What quilting advice would you give "the 10 years younger" you?
 

If you could talk to the younger you, what have you learned over the years that if you'd known then, it would have made a big difference??

Have a purpose for every fabric you purchase. Way too much stash.

Refrain from buying so much fabric for the "stash". Buy for specific projects, then actually complete some of those projects before buying more!

Invest instead in better equipment -- an Accuquilt Studio, if you can afford it, or the newer electric Accuquilt Go! Being able to cut pieces precisely faster will allow you to make a lot more quilts.

Don't be afraid to machine quilt some of your creations. Actually starting to machine quilt is more important than being able to machine quilt perfectly.

take it slow on starting projects. push yourself to finish something you have become bored or frustrated with so it doesn't become a ufo. I also agree on limiting fabric purchases.

Buy kits and pre cuts. Buy only yardage to make backings and borders. Buy good quality thread.

Listen to your sister and start quilting 10 years before you did. I kept telling myself I couldn't quilt--it was too hard, took too much time...I had every excuse in the book. My sister finally convinced me to try a small project and I have been hooked ever since.

Buy a "GO" as it saves you so much time that you can cut less and quilt more.

1. You can buy more types of feet than the 2 that came with the machine.
2. You need a new needle after about 8 hours of sewing.
3. You need to oil your machine on a regular basis.
4. Those stores that people call "local quilt shops" do not sell quilts; they sell products to make nice quilts that don't fall apart in the wash. Buy your fabric & thread there!
5. Cotton quilts are supposed to crinkle in the wash. Don't panic!
6. It's nice to listen to other people's input & opinions, but at the end of the day, it's my quilt and I can use whatever fabrics, thread & designs I want with it. (I remember the cute little quilt I made based on a McCall's pattern for my niece with 12 dimensional applique doll dresses on it. The lady at the Big Box cutting counter insisted that I should only use one main color for my quilt. After a lot of back & forth -- both to the cutting counter & the store itself ... and then to Big Box brand #2 so I could stealthily buy more colors, I was so happy I used all the colors. It's a child's quilt & it's meant to be fun. I love it. My niece is still thrilled by it every single day. It's great to gather input, but don't let someone bully you into making a quilt that is to their taste when it's not even for them.)

And finally, a lesson I'm still trying to put into practice ... don't work on more than 2 quilts at a time. You will end up with UFO's and be drowning in projects that may never get done.

Relax and enjoy the journey. Your skills will improve with each project so don't sweat it.

1. only buy what you need for your current project.
2. always buy all you need for your current project, except the backing. Buy that AFTER the top is finished.
3. always do it how you want to do it.
4. if you ask the opinions of others, be prepared to get as many opinions as those you ask. Then, revert back to #3.
5. everyone loves a quilt so never question "should I or shouldn't I"?
6. whether you use miles of thread to quilt striking patterns or pillowcase it, it's still a quilt.
7. pick the brightest, happiest colors and the buy the best fabric you can afford. Even 2 fabrics makes a lovely quilt.
8. if you hate it, finish the top. if you still hate it, use it to dust with.

Some quilts are about the destination. Some are not. Enjoy the journey of the slower ones.

Those that don't turn out to your liking, someone out there will love

Speaking to solely to my younger self, mind you, no one else, and taking into account mistakes I had to learn from along the way from there to here...

• try everything, absolutely everything, and give it at least three honest chances before deciding whether to never attempt it again, for there have been several loves in your life that were not immediate passions;
• put your money into quality supplies and equipment, for they are an investment in your future comfort and joy;
• maintain your machine as well (or better) than you do your vehicle, for you will often drive it at night and on weekends when no mechanic is available;
• never buy precuts or kits, for you learned how to cut fabric before you started kindergarten and there is no need to pay someone to do it for you now that you are grown;
• never, ever, hold back on putting yourself into your work, for it will speak with your voice long after you are gone.

Find a class or group to join so that you can make friends and share questions with.

Attend quilt shows, and any other quilt displays to develop your taste and see the possibilities.

I agree with you 100 %

Susan

I agree with this.

In fact when I find a fabric I like I go through my pattern stash and buy fabrics for my own kits

Don't waste your time working on a quilt you don't like. And I agree about the stash accumulation! My quilting style and fabric choices have changed dramatically over the last 10 years, and I have fabric and kits I'm not so crazy about anymore.

Buy only the fabric you need for a specific project.

When I began making quilts, I bought waaaaaaaay too much fabric for each of them. In part, I didn't know how fabric is measured, but the larger part was that I thought I'd make multiples of successful quilts.

What I've learned over the years is that the most promising, intriguing quilt pattern is the one you haven't made yet!

I'm doing my best to hold to a "no new fabric purchases" pledge while I work through my enormous stash.

ON THE OTHER HAND: If you think you're going to need a whole lot of a specific fabric to complete a quilt you're making, buy all that you need when you see it! Jo~ann Fabrics stocked a particular black-on-black fabric for so many years that I stopped worrying about being able to buy it as I needed it. Alas, it's been completely unavailable for the past 6 months (both in stores and on the website). While I've emailed Jo~ann's to inquire, I'm not expecting a positive response.

1. Figure out what kind of a quilter you want to be and work towards that goal....but don't be surprised if you don't change your mind!
2. Don't try to force yourself to do work you don't love. Life's too short. Everything you work on is a learning experience so if a project doesn't work out as you planned, as long as you learn something from it it's a success.
3. Avoid trendy fabrics when building a stash, and don't build one if you aren't going to work from it. I do applique and scrap style quilts so a stash works for me. However, if I only made specific projects I would avoid it.
4. If you are a stash builder only buy high quality fabrics that you really love. Don't buy it just because it's a bargain, there's a reason it's on sale.
5. Learn technique! I once had a sewing teacher who told us that she was going to teach us the rules so we would know how to break them. If you ever want to win a competition you have to have good technique.
6. The most important thing is to do your own work and don't be intimidated by people who say they know more than you do. They may know more about quilting than you do, but you know more about yourself. Be true to that!

Don't worry about the times when you lose your quilting mojo. Give yourself grace, do something else for awhile and trust that your zeal will return. It always does.

Buy an iron that doesn't leak. Your skin is worth that $30. But you can buy a $4 iron just as good at the thrift store sometimes. Just use the iron because wrinkles matter. So does accuracy.

Go for excellence, not perfection. Excellence is attainable, but perfectionism stunts growth.

Sometimes it's the people you'll never meet who appreciate your quilts the most. Keep making quilts for the love of quilting and the comfort of others.

Haaha, love that. ;)


Besides that take classes.

Take half an hour every day to quilt - even during the week when you work. Even if you don't "think" you feel like it. You know it always makes you relax and you enjoy it so much. Make yourself go into your sewing room every.single.day.no.matter.what. It's what you do for yourself. Don't overlook it.

It's ok to make mistakes, bite off more than you can finish and have fun along the way.
It's also ok to decide in the middle of a project that it just doesn't float your boat. Those pieces you cut so many of can become part of another (or several other) project(s) that you do like.

Join a quilt group. You'll learn more and get great help if you get stuck on something.
Don't buy kits or fabric for retirement.
Only make the quilts you want to make. Forget about what's in vogue (unless you really, really love the look) as that will date your quilt.
Always be on the lookout for new, easier ways to do things.

Do the best I can with what I have.

There will always be someone that is "better" or has "more."

I love my stash and I love my quilt group that meets on Wednesday. I wish I had started sooner in my life but I was always busy with kids, family and career. Now I am totally immersed in quilting. I want to learn more techniques. I basically love 30's but have reached out in many other directions. I love classes and I quilt for pleasure and donation. I do not aspire for ribbons but I love to go to quilt shows. I love supplies, my GO, my light box, special rulers, etc. Ten years ago I was just beginning and I knew then what I know now.. What took me so long?

Do the best you can given your skill level. Less than perfect is fine if it is your best.

The more you piece/quilt the better you become.

Heed the tips of the experts. They usually make life easier and your projects prettier.

It's not a race. Some people like to do things fast and get a lot done. Others like to savor the journey. Just because someone else made 10 quilts last month doesn't mean you have to as well.

You don't have to make king size quilts to be a quilter.

Not everyone uses pre-cuts, has EQ for designing their quilts or Accuquilt for cutting.

Buy the best you can afford but if you can't afford it don't get it. You don't need the latest and greatest machine or every ruler or gadget around to be a quilter.

It's an expensive habit/hobby.

I agree. I bought fabric when on sale at House of Fabric because the employees got 25% off the sale price. I HAVE TOO BIG OF A STASH !

I like Tartans answer. Wish someone had told me that---lol

Well, seeing as I was 13 ten years ago and not yet quilting it is a bit tricky, but I would definitely say to get a job early because quilting is expensive. Also stop procrastinating so much! At everything lol

I would have to say--be selective about giving away your quilts. Some people just don't understand the work involved. A friend made a very detailed miniature wall hanging to commemorate a marriage--names, date, etc. She got a "thank you for the potholder" in return. I make lots of charity quilts but they are simple patterns that I don't fuss a whole lot over. I just enjoy the fabric and the serenity of sewing them.

Slow down and learn to hand quilt. It's a journey, not a race!!

Heed everyone's suggestions on this board then do it your way. It's your project. If you buy precuts check them thoroughly to see how accurate in measurements they are. Throw in a lingerie bag to prewash. Lord only knows who handled them before.

Back in my day, 13 year-olds quilted, chopped wood and walked to school barefoot in snow up to their chins.

Great thread! First as several others have said do not impulse buy fabric and build up a purposeless stash of fabric. I've quilted for 20 years and still have some of the original purchases. They are dated and I have an unmanageable collection of totes, bags and boxes which I'm frantically trying to use up so I can get the styles and colors I now love. I would now buy for a project and complete the project, not just impulse buy. I usually don't have enough of the stash yardage and can't get more. Works great for charity quilts and is certainly much cheaper, but very guilt producing for me.

Second is you do not need a machine with 100 different fancy stitches and options for quilting. A heavier duty basic machine is perfect for quilting and basic sewing. I bought a Pfaff 7570 years ago, but then added bigger, fancier Janomes because I thought I needed the size and features. Not true. My go to machine is still the Pfaff and I would be thousands of dollars richer.

It's not the number of quilts you can make, it's the satisfaction and joy you feel in making the challenging ones even if it takes years!

I have/had a purpose for every fabric I've ever bought, because i swore that I would not buy fabric I did not need. However, sometimes my memory and I forget why we bought it, and that darn thing called a job gets in the way of sewing faster.

Happy quilting
Susan

I've only been quilting for a little over a year, so the one thing I would have told myself 10 years ago, is "start quilting now!"