Grannyh67

I have learned so much being new to quilting and all. I read this blog every morning and have my coffee. It is hard to say which one I would chose to be the best one. Learned about batting, elmers glue, making binding look good, lots of tips here and lots of wonderful people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mariah

I joined QB about 9 yrs. ago, and didn't have a clue what I was doing on the board. The best thing for me are all of the people I have met, and that everyone is so willing to help in any way they can. I have made some wonderful friends. I saw an ad for Konstain's book about basics of quilting, with detailed pictures. I bought it--my first E-Book, and it is wonderful. I know I can go to that and get help on most anything related to basic quilting. It is wonderful for binding, scalloped edges, most anything.Mariah.

Chis2

The Elmer's glue basting, I would have never tried it on my on, but so worth it. I also like the comments on the different machines and products. It gives you an honest preview of what is good and what isn't and what you can expect to pay for these items. Thanks to all who contribute ideas it makes the experience so much more pleasurable .

Sassy08

When I first glanced at this, I immediately thought, "This one's going to be the best tip yet! haha!

Sassy08

Ditto--I totally agree!!

mpeters1200

When my Gramma started to show signs of Alzheimer's, I decided to make her a 9 block sampler in very bright colors. She loved extremely brights and hated my preferred muted traditional palette. I picked 9 blocks that pointed out a connection between her and I. I wrote a little memory story about each block and had it bound at kinko's so she'd have a book to read to go with her quilt. I wanted a grandmother's fan in the quilt and hadn't made one since my very first quilting class. I posted on here the problems I was having getting the blades attached to the handle correctly. The curve was kicking my butt. I ended up making 4 or 5 of them and I couldn't get that part of the block. I kept having to make more cause I seam ripped and resewed them so much the pieces were falling apart.

The gal who wrote the grandmother's fan tutorial on here contacted me and asked if she could help. I had no sewing experience and had no clue what easing was. She wrote her very first tute, just on that block. A light bulb went on and I understood it, but still couldn't piece it correctly. Another quilter from this board, living just a half an hour away, contacted me and we met at her favorite quilt shop. She used the same tutorial advice, but showed me step by step what to do. I made a beautiful grandmother's fan block thanks to these two fabulous quilting board member. I finished Gramma's Quilt in January, 2009. She passed away in December, 2010. She knew I was related to her at the end, but wasn't sure how. But she sat down with me the September before she died and showed me this beautiful quilt her granddaughter had made. She had read the book with it so much, some of the pages showed signs of her doggearing them. She couldn't tell me which granddaughter it was that made it for her (she only had 3), but she was so passionate about the memories and she said she didn't remember anything in the book, but learned something new about her granddaughter every time she read it. It blessed me to my core.

When Gramma passed away, I inherited her quilt. It sits at work on my chair and every time I look at it I'm reminded of our last conversations. I couldn't have ever finished it without the help on this board. I've picked up tons of tricks and tips over the years, but this one is my favorite.

RedGarnet222

I think the thing I have learned here is to machine quilt. It was such a great mystery to me and seemed so scary to even try. I don't think it was so much of a tutorial, but seeing the finished quilts and how they were quilted up close in pictures encouraged me to try on my own. Turns out machine quilting is so FUN! No one ever told me that part. The designing is really such a personal thing, like out quilt tops, so distinct you can almost tell who did them without looking at the name of the quilter.

I love the photos from the different areas of the country showing quilt shows. I would never be able to go to these shows, but, here they are in pretty much all their glory to see here on the board.

I think the best tip I ever got on this board was to knot off the hand sewing of the binding down in the seam allowance. It is hidden and starting a new thread is just as easily done ( taking a stitch in the seam allowance) hiding all those thread tails inside the seam allowance and catching the tiny edge of the binding above. Then you continue on hand sewing the binding down. My work is so much nicer finding this tip here on the board.

RedGarnet222

Oh my mpeters1200 ... your story is so VERY touching. It bought tears to my eyes. It is a little like that movie the journal.

Pete

I didn't know there was a right and wrong side ...do tell.

tildiemae

Beautiful story...that's what makes our quilting world such a wonderful group of people. And my favorite advice has been the Elmer's glue basting