Foolish Frugality
09-10-2013, 05:48 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Granite City, Scotland
Posts: 1,635
Quilting is one of those great things that lets us all make our own decisions. There is no "right" or "wrong."
I'll agree with you on sharp pins, needles and rotary blades. And definitely agree that we should do our best with cutting and stitching.
However, I never pre-wash or make test blocks. Well, almost never wash - I do if it is required for a swap. Maybe I've just been lucky, or maybe some part of me likes living on the edge. Whatever, it works for me, so that is what I do. If prewashing and/or making test blocks is what somebody else needs to do to enjoy their time with fabric, then that's what they should do.
I think the most important thing is for people to do what they like to do. If they can't stand anything but judge-worthy work, then that's fine. If they are okay with the galloping horse theory, that's fine too. It's not a factory!
I'll agree with you on sharp pins, needles and rotary blades. And definitely agree that we should do our best with cutting and stitching.
However, I never pre-wash or make test blocks. Well, almost never wash - I do if it is required for a swap. Maybe I've just been lucky, or maybe some part of me likes living on the edge. Whatever, it works for me, so that is what I do. If prewashing and/or making test blocks is what somebody else needs to do to enjoy their time with fabric, then that's what they should do.
I think the most important thing is for people to do what they like to do. If they can't stand anything but judge-worthy work, then that's fine. If they are okay with the galloping horse theory, that's fine too. It's not a factory!
09-10-2013, 06:09 AM
#33
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Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,581
That applies to clothing patterns, too. Especially when the print is large or the fabric or print is directional.
09-10-2013, 06:40 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Morganton, Ga
Posts: 944
Let me first say, this thread is one reason I read my Quilting Board every day possible. In addition to all the comments above is, don't beat yourself up when you make mistakes, you will learn from them. Try something out of your comfort zone, it may just ramp up the creative juices.
09-10-2013, 06:43 AM
#35
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I'd like to add: Changing your rotary cutter blade when you have to cut "twice" to make the cut. I tried to extend the life of my last blade and when I finally put in a new one it literally "cut like butter". So much easier than pushing hard to cut fabric and not taking it easy on my newly repaired rotator cuff. Not smart. So, my advice would be that when it becomes hard to cut - change the blade, you'll be glad you did.
09-10-2013, 07:02 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
Let me first say, this thread is one reason I read my Quilting Board every day possible. In addition to all the comments above is, don't beat yourself up when you make mistakes, you will learn from them. Try something out of your comfort zone, it may just ramp up the creative juices.
09-10-2013, 07:03 AM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 3,025
In principal I agree with all of the suggestions, in practice I don't (won't say never) dosom of them very often. Like washing fabric, for instance. You may cringe at the thought of buying old clothing at a thrift store, but I simply love some of the colors and designs and I make many different kinds of quilts. Anything bought at a thrift store gets washed in HOT water, no matter the fabric content, even though I try to stay with cottons, wools and natural fabrics. I'm a nut for buying new gadgets. Unfortunately, many of them I haven't used and probably never will. They make all those new things look soooo easy, but often the opposite is true. Mainly, I just have FUN, that is why I quilt.
09-10-2013, 07:15 AM
#38
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
Part of making a quilt is the fun I have shopping for fabric, using new tools and notions, trying new threads, buying a new quilt book or pattern. If I couldn't enjoy quilt shopping then making a new quilt would lose some of it's excitement. I don't want quilting and frugality to mix together in my world. I'll use frugality in other areas. LOL
09-10-2013, 07:22 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
Not a new topic - but I think we have members that have recently joined this forum.
These are MY opinions on some of the following.
1) Skipping the washing before cutting step. I prefer to know what kind of manners my fabrics have before I use them in a project. I would rather spend 20 minutes ahead of time than hours later trying to salvage something. I have this idea that commercially dyed fabrics should not need further treatment to be usable. I also want to know how my fabric is 'au naturel' with the sizing removed.
2) Trying to use fabric that should be discarded in a project - if it is a bleeder, sleazy, scratchy - or if it just looks awful in the project - it really will not get better with age or time!
3) Using poor quality thread, dull needles, dull blades, dull seam rippers.
4) Sloppy cutting and sewing - it really takes very little more time to do it carefully than sloppily - and it takes a lot more time to redo than to do correctly the first time.
4) Not making a test block - sometimes the templates/instructions for a block are wrong - it saves time and aggravation to make sure that the directions actually work before cutting out many pieces.
4)
These are MY opinions on some of the following.
1) Skipping the washing before cutting step. I prefer to know what kind of manners my fabrics have before I use them in a project. I would rather spend 20 minutes ahead of time than hours later trying to salvage something. I have this idea that commercially dyed fabrics should not need further treatment to be usable. I also want to know how my fabric is 'au naturel' with the sizing removed.
2) Trying to use fabric that should be discarded in a project - if it is a bleeder, sleazy, scratchy - or if it just looks awful in the project - it really will not get better with age or time!
3) Using poor quality thread, dull needles, dull blades, dull seam rippers.
4) Sloppy cutting and sewing - it really takes very little more time to do it carefully than sloppily - and it takes a lot more time to redo than to do correctly the first time.
4) Not making a test block - sometimes the templates/instructions for a block are wrong - it saves time and aggravation to make sure that the directions actually work before cutting out many pieces.
4)
09-10-2013, 07:25 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
Most of what I use is not purchased for quality. I make a charity rag quilt just about every other week. I have bunches of thrift store or inherited fabric. I'm not trying out for blue ribbons, just gifts for ill people.
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