nativetexan

this sounds like a great adventure for you. learn hands on if you can and of course books too. when you get to work, do a simple block and perhaps your daughter can then help make one too. What a great time you will have. Good luck!

Hooligan

Much thanks for the info and yes, it is the Hooligan that is asking for himself. Again, thankyou.

Apologies for not stating it was for myself. I'll be looking up to see if any classes are available close-by and see what they offer. As for the tools, i believe i have what i need for putting a quilt together excluding a rotary cutter. I'm not completely new to sewing itself but wouldn't class myself that experienced. But quilting is something i've never tried or done hence this post. I'm an old school kinda guy that refuses to use a modern machine, i learned on a Singer 99K as a young kid and as a adult have had a couple of newer machines which were never reliable as the older machines so always went back to them. As of now, my go-to machine is 15-91 which i hope to do some free-motion quilting with. Old sucker for old Singers here am afraid. Anyways, thanks for the reply...appreciated.

nativetexan

I still tend to pick up my scissors and cut things. and i do have rotary cutters I may add, quilt as you go is a good quick easy way to make a quilt too. especially if your sewing machine has a small throat space. hard to push a large quilt through that area.

Hooligan

I'd rather use scissors/shears as i don't like the idea of repeatedly buying blades (frugal here lol i'll sharpen my pins rather than replacing them also) and i don't mind the extra time it would take cutting. But my first question, would the rotary cutter be more accurate or simply quicker? Thanks for the reply

Peckish

My two cents is a rotary cutter is more accurate, easier to use, easier on the hands, and quicker. The accurate part is probably the most important, here. Depending on how persnickety a person you are (and as a persnickety person myself, I say that with love), if you want your seams to match and your triangles to not have their points lopped off, then you want accuracy. You start with accurate cutting and continue with accurate piecing. Scissors, by their very nature, lift the fabric off a flat surface as they cut, which increases inaccuracy. Keeping fabric on a flat surface and cutting with a rotary blade will ensure you cut exactly where you want to. However, it's personal preference. If you're not concerned that much with accuracy, then by all means use your scissors. You can always treat yourself to a rotary cutter after you get hooked on quilting.

Welcome to the quilting club! When I first started quilting, I watched a lot of quilting shows on PBS (I can't remember Alex Anderson's pre-Ricky show, it wasn't The Quilt Show back then, was it?), read a lot of books, took a couple of classes. One of the classes I took was how to paper-piece and after that I was hooked.

I think the recommendations to do some YouTubing and take a class are good ones. I really hope you find a good teacher who will be absolutely delighted to teach a "dude".

NJ Quilter

I agree with much of what Peckish has said regarding the rotary cutter. When I first started quilting it was in large part due to watching Alex Anderson's program 'Simply Quilts'. Great show. I am totally self-taught with the exception of a paper-piecing class as well.

Get your basic tools - mat; ruler; cutter and then find a pattern that you like. My first quilt was a double irish chain. Pick out your fabrics and just jump in with both feet! I'm a total believer in you need to really like what you're making in order to keep you motivated during the troublesome spots - regardless of craft.

I think in today's quilting world a rotary cutter is a must have as most current quilting patterns are based on the accuracy of the cutting and the magical 'scant' quarter inch seam. That said, consistency in your cutting and sewing are equally as important as accuracy.

Go for it!

sandy l

Yes, go for learning how to use the rotary cutter, but (and this is the biggie), learn how to use it safely. Always close the blade when not in use, be sure to keep your fingers away from the edge of the ruler when cutting, and never cut fabric when you are barefoot! Guess how I learned that

suern3

If you like to read instructions and also like to have good pictures, I suggest "Make Your First Quilt", by M'Liss Rae Hawley. "Beginner's Step by Step Guide" . Covers all the basics without an overwhelming amount of information. I used this book in the beginner class I took and still look back for inspiration. Just checked and it is available on Amazon. I always recommend this book whenever I see questions like yours. Don't know if anyone has actually used it. Hopefully you will find the information that works for you. You will love making a quilt for your daughter.

nativetexan

a rotary cutter is good of course but if you are careful with measurements and cutting, there are quilters out there who do outstanding work the "old way" and I would never meet their mark myself. I just drool at their work. some do gorgeous machine work i could never duplicate and others do it all by hand. So do a bit and get a feel for what works for you. You will probably change some things as you go along. Have fun!

mjkgquilt

Go to your local Library and they might have a book with the basics for you to read. Go to a local quilt ship and if they have a beginning class, take it. Good luck and lots of men quilt.