I agree!! It was,only when I understood how fabric was woven and the diferent grains movements or lack of that my cutting and sewing became more accurate. I also still appreciate knowing how the different processes used in the manufacturing of fabric affects the final product i.e batiks etc

I think jackuie really said it all I also started quilting when it came back and started with a sampler quilt that we started by drafting the patterns and making templates and cutting with scissors was some very wonderful quilts in those days usually all hand quilted today everything is for speed not the most fun or relaxing whatever happened to the good old quilting bees

Teach them the basics about fabric and how to cut accurately and importance of quarter-inch seams. Then if you teach them how to make HST's, quarter-square triangles, flying geese, you've pretty much taught them most everything they need to make a beautiful quilt that is easy but looks terrifically (sp?) hard!!!

Also, tell them they don't need 20 different rulers. Maybe if you could have a selection of different ones they might try. And I used to work in a quilt store and people would come in to buy a 6" square up ruler and then a 9" and then a 12". My advice to them was to buy the 15" or 16" and then they could square up all sizes. Of course you need a smaller square to cut other things but do tell them not to get sucked in to all of the "specialty" rulers. Some of them really don't make things easier.

I'm a new quilter without access to a LQS. This thread hits home. There is so much I'm having to learn by trial and error (and reading QB). I've got a good quality cutting mat and rulers. However, I don't know what half the markings on them are for. I like the idea of going over the math and how to design squares. Right now, I only use patterns that someone else has made. I have enough trouble cutting and piecing from these. I don't want to totally frustrate myself by trying to design my own block/quilt from trial and error (most likely error- math was never my strong suit). I have learned that accuracy in cutting is key. I'm not too sure how to square up - especially with triangles. I tried that one day and frustrated myself so much I didn't sew for a week. If techniques have changed so much, I agree that maybe a little comparison between the two would be good. That might help someone like me who needs to be spoon fed see different ways of doing things and choose which works best for me. Just my 2 cents.

My biggest mystery is the 1/4 in seam. Never have been able to get a block the right size using a 1/4 in seam, what is the secret? Always have to go scant by several clicks.
This is such a basic and important need, yet is the hardest to achieve.

and yes reverse stitching as in using a seam ripper. REVERSE STITCHING.... love it...

Holice, I am in a class now, but learning conflicting information about quilting techniques; i.e., whether to quilt from the center out, spray basting vs. pin basting, etc. I also need to learn how to square a quilt or... what I can do about preventing having to square it. Last but not least, I'd like to know how to quilt my own large quilt on my home machine. I've been sending them out to be quilted, but with retirement, that will have to stop. Hth.

I am amazed at just how many people go into quilting prior to learning how to sew. I have sewn for 45+ years. I could make just about anything with or without a pattern. When I decided to learn about quiltmaking, I had this basic knowledge to work from. I knew you need a seam allowance. I knew you need to work with the grain of the fabric so as not to have the whole thing distorted. It would be like learning to read words before learning ABC's.
I guess teaching a basic class would not appeal to many people but it would sure give them a foundation to work from.

Being a longarm quilter, the most important things are: teach them to put borders on correctly, easing them in, not just cutting a strip and sewing to the sides at lightening speed. This causes wavy, wonky borders and a wavy, wonky quilt, and a longarmer's nightmare. Also, tear off those selvages... this is what comes to my mind foremost. We have a beginning quilting class here in town and I get quilts from many new students, and they never explain to them about borders. I have a regular sample and hand out ready, and after the first wonky quilt, I teach them myself how to avoid this. I have had to take tucks of as much as 2 inches on each side!!! Horrors!

I took my first class through a class at an Adult school. It was 6 weeks in length and 2 hours per evening. It was meant to just give an introduction into quilting and then if you liked it, move on to classes. It was suggested that we begin with the Quilting 101. The adult school class was superb! We began with the very basics and then made a hand pieced 9 patch block. It truly was the art of quilting!! It served as a foundation to moving on to bigger and more complex blocks. While many fell in love with quilting and could do the basics, they needed a class (perhaps 6 weeks to do the series of blocks. I am one of those people. I began quilting in the mid-1980's and that's the way we were taught. Let's get back to the art of quilting, teach the basics and work with those who want and need the classes for the more complex blocks. I remember taking a monthly class in how to do the hand applique Baltimore album blocks, how to hand quilt, how to choose fabric, battings, threads, acccurate seaming and piecing, 1/4 inch seam allowances, moving on to machine piecing, etc.
I thank those instructors who provided such a rich foundation. Hope we get back to it.