So, now what to do?
#42
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: central Indiana
Posts: 225
What wonderful advice from everyone.
I know I am doing these things;
1. Putting it kinda away, so I can clean my sewing room,
2. Going to the gym, tomorrow, Friday, it is back to Zumba,
3. I am going to work on my taxes,
4. Start with a glass of wine a nice cabernet and re-read all of the tutorials I have, total count 7 and see which one seems the easiest, get out the scraps and the Thangles and see if I can make something happen.
Love you all,
JulieM
I know I am doing these things;
1. Putting it kinda away, so I can clean my sewing room,
2. Going to the gym, tomorrow, Friday, it is back to Zumba,
3. I am going to work on my taxes,
4. Start with a glass of wine a nice cabernet and re-read all of the tutorials I have, total count 7 and see which one seems the easiest, get out the scraps and the Thangles and see if I can make something happen.
Love you all,
JulieM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: NYS Finger Lakes Region
Posts: 1,178
Don't avoid it indefinitely. You bought it, you CAN make it. Read, read, read, then start simple. Perhaps a practice pot holder, a hot mat, a place mat on which to place a vase. Practice will make it easier, and those items are non-threatening. It's the beginning that's the hardest part.
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal North Carolina
Posts: 626
I am working on a pinwheel quilt now with little 9 patch blocks in the sashing. When I put my pinwheels together I thought "Hey that wasn't so bad". Then I sewed my pinwheels to the sashing strip and nothing was matching. I wanted to pack it all up, but I spent a lot of money and this is for my bed. I realized that I needed to square up my blocks. As soon as I did that EVERYTHING started going together great. So stick with it you will be happy you did and it is a wonderful learning experience.
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,955
I too took forever to start my first quilt till the girls at work threatened to cut the fabric for me - then got so excited once I started finished in two weeks while working full time! Move it move it move it! You can do this, you go girl! Don't forget to show us the photos!
#47
Julie, half square triangles aren't the monsters I used to fear too. Just like everything else here, there are tips and techniques to learn. Once you have them down, the world of new patterns is wide open to you. Try using the pattern on some scrappy fabrics to get used to the technique that came with the pattern. Then try the class. Then try a tutorial on here. (Or whatever order you choose). You'll be SO proud of yourself once you whip triangles into shape.
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Livonia, MI near Detroit
Posts: 627
I would like to encourage you to continue to take the hand-piecing class. It is great to put the work in progress in your purse or tote and carry it with you to do at the odd time when you are waiting around. With any kind of hand piecing, I found the most important thing is to mark your 1/4" seam on each of the fabric pieces then make sure when pinned together the pin goes thru the marked line on both sides of the fabric. Also never stitch past that 1/4" point at the corners. I usually put 3-4 small running stitches on the needle before I pulled it through and did a backstitch every other needlefull. I found that it was much easier to match seams because you could manipulate the fabric to make it match. It can be very relaxing once you get going. I did a sampler quilt with a different block each month while I was on a mission trip in Alaska. I called it my 'prayer quilt' since with each group of stitches I placed on my needle, I said a prayer for someone or something. As far as them holding up, I guess that would depend on how hard it was used. I still have quilts that my greatgrandmother pieced by hand. Best of luck to you. Believe in yourself and take it one step at a time. Oh, I forget to mention pressing. I am pretty fanatical about my seams so I made sure my seams were well pressed before matching them and sewing. I would use a wood pressing stick when I did not have access to a hot iron. For me, it was my secret "weapon" and I have had many compliments on the blocks. One person thought they had been machine stitched and only when I actually showed her the back did she believe it was hand pieced. You can do it too. Blessings.
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