Help me please with the basics
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sonoma County, California
Posts: 132
You Tube, You Tube, You Tube!!! Seriously. There are TONS of great how to videos. Just do a search on You Tube for what you want to learn. Rotary cutting, squaring up a block, half square triangles... anything. Then you can watch it as many times as you like.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: N. Florida
Posts: 4,568
I found this website, planet patchwork with all kinds of information for beginning quilters. Take your time. I researched quilting for several months, mostly through this board and youtube videos, before I actually started cutting fabric to make my first quilted potholders. Have fun.
http://planetpatchwork.com/beginners.htm
http://planetpatchwork.com/beginners.htm
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
I took one class and that helped me to understand the basics like what tools to use, how to sew the blocks together, etc. It's nice to have someone there to tell you how and why certain things are done and why they are done that way. Then I invested in some books/magazines for easy patterns that I liked. But I must say that even after 20+ years of quilting I got most of my education from this board!
Last edited by virtualbernie; 09-04-2012 at 09:50 AM.
#15
Definitely sign up for a simple class at your local quilt store. You will make friends and develop a relationship with the quilt shop owner who will be able to help you as you learn. Watch the Missouri Quilt Company videos on YouTube by Jenny Doan - she makes simple patterns with beautiful results and is easy to watch. You have so much fun ahead of you!
#17
You have done the first big step by jourining a reputable and friendly forum, the next thing is to go online, or your local LQS ( local quilt shop) and buy a pile of Charm (pre-cut squares) and just learn how to piece them together. We are all here for you but just remember one important lesson, there is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid person who doesn't ask! We are all here for you.
!
!
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,548
Welcome from Ontario, Canada. How lucky you are to be starting to quilt now. There are such wonderful resources available on the web. I would start by viewing some of the YouTube videos from the Missouri star quilt co. done by Jenny Doan. A beginners course at your Local quilt store (LQS) would be good too if available. Of course any questions you have we will be glad to help you with.
Start on a small project like a potholder as someone mentioned and work your way up as you gain confidence. Once you get your potholder done, see if you then want to invest in a sewing machine, rotary cutter and ruler etc.
Start on a small project like a potholder as someone mentioned and work your way up as you gain confidence. Once you get your potholder done, see if you then want to invest in a sewing machine, rotary cutter and ruler etc.
#20
Before I started my first quilt, I read a quilting book cover to cover. Two, actually. Quilt! Quilts!! Quilts!!! was the easier to understand, but you may not really understand until you actually sit down to work on your first project. Even so, if you learn well by reading, I recommend reading through all the steps first, and then re-reading each step as you go. You can also watch lots of quilting tutorial videos for free online if you're more of a visual learner.
The most, most, most, most, MOST important part is to give yourself the freedom to make mistakes. It's okay. Fabric is very forgiving, and no one is perfect the first time. Or, for that matter, the one hundredth time. Just accept that you will get better the more you do it, but you will probably never achieve perfection. Do it for the enjoyment of it, and after each quilt, ask yourself what you learned from it, and what you want to improve upon with the next one.
Have fun!!! It's really addictive, and the board is here to answer questions for you!
The most, most, most, most, MOST important part is to give yourself the freedom to make mistakes. It's okay. Fabric is very forgiving, and no one is perfect the first time. Or, for that matter, the one hundredth time. Just accept that you will get better the more you do it, but you will probably never achieve perfection. Do it for the enjoyment of it, and after each quilt, ask yourself what you learned from it, and what you want to improve upon with the next one.
Have fun!!! It's really addictive, and the board is here to answer questions for you!
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