I think that sometimes we are our worst quilt police. As far as the rest, up theirs' I am too old to worry about "what is right , sometimes it is just how it will work" Just enjoy what you are doing....

I think that sometimes we are our worst quilt police. As far as the rest, up theirs' I am too old to worry about "what is right , sometimes it is just how it will work" Just enjoy what you are doing....

i didn't mean i was going to do a 1/3" seam - just was an example of breaking the rules. (tho I am sure some have ended up being 1/3 and 1/5 and 3/8 etc! LOL)

Like Aurora I have great memories of my Grannie pieceing using a cardboard or paper template. I have some of those cardboard templates and you can see the many pencil marks she made tracing the pattern. I also have some of the original Kansas City Star newspaper clippings from the 1930's. They mention the 1/4" allowance. Besides conserving material I also believe this was done so that when quilting there is not so many layers to quilt through since a lot of the quilting was done 1/4" in from the seam. A lot of those vintage quilts were quilted at Quilting Bees or community quilt groups and there had to be some consistency. The "Quilt Police" probably did not exist back in the day because women did not have the internet to tell them they had to do something. This reminds me of a woman I met who did Swedish Weaving like I do and the woman who taught her told her she could only use Red Heart yarn. Actually you can use any brand you want.

I just like to follow a pattern. When I see a picture of a quilt, I would like mine to look as near to it as possible. If it says do a 3/4" seam instead of a 1/4", that is what I will do. If I don't, then it is not going to look anything close to the picture. Points look nicer if all the seams were sewn the correct width. Just my opinion. Like everyone else said, its your quilt make it anyway you little heart desires. You'll love it!!

Yep, I make up my own rules...as I go.

I too a baby boomer and I do what works for me and I'm happy with the out come.

I too a baby boomer and I do what works for me and I'm happy with the out come.

I don't think we have real "quilting police" but perhaps that is another title for "Quilt Judges". So if it isn't in a contest, just enjoy what you love.

There are no set rules, rather suggestions of what works for each person. And just because it works for me doesn't mean that it will work for you and vice versa. The only time you should follow "rules" is if you'd paid for a seminar/workshop where there's famous teacher like Carol Doak, Ricky Tims or whomever. Then follow their instructions to the letter. Later you can pick and choose which of those instructions you want to adapt for yourself. The only reason I say that is because you've paid money to learn so go ahead and learn their methods. You never know what you might want to keep.

I know the feeling -- some of the quilters attending an international quilt show last year with me were horrified when I said that I had used pecale sheets for background, backing, and even some appliques -- those quilts have held up to washings and large doggies with claws -- my quilts are for using, not great art work

Most rules are from experience and they are rules to follow. Some rules are profit rules. I ask myself Who will profit the most by making this rule? the quilter or the person who is paid to say it is a rule.

I tell my students, "It's your quilt!" That's the bottom line. Do all the research you want, take all the suggestions/advice you want and decide what is best for you; after all "It's your quilt!"

As far as I am concerned it doesn't matter as long as the width of the seams are the same through out.

If you are following a pattern then the seam size will make a difference, but each machine will sew different 1/4" size seams; as will the same machine with different sewers will have a different size seam because each person sees edges differently. Do what is comfortable for you and the fabric and how your end project will be used. Baby or pet quilts might have a larger seam than the show quilt or wall hanging. Just enjoy the hobby of quilting that is all the really matters.

What rules? There are rules for quilting?
Good grief, I missed that class.
All kidding aside, unless you are entering a show, are into the artistic quilting, or are making a living at quilting, it's your quilt and you can do what you want.
Amma said it best I think and alway's remember to have fun and enjoy what you are making.

I believe the quilt police is a term used for people who enter shows that must meet exacting standards.
That is what they do to determine a fair assessment of every person's quilts.

That said the standard seam allowances are 1/4 inch for quilting and 5/8 for sewing most garments. Who decided these I have no clue but they are tried and true methods for years. If you use another person's pattern and when you start changing things to suit yourself your quilt or garment most probably won't turn out correctly. Course we have all run into patterns with mistakes. When you design your own quilt you have to do the math to make your squares and triangles, etc. all line up and fit correctly. That is a lot easier said than done.

Ultimately you can do anything your own way but the reason some of the seam guidelines are there is because that is what generations of quilters have learned through trial and error giving us the gift of their experience.

Thank You, Very well put!!

I agree.

The biggest beef I have is when people say they have to use 100% cotton. Our ancestors used what they had. This means I may need to use 50/50 to fill in a color since I don't have much all cotton to choose from here. I don't worry about the "quilt police". I realize that all cotton is nicer, but the 50/50 works.

Also sometimes, since I use used clothing...I don't always know what the material is if the tags are cut out or the thing is home made.

i THOUGHT THAT WHEN i REACHED 40 YEARS OLD, i COULD EITHER USE MY OWN MIND OR LOSE IT. i CHOSE TO USE IT. iT IS MY QUILT AND i'LL DO IT MY WAY.

If the "quilt police" begin arresting people, we will be in great company! Make sure and bring along your thimbles, needles, thread and a block of material we can work into a quilt! LOL

just like most everything else in life . . . it is best to know what the alleged rules are so you may break them!!! i believe every quilter every where needs to read the book: THAT DORKY HOMEMADE LOOK, QUILTING LESSONS FROM A PARALLEL UNIVERSE, by Lisa Boyer. the lessons learned by reading this will make you feel "normal"!!!

What rules? It's YOUR quilt!

Ok, so I haven't read this complete thread, but thought I'd stick my 2 cents' worth in here. It helps me if I know the "becauses"!
Avoid bias edges because they stretch and distort the shape of the block easily. (Press with iron up and down, not side to side when working with bias.)
Keep a consistent seam so everything measures out according to the pattern. And l/4 inch seam (Oh have I had difficulty with them!!!) are necessary so points are not cut off.
Sharp needles work better and dull blades cut fingers easier than they cut fabric. That's a promise.
Can't comment on interfacin from experience as I have never used it!! Saving that for the future.

Removing lint from the machine results in less problems with tension and fewer trips to the shop for cleaning and repairs.

Bottom Line: If it works for you, do it. It's your quilt and having a good time doing it is what quilting is all about.

Sew------ Happy New Year and Happy Quilting!

I think each person has her/his own method, and when they teach or write a book, it sounds like they are telling you their way is the ONLY way, but, of course, we know better. <G> I just take it as THEIR way, not necessarily the ONLY way, and I can walk through their instructions without feeling challenged or threatened. Then, if I find a better or easier way, voila! But we also know that the self-appointed quilt police are always going to be with us. That must be quilting's fly in the ointment.

I also thought quilt police were the ones who would pick apart my pride and joy that I worked sooo hard on . . . Was called "quilt police" when I noted on a board that someone was off topic. I would say do your best and know that you can always improve. There have been previous posts with basics "rules" which are really just meant to help you succeed when you put your heart and soul into your quilt. In my opinion, basics like straight when it should be, no puckers when there shouldn't be and most importantly - do you like it?? are the most important.

I like your train of thought. I think the rules only apply when one is entering a quilt in a show to be judged for a ribbon otherwise it is just like you said.

Oh my, now I'm dowdy???!!!!! lol I live in jeans and T shirts!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I think that quilting is suppose to be enjoyable - I just check out different techniques that various quilting authors come up with - adopt the ones that work for me & the quilting police can go to )*_)&)(^&+_)

Life is really too short to worry what others - unless entering a quilt in a show - think of my work. If I like the results I'm a happy camper.

Well, I had other words but this is a family board. Imagine what the folks on "What not to wear" would say!!!! They might not use "dowdy" either.

Not very long in the club stupid as I was I thouhgt the police were the cats or dogs on pictures sitting on completed quilts..........ha ha. Never thought about real police.

You only have to worry about the quilt police if you use someone's pattern, in a manner that 'infringes' on their right to copyright. For this reason, when I make a quilt to sell, or show, it is always my own design. It is also why I quit taking any more magazine subscriptions. If I don't see their pattern, I can't copy it. No quilt police in my universe!

There are many "rules" when you enter your quilt in a show. Otherwise, it's your call. As long as you are satisfied with your work. Actually, quilting is a place where one can be creative and invent new techniques.
I've heard some horror stories about the "quilt police" in shows, but I don't plan to enter into any contests although I respect people who do. I just wanna have fun!!

Nowadays most patterns are designed with 1/4" seams in mind, so to get the intended result we have to make the 1/4" seam or risk losing tips of angles. If there are no angles in your design, it makes no difference what seam you use. Just take all this into consideration when you plan how big you want your quilt to end up, because each seam takes up 2-times whatever your seam width is.

Many have pointed out that the only rules mostly apply to juried shows. I think that even that is changing. When I started going to quilt shows, there were hardly any machine quilted pieces, it was mostly hand quilted. Then you started seeing machine quilting, raw edge applique, picture quilts and now I see a lot of thread art or drawing with thread. And I think quilt shows have gotten a lot more interesting since these 'innovations' have been allowed. So, quilt for the enjoyment. You may come out with a quilt technique that no one's ever thought of and we may see it in future quilt shows. First and foremost, have fun.

If you don't use a consistent seam, I have learned over and over, your pieces do not match up properly. I believe in personal 1/4, unless, I am doing a swap, or something to that order. All the other "rules" I break frequently. I don't believe there is just one right way to do things. Many patterns are set up for a 1/4 seam and don't work properly if you use a different one.

I belong to a Yahoo Liberated Quilters group....having fun with our quilting is top priority...matching points is not, nor are straight seams ...wonkiness in our blocks is strongly encouraged. We say "Boo" to the quilt police!!
I started out 26 years ago doing traditional quilting and stressing about every little thing. And while I admire those quilts and the painstaking work it takes to make one knew it wasn't for me! We are all different in our creativity...what fits one doesnt fit another! We can all appreciate each others work..there is total freedom in the wonderful world of quilting! I am grateful for that....and love being "liberated"!! PS..I'm a babyboomer too:)

Let me put this in my perspective.....the so called quilt police are those self designated people who are free to express their opinion and preferences. However, there are "rules" to any craft. There are "rules" to cooking etc and it doesn't make any difference who makes them. If you built a new kitchen cabinet you would want someone who works by the "rules" of carpentary. The doors and drawers must fit. It is the same with quilting. If you want the pieces to fit then certain rules must be abided by. These rules are: accurate measuring; accurate cutting and accurate piecing. If you want it to fit together like a jig saw puzzel then these "rules" must be followed. Beyond this, it is your choice. When the pieces fit then there is less frustration in piecing and making the quilt. If you don't care if the seams don't fit or points match then it doesn't matter. Your choice is pattern, colors and style (as selecting a kitchen cabinet).

If the entire quilt will be made the same, you can make the rules. However, when swapping with partners or doing an IRR quilt, anything where other people are working on the same projects, something as standard as seam allowance can be very important. If you do 1/3" seams and I use 1/4" seams our blocks will not be the same. Of course, if your block is measured and meets the 12.5" requirement, I guess it doesn't matter. Uniformity is what counts.

What I meant to say is in making traditional quilts..there are of course rules!
1/4 inch seams have to be made for the blocks ....points must meet as best one can ...things need to be straight..or a traditional quilt will just look poorly made.
I'm not for that., what I meant to say is there are different styles of quilts, traditonal, art quilts, liberated quilts where the point is "wonkiness"!! I have found that I don't have fun making traditional quilts just as there are those who would be driven crazy by things not being perfect. I just meant to say there are choices to be made..and much freedom to make the choices in quilting. When I go to a quilt show I love looking at all the different styles...