No substitute available for - - -
 

There really is no substitute available for experience and practice.

When someone asks "Is it better to ___ or not?"
or
"How to _______?"

and receives different answers - all of which are valid to the responder -

Which answer does he/she choose to follow?


I know that there are things that I think are "essential" to my process that others blow off.
(Washing everything washable before cutting is one of mine.)

I also know that there are things that others think are "essential" that I don't do.
(Starching everything before cutting is something that I rarely do.)

How did you learn and/or decide how to do things?

From sad experience....cut off points, block size creep or shrink, coming apart in the wash, wavy borders, toe catcher quilting stitches...
we've mostly all been there

When I get options on something I am having issues with I will try them, usually starting with the one that makes the most sense to me. Then when I hit on one that works I usually stick with it. However I am one that if I take a class and someone has a different technique I will normally try it just to see if it is easier or I get better results. Unfortunately what works for me doesn't always or may not be the best for someone else. I always say do what works for you. Not all of our brains, hands, etc work the same way - all you need is to find what works for you and gives you the best results.

I agree with Kalmaquilts. Experience will tell me which method works best for me. There is no ONE right answer to most quilt questions!

I forgot to mention that I quit washing (unless it looks like a bleeder or is something like a red or blue and white quilt) fabric before using it. Why did I make that decision? My husband asked why the washer seemed to always be going but he didn't have that many clean clothes LOL So I tried it the other way and so far no issues - I am sure once I have one I will rethink this process

No substitute for trying. I like to try a new way to see if my old way is still the best. Same with new tools and rulers. How will I know if I don't try? I rarely take someone's opinion if they haven't tried the new tool or method. How do they know?

I learned by trial and error. It works for me, if I try to change anything, it just messes me up.

I tried all suggested options, then continued with the one that gave me the best result.

I like to try new things, but not always with good results (sometimes operator error). I was using pins to baste my quilt sandwich when I first started quilting, but tried the spray basting after discovery. I was less than thrilled with the results, but it was my fault for overspraying. After getting the spraying process down pat, I was sure that there was nothing else I would use. WRONG! Then I discovered glue basting and quickly decided that it was fast, easy, and super cheap....all while doing the job of keeping the layers together. But...spray still has its' own benefits of being very fast and no drying required.

Soooo, I guess my point is that lots of techniques, tools, battings and fabrics each have their own benefits and spot in my quilting life....but maybe not in the quilter down the street....to each his own! But I do love all the quilters here on the board who share their ideas and skills.

While I agree that experience and practice are key elements to success in just about everything we do in life, there is also seldom any reason to reinvent the wheel every time you want to do something new. You can easily learn from the experience of others and make your own modifications along the way. Even those of us that quilt alone, didn't get where we are today all by ourselves.

When I have questions, and after 45+ years I do still have questions, I ask someone whose work I admire what they would do under similar circumstances. I don't throw the question out to the general public. It narrows the answers down to the ones I'm more apt to try for myself and are most apt to work, saving time and my sanity.

Long ago I was an apprentice printmaker. It's a wonderful way to learn a skill without having to rediscover everything for yourself and when the skill becomes solid, your own style takes over.