Good morning From Warwickshire UK!
 

Good morning to you all. My name is Kate and I'm a very amateur quilter. I only really started a couple of years ago and it wasn't until this year I 'dared' to make a lap quilt. Now I'm hooked. I recently made one for my first grandchild due in 5 weeks! I've got four quilts on the go at the moment. All are lap size for the simple facts that 1.I do not have the room to make anything bigger! And 2. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I do find that my strength has gone for moving larger pieces of work about.

I recently visited my best friend in the US and was wowed by the choice of fabrics and quilting equipment that there is there. I have one hobby shop where I live and it is very poor with its choice of fabric and notions and also it's very expensive. There is a haberdashery store as well but they stock everything other than good quality fabric and notions.I suppose they are going with the majority of crafters by having a vast selection of wools for crochet and knitting. I have yet to find a quilt pattern in the UK other than at the International Quilt Show which I attended last month. Of course I can order things on line but personally I like to feel the fabric before I buy it so I don't like buying it on line.

Anyway thanks for letting me join and I look forward to picking up hints, tips and ideas from all you clever skilful people.

So glad to have you join us! We do have some other members from across the pond and a lot of Canadians here too. Is nice just to find other people who understand our desires to cut up perfectly good fabric and make other things out of it. So, grab a cuppa, and come in for a visit!

Finding (and affording) fabric can be a challenge for many of us. I have a large stash but most of it was accumulated at thrift stores and estate sales. You can recycle clothing, especially the backs of men's large shirts into nice pieces of yardage. The back is a nice large piece is rarely stained or torn.

Sending a warm hello from the small state of Delaware on the East coast. You can find lots of free patterns on fabric company websites and independent designers. Iceblossom suggestions of thrift store fabric is a great one. Have fun with your new passion!

Yes, what IceBlossom said! Bonnie Hunter is a quilter and author in Virginia, and she has a youtube video showing how to "debone" a shirt to make it useable for making quilts. "De-Boning" a Shirt! It has saved a lot of us some money and time in making our families some quilts out of clothes of loved ones who have passed away. One of my favorite things to do with shirts is to make memory pillows. The last picture is a quilt I made with some shirts that my cousin's late husband wore (I used Bonnie Hunter's deboning system to do the shirts for the pillows and quilt).

Upcycling!
 

I've managed to get some fabric from a local charity sale - all oddments and offcuts, thinking that one day I'll use them. Fast forward 2 months and my sister has asked me to make my nephew a quilt as his new flat has single glazed windows. He is really into upcycling so I've used this material from the sale for the top. My sister has given me an old duvet which I am taking to pieces for the wadding and also one of the sheets off my nephew's bed for the backing. So it is totally 'up cycled'! I just hope he likes it!

Welcome from sunny (sometimes) Southern California. I look forward to seeing some of your quilts!

Welcome to the QB, Kate! Nice to have you with us.

Hello from Tennessee, USA! It sounds like you have jumped in with both feet. I hope you’re able to source your tools and fabric. It sounds like you may have to resort to some web purchases.

This is fantastic! I also love using bits and pieces I have found at the guild free table or have thrifted. I'm sure your nephew, who clearly has his priorities straight, will love this quilt's warmth, sustainability and provenance! Welcome to the QB! :-)

P.S. I have family in your area - in Alcester. :-)

Welcome, Kate and a hello from Michigan, the mitten shaped state. We were all amateur quilters and to be honest most of us still are. Some are more experienced while others are just learning. All are welcome here. It will likely amaze you how much your quilting will move up a notch or two by wandering about the Quilt Board Site and applying the techniques that others have found to work well. Everyone is so helpful and if you have a question, please, post it and I can assure you you will get responses to help you become a successful quilter of small quilts or table runners or just small table toppers.

Lots of us work with challenges, so be assured you are alone with stiff and painful joints. Love to have you join the group from the other side of the pond. You may even find some quilting friends in the UK on the Quilting Board. :)