Hey there,

So this is my FIRST quilt ever...it was a learned experience. I wasn't sure how to use the seam ripper at first (thanks for showing me mom). So I accidentally made a small rip or 2 with it. So the zigzag stitch came in handy.

This is a baby quilt for a friend, and I ALMOST didn't give it to them. I thought I should make a new one and just chalk this one up to practice. But they said NO they wanted this one, so I boxing it up and shipping it to Boston this weekend.

I'm looking forward to finishing up my next quilt this evening tomorrow morning. And I can't tell you how much easier this one has been, compared to the other.

The pictures aren't the BEST cause it's hanging over my treadmill. But you get the idea. :)

P.S. This was the first time using my walking foot and stitching in the ditch...as you can see...sometimes I didn't quite stay in the ditch....like I said this was a learning experience.

~mike

Very cute quilt. I'm sure your friends will love it.

Good job!

This is really good for your first quilt!! From what I can see, even your points are matched up...even my points don't always match up!! This is a really good first attempt (if thta's what this really is..I think you're pulling our legs)! I can only imagine how good your second quilt is if this is your first. Congratulations and welcome to the board!

Very pretty quilt..You did a good job quilting it..

I think it's adorable and you did a great job matching those points. You should be proud of yourself and your friend's new baby is gonna love it! Keep at it and keep posting pictures!

Judging by your quilt, you've already learned the ropes of quilting!! haha. You did FANTASTiC! Welcome to the board, you'll love it here and we'll be sure to teach you a lot~~haha~~and you'll teach us a thing or two!! You will most definitely learn alot and come back often! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Very nice quilt-we all had to start and learn somewhere.
Great job looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Hugs
April

You did great and FYI I have been quilting for 15 yrs and still I dont always stay in the ditch either (and I know I am not alone). Great quilt, I am thinking your friends will love it so much more knowing how much effort it took you. I look forward to more and more and more of your posts!!

I've been quilting for 12 years and I still learn something new with each quilt. Great job.

Well just so you know, I cut all of my squares with the Accuquilt Go!. And when it comes to points....THAT's where my seam ripping incidents can into play! :)

So I'm sure have the Accuquilt helped with making the quilt nice and square, and then my 1/4 seam foot with guide was also helpful.

As for the points, they don't all line up perfectly...but after spending hours pressing to the dark, pinning, and sewing...then seam ripping and trying it again. I decided to just but them up as good as I could and let them land where they may.

So thank you for the kind words, I have another 5inch square quilt to turn out tonight, and then I need something with a little more pizzaz, so I think I will try the Wickedly Easy quilt I saw on this board earlier next. :)

~m

Well--you are off to a fabulous start. You can match colors (trust me--there are many simply designed quilts I've seen that don't match) and your points are terrific.

I've been quilting for 15 years and I am making a wall hanging right now that's moved my learning up 45 lessons. :roll: Every quilter, it seems, is a work in progress.

Welcome to the club! :-D

pretty

you are definitely NOT alone. i call it "stitch somewhere 'round the ditch". :lol:

you can be very proud of your first quilt. ya done gooooooood. :thumbup:

It's adorable! Great job for a first time. It will be loved.

Hi Mike, welcome to the forum! I think you did GREAT! Looking forward to seeing more of your work too. :thumbup:

I think it looks great. And that is the intended use of a treadmill, isn't it?

I gave up SID and now I stitch near the ditch. I have also been known to use a decorative stitch over the ditch from time to time.

Mike, if you keep all the things that have creative opportunities (aka. mistakes), you'll never give away a single quilt!!! I think that the Boo-Boos are put there to keep us humble! Besides, your quilt is lovely, and your friends will cherish it.

Congratulations on your first quilt. We all had to start somewhere. I am constantly learning.

Your quilt looks great. They will love it, because you made it. :D :D :D :D

OMG how cute! You did a great job. I hope we see more to come!

great quilt. i hate trying to stitch in the ditch. i found that curvy lines going across the quilt look great! with my walking/quilting foot i just move the quilt to the left a bit and then the right as i go along, not even trying to go through intersecting seams. curves hide a lot. :thumbup:

Every journey starts with one stitch :thumbup:

[quote=PatriceJ]you are definitely NOT alone. i call it "stitch somewhere 'round the ditch". :lol:

My thoughts exactly -- ditches wander around sometimes don't they? Great job on your first!

Way to go and keep it up. It's a surprisingly fun way to be creative, and it will literally keep you in stitches. (Someone told me that once)

Well my next quilt will be interesting, same exact thing, just bigger.

However this is material my other grabbed. I told her I wanted to do a dog quilt, thinking cute cartoony dogs, she brought me back more of a hunter real life dog fabric and a dark copper marbled fabric. It's not something I would have picked but I think it will be okay.

So far I've only quilted the squares with my walking foot. I think my machine might not be the best thing for doing free motion quilting....even though it wasn't cheap (to me $500 plus tax seems like alot at first) I was looking at a few of the machine I've seen people use in tutorials....and let me TELL you....$1400 on a machine....I almost fell out of my chair. I'm sure they'll worth it, it's a hobby and we all can spend a a pretty penny on it....but up front I just wanted something on the lower end.

Thanks so much for being so welcoming!

~Mike

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

As for stitch in the ditch....I wish they had a walking foot & Sitch in the Ditch foot put together....it would make things MUCH simpler for me. :)

~mike

What a great job. And don't worry about the stitch in the ditch, some ditches are deeper than others is all. :-) Have you ever sewen something before other than quilting?
Keep up the good work and can't wait to see more of your work.

Looks great to me!!! Just keep going and you will amaze yourself at how good you are doing !!!

Nice work! I love the colors and fabric you've chosen.

It's very cute, and I'm sure it will be loved, it looks very cuddly. I'd hate to show my first quilt and I'm still not that good!

Mike, Great job on your first quilt and congratulations on getting it done.
As you keep making quilts, you will learn more and more to make it easier (faster) the next time around.
One solution for "Stitch in Ditch" that may not stay in the ditch is to use a wavy stitch or some other type of stitch that naturally comes in and out of the ditch. Sure hides the "not staying in the ditch" problem.
Ummmmmmm Some of our machines cost us way, way too much money. There are several machines up to 5-7 grand on up. It depends on what you want it to do.

I think as with any hobby it's best not to go hog wild untill your sure your going to really need and want a newer or better machine. I have 4 machines and all pretty decent ones purchased from people who spent large amounts for them and decided they weren't using them and sold them at really low prices. You don't really need a gazillion stiches capability if you are only straight stitching either. The key is learning how to keep your machines clean and oiled and proper tensions etc.

mike, very nice. i like the fabrics you chose. keep up the good work and keep sharing photos.

-Very good start!!! Your little quilt looks good to me!! I hope you continue to quilt and learn. It is a great hobby, can be very relaxing.

Ditter

It's beautiful. Boston huh....great place.

I think it looks great, and will be much loved! Keep on quilting!

:)

Welcome to the Board Mike! The quilt looks terrific :thumbup: ~ we're always our own worst critics when it comes to those points!!
I'm also in the "stitch near the ditch" club. :D There are worse things than wandering around, right?
Looking forward to seeing the next one.... ;)

Congratulations on your first quilt, what a wonderful accomplishment.

I still consider myself a relative beginner, too, and have to claim that Mr. Seam Ripper is my best friend......

Welcome Mike. You did a great job on your first quilt! I'm sure your firends will love it. I shop in Cedar Rapids. I like Connie's Quilt Shop in Marion and Pine Needles.