You have just taken your first step...see...easy! Hello and welcome.

Quilting is one of those things in your life that starts small and ends up big. Visit here and ask a million questions, maybe take a class, have a play with some fabrics and a needle and thread, before you know it, we will see you posting your first project. Your local library is bound to have some quilting books (or request them) and many magazines can be purchased from thrift stores or second-hand book stores.

I love to quilt and make little projects like rug mugs..I can not sew for anything..not even sew a straight line..But, I find making a quilt is alot easier than sewing things like clothes and such..To me quilting is fun because they do not have to be perfect..

Start with an easy pattern (Log Cabin from Quilt in a Day or Irish Chain) and a small project. If it is available take 1 class to get all the basics, this is what I did.

I just started out with squares, no patterns, no piecing to make a block. I started out very simple. I took whatever novelty fabric I wanted to use, cut my squares and sewed them together, I did put sashing in. I'm past that now and on to more. It may help to just concentrate on how to do one thing at a time. First I worked on sewing my straight line and at 1/4 inch. After that work on perfecting something else. That is how I have been approaching everything as I had not even sewed before I started quilting.

I learned by taking a class at a Local Quilt Store. There is so much to learn and a good teacher, I feel, is essential to getting off to a good start. Be prepared to spend some cash on equipment because without the proper tools you will be frustrated.

PS I made 17 quilts in one year after making a sampler quilt that took a year to make! The best advice I received is that you can be perfect OR you can make a quilt.

That's not a stupid question, its dismal!! You are not setting yourself up for failure. You are setting yourself up for new challenges and a whole lot of fun! Go right ahead, jump right in. Make your mistakes, we all had to start somewhere. Good luck, and I expect to see more from you in the not too distant future.

Gday Nike, you could answer this question yourself, go to this site and ask yourself if you are up for the challenge. This lady is amazing. Enjoy learning and meeting people, i think this is what it is all about. :) http://www.theamazingquilter.com/

It is additive. Yes, you can do it. One of the MOST important things it to play until you can do a PERFECT 1/4 in seam the rest is a piece of cake, do you like cake?

Nike, I havent been quilting all that long, and it is intimidating at first. Just know nothing is perfect and anything you make is special no matter what. And most importantly just have fun, enjoy what your doing and you will be fine.

Start with a small quilt before you tackle a larger one. Learn how to make blocks that are simple first.

I am still new to quilting and I still have a hard time. I have been practicing just on making different types of blocks by doing them in the 12" x 12"s. I am up to learning paper piecing now, which I am having a hard time figuring out how to do.

Just keep practicing,

Mary

The sewing part of quilting will eventually be easy, but practice, practice, practice and those straight seams and exact seam measurements will come second nature to you...most of the time.
What helped me:
A quarter inch seam foot for my sewing machine was a good investment, but not necessary if you can set up your own guide to sew a 1/4 inch seam.
Sitting up straight and high enough to see what I was doing as I sewed.
Using an inexpensive measurement guide. It's a few dollars, made of aluminum and I keep it next to the machine to check the seam allowances once in a while.
I always stand up when rotary cutting so I can get a good bird's eye view of what I'm cutting. I'm short, so standing while measuring and cutting is best and gives me the best leverage.
Organizing my pieces as I cut.
Snipping loose threads as I go along. I have a small plastic dish on my table where I put threads and teeny fabric pieces to toss out later.
These are just a few of the things that helped me with the sewing part of quilting.
Have fun and enjoy. If you get stuck, this board is your guardian angel :thumbup: :thumbup:
Blessings,
Angela

as infants we all learn to crawl before walking same with quilts make a simple then on to more complicated ones but no matter what have fun enjoy life and do things you love

as infants we all learn to crawl before walking same with quilts make a simple then on to more complicated ones but no matter what have fun enjoy life and do things you love

Don't defeat your self before you start. Anyone can do any thing that they want to do. It starts with an I can attitude over, an I cant. You odviously would like to as youve joined the board. There is so much help and encouragement here. See if there is someone who lives close to you or a guild etc.. Start small and remember nothing is perfect, Any mistakes etc. make it one of a kind unique. We all started at the beginning. And no question is stupid, except the ones we never ask. Good luck, Look in the mirror and say I can do this. And start cutting. DEB

Is riding a bike hard? Is driving a car hard? Is sailing a boat hard? I could go on and on. You will never know till you try. And it can be as difficult as you choose to make it. Start off with something easy and work your way up to harder things. Look for patterns that have a difficulty level and look for the beginner ones. You need to build confidence in your abilities.

Welcome. Anyone can quilt. Justpick an easier, small (potholder, placemat, wall hanging) for your first project. This is a great place to get any questions you may have answered. Just be forewaned, quilting is very addective.

Hey, wait a minute...you have to sew a straight line to quilt???
I pull my seams out sometimes and think...."if I could only sew a straight line, then..." but I still quilt anyway! :)

Think positive...you can do anything that you really want to do! It's fun!

All these answers are good... take a class, start small and keep it simple.

Of course I did none of these things. I bought a book (for idiots), after working through the blocks in the book found others on the internet and eventually ended up making a king sized quilt. Even doing my own quilting.

My advice, "just do it". If a block doesn't work out, it can just be a pillow to go with your quilt. I waited for years before I started, using all kinds of excuses such as not enough time or space. Now I see all the fun I have missed.

So good luck and hope you that enjoy it as much as I do.

Sometimes I sew a straight line, sometimes I don't.
I absolutely cannot follow directions
But I quilt anyway and have a lot of fun along the way.
Despite my "shortcomings" in this regard, the recipients of my quilts love them and usually end up hanging them on the wall instead of using them as quilts.
If you love fabric -- just do it!

Welcome! There is no failure in quilting. It isn't the Olympics where you only get one chance, and there isn't a judge coming to berate you for points that don't match. Just try it. If you don't like it, nobody is going to make you keep going, either!

If you find out you like it you'll learn something new every day you sew. Some days will be harder than others, but at the end of the project you'll be amazed how satisfying - and beautiful - the results will be.

And stick around - no question is too small or too "beginner", someone will always be along to help. Every question you have we'll all have asked ourselves at one time or another. :)

I do suggest starting small - such as a table runner, place mat, or lap quilt. Something useful to you.

(I have trouble making pot holders - I think it's the extra thickness - so I would avoid them for a bit)

The reasons for starting small - in case you tried it and didn't like it (and strange as it may be, there may be a few that this has happened to) - you don't have a lot of money invested.

It's easier to finish something smaller and it's a lot easier to handle.

Is it "hard"? As others have said, patterns come in easy, medium, hard, difficult, and extremely challenging.

Straight lines and right angled pieces (squares and rectangles) are easier for most beginners than triangles and curves.

One can make a respectable top with only fabric, thread, needle, templates (pattern pieces), pencil and scissors.

There are some people that are "big shots" in the quilting world that hand piece. Jinny Beyer is one of them.

If you start with the right material, pattern and attitude, I think quilting is easy. It's finding the time to quilt that is hard for me.

I, also, find it hard to follow directions.

Jinny Beyer hand pieces?

:shock: :shock:

Lisa

thanks for the link to quiltercache.com great site lots of information and patterns one could spend a day there.

I just started sewing at 50. Hated it before, I started embroidery first, and then I ran out of things to embroider on, so I had to try something to sew. Well I went to sewing for kids first, and you will take off. And now I am quilting, I don't do a great job, but it's mine and I love it, my husband says, when are you going to stop quilting you have enought now. I look at him as if he was an alien, I will never stop, I love it, the only thing is I am ready to know when I can let them go, they are my babies, and I can't given them away, I need to share, but it would be like giving away one of my kids. enjoy, make mistakes, laugh, cry a little and have fun, fun, fun.

Just enjoy the process of learning. And develop your own technique - something you like to do and it is easy for you. And definitely take a class in quilting - a beginners' class. Have fun!

Start with a simple pattern and it is not hard just takes a little practice to get straight lines and thisis a great place for help and encouragement!

Hi,
I do believe that anyone who wishes to be a "quilter" will find a method/technique that they would be comfortable doing. There are so many avenues that you can take - I say go for it!!! You will have a blast!!! I love the whole quilting process - it is a wonderful "sport".. Enjoy yourself.
Sue in PA

I think it is one of those hobbies that can be very addictive and you want to make all you family and friends one to show your love. I learn new things everyday, a lot from this board. It can be very challenging but is very rewarding. If crafts interest you, give quilting a try. You will be glad you did.

There are many tutorials on this QB that will help you so that you can gain experience and confidence. Start out with a small project with a simple pattern. Treat it like a recipe and take it step by step. I am sure you will do fine.

The best way to learn is to sign up for a beginner's class with an experienced teacher. That way you learn step by step and get to practice. You learn VERY valuable information on all aspects of quilting, and avoid any pitfalls you might otherwise experience. Expect to make mistakes, and don't worry about them when you do. Have fun, make friends in your class, and you'll be fine! Good luck!

There are no stupid questions first of all! When I started quilting I had a little book that made it simple. I did a barn door (has a couple of other names) and made it veryyyyyyy large so I would have the practice. It actually turned out very well. I make all my tops on the sewing machine then hand quilt.

Good luck and lots of perserverance!

I agree w/ Pugmom!!!

Not hard if you like to sew. Definitely addictive! Can be both relaxing and frustrating at times. I prefer the simpler patterns but you can get as simple or as complicated as you choose. Lets your creativeness flow!

You can learn on your own (like I did - making a ton of mistakes along the way) or take a basic quilting class and learn tips along the way. Good luck.

It is as hard or as easy as you want it to be. I have been quilting for years, consider myself knowledgeable and make some really wonderful quilts (if I don't say so myself) However, there are some things that I just don't think are worth the effort for me. There are so many beautiful basic patterns that I haven't finished with. I'm happy at the intermediate level of difficulty.
Practice makes perfect. I love how when you are concentrating on a project you can clear your mind of all the other junk going on outside. When you are done, you have something beautiful. Who could ask for more?

You eat ice cream don't you..........however you did have to learn to turn the cone............but it is easy now.............calla

I always ask the following questions when people ask me that.
1: Can you thread a needle?
2: Can you sew on a button
3:Do you want to learn?
4: Do you want me to teach you?

If they can answer yes to at least Number 4 I will teach them the rest. LOL. So hope that helps.
Ann in Indiana