how to get started in quilting?

**thecowgirl** · 06-21-2008, 11:02 PM

okay, i am sure this is a dumb question, but i know nothing about quilting. how could i get started in quilting? what would you recommend for a newbie? no one in my family quilts... *sigh*

**Jamauk** · 06-22-2008, 01:55 AM

I'm mostly self taught via the internet and books. There are some great sites and tutorials out there.

If you don't want to research or don't have time, many quilt shops offer various classes.

When in doubt, just grab some scrap fabric and start sewing!!!

**Michelle** · 06-22-2008, 07:40 AM

Take a look at the stickies at the top of this forum. Lots of great tutorials and links to sites that can help.

My mom quilts, but she lives 450 miles away, so I am self-taught. There are lots of quilting books that can help you, but my favorite is this one:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Complete-Guide-Marianne-Fons/dp/0848724666"]Amazon.com: Quilter's Complete Guide: Marianne Fons, Liz Porter: Books[/ame]

(if you buy that one, try to get the one with the spiral binding--it's much easier to use while working when it lays flat)

I also like this one:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Ultimate-Visual-Guide-Quiltmaking/dp/0875969879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214134706&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide: From A to Z-- Hundreds of Tips and Techniques for Successful Quiltmaking: Ellen Pahl: Books[/ame]

You may want to see if you can get those at the library before you buy them.

Also, there are lots of threads in this forum that can help, and we have several quilters who can help too.

HTH!

**nuisance26** · 06-22-2008, 09:17 AM

~If you can hand sew a straight stitch, you can quilt! A wonderful lady started me out when I was 16 with a small square of pre-printed quilt block. The idea was to get used to the 'feel' of quilting and then finish it into a potholder. When I was ready to start a real quilt I bought a book called "Your First Quilt Book(or it should be!)" and made a baby quilt from one of its patterns. The directions were easy and the quilt came out perfect!~

**Jamauk** · 06-22-2008, 09:24 AM

Holy Guacamole - Constance, do you hand quilt? I didn't know that! I have never sewn anything by hand - I've done finishing work (pillows, binding, etc...) but I've never sewn an entire project by hand. I wouldn't even know where to start!

Ok sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread. Seriously, quilting isn't 'as hard or as intimidating as a lot of people seem to think it is. You can always ask questions here, too!

**favesis37** · 06-22-2008, 09:29 AM

i agree! handquilting! wow i bow down to you.

**Lady_V** · 06-22-2008, 10:05 AM

I do more than mend a sock by hand and I want to cry... patience of a saint that one!

Quilting can be fun... as long as you have fun doing it... when it stops being fun.. but it down, get a drink, peep a bird and then go back to it.

I stared by 'fixing' a quilt that had seen better days... then I made one for a doll...

I think the tutorials on here are awesome. I haven't read any books on quilting... thanks to this site!

**AmeliaM** · 06-24-2008, 07:22 PM

Don't forget if you are part of a church that they may have a group of ladies who get together and quilt. Ask around...you will be surprised who quilts. I am def a newbie and I would also recommend Quilting 101

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Quilting-101-beginners-guide-quilting/dp/1589231104/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214349681&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Quilting 101: A beginners guide to quilting: Editors of creative Publishing, The Editors of Creative Publishing international: Books[/ame]

It has nice pics to help show you what to do from start to finish and projects for beg and more advanced.

**nuisance26** · 06-25-2008, 09:23 AM

~Ha-ha! Yes, I hand-quilt. It's not at all difficult, just time consuming. But there's just something magical about seeing all those hand-quilted stitches.~

**chevy_chick95** · 06-25-2008, 10:45 AM

haha! sorry not to hijack thread but when referring to quilting, that is HAND quilting.

my grandmother would just die if anyone around her referred to machine quilting as quilting.

and yes, i hand quilt. its not that hard. its just more time consuming, but filled with so much more love.

**dolphin** · 06-27-2008, 05:13 PM

I taught myself just by reading the instructions on the internet. I then got a Singer How To Quilt book at Walmart and there was no stopping me, lol. After all these years I still check out books at the library to get hints and tips and free patterns.

I agree with the others that if you follow the instructions and steps in the Quilting Tutorial here at FV you will be able to complete your first quilt plus be able to go on to new patterns from the knowledge that you learn here.

I machine piece my quilts and hand quilt them. I'm too impatient to hand piece the pattern and my fingers go to sleep if I try to sew anything by hand for too long but I absolutely love to hand quilt as it is very relaxing to me and I always feel like I've made a work of art. My fingers still fall asleep but I just stop till the feeling comes back, lol. I tied my very first quilt with yarn and another with embroidery thread but didn't find it nearly as satisfying as making all of those tiny stitches.

**Jamauk** · 06-27-2008, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by chevy_chick95

haha! sorry not to hijack thread but when referring to quilting, that is HAND quilting.

my grandmother would just die if anyone around her referred to machine quilting as quilting.

and yes, i hand quilt. its not that hard. its just more time consuming, but filled with so much more love.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this. I use a different method to quilt, doesn't mean mine have any less love in them.

**Michelle** · 06-30-2008, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Jamauk

I'm sorry, but I disagree with this. I use a different method to quilt, doesn't mean mine have any less love in them.

Well said

bolding mine:

quilting: the process of making a Quilt from beginning to end. Or the actual act of sewing the layers of a quilt together, either by hand or by machine. Also refers to the finished lines of sewn thread that make up the quilting design.

http://www.bluemoonwebdesign.com/art-glossary-3.asp

**Michelle** · 06-30-2008, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by thecowgirl

okay, i am sure this is a dumb question, but i know nothing about quilting. how could i get started in quilting? what would you recommend for a newbie? no one in my family quilts... *sigh*

This is a great site with beginner information & directions for a small sampler quilt:

http://www.sewaquilt.com/index.html

**quiltergirl** · 06-30-2008, 07:37 PM

Please let's not start the "it's not a quilt if..." argument here. I've seen it get really ugly very quick on quilting forums.

As for learning how to quilt I have a few ideas. I too am self taught, but I learned the hard way that you should start out with something small and simple. Single blocks make nice potholders. Placemats and table runners also make nice beginning projects and you have something nice for your home when you are finished.

I would also start out piecing simple shapes -- squares or rectangles are good to start with. Easy beginners blocks are 9-patch (squares) or rail fence (rectangles). Curves, circles and paper piecing are things I think are better left till later. If you start out with something too difficult you may get discouraged before you really get started. And we don't want that.

If there is a quilt guild in your area you might check it out. Membership dues are usually very nominal. Around here it's $25/yr. Some guilds offer beginners classes, but even if they don't there should be someone who could help you out if you get in trouble with a project.