Difficulty Rating For Swiss and Norway Patterns
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 9
Difficulty Rating For Swiss and Norway Patterns
Hi All—
I am super new at quilting. Have completed 7 quilt tops and after number 5, finally feel like I have the whole accurate seam allowance thing down. Not saying it’s anywhere close to perfect yet, but I feel like I can come up with simple blocks that are almost on size or close enough within 1/8 of an inch or so.
I bought 2 kits for Thimbleblossoms patterns in Swiss and Norway for twin sized bed quilts for my girls. I have purposely been making other quilts first and smaller sizes to practice my piecing skills on quilts that didn’t have a lot of emotional energy invested.
But now that I have started to fall in love with quilting there are so many other projects calling out to me that I would like to get these made and off the list.
Question for the group is, have you made either pattern or something similar and would you call this pattern beginner friendly or are they more intermediate?
Link to her patterns below:
Swiss
https://thimbleblossoms.com/products/swiss-pdf-pattern
Norway
https://thimbleblossoms.com/products...eb88020c&_ss=r
Please note, not affiliated or any connection. Just hoping for honest thoughts on if I have skills enough to tackle them. I am feeling okay about Swiss, more concerned about Norway.
I am super new at quilting. Have completed 7 quilt tops and after number 5, finally feel like I have the whole accurate seam allowance thing down. Not saying it’s anywhere close to perfect yet, but I feel like I can come up with simple blocks that are almost on size or close enough within 1/8 of an inch or so.
I bought 2 kits for Thimbleblossoms patterns in Swiss and Norway for twin sized bed quilts for my girls. I have purposely been making other quilts first and smaller sizes to practice my piecing skills on quilts that didn’t have a lot of emotional energy invested.
But now that I have started to fall in love with quilting there are so many other projects calling out to me that I would like to get these made and off the list.
Question for the group is, have you made either pattern or something similar and would you call this pattern beginner friendly or are they more intermediate?
Link to her patterns below:
Swiss
https://thimbleblossoms.com/products/swiss-pdf-pattern
Norway
https://thimbleblossoms.com/products...eb88020c&_ss=r
Please note, not affiliated or any connection. Just hoping for honest thoughts on if I have skills enough to tackle them. I am feeling okay about Swiss, more concerned about Norway.
#3
Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting! I say if your comfortable then go for it, read the directions carefully and if you feel like they are easy for you to understand then get sewing! I find that rating systems are merely a guideline I have done patterns that were marked as advanced and intermediate that were easy, and others that were marked as easy but we’re far from it, it’s all subjective and not all patterns are written the same way. Don’t put yourself into a group, do what your confident in doing and enjoy the process, ask questions here if you get stuck and post pictures when you’re done.
Also, Camilla is a very responsive designer and she has gotten back to me on a few questions I had on one of her patterns.
Also, Camilla is a very responsive designer and she has gotten back to me on a few questions I had on one of her patterns.
Last edited by tallchick; 01-05-2020 at 09:34 AM.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 9
Good advice. That’s what I was leaning towards. I think I will start with Swiss and make sure I like her directions and then tackle Norway.
I am excited! New year, new projects. Loving seeing all the quilts I have done posts all over social media. Making me feel very inspired to get sewing!
I am excited! New year, new projects. Loving seeing all the quilts I have done posts all over social media. Making me feel very inspired to get sewing!
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I agree with the poster who said to not label yourself! You can do this. They both look to be very much just straight up piecing. I think the most difficult part of either quilt will be the organization of your pieces/blocks. Grab a big old pack of post-it notes and go for it!
I have found with some patterns - be it quilting; general sewing; knitting; whatever - it's not the actual sewing that is the 'difficult' part of the pattern but the instructions. One knitting project I did decades ago turned out to be extremely simple once I re-wrote the directions for myself in terms that made sense for me. It was labeled as for 'experienced' knitters only. Not really - just the instructions were, lol.
I have found with some patterns - be it quilting; general sewing; knitting; whatever - it's not the actual sewing that is the 'difficult' part of the pattern but the instructions. One knitting project I did decades ago turned out to be extremely simple once I re-wrote the directions for myself in terms that made sense for me. It was labeled as for 'experienced' knitters only. Not really - just the instructions were, lol.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,182
I really stress to beginners that the accurate seaming is the key to success. Get the stitch length and quality and width down and you can do anything. I call it driving lessons, you do it until it is natural to you.
I think you can do these, looks pretty straight forward in terms of straight seams and cuts and not too tiny of pieces. Concentrate on cutting well. Then on that consistent seam. And then carry on, Quilter!
But if you are feeling confused or anxious or getting stressed, then it's time to take a break. I think really the thing I've learned most from quilting is not to "work through it" but to get up and get away from it for a bit. Most of the time there is a point in every project where I just have to grit my teeth and get it done, but that's a bit different. If you have questions or problems, it's so great to have the internet and a place like this to ask the questions. I was a solo quilter for a long time, then a guild quilter, and now an internet quilter.
Many of us have bucket list or end destination quilts in mind but know we have some work ahead of us to get us to that point. Most of us have also bitten off a bit more than we could chew at some time. For some the answer is to just put it away for later. Others rise to the occasion and learn to do what they have to do to finish, and others figure they got out of it what they wanted and now they just want to get rid of the darn thing. It's all valid.
I think you can do these, looks pretty straight forward in terms of straight seams and cuts and not too tiny of pieces. Concentrate on cutting well. Then on that consistent seam. And then carry on, Quilter!
But if you are feeling confused or anxious or getting stressed, then it's time to take a break. I think really the thing I've learned most from quilting is not to "work through it" but to get up and get away from it for a bit. Most of the time there is a point in every project where I just have to grit my teeth and get it done, but that's a bit different. If you have questions or problems, it's so great to have the internet and a place like this to ask the questions. I was a solo quilter for a long time, then a guild quilter, and now an internet quilter.
Many of us have bucket list or end destination quilts in mind but know we have some work ahead of us to get us to that point. Most of us have also bitten off a bit more than we could chew at some time. For some the answer is to just put it away for later. Others rise to the occasion and learn to do what they have to do to finish, and others figure they got out of it what they wanted and now they just want to get rid of the darn thing. It's all valid.