Basics
 

I took a basics class and learned a lot. BUT when I finished the quilt I hated the colors. For me, that is what I needed the most but it wasn't taught. I did have the quilt shop person help me with the colors. I guess that was her weak area also.

We all need different things and it can't be taught all in one quilt course.

I did hang it up and study my mistakes all the time to see how I can improve. I have others help me with the colors is the bottom line.

I am quite impress with my binding!!! This is my strong area.

straight grain
 

I had wonderful Home Ec teacher who taught us how to wash, dry til damp, and then have a friend help pull the material on the diagonal, both ways until the grain was straight. Then, while the material was still damp, you would iron it to set the grain. Everything seems to lay straight after doing that. Does make the DH laugh when asked to help but then he asks me to help do things working on vehicles that make me scratch my head too.

What a great Idea, I sure would enjoy the information. I am always trying to find things out. I hope when you are finished with your project I will be able to find it. Also I have always been told "their is not such thing as a dumb question" ;`) Looking forward to the information you are gathering.

I'd like to say that my color sense and what skill I have come from memories of my great Grandmother. Her quilts were scissor cut and sewn on a treadle. She used what she had but somehow they were beautiful. Some of it was from over dyeing with local weeds. If she wanted a mostly green we went for a this weed. and so.
you might mention the old dyeing process versus the new ones? there isn't much about this in my local library. and I also do not have a LQS.

I wish i could take your class!! learning so much from this thread!! Great Job Teachers!!!!

Need Help in Basics of Quiltmaking
 

I agree with all of the above. The only instruction I have had in quiltmaking was one class at JoAnn's. We selected the fabric an made the quilt all in a rush to get it all in. It came out well, but what did I actually learn? Someone before me said it best, the aim in most classes is to have the cash for the course and to complete the course, no matter how much one may have to rush getting it done. I can see now that having the proper training in the beginning would have saved me lots of headaches.

So many of you have mentioned problem with getting a true 1/4 inch seam. Also, why do we use a 1/4 inch seam? On Saturday, I was watching a quilting show on PBS and they mentioned that the industrial factories only use a 1/4 inch seam. Also, that it is so helpful in easing in curves. It states that for instance, why use a 5/8 seam when after you fight to ease in a collar, you only have to trim to a 1/4 inch seam anyway. Sounds logical, but I never did find out why in quilting we use a 1/4 inch seam.

One of the things I have learned on Project Runway is that in haut couture sewing all seams are one inch so that adjustments are easier. It doesn't matter if there is a collar, ruching, draping, long train, etc., the seams are one inch. Of course when you pay for that type of fashion you expect the seamstress to be able to stitch magic.

I always thought that the 1/4 seam was started centuries ago when cloth was so expensive to purchase and so labor intensive to weave at home. It was entirely a method to save the amount of cloth used in a quilt.

All wonderful advice! I think too if you have a sample of a well-pieced quilt along-side a poorly pieced block, you can explain what could have been done differently on the poorly done one.

Also explain it is not necessary to have every new ruler/template/cutter that is out there. You can do a lot with one 6"x18"ruler.

I am one who took a beginning class at my LQS and had nearly zero sewing experience. (My mom won the class) I did feel like the others were speaking a foreign language because they had sewed for years.

I think it would help everyone that the people making videos and teaching in this manner sew and cut properly in their videos and pictures in magazines. So many are learning from these and can pick up some very bad habits. Just because someone teaches or makes videos or is published doesn't make it right.