What is involved with quilting?

[Matanuska Motherlode]

Okay, so I'd like to make a quilt (three actually) but I have no clue where to go for instructions, what I need to buy in terms of fabric or notions or how to put it all together.

Are there any outstanding websites out there like "Quilting for Dummies" or anything like that? :LOL Seriously, I have zero clue of what's involved, so it would have to be spoon fed to me...

Someone, please! Point me in the right direction! :LOL

[starbright]

My son is very fussy so I can't type a lot right now. I learned quilting from taking a class at a quilt shop. You made a quilt from start to finish so you learned all the steps and had help as needed.

[Quilter Mama]

Fussy baby also...

If you have any sewing experience at all you can go to your local quilt shop and someone there can help you with your own ideas.

[Mommy&Will]

nak --- i also took a class. I would totally suggest that if you can. Joanne's Fabrics offers the class.

Or maybe find out about local community quilting clubs. The ladies there would be a great resource for you as well. Good luck!

[LdyBluNH@aol]

unlike everyone else who answered i am NOT nak -- nnak? lol

what's involved in quilting...

a piece of fabric (either pieced or one uncut piece); another piece of fabric (also either pieced or not); something in the middle and some sort of stitching or tying to hold it all together. and within that are gazillions of variations!!!


some books you may want to look at are:

harriet hargrave (i have no clue on the title)

fons and porter - complete guide

the quilt in a day series has a beginning quilter book


i think i've seen both the fons and porter and the quilt in a day at joann's so you can use a coupon on it


alex anderson has books out, i havent looked at them but in general i like her show

[WendyLouWho]

Alex Anderson has a great beginning quiliting book out, Start to Quilt or something similar. I believe it has a variety of different techniques...strip quilting, points, sashing, etc.

Find your local quilter's guild in the phone book. They are full of very friendly women who love to talk quilts and quilting. You could go to their monthly meeting and watch them and ask questions (I did this when first starting out, membership usually isn't required to go visit).

Classes are also great! I try to take a new quilting class every two months or so, just to learn new techniques. Check with your local quilt store or community outreach.

[PumpkinSeeds]

Other than what the above posters have mentioned, you need lots of patience and a little bit of humor (for when your points don't match up perfectly)

[Matanuska Motherlode]

Thank you!

I went to JoAnn's last night (but I forgot to look for any books) and asked if they offered any classes. They don't.

I was referred to the phone book to two different quilting stores. I'll give them a call today and see what's up

Here's another question, can quilting ALL be done on a machine or am I actually going to have to use needle and thread to sew by hand?!?

:LOL

[WendyLouWho]

Re: Thank you!

Originally posted by TheQueenHasSpoken
Here's another question, can quilting ALL be done on a machine or am I actually going to have to use needle and thread to sew by hand?!?

Quilting can be done by machine. If you want to do a lot of free motion quilting, make sure your machine and drop the feed dogs and get a darning/quilting foot.

When you are just starting out, you might want to try straight quilting, 1/4" from the seams or in the ditch. A walking foot is good for that so that you don't get puckers at the edge.

Really, you can piece by machine and quilt by machine. About the only thing you need to consider sewing by hand is the binding, and that's only half of it...sew the binding on with machine then fold it over and stitch it to finish. That gives you a much nicer binding because you really don't want the stitches to show up, which is unavoidable when machine finishing the binding.

[PumpkinSeeds]

When I started quilting I thought I would never sew by hand.
Well, I couldn't figure out how to use the sewing machine except for the piecing so I quilted and did the binding by hand.


I love quilting by hand.

It's my zen thing...

[sm3247]

There are two harriet hargrave books I can think of - "the art of classic quiltmaking" and "heirloom machine quilting" and they're both great. the first deals with design, fabric choice, piecing, etc. and the second is a primer on actual machine quilting. I bought both recently on overstock.com for a great price. You can also check your local library for books.

But, all the books in the world won't do you as much good as a quilting class. Most small quilt shops have wonderful classes with wonderful teachers. I had made several quilts before taking my class and now realize that I was a lesson in how not to make a quilt. And, I like small, local quiltshops better than JoAnn's. Depending on the store, they have incredibly knowledgable and friendly help, and the fabric is actually a much better quality.

Good luck, quilting is a wonderful hobby.

[ChildoftheMoon]

I have a great Singer sewing reference library book called Quilting by Machine. It is a good basic book. I suggest checking out your local library for quilting books before purchasing any. That way you can decide if you like it first. I came across quite a few books that I just did not like the set up of or were too advanced for me (I am a novice )Good luck quilting!

[twirlgirl]

I second Harriet Hargraves Heirloom Machine Quilting book. Its my machine quilting bible

For learning to quilt, Fons & Porter's complete guide (easily available at Joann or ANY quilt shop)

You can piece on any machine. I do all my piecing on one of my treadle sewing machines (I like the stitch better, perfectly even and straight every time!) and I machine quilt on my bernina machine

Fabric makes a difference. Quilt shops are expensive, but good fabric is worth it Especially if your making something very special that you would like to see handed from generation to generation.

There are TONS of useful tools, but you could go broke buying them all at once. I gathered up my quilting supplies using JoAnn 50% coupons. Like cutting mats, all different sized omigrid rulers and rotary cutters, marking tools, etc.

For quilt patterns, see www.quilterscache.com
Annoying midi music, but excellent block patterns!

[twirlgirl]

I second Harriet Hargraves Heirloom Machine Quilting book. Its my machine quilting bible

For learning to quilt, Fons & Porter's complete guide (easily available at Joann or ANY quilt shop)

You can piece on any machine. I do all my piecing on one of my treadle sewing machines (I like the stitch better, perfectly even and straight every time!) and I machine quilt on my bernina machine

Fabric makes a difference. Quilt shops are expensive, but good fabric is worth it Especially if your making something very special that you would like to see handed from generation to generation.

There are TONS of useful tools, but you could go broke buying them all at once. I gathered up my quilting supplies using JoAnn 50% coupons. Like cutting mats, all different sized omigrid rulers and rotary cutters, marking tools, etc.

For quilt patterns, see www.quilterscache.com
Annoying midi music, but excellent block patterns!

[twirlgirl]

oops! sorry about that double post..can a mod delete it?