My year of living dangerously
 

Ok, that's an exaggeration. I just retired and decided that this year I need to expand my quilting horizons.

Until last year I was a once a decade quilter -- making a quilt a decade since the 60s and assorted paper pieced miniatures. Last year in making a quilt I decided I needed to learn FMQ so I could do more than STID. Since then I have quilted 35 baby quilts for charity for practice. Most of those were quite simple so I could concentrate on the quilting.

Now that I have retired I want to work on my piecing and learn other scary things. So far my plans include:

• Fuzed applique
• Needle turn applique -- taking a class next week. I am terrified of all hand work.
• Ohmigosh quilt -- work on piecing accuracy but also I just love little blocks
• 60 degree triangle quilt ( http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2011/04/chopsticks.html).
• Pinwheels- points, points, points

What other patterns/skills do you suggest I put on my agenda that will help me learn?

Congrats on retiring and good luck on your bucket list!

Scrappies are my favorites.

I love scrappie quilts and I'm starting to build a scrap collection but it isn't all that big yet.

Congratulations on your retirement. I was retired - laid off - and it's been great trying all those things I didn't have time for before.

How about some patterns with curved piecing or small but precise piecing such as Dear Jane sized blocks - that would be a challenge.

Lucky you..congrats. I would concentrate on finishing my UFOs. I have quilter's ADHD. I blame it all on still working.

Ooh, curved piecing -- that is the perfect thing to add to my list

I think you will love needle turn appliqué. I love it myself. Other things to try: yoyos, y seams, paper piecing, rag quilts, curved piecing, fabric folding, prairie points, etc.

How about a portrait quilt? Or a landscape quilt? OBW?

What a nice group of good ideas! You will be busy forever!! Happy retirement!! My husband and I both retired within the last year and now we do hobbies full time!! Just plain fun. I wish you just as much fun.

Dina

Besides your own personal quilting skills I would suggest you actively participate in a quilting guild and attend as many different trunk showings, classes, retreats, camps, etc as you can.

I'm thinking. How about a sampler. I got a block book and started blocks that I'd never done before. Odd angles, unusual seam joinings-really increased my skill level. From all these suggestions, I recommend restraint. Too many irons in the fire leads to burn out.

How fun for you. Looks like you have some great ideas. Can't wait until it's my turn.

Congratulations. Retirement is terrific. Only problem I ran into after being retired now for 18 years is there is so much out there I want to do and still want to do that I get in to too many projects and I am afraid i have a lot of UFO's but mind you I have learned a lot. I am not turning a lot of my UFO's into raffle quilts for our community center or charity. Still learning new things and never bored!!!!!!

Congrats on retirement! You'll find other things get in the way, so I suggest a dedicated time each day for sewing/quilting. My time is 1-3 PM when there's a program on TV to listen to and hubby uses that time to nap or do what he wants. Enjoy...and curved piecing is what I practiced on first. The Chopsticks quilt looks like fun.

Good for you. Have fun.

Congratulations...it will be fun to see the results of your bucket list! Fr your fused appliqué get the book Machine Appliqué for the Terrified Quilter. It is been such a help.

Congratulations on your retirement. Start with what is on your list. I find that every time I try a new technique it just leads me into more new things I just HAVE to do. The list is endless for me of what I just NEED to do. Even if I was retired not sure I would be able to do them all. Have fun, don't stress over it and just go with where each new technique leads you.

I like 3D style quilts and have made or have on my bucket list these patterns:
Escher Steps - you can find it on AQS
San Marco Square by C. Florence - http://theguiltyquilters.blogspot.co...co-square.html
Walking Labyrinth by C Florence - http://theguiltyquilters.blogspot.com/
My own creation - floating cubes http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...r-t221088.html

I would also like to try applique and jelly roll quilts though the applique scares the heck outta me!

Enjoy your retirement - I only get to sew 1 hour a day on the week days :( but spend the whole weekend in my sewing room :)

Ha ha! don't worry...it will be soon. :D

~ Cindy

WooHoo for you! Retirement is great! I just retired the 1st of April and love it! Every year I pick one skill to work on...it's easier to stay focused that way. Having time to quilt with others and learn from them has helped me..going to shows and taking classes has been great! My suggestion: relax,slow down,and enjoy the process.

I'm retired, though not my choice- got laid off at the same time my husband became disabled. Fortunately, (although my husband things unfortunately) I had accumulated a good sized stash from when I was working full-time. Since we are both now on SS with limited resources I'm glad I have that stash - I just made a twin-sized quilt for our DGD entirely from my stash, plus other quilts and quilted items. Quilting is my sanity for being with my DH 24/7. Have you thought about a crazy quilt or a quilt made entirely made of your scraps? I would stretch your comfort zone whenever possible.

Happy retirement, have fun with all of it!

How about going on Missouri Star quilt company you tube's site to get some techniques explained and also some easy projects to do?

You will love retirement! I've enjoyed every minute of it! I want to learn EQ7, do a Dear Jane quilt, and all 3 Baltimore Album quilts that I have collected fabric for!! STILL not enough time to do it all - but at least I have a grin on my face most of the time.

I am with AliKat, join a quilt guild. Your opportunity to try something new will soar. You will find new techinques, good friends, and a whole lot of fun. The classes are usually with big name teachers, and are really inexpensive compared to classes held by the famous teachers, or quilt festival. Festival classes run about $150 a day, while an all day class at the guild usually is under $50 (it depends on your guild). A complaint has been all the UFO's, but honestly, you can finish anything you like, and may have a pattern for a whole quilt to boot. I think it's ok to have UFO's, you usually finish things you like, and the ones you didn't are learning exercises.

I don't think you should be so afraid of needle turn applique. It's very relaxing and if you are starting new, use a heart shape for a starter. I took a class with a patient and good teacher to learn but you don't have to do that although I think it is the best way to learn. You tube has great videos and you can look at them for starters.
Have fun and enjoy the process as well as the outcome, either way or both!