I totally agree with this response. And don't be hesitant to pick out stitching that isn't right. I've never regretted it unless I found I had it right in the first place. LOL

I have learned that it never hurts to ask a question as long as you are asking this group I have learned that everyone here is willing to help and also willing to admit that they may be wrong after all everyone does things differently and no question is to silly THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT

I've learned that the "man on the flying white horse" is my BFF. 8->

I agree with all.

I've learned to NOT use the rotary cutter when tired...>OUCH!

I'm with you. I'm doing a simple 9 patch, but I'm taking my time. Ironing (with starch) enjoying the feel of the fabric and how nicely things are matching up (most of the time). Maybe the artistic side of me is enjoying things more.
bdrbi

Thank you all so much for your tips and advice. My sewing room and computer room are all in one so I check the message board several times aday while I am in here quilting.I was in some what of a slump but hearing from all of you has given me brand new inspiration! Susie Sew-a-lot

Measure twice, cut once.

I have learned that I really do matter to the folks on this site and that quilters respond with great compassion, understanding and helpful suggestions when I feel inadequate about my quilting.

I've learned that x amount of hours spent on this board are equal to x amount of hours I am neither quilting nor doing housework. I've also learned that it'll all work out ok in the long run and I can stay on the quilting board as long as I want to as long as no one mentions it to my DH. 8-) :-D

Quilting should be enjoyable. It is okay to make simple patterns. Changing fabrics and colors can make a big difference in the look of the finished quilt. Once in awhile we should try to stretch our skill level, but not so often that we forget to have fun.

I've learned that it is important to RETHREAD my machine EVERY time I sit down to sew. That means even if I just leave the room for a minute. It saves time in the long run. It's amazing how many gremlins are just waiting for us to turn our backs.

I learned about the re-threading from my Pfaff dealer -AFTER an expensive repair. She told me it could have been avoided if I just did that one simple thing. You may NEVER have the problem I did, but why take a chance.

And always check to be sure you presser foot is DOWN before you start to sew. That rat's nest of thread on the under side of your sewing project is just WAITING to happen ~ ~ ~

I learned that ripping is part of making something I'm proud of.. and that I'd rather rip than look at something that should have been taken out for the next umpteen dozen years!

I've also learned that one of the sweetest thing you can do is when you hear your friend say "OH NO!" is to put down what you're doing and help her rip!!

I have learnt to enjoy each process.
I have learnt that I have a lot to learn.
I have learnt to be thankful for the day I found this board - all this expertise and no question is silly and no one is judged. Love to you all.
Colleen

Hi CQ,

I beg to differ. You are experienced now. Look at all you have learned and how well you can state it. I know you won't repeat those errors. Unfortunately many quilters never go beyond making those error ... and never to learning how to avoid repeating them.

Maybe we could call you a moderately experienced quilter.

ali

All of the above.

But I have to remind myself to make sure the measurement is correct! Too many times I've measured twice, but incorrectly! :-(

I have learned to always press the piece as sewn, THEN open the piece and press seam towards the dark fabric. The hardest thing for me was to press, NOT iron.

I've learned that no matter how many quilts I make,i'll always have material. I think it multiplies while i sleep.

Yes, I am learning that you have to square your material very accurate before cutting, otherwise you end up with pieces fraying away in front of your eyes !!

Gosh I always square my material and yet there are some fabrics that no matter what I do they will fray like there is no tomorrow anyway. Very frustrating!

Maybe1day

I found out that no matter hoe careful you are when sewing a scrappy quilt the edges never line up and when you come to squaring the quilt you end up cutting a lot of fabric off that you could have had for something else--a waste of time sewing them on.
Also when trying to sew sashing on and stippling up to it the sashing has a bad habit of wrinkling up as if I stretched it when sewing.

I learned to shut the rotary cutter guard when finished cutting. OUCH.

I have really enjoyed this topic, reading all of the comments and advice. I am a real newbie - I swore that quilting was one of the things I would never do - and here I am all wrapped up in it! I did have a question - what kind of starch are you all using? I went to Hancock's and looked for a product called Best Press, and I guess it goes out the door about as quickly as it comes in. So my next step is to go to the grocery store and try to find something until the Best Press product is back on the shelves. I saw "Magic Sizing" in Target - would that work for starch? Or do you folks have something you like better? Thanks for any suggestions you might have!

ShirlR: I read recently on a different topic that Magic Sizing was better than starch because it won't attract bugs. Also, have read on this board that Wal-Mart has a product called Mary Ellen's (spray starch, I think) that many give the stamp of approval. Hope this helps. :-)

LOL!! My DM wanted to use up the 'scraps' she had left after making 5 quilts for all the women in my DS' family. Each quilt had bits of the same fabric w/different extras added (if you know what I mean) She just finished her 4th quilt w/the 'scraps'!! And we're not talking scrap yardage here, but truly SCRAPS. What a hoot she is! Talk about mulitples - any quilt she makes becomes multiple!!

Best Press is really called Mary Ellen's Best Press. Mary Ellen is the same one that use to (maybe still does) have the HGTV show with all the household tips.....I can't remember the name of the show. I don't remember seeing a starch @ WM with Best Press or Mary Ellen on it. I buy the concentrated STA FLO and dilute it to my desired strength. Best Press is expensive and doesn't go very far.

Thank you so much for saying that.

:wink:

I've learned that sometimes the slower you go when making a quilt/wallhanging the quicker you will finish it. For me, speed seems to equal mistakes which mean a lot of seam ripping.

:-D Thank you so much, Brenda! Not attracting bugs is really important when we think of quilt preservation! Wow, I hadn't heard that yet. Again, thanks loads! Shirley

I've learned your all the best. I check this board several times a day and learn something new everytime.

If you don't understand the directions just keep reading them until a light goes off!!!

To my sewing room I go,
simple quilter

Here, we call that "un-sewing". :-)

[quote=CompulsiveQuilter]I'm plugging away at a scrappy row-by-row sampler, and with each row I've decided to follow one more "rule" learned from you guys and a multitude of books.
I've learned, YES, starch matters. I even starched the noodles I used.
I've learned, YES, mark carefully. I eyeballed a row of flying geese on the small stars and the result ... well, you can figure it out
I've learned, YES, you must square each block (and sometimes the components of each block)
I've learned that YES, I should test my 1/4" seam and mark my machine. And I thought I knew my machine so well!
I have learned that if you don't square up blocks that it is a pain to put a top together. Each seam that you make a tiny bit over steals from the next row that you have to attached to and eventually there is no fabic to attach the border too. No fudging.
I have also learned that its important to have good rulers, sharp scissors and rotary cutter and for Gods sake do not cut fabric with a rotary when your tired. I have seen too many veteran quilters make a emergency trip to the doctor to get their wound sewn up. I also learned when you finish a big project you need to change the needle and do not wait until the old one breaks.
You sew best when you have the same thread in the bobbin as well as on the spool for your project. Polyester stretches. It used to screw up my old Singer til someone told me that the bobbin does not like polyester. It can mess up the calibration. It costs $175.00 to have your machine calibrated and cleaned these days.
What you sew late at night when your tired may well have to be ripped out in the morning after you have rested.


I've learned that YES, you should re-check the design wall after a good night's sleep.
I've learned that NO, I'm not an "experienced" quilter. At best I'm a "confident beginner" who got in trouble with being lazy and over-zealous.
What have YOU learned that really matters?[/q

I agree!!!!!

I agree!!!!!

I've learned that it is well worth it to rip an inch from a piece of fabric and take all the time I need to be certain that it is on the straight of grain before cutting.

I've just learned that too!

I've learned that when I "listen" to what my machine is telling me, we are the best team in the world! She tells me when I'm about to, or have already, screwed up. If I ignore her, she'll make me pay. And pay. So I guess I've learned she is the Alpha and I'm her servant.

And I've learned to challenge myself to sometimes make something I'm not wild about but someone else might really like, and to do an even better job on it than I might with something I'm very excited about.

I agree with that too. I have gotten so frustrated and kept trying to work on it but finally walking away and taking a break and come back and it all clicks together most of the time.

I really have to be careful to cut correctly or I end trying to figure out how to use the mistake I made. To be patient.