Wanabee Quiltin

I've been surfing the web looking at various sights and have watched videos about binding, about rulers and sewing that scant 1/4 inch seam-you name it and I've seen it lately. It's rather disheartening to me to read that all my lovely rulers might not be cutting correctly. And that my 1/4" foot on my Bernina might not be working as I would like. I want to sew my quilts together as good as possible and have decided to take it slower and just use one brand of ruler to cut with for each quilt. I also think I will tape my Bernina with the stitch width because I forget to move the needle over all the time. What are some of the problems you encounter when you piece a top ?

marge954

My problem comes with a purchased pattern that has minimal instructions. The last two patterns I purchased left me frustrated and I couldn't figure out how to put part of it together. The directions said "put together like shown in picture." Really? The picture didn't explain a thing to me. I've also noticed that magazines are also starting to give brief directions. The books I've collected over the years have pages of instruction and pictures.
If I was a beginner with no sewing experience and I tried a pattern today I would never make but one quilt.

sewingitalltogether

My biggest dilemma is color. I fuss and fret about what color to use. I causes my stress uncertainty and slows me down.

tallchick

The list is long and endless:

1: Patterns that are confusing when they should not be, I wish they would keep it simple and to the point.

2: Puchasing big ticket items that come with no "training" or handbook and being told I can print out a 160 page manual online if I want to. Why was this manual not included on my purchase, really !!

3: Fabric manufacturers who have no care about the quality of fabric.

tessagin

I was having trouble with color choices then looked at the selvage edges to see what coordinates. Helps a lot. I save the selvages for this reason. I may see the color of fabric on a different selvage and can use that for a guide. If the instructions are confusing I try YouTube for video tutes that may help. I often need visual because of misspelling and some instructions have a flashback effect.

BETTY62

Understanding directions that are way to complicated and/or incomplete.

popover

Finding enough money to buy fabric so I can keep on quilting. All else is gravy.

Irishrose2

Sewing straight. Lately I've been curving in near the end of a seam.

Doggramma

I have a problem with uneven pieces, no matter how carefully I cut things. It seems I need to ease in pieces all the time. I think it's my eyesight.

sewbizgirl

No dilemmas with piecing but I wish my tension would stay balanced longer and my bobbins wouldn't run out so fast!