I need to know where to start?

where to start what?

Hi and welcome to the board from Iowa. Start what?

start quilting???

If you are starting to quilt.
Step 1... find a SIMPLE quilt pattern ... a 9 patch is a very good place to begin. Most beginners needs to start with a 12 inch block
Step 2... decide if you want a "scrappy" - many colors or a "planned" - only certain colors
Step 3... decide on what colors you want in your quilt....
Step 4... Accurately cut out your squares...
Step 5... sew these squares together using 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Step 6 ... post pictures to this board so we can ooo and ahhh over your beautiful creation.

Hey I thought this was a 12 step program!

LOL.... Nope... only 6 :D

I see you've been with us for over a year and you still haven't started!!?? :D :D :D How can we help?

It's 12 if you do all of them wrong the first time :)

LOL... STOP talking about me!~!

Well, you forgot some details:

3a Buy fabric.
3b Prewash fabric
3c Press fabric
5b Realize that you sewn two pieces wrong sides together and rip it.
5c Resew them
5d Press the top

Bingo, we are a 12-step program. lol

buy a basic begnner book and work thru the pages. Look for Beginning Quilting by Alex Anderson
You need a progression of instructions to follow.

I feel someome pulling my leg!

Here is a good place to start :D:D:D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-66776-1.htm

Too much joy ladies!

...uh, well no, that'll be never.

Don't forget the starch somewhere in that program if you are cutting pieces on the bias.

Do you sew at all? If not you might want to take a beginner quilting course so they can go over the machine etc. and let them know up front that you are new to sewing and quilting so they can put you in the correct class.

with coffee and chocolate, of course.......but a good basic class is always a good place to start, learn the basics of handling the fabric - how to cut, how to sew a consistent quarter inch seam, some basic blocks like nine patch, friendship star, rail fence. Pretty soon you can make a sampler quilt of all the basics and then you are hooked!!!

This place is always good for a laugh.
Some start with the fabric others with a pattern. Go for something not too difficult, that way the process will be fun and not a chore. Ask questions here if needed and someone will have an answer.
Good luck and keep us posted.
kathyd

This is a great idea if you are a self starter who likes to work at her own pace. This is how I learned, along with help from my aunt. Taking a beginner class is also a good idea.

I got a book from the library on making a simple sampler quilt. That will teach you the basic blocks where you will learn a skill with each one. If you like the book, buy it online, used and start your "library."

Join a quilt guild in your area. They love to take new members under their wing, they might have inexpensive workshops and they usually have a book "library" that their member donate to.

I would take a beginners class too, if you can. Or even sit down with another quilter if you know one. You will learn more tips and shortcuts in a day that will save you so much time, money and headache in the end. Good luck, stick with it and let us know how it goes.

I agree with most of the above but number one is BUY FABRIC YOU LOVE or you may not finish!!! GOOD LUCK and just begin.

I agree with most of the above but number one is BUY FABRIC YOU LOVE or you may not finish!!! GOOD LUCK and just begin.

Step 3a - wash, dry and iron/press your fabrics before cutting them

Step 7 ... press as you go

Yep, definately - find the pattern first, then go from there.

Start with prayer and everything will come.

I wondered if there really was a morningstar signed on --because when I joined I was told someone already had the name. Eventually I did get close with my second "n"
left out. Guess I should have joined sooner rather than being a lurker for months.
Thought by this time you would have started some big projects.

I started by reading "The Complete Idiots Guide to Quilting" and "Quilting for Dummies."

Lots of advise! Are you ready.....set.....go!!! :thumbup:

I suggest starting with a beginnger quilt class at a LQS or college continuing education department. That's what I did, starting with a T-shirt quilt, with a great instructor and fun fellow beginners.

I had no idea I would like quilting when I started, but, like others, I got hooked!

If you are talking about "starting to quilt"

Start with something no larger than a crib size or lap quilt

because:

The odds of finishing it are better
It's big enough to be useful
One won't have a lot of money tied up in materials - just in case you decide this isn't as much fun as you thought it might be

12 step if you want to admit you have an adiction and want to quit. This is not a bad habit so we have never come up with the 12 steps.

take a deep breath, and be sure you have dark choclate in the fridge. then just do it ! actually this works for everything.

I love this place!
And the beautiful people!
They put a smile on my face!
Thanks for that!
A big hug!

PS: The first ... You must lose the fear!
We all did something wrong the first time! The second comes out better! And the third ... we're on the road!
A big hug!

Hey I thought this was a 12 step program![/quote]


Yes, it is a 12 Step Program. You drive to your favorite fabric shop and park 12 steps away from the front door.

:D

I read this really quick and I thought the book was "Quilters are Dummies" :-D

Then why do I keep getting 18 steps on my quilts?????? :oops: :oops: :oops:

you keep repeating steps???? :D

I have worked really hard on the "buy fabric" step. Probably repeated it several times, and definitely the "rip it" step. You are probably right. I just keep repeating the same steps over and over. LOL
:-D :-D :-D
Just to much fun, I don't want it to end.........,which explains all of the UFO's around here. I never let them end. :roll: