What are?
06-22-2014, 05:55 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,919
What do you mean? When I read your statement, the first thing that came to my mind was that "Quilts are cheap to make." It takes alot of fabric, time and effort to make a quilt. It seems that most people think you use scraps of clothing and it's practically free. I was just in Sarasota, FL and saw some beautiful handmade Amish quilts selling around $1,200.00 for an average bed size. Good for them!
06-22-2014, 06:07 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Somewhere Out There
Posts: 376
I don't think its as much about what you can believe, as it is about what you prefer. There are as many opinions on how to make a quilt as there are quilters. Pre-Wash vs No Pre-Wash, Steam vs No Steam, Starch vs No Starch ... the list is long and all sides are very firm believers in their decisions !
There really are no "rules" when it comes to making quilts. Quilting is an art form. One would not presume to tell Picasso that he was using the wrong brush or technique, yet we as quilters do it to each other all the time.
Even the " 1/4 inch seam rule " . Yes, the most basic of all quilting lessons tells us that we MUST use 1/4 inch seam allowance or we are doomed to fail. Not so true. You could use a 5/8ths seam allowance if you really wanted to. You would just need to make adjustments to what size you cut your fabric to compensate. You could always go back and trim your seams down before quilting. Is it the " standard " method ? No, but it can be done.
For me, learning to quilt was rather daunting when I first started, because there are SO MANY different ways of doing or not doing things that I never knew which one was the " right " way. Once I learned that it was less about right vs wrong and more about what works for ME and what doesn't, things got ALOT easier. I still try new ways of doing things, because it may work better for me than what I was doing before.
There really are no "rules" when it comes to making quilts. Quilting is an art form. One would not presume to tell Picasso that he was using the wrong brush or technique, yet we as quilters do it to each other all the time.
Even the " 1/4 inch seam rule " . Yes, the most basic of all quilting lessons tells us that we MUST use 1/4 inch seam allowance or we are doomed to fail. Not so true. You could use a 5/8ths seam allowance if you really wanted to. You would just need to make adjustments to what size you cut your fabric to compensate. You could always go back and trim your seams down before quilting. Is it the " standard " method ? No, but it can be done.
For me, learning to quilt was rather daunting when I first started, because there are SO MANY different ways of doing or not doing things that I never knew which one was the " right " way. Once I learned that it was less about right vs wrong and more about what works for ME and what doesn't, things got ALOT easier. I still try new ways of doing things, because it may work better for me than what I was doing before.
06-22-2014, 06:11 AM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,163
One misconception I hear a lot is that seam allowance doesn't matter, as long as you're consistent. (That only works with a very limited set of patterns. The rest are designed for a 1/4" seam allowance.) Another is the complaint that patterns should be designed for 1/4" instead of for a scant 1/4". (They are designed for 1/4". The scant comes in because fabrics and threads have different thickness, which has to be taken into account.)
Another misconception is that all quilt store fabric is good and all bargain store fabric is bad.
And then there are many, many misconceptions concerning copyright.
Another misconception is that all quilt store fabric is good and all bargain store fabric is bad.
And then there are many, many misconceptions concerning copyright.
06-22-2014, 06:34 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,070
The only things you need to follow are these:
1. There are quilt police all around that insist that you do things a certain way. Ignore them entirely.
2. Find your way to do things among the many suggestions out there.
3. Have fun with your quilting.
4. Come here and ask questions. You will get lots of help from which you can choose what works for you (see rule 2!)
5. Be proud of what you make. You are a quilter! Have fun!
1. There are quilt police all around that insist that you do things a certain way. Ignore them entirely.
2. Find your way to do things among the many suggestions out there.
3. Have fun with your quilting.
4. Come here and ask questions. You will get lots of help from which you can choose what works for you (see rule 2!)
5. Be proud of what you make. You are a quilter! Have fun!
06-22-2014, 06:57 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 4,555
There are a lot of opinions, ways of doing things, and ways of viewing things. Like parenting, right? There are libraries full of parenting books that have been written in just the last 70 years. But I get a kick out of an image of a baby in diapers reading a book titled "how to raise parents."
So as quilters, we don't need to focus on our differences. What is "misinformation" to one person works for another person. What is true for one is not true for another.
Have fun. Learn and grow.
So as quilters, we don't need to focus on our differences. What is "misinformation" to one person works for another person. What is true for one is not true for another.
Have fun. Learn and grow.
06-22-2014, 07:35 AM
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
The only things you need to follow are these:
1. There are quilt police all around that insist that you do things a certain way. Ignore them entirely.
2. Find your way to do things among the many suggestions out there.
3. Have fun with your quilting.
4. Come here and ask questions. You will get lots of help from which you can choose what works for you (see rule 2!)
5. Be proud of what you make. You are a quilter! Have fun!
1. There are quilt police all around that insist that you do things a certain way. Ignore them entirely.
2. Find your way to do things among the many suggestions out there.
3. Have fun with your quilting.
4. Come here and ask questions. You will get lots of help from which you can choose what works for you (see rule 2!)
5. Be proud of what you make. You are a quilter! Have fun!
06-22-2014, 07:40 AM
#10
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 3,536
One of the things I kept hearing is "your not old enough to be a quilter"
I was in my early 40's (42-43) when I started quilting.
Still I get the occasional your not old enough line. Now I just tell them
you don't have to be "old" to have a love of quilting.
I turned 50 on June 12th........... does that make me old enough now? LOL
I was in my early 40's (42-43) when I started quilting.
Still I get the occasional your not old enough line. Now I just tell them
you don't have to be "old" to have a love of quilting.
I turned 50 on June 12th........... does that make me old enough now? LOL
