I believe there are only 4 rules for good quiltmaking. They are:
1. Accurate marking and/or measuring
2. Accurate cutting
3. Accurate piecing
4. Good pressing

Number 5 is whatever the quiltmaker brings to the craft.

If you practice and learn these 4 guides then quiltmaking will look good, take less time, be less frustrating and produce a more satisfying product.

Heh. Well, this week #5 overrides numbers 1 through 4...I've been using up scraps like there's no tommorrow, and I've been sewing together everything that's not nailed down, hacking away with scissors, using mis-matched thread, mashing down on all the thousand seams with a steam iron and hoping for the best!

I am not an expert or anything regarding quilting but after almost 6 yrs of quiltmaking I completly agree with Holice's 4 rules. Number 5 is the fun part: imagination, creativity, daring and just plain guts are what make a quilt uniquely yours!

Ohhh I can't wait to see this! Please post pictures.

My #5 would be READ READ READ instructions and dont let your eyes twitch to another line when cutting out fabric !!!
argh.

May I add rule number 6 ?
Have fun and enjoy the process

All good advice!!!

Without rule #5 why would anyone want to do 1-4? Yay for all of us creative, artistic, funny, caring people!

Excellent posts by ALL !! :D

My number 1 and 2 rules would be:

1) Use "good" fabric - My use of the term "good" means appropriate for the project and not sleazy - the source and $ paid are really not relevant.

2) Wash the fabrics before cutting them.

Then go on with Holice's rules.

My rule....let someone else make it cuz I would screw it up! :?

and don't be afraid of pins!!! use a lot of them & often!

Great rules. I need to add #5. Don't be afraid to try something new. :D

my top 10 rules are:

1. Measure
2. Measure
3. Measure
4. Accurate cutting
5. Accurate Cutting
6. Accurate cutting
7. Measure
8. Accurate piecing
9. Accurate piecing
10. Ironing


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

and GO SLOWLY

(1) ACCURATE Cutting, (2) followed by the ever elusive, CONSISTENT, quarter inch seam...(sigh..), (3) followed by Pressing and not ironing, which will distort my project, and (4) well matched seam intersections....(5) mostly have fun! There are a lot of charities to send your practice projects to...like the Humane Society...(great to practice your FM quilting, then whack it up into little quilties for kitties and dogs to sleep on, and bind the bunch of them! (a small quilt to keep a kitten off of the cage grate is most appreciated by an unspoken recipient!) And you have gotten lots of FM quilting practice!

Regarding Rule #4, I had a quilt teacher who said if you want your work to look homemade, press it at the end, but if you want it to look professionally done, press it as you go.

Rebecca VLQ, this sounds like me making the crumb blocks! Must have close to 100 now. Every itsie-bitsie piece of fabric is being used to the max. (Gotta get my moneys worth, ya know!) Now to decide on some shashing. Will make a wall hanging and a quilt.

Holice, are you the Stencil Man?

Agreed!!!

Been there- done that !! Darn my impatience!

It really does seem to take a long time to get your fabric ready for constructing your blocks, etc. BUT.....it is definitely worth the time and effort. The WORST is constructing the quilt and finding out the the measurements, etc. are wrong. It's nice to know that when you sit down at the machine everything will go together as planned.

Another...."been there, done that" as a new/unexperienced quilter. NOT a good experience.

I couldn't agree with your rules more. #5 is the best one for me. And always enjoy what you are doing.

I like the Humane Society idea - being both a newbie at this quilting stuff and an animal lover (if you could see all of my 'adopted 4-footed children'), you remind me that there is a place for practice pieces that won't be criticised too badly while I learn. Thanks :-)

I look forward to seeing them!

Holice,

What are your favorite rulers for cutting and measuring?

Diane

I agree with 1-4....but for me is 5 the most important part....using creativity , imagination and enthusiasm...and have fun

I just learned the hard way, I cut and sewed 150 siggi blocks, and they were all 1/4 inch off. God bless. Penny

It they are all the same size and they are for your own use, you could maybe adapt the rest of the pieces to "make it all work"

It's usually helpful to make one "test block" before making a bunch of them. Ask me how I know this . . . .