Nervous Beginner
 

I am totally new to quilting and very nervous about where to begin. I was wondering what the best project to begin with would be. I don't have a sewing machine so I will be doing the stitching by hand until I can get one. Also, what brand and type of machine is suggested?

Have you done any sewing before? I suggest you go to your local quilt shop (LQS) and see if they have a class..intro to quilting or quilting for beginners or something similar...or do you know a quilter perhaps that might be your mentor....or go to the local library and see if they have or can get thru their network some beginning quilting books.....my first quilt was a batch of squares I picked up at a garage sale...bored one night and sewed them together using 5/8" seam....showed it proudly to my neighbor the next day who was a seasoned quilter.....she took me under her wing and the story continues........20+yrs.....and still learning...eagerly! So don't rush into it blindly...it can be a lifetime experience.....and you are lucky to have this board and all the other things available today......

I piece and quilt by hand....I would suggest a table runner or project of similar style. It is what I started with and allows you to learn the different steps to making a quilt without having to make a bed sized quilt. I learned a lot from that project that will put me in good stead when I make a bed sized quilt. I hope you jump in soon, quilting is so enjoyable especially when done by hand. I don't have a machine so I can't help you there.

I started with hand piecing because when I used the machine it was a big mess...nothing lined up, I didn't know about the 1/4 inch seam allowance, etc. The nice thing about hand piecing is you can take your project anywhere. As far as a machine, I would suggest going to a dealer and looking at used machines. I personally like Berninas, but others prefer other brands. My opinion would be to get a solidly made older machine that makes a nice straight stitch and maybe a few decorative stitches. I have many decorative stitches on my big machine, but really only use the steaight one, zig zag, and occasionally a buttonhole stitch. Have fun on your new quilting adventure!

Welcome! You are starting out on a wonderful journey. I hope that you can find someone to take you under their wing and help you get settled in. Wish you lived close to me, I'd love to help you. As far as a machine goes, I would try to buy an older machine. The older Singers are great...well built. The newer ones, not so much. One of my sewing buddies buys the lower priced Brothers at Wal-Mart and gets along just fine. Just what ever you are comfortable with. Have fun!

I recommend starting at the library and reading up on quilt-making. Jinny Beyer is a famous hand-piecer, hand-quilter. If the library doesn't have her book(s) on the subject, make a request at the library desk.

Welcome! For learning to quilt, as well as the library, there are terrific resources online - lots of you tube videos, craftsy.com, Quilter's Cache (http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html), Quilting Tutorials by Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Co - http://quiltingtutorials.com/.

There may be a quilt guild close to you filled with quilters so eager to share their knowledge :)

As for sewing machine recommendation, any machine with a good solid straight stitch will work. Fancy machines are wonderful, but you will be mostly sewing 1/4" straight seams (a 1/4" foot is great but you can also quickly and cheaply add guides to the machine bed). A walking foot is very helpful - and you can buy a generic one if it doesn't come with your machine. A few decorative stitches are great for finishing the quilt, and a zig-zag or blind hem stitch is good for applique. When you're looking at machines, if you're at a dealer, try to sit down and do some sample sewing yourself to see how they feel. If you're lucky, you'll find a great dealer who will sell you what you need (not what they want to sell), and who will service the machine. Many dealers offer lessons with the purchase of a new machines. And many local quilt shoppes are also sewing machine dealers! Depending on how many dealers are near you, it may be more important to find a great dealer than be set on a specific brand. And lots of dealers sell used machines too. Lots of options!

Good luck, enjoy the journey :)

As a beginner I started out with a basic low end brother and have grown from there. Igot my mechanical off of overstock.com but now I use my SQ9050 from walmart and my travel, class machine and also have a TOL brother, but it was many years before I purchased. Another good machine to grow into would be the brother PC-420 off of amazon, good rating, solidly built. Janome is also another popular brand but I can't comment on them because I love my brothers

I always suggest starting with the kitchen. Make some "sampler" blocks for place mats, potholders and table runners. You get to sample different blocks and techniques but still don't invest too much money till you learn if you are going to like your new hobby.