Poll Question: What's your favorite part of making a quilt?
 

We all have our more favorite and less favorite parts of the process of making a quilt. What do you enjoy most, and why? (Please don't answer with what you don't like, so this doesn't become a gripe thread!)

I have found I really love trimming and squaring up the quilt once it's quilted, before the binding goes on. For me, it's like the reward at the end of the road, and my inspiration for getting the quilting part done. I just love trimming away all the junk and having a nice clean edge. That's when the quilt starts to look like a quilt.

I've even been known to trim one or two sides before the quilting is done on the other sides...

Two things,finishing the top,( seeing it laid out before sandwiching everything together) and hand sewing the binding down. I know that's not something many like to do, but it gives me a feeling of satisfaction to do it.

My favorite part is the piecing. I really enjoy taking those cut pieces and putting them into a block or unit, especially if it is a "new to me" pattern.

I love the piecing of the quilt, I learn something every time I start a quilt. I enjoy taking my time and being as precise as I can in cutting an sewing, it’s very Zen for me.

I enjoy finding a new quilt pattern for me to try. Choosing fabric in many colors is second. I like the whole process of quilting, but I really look forward to a new project.

my favorite part is when I've got the sections done and can start putting the top together. I just love being able to see how the pattern is coming together. I make a lot of quilts were I have an idea in my head and a plan, but I never know just how it's all going to look until I get to that point.

designing the top and then piecing it

Cutting and piecing are my favorite parts. Layering the sandwich is my least liked step.

Well, so far nobody has mentioned this... my favorite part is the free motion quilting - although i will admit that it takes me a little while to “psyche up” for it!

I love picking fabrics. I also love sewing pieces together and making pretty piles of finished blocks.

I like planning the quilt, colors etc and I also really like to fmq. Part that is a little frustrating getting it all sandwiched nicely.

It's hard to pick a favorite part. I think I would have to say the point after cutting fabric when I put pieces up on the design wall and begin to see how my idea is actually going to look.

I love designing and planning, and then hand sewing to finish the binding. Love the entire process, but the excitement of the beginning and the finish are extra sweet!

Planning first, piecing second. Lots of playing with fabric in-between one and two.

Hands down my favorite part is binding and then admiring the finished quilt! But I agree with SBG that squaring-up is definitely a great moment in the process :)

I like to cut fabric.

I also like to fold freshly washed fabric.

Definitely the actual quilting!

I'm going to say the piecing part is my favorite, too. I enjoy FMQing when I get in the groove, but I don't think I enjoy it as much as piecing.

I think buying fabric is it's own separate hobby. :D I enjoy that hobby too.

I like finding a pattern and buying or using from stash just the right fabrics and visualizing in my mind how it's going to look.

I like all of it, even burying threads. My favorite part is free motion quilting on my Brother PQ1500. I’m not expert but I do enjoy doing it.

I can feel the adrenaline rush through my body when I start cutting fabric for a new project. Then I feel it again as I'm putting completed blocks on the design wall to watch the magic. And I have a serenity wash over me when I'm hand binding and thinking about the quilt's destination. That's probably my very favorite: thinking about the response of the recipient.

With a grand total of 3 quilts done, I may change my mind at a later date, but as of right now, I would say my favorite part is putting the plan together, even when I make changes as I go, and then seeing the top done and comparing it to the stages that the plan went through. I take a lot of pictures as I go, so I can go through them and compare how it morphed... :) Great question BTW.

My favorite part is everything up to the point all the blocks are made. I love researching methods, planning, selecting fabric, cutting, sorting, and piecing blocks.

I enjoy all, but my favorite part is FMQ.

Rob

I love piecing but I'm one of those weird people who enjoys sewing the binding by hand.

First is the fabric selection. I love to run my hand over the fabrics. Such a thrill. Then, I love piecing. Something about getting the seams lined up perfectly.

I have always done a lot of hand finishing when I sew so the hand binding is my favorite part. I love the satisfaction of seeing crisp corners and angles. I also have to confess that I love collecting all of the rulers, tools and gadgets that are available. I know most people don't need them, but I have hard time with visualizing the end results as I cut so the specialty rulers help me a lot.

I love reading these answers and getting a glimpse of what “floats our boats”, quiltwise. I would never have dreamed there were so many quilters who love hand sewing binding! :D

quilting it, followed by the piecing.

I love piecing but maybe even more I love deciding which quilt on my list will be next. I only Quilt my smaller tops unless I hand quilt one.

I agree with NZquilter, shopping for and buying fabric is a whole separate hobby. I rarely find a fabric store I can leave without a bag of fabric.😁

Definitely, the piecing....

Calculating the number of squares or pieces needed to complete the pattern and making the first sample block. I find that I am often taking a pattern and adjusting it to be larger or smaller. Then comes the cutting which is more calculating. The rest is work until it comes to adding the binding. I enjoy finishing the quilt with hand sewing the binding.

My favorite is taking my completed quilt to Show and Tell at guild. I love show and tell, it's like a mini quilt show.

Finding just the right fabric and piecing.

I'm having a hard time choosing just one part. I like putting those new fabrics in the washer, pressing and starching them, and cutting the pieces. I might like those parts best because I wouldn't have made any mistakes at those points! But it's so rewarding to start making that first seam, which fills me with hope and the expectation of what that first block will look like when finished. The quilting is nearly always a challenge as far as choosing how to quilt and what color thread to use, but so much fun once I start. Those last stitches of binding are full of anticipation for me as I await the first glimpse of the finished product and result of all that work.

I pretty much like the entire process, but sewing the pieces together is probably my favorite. I've been taking my quilts to a woman for the long arm work, but recently tried the quilting on my home sewing machine and enjoyed that too.

i second this. Although I would add the finishing touch of embroidering and attaching the label.

Forgot I also love precision piecing with lots of pieces in a block and now adding Deb Tucker’s tools to the methods i’ve learned.

I like making and attaching the binding - means I'm almost done!