. Ask for gift certificates from fabric stores for birthdays etc. We can always come up with something for our quilting needs. Like a flannel back table cloth or old flannel sheet from thrift store for a design board. You might have to think outside the box to make do but that can also be fun and just think of how proud you will be when you come up with a nifty idea! I say "go for it"!

I wanted to answer your question--should you quit? My answer is NO. You have a great beginning and will gradually build up your stash. It sounds like you have a knack for finding things on sale. Another suggestion, do you have a Salvation Army or Good Will store near you? Sometimes you can find fabric, clothing that has not been worn, and sheets all for a very small price--translation yardage for a very little money. Keep reading here and everyone always know of a sale--plus JoAnn's coupons are great--half off yardage isn't too bad. By the way, your nephew had it turned around 5% for him and 95 % for you.
Sue








%

And (shhh... don't tell the quilt police), you can go to Good Will or Value Village (or whatever equivalent you have in your town) and buy used flat sheets to use as backing. Try to find 100% cotton ones. The kicker is the batting-- it's not cheap, but look for it on sale. I've heard some people use old blankets for batting, but I'm not so sure I'd do that. And get on Joann's email list for coupons. Best to you.

Instead of quiting go to GoodWill, Salvation Army and other thrift and used clothing stores; find 100% cotton fabric in men and women's shirts, dresses, skirts, slacks, children's clothes, cut them apart and use for quilting fabric you will find wonderful colors and paterns. You can use top sheets of 100% cotton for backing.

I learned to quilt over 60 years ago, grew up very, very poor; we made quilts out of anything we could find, scraps from dresses and shirts sewn by us and if someone gave us used clothing we quilted that also. Some of it you had to wash before you used it, but was well worth it. We also bought chicken, hog feed and flour and meal in cloth sacks for the fabric in them. I had flour sack (the white ones) for underwear and thought everyone had panties that had ink on them that said SteamBoat Mills. The pretty feed sacks (they were larger than flour sack) was made into clothes.

As for gadgets, I have several I wish I had saved my money on; they are put away so I won't fuss about buying them. I would try to get the best scissors I could afford as they are an important part of your tools. You can also shop Walmart for fabric, since they have put back their fabric dept they have some good fabric.

Enjoy this wonderful addiction that a lot of us share.

delma

Oh, wait for Joann's 1/2 off sale to buy batting.

I want to say you need to keep quilting. As for batting. Joann's has it on sale quite often and next weekend they have an additional 25% off total purchase. Check their web site. You may be able to find the coupons.

I've just started in the forum today and found your post. I really don't think you should quit at all! Quilting really does not need to be expensive. There are so many gadgets out there and honestly, some of them are handy and others are just gadgets! I always keep in mind the women of old who quilted with poor lighting, very little fabrics on hand and turned out some beautiful quilts with very little. Keep things simple for now and keep finding those great deals you are so good at. You can find fabrics from old clothes in thrift shops and use those for quilting. There are also good deals out there on fabrics from some online fabric companies.
Good luck to you and keep on quilting!

I understand what it is like being disabled. I haven't been able to work in over a year, and since my problem is progressive, it looks like I never will be back to work. Quilting has saved my life...there have been times that I was so down, and it gave me a reasonm to get out of bed. I realize it can get expensive, but watch the coupons, and check the thrift shops..You wouldn't believe the fabric finds there--or clothes that can get cut up cheaply for the fabric (garage sales too) I save a bit too by using sheets for backings...and sometimes in the tops. You seem to have enough to get started. I don't buy anything unless I have a direct immediate need for it. Keep us up to date as you progress--you are one of us now!! LOL

P.S.--I have used cheap fleece blankets for batting that I bought in thrift shops for about a dollar...Worked great ans was warm...Sometimes I get as much of a thrill by finding the great deals as I do quilting!!

I like the 'quilting' part of quilting more than piecing. My guild always has TONS of quilt tops that need to be quilted, so I try to do 3-4 a month. That means free materials, and lots of quilting time.

Have you joined a quild yet? My last guild supplied kits to members for making charity quilts. All the fabric and often the batting was provided and I just had to piece, quilt & bind and then return to the quild for distribution to the charity. I was gonna suggest Quilts for Kids but I see they aren't shipping kits right now as they've exceeded their shipping budget.

If you love it, don't give it up!! Quilting is my therapy and I would never want to give it up. I am in the process of doing some cleaning in my sewing room (again). I would love to send you some fabric to help you continue your love of quilting. Please send me a PM with your address.

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Quitting is not an option. I am new to quilting and on a tight budget also. You can find fabric in unique places, I saw a quilt made from old clothes. I also found a set a work gloves for gardening at Home Depot for $1.50 that work great for working with fabric. Just keep your eyes open and look outside the box.

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Don't quit! Quilt! We are sort of in a similar boat...sorta. I'm a college student so my funds are extremely limited.

So I shop at joanns and hancock fabrics where I can get fabric cheaper, because it is on sale or I have a coupon (I have been looked down on because of this, but I don't care). I try not to buy all my fabric at once. I slowly collect fabric so it's not such a shock to my wallet. And I get my almost all of my patterns free from the internet, handouts at my local quilt shop, or from books at the library.

But as far as free motion quilting goes...I can't help you there. I just found a way to quilt (with a walking foot) on my very crappy, basic machine that always seems to be inches from death. My machine just can't do it. All I can suggest is make a lot of quilting friends who will either teach you some things or maybe let you borrow a machine for a week. That's may be stretch...but maybe not. That's about all I can tell you.


Good luck with your future endeavors!

You got a good set up. Eventhough there is a lot of great stuff out there and I own tons of it after 10 yrs all you need for machine quilting is a straihgt stich machine to piece and most likely with some help you can even free motion on it. I own a good amount of nicer fabric from fabric stores but I also look for people who are getting rid of fabric and will buy it from them. I have three friends that only use used clothing they buy at resale stores on $1 days. I would not quit. Take some time and be sure to budget so you do not put yourself in a pickle financially. Definitely look into scrap quilting. Sometimes people give fabric away on thisd board also but you will still need to pay for shipping unless they live in your area. I have bought large boxes for $5 to 20 from people in my area. It is all out of date fabric and needs a good wash but it is fabric and I am making quilts and having fun.

My DD is a young mom and she put on Face Book that she was looking for jeans. People responded and she got bags full that she makes place mats, aprons and quilts with.Maybe all you need to do is to let people around you know. I don't know where you live but maybe some one on the board can help you with free motion etc.

As for quilting gloves I have several friends that went to the 99 cent store and got gardening gloves they use for quilting.

Don't quit..you can find a lot of bargains and I am sure you will "fall into" some more free fabric as well. Hit garage sales and church sales..great place to find good fabric for almost nothing. I got a lot of patterns free at "McCallsquilting.com" when I first started. Sounds like you really do enjoy this crazy hobby. I have hand quilted several and love how they turn out.

There are many resources for fabric... look to relatives for clothing they want to discard. Often once "word" gets out you are looking for fabric.. it just starts coming. If you have a church you attend post a notice that you are looking for fabric. even the ugly fabric can contribute to a beatuiful quilt if you use small enough pieces.
Don't quit.... just get word out you are looking for fabric.. perhaps on freecycle in your area or even Craigs List. It would also help to find a quilting buddy to get you over the methods which you may be unfamiliar .

I am going to second the suggestion about joining a guild. Our guild has tons of fabric that we use to make charity quilts. Batting is provided too. These wouldn't be quilts you could keep, so that may not be what you want, but it would at least keep you quilting.

You have enough tools to keep quilting. You just need fabric and thread. Wal-Mart stores....or at least some of them...often have fabric in a sale bin that is a really good price.

Bottom line, keep quilting. It is a healthy addiction....and fun!

Dina

Yes, this old fleece blankets. People always wonder why I want that old scratchy blanket but they work wonderful and are light. Also I find stufff on garage sales and it tends to be cheaper then resale stores.

Goodwill is another great source for fabrics....used clothing, blankets, & sheets are used all the time in quilting......

If you love it, keep on quilting! There are so many free patterns that you could not finish them all in a lifetime (even if you had endless free stash) I have new LQS fabric, Joann's, Craiglist fabric from quilters' estates, swapped fabric and lots of cut up clothing in my stash. Let relatives know about your new hobby and you may yourself blessed with lots. Ask if your church has a charity group who needs help in making quilts.

Oh, another place you might check for free fabric is Freecycle. Just google freecycle for your area and post a request for fabric. I bet you get some responses.

Tell your nephew you will make him a quilt if he will buy the fabric for it, also tell him if he'll buy the fabric for the quilts to sell then you will give him 10% of the profit. That may change his mind.

I am also disabled and cannot hold down a public job. I have to be able to sit when I need to or stand when I need to. I had some scraps that I accumulated a little at a time through the years. I'm sewn clothes all my life and when I would have left over from making clothing I would keep them. Also when I worked at sewing factories when they would have scrap sales I would pick up scraps really cheap. I finely had enough to make a log cabin lap quilt. That got me hooked.

My DIL brought me a bunch of fabric she bought at a yard sale. She gave 10.00 for all she could fit in the back of her SUV. Then I've been picking up some at the Goodwill. I can usually get a bundle for anywhere from 2.99 to 4.99. I also heard a woman advertize on a radio program the call the Swap Shop that she had some quilt scraps she needed to get rid of. I called her and made arrangement to get them. She said she had advertized every day for a week and no one wanted them.

I have made 3 large quilts for my grown kids for Christmas and 3 lap sized for my 3 grown granddaughters for Christmas. I think in all for those 6 quilts I made I only bought enough fabric for 2 backs and one top. The rest was freebie.

So NO do not give up on something you enjoy. You just have to be clever in finding ways to afford what you need.

Do you know how to check your PMs? I can send you a couple of quilt kits. They have a pattern and all the fabric to make the top. I will find an easy couple of them for a beginner if you take me up on my offer. Why don't you click on my user name and then click on private message and reply to me IF you are interested. I could ship them out Wednesday. I'll check tomorrow for a reply and if you responded, check your private messages tomorrow for my reply.

You can't quit. You are hooked..
You have more than enough stuff to work with. You didn't mention thread, and needles. Joann's has that on sale all the time, or use a coupon. I don't use patterns, but I'm sure there are free ones all over, and the library has books..
Yes, there are plenty of board members that will help out with fabric. If they can't give you yardage, there are plenty that don't like making scrap quilts, and will be glad to send you their left overs. I was fortune enough to mention the need for scraps, and got a bunch of offers. There are also scrap swaps, and if you are really ambicious, you can join the 1.5" stamp swap. mariposa is running a swap for 1.5" squares. I have bought flannel sheets, and shirts at thrift stores. I love getting fabric from there. Mens xl, and bigger have a lot of fabric. I've bought jeans there, and made jean quilts.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Let you imagination go wild, and be creative.

Pls check your private messages and get back to me.

You have gotten some great suggestions here...and lots of encouragement to not quit...sounds like you have found out that quilting is something that you love...and that it is theraputical...it is...and you will need to become creative in how you fund your new love. Selling a quilt occasionally would help bring in some income to buy new fabric, watching for sales, shopping Goodwill for used clothing or materials that coiuld be used in quilts, seeing if you could get some fabric free through Freecycle are all great ideas. Hopr you find a way to quilt for a long time. My income is a lot less than it used to be when my husband was alive, so I do have to be thrifty also...and use quilting as my therapy...it makes me happy...and I try to find time to quilt at least a few times a week. Wish it could be every day, but too much else going on. Good luck!

Just remember women on the Oregon Trail quilted. It must not have cost too much or required anything very fancy.

Try out some of the things that have been suggested. You can quilt if you want to quilt. You may not be able to by all your fabric at fancy stores or have your own long arm machine, but in the end you will still have a wonderful quilt created with love.

I live on disability also.....DON'T QUIT!!! Sounds like you have the basics to begin with,and you can pick up things on sale along the way! There are lots of free sites..Leah Day has some great tutorials on her site. Just be sensible with your money,as there are a lot of'gadgets' out there that you really don't need! Good luck and keep quilting!

You don't need several hundred dollars a month for this hobby. Browse thrift stores for fabric. Some even buy shirts, sheets for quilting material. I use fleece for my backing most of the time. It makes the quilts a lot warmer and cuddly. :)

You do what you can with what you got.

Please don't quit. It gives you so much pleasure. I can tell by the way you wrote about it. You don't have to have a lot of fancy gadgets to quilt. Look at the pioneer ladies. Feed sacks, needle & some thread. You obviously are very creative in finding reasonably priced fabric. You can get some great deals here on the QB. I to have a disability, so I understand what you are talking about when you say it gives you something to do & fill up some of your time. Keep doing what you can. God knows your situation & he puts people & things in our lives just when we need them the most. He has blessed us all when we found this QB. Everyone is so helpful & supportive. So when you get low on fabric or need help, just let us know & I'm sure there are plenty who will be very willing to share a little of their of fabric stores. We are not all rich in $'s but, we are rich in friendships on here. Happy New Year & keep that sewing machine stitchin'. We're here for you. God Bless you.

Ok..you've got loads of good ideas to go on with, please don't quit quilting. Not only will it bring you joy.and friendship.....it is the greatest therapy I know. Many of us here have disabilities/low income and other stuff...but we still quilt....it will keep you going....promise:).