So, quite a few quilters seem to be mugwumps! You know, mug on one side of the fence and "wump" on the other! ROTFL Great that we can do our own thing and still learn from each other!

One thing that many people have seemed to agree about:

The 'good' scissors are to be used ONLY for fabrics - and woe upon whoever used them for something else!

Yes, me too. Isn't it a shame when an experienced quilter tells a new quilter that there is only one way to do something?

This is exactly why I don't say much on message boards. I do what's right for me.
Scant 1/4 inch- Still don't understand that one.
Change needle after every project- I use it until it breaks, get's dull or I hear a ticking sound.
I prewash everything- they use alot of poisons on the fabric when they ship it over, bugs love the fabric finish.
Dont use steam I'm a spritzer when needed.
I have a straight stitch-only machine so I machine quilt what I can and send out the bigger stuff,anything over a queen. I don't hand quilt, don't have the paitence
I buy fabric wherever I can find good quality, and I have bought good stuff at Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby.
Binding on the straight of grain- it's what works for me.
I'm also a smoking quilter- I don't smoke in the house so not worried about swaps, but I have seen alot of griping about people not making their block's perfect and frankly I don't worry about something being a little bit off, so I stay away from swap's.
I love to read how other people do thing's, I do what works for me and forget about the rest.

Me too! Life is too short...

And don't forget machine versus hand.
We had a saying in the 60s that has wide applications, and seems appropriate here,
"Different strokes for different folks"!!!!!!!

I believe this is actually chiselled in stone on a tablet somewhere....

I do what works best at the time. I do have a nice machine because my 30 year old machine died and I have always wanted to try machine embroidery.

That is me.

Neither side, on the neutral ground. I do whatever makes me happy. Some things I've learned from experience, but have gotten a lot of tips from here and the internet.

I have learned a lot from this board. I do what fits me! I don't wash fabrics and I use steam and starch. I hand quilt, quilts that say "hand quilt". I do my own machine quilting on my domestic machine, lap, twin, queen and even king. Some day I will get a sewing machine that has a larger throat. I don't need a LA and personally can't afford it. I would never get my moneys worth and they just seem to complicated. We all have our own way to do things and non of them are wrong. Just enjoy quilting and learning from the board - the PEOPLE ARE GREAT!!

I won't say that any particular way of doing something is 'wrong' -

BUT I have learned that some ways of doing things give me results that I much prefer!

Never hold on too tight to your side of the fence. You might miss the view from the other side or at least the chance to visit with the neighbors.[/QUOTE]

I love this!! So well said!! Can be applied to all areas of life!

I agree, there is always more than one way to skin a cat...
and I have three kitties, so a cat lover here, (no kitty police please, lol). :D
Each of us was created uniquely and will always have our own preferences and there are some conversations,
(not THIS ONE),...
that should not be had bc the events were experienced SOOOOO differently! :eek:
Btw, I do a mixture of all of the above depending on my mood and energy etc.
So as a quilter I am either a fence sitter or I just love it all.
The thing I feel good about though, is my ability to respect others right to believe as they wish...just go forth and quilt and do no harm. (LOL :shock: :D:D:D )

On the Fence! That way I'm firmly Set as to what Way I choose ! LOl.
'Lily' says 'What Cat, Wheres the Cat?? Eat cat!!

I have 3 kids; ages 8, 11, & 13. They know better than to take my scissors. I have a few they can 'use' but beware if you take them away from my sewing area. I have sewing scissors too, they have to ask to use them.

I too am on the fence. It depends on my mood and my mood is subject to change.

Which 'side' are you on?
 

Then there is the question of do you press seams to one side or press the seams open?

I agree with this.

Buy what I want, when I want, where I want.
Use starch and sizing.
Have hand quilted and sent out for LA
Like to do my on thing mostly.
Love machine and hand appliqué and pp.
BUT, always wash as I can't tell what will bleed until it is put to the test of hot water.
All IMHO...
Love the board and am always learning everyone!

I love this board. I have learned so much. I do whatever works for me. I will say, I'm in love with paper-piecing and I'm trying applique. It's just so much fun to try new things.

I agree with I do what feels best for the project. I have taken classes and learned various methods for various projects, but find that some methods feel better than others for me. We all have our favorite ways to do things, but it is always fun to learn a new method and see if it works for me.

Yea to being open to try different things.

I prefer to wash fabrics before using but bought pre-cut tumblers out of beautiful Asian fabrics that were so beautiful. Of course I did not wash them, and they have made up a beautiful quilt. I will advise the recipient that the fabrics have not been washed so IF they ever have to wash it, it will be have to be handled carefully.

I do machine piece, love my little 2 yr. old Brother, but since all I use is a straight stitch, as long as the machine does a good job of that, the cost doesn't matter.

I only hand quilt. Partly because I love to do it. Partly because machine quilting looks too hard. Partly because I can't afford to send to a long-armer.

I use Magic Sizing instead of starch. It gives enough body to make a good cut, but I don't think it attracts critters like starch does.

I do prefer piecing at this stage, but perhaps on down the road will try applique. I do enjoy hand binding with a blind stitch which I think is an applique stitch.

I think quilting is like any other art. There are many mediums to work with and many ways to get to the finished piece. I hope to always be open to learning from others, but know I will choose what works for me.

I don't believe in rules cause they all don't work all the time for everything. So it is whatever works at the time and what I have on hand to work with. My girlfriend is from the school of only one way I drove her nuts. ex. she taught me how to do quillows and I wanted the tying on the other side than she said I had to do and kept flipping it over on me.
She found that I could do it on the side I wanted I just had to stick my hand in the pillow part to get it on that side. It was funny for me at the time but she sure was getting frustrated hahaha. I just said crafts and sewing is up to your own creative juices on your projects LOL
I guess I give her a hard time cause the more frustrated she gets about something the more I get the giggles can help it she reminds me of I love lucy sometime. Lets admit it lucy was funny.LOL

I agree wholeheartedly.

Like a lot of you have said, I have learned so much from reading this board. It is wonderful for all of us to have a place where we can read tips, get help and share.
The words "easier" and "quicker" are ones I respond to when looking at a different or new method to do something. I love having choices and learning new things.

I'm a "whatever is the best way for me" kind of quilter and believe there is no right or wrong way just different ways. If I had to come up with one rule it would be "you must have fun"

You know what they say......the grass is always greener on the other side! LOL!

I think you missed have these on your list ......
* Thread choices and avoidances
* To set seams or not to set seams
* Sizing vs. Starch vs. Best Press vs. none
* Above, Homemade vs. storebought
* DSM quilting ... scrunch and puddle or roll and bundle
* Pre-cuts vs. yardage

Sometimes I do. And sometimes I don't!

I do.
I learn.
I adapt.
I change.
I learn more.
I adapt more.
I change some more.
I am a work in progress!

One thing that's certain in life ... CHANGE!

I live to break the "rules". Who came up with them anyways? They seriously impede my creative spirit. This is why I will never fit in any guild. I have been sewing for 30 years, but I am fairly new to quilting. I am also a potter and vegetable gardener. (Yeah I know mud and fabric together - go figure.) The only rules I follow in my hobbies are the safaty rules, everything else is up in the air. For me, quilting is art and that said - the sky is the limit - no rules, no boundaries.
- I do not prewash my fabrics because I like them nice and stiff.
- Steam seams to affect the seams, so I use it only on whole cloth.
- I use foundation piecing with crazy quilts - there is no other way to make it work for me.
- And a big NO-NO - I grew up in metric system so 1/4" seam is still a mystery to me. My seams are all the same width, which is the width of my walking foot.
- IF I use binding (which is not always the case), I use my machine to attach it on both sides - nobody can tell.
- When I quilt by hand I use pearl cotton, ribon or whatever is bulky and visible, why bother going through all that trouble if nobody is going to see it.
- I think sergers have a place in a quilting room, I am just too lazy to fuss with it - they are more touchy than your regular sewing machine. I swear by them when sewing garments.
- The best sewing machine is the one you have and that works. I wish I had my old 1892 Singer, but I cannot ship it from Bosnia - too costly and it may never get here. I have a classroom model Singer 5050 and it is a workhorse.

There is a song out that came to mind when I started reading the replies: Do what you want to do, its your thing.
Each of us are so very uniquely different in our sewing/quilting/crafting ways, there are so many things each of us does differently. Different tips, ideas etc..and different things that work for each of us.
Quilt police ? UNLESS you are a master of quilting with many a degrees in sewing/quilting, as the Gecko says: forget about it, and its your thing; do what you want to do.

<dancing in my chair to the song> So there is my 2 cents for what its worth on the whole thing.!!LOL Don't get me wrong; I have tried some of the tips from others and they have helped me out and some well .. let's just say it worked for them, not me.

God made us all differently so why wouldn't it make since that we'd do things differently. Isn't that what makes the world go round; all the different people and all they have to offer. When I give advice to anyone on anything, I tell them to check out all the different info and different points of view as to how something should be done and then find what's best for you. I know for me that's always changing too. I might start out doing something one way and as I get better at it I find there is a better way to do it; for me. I'll normally try anything once and decide if it's for me.

I don't alwasy wash fabric first; depends on the fabric and color. I'm learning to quilt at home because I can't afford to send it out. I'd probably send some out if I could afford it. There are some really tallented LA out there. I've tied quilts and SITD quilts; depends on the quilt. I don't worry about binding being on the bias unless its on curves. I love hand applique and piecing and I have machines older than me and my Ruby isn't even a yr old and I love embroidery too.
I'm like the weather, I'm constantly changing as the need warrants it. I learn more things, which I love doing and then decide if I want to stick to my old ways or try the new things.
The world would be so boring if we all were the same and did everything the same way.

I always wash my fabric before cutting.
I get the best buy I can get on nice fabric wherever it is sold.
I don't hesitate to use starch if the fabric needs it.
I steam, or not, whatever I think that particular fabric needs.
I have a vintage machine, and it works beautifully.
I prefer piecing, but have done a little applique.
I tried PP once, and liked it, but have not done any since.
I prefer hand quilting, but have had a LA quilter quilt a couple of quilts for me.
I tied one quilt on request years ago, and didn't like it.
I make my own binding and cut it 2 1/2", then fold in half and press. I sew it to the front on machine, then fold to the back and hand stitch.

I think the process of making a quilt is a personal choice, and I never saw one I didn't think was pretty, in it's own way.

Good thread. With so many fence sitters, we may actually be lowering it. :) That can only be a good thing, creating a clearer view of both sides.

I'm one of those people who "never" says "never" LOL...I am not opposed to trying new ideas, old ideas, crazy ideas, etc. Whatever works is great with me!

Me too. I do what works best at the time.

I wish I had time to read everyone's reply, but just don't. When someone tells me that is not the way to do it, I say show me the "law" that says I can't do it this way. That shuts them up. As far as sewing machines and tools go it is the same way,,,,Show me the "LAW".

True artists don't follow rules! So there! Hmmmph! :D

I agree with what EVERYONE says! (that was easy)

I am so glad there are no quilt police on this board as I do whatever at the moment. I have one newer inexpensive machine but the others are all older. One Kenmore from the seventies one Kenmore from the eighties (given to me) one fw from the forties and the newer two year old Singer portable. My fabric I buy from wherever I am when I see something I like from my lqs to Joanns to Walmart and any place else I can find what I like as long as it feels nice and depending on what project I want it for.