Quilting How-To

[MeiTow]

So...I've decided to be inspired by the charity quilt(s) and by a kit I've found that I really want to end up doing to try to learn how to quilt and mesh that with my cross stitching. So, I'm wondering if there are any good websites or videos that can help me learn to quilt. I know absolutely nothing about quilting or where to start or anything so any help would be spectacular.

[Eliste]

I've heard a lot of people who say you can't learn it except from someone, and while I think there is a degree of truth to that, I think you can still pick up the basics fine on your own.

You do need to learn how to sew, either by hand or machine. I highly recommendby machine. If you don't know how to do that, start there cause if you can't sew a straight line, you're in trouble.

I have never investigated the online availability, as I never needed to. There are plenty of great books out there. I'd honest recommend books almost more than videos as they can give you details you don't get watching someone else. Get a good solid book that's a couple hundred pages with several projects of varying types. You want to learn how to work with squares, triangles and eventually off axis cuts, freehand patchwork and several ways to do the actual quilting. A good book will walk you through several projects that will teach you new things each time. I'd give you my reference book name, cause its quite good, but I lent it to a friend and can't remember it.

Also, don't expect this to be quick. If it tells you it can teach you to quilt in 20 minutes, it's lying. It's not that fast.

[MeiTow]

Hrm...it's been a long time since I've actually sewn anything (middle school lol) but I was decent at it then. Will have to save up for a machine, I think, because I just can't imagine trying to sew a huge quilt by hand 0.o! Thanks for the advice and I will definitely look into getting some quilting books and just mucking around with things. I don't expect to learn in a week or anything...Rome wasn't built in a day! Heck, I learned to cross stitch when I was 13 from my mom and I'm still learning new things with it!

I shall have to go Amazoning, methinks.

[Eliste]

Check your local library. You don't need a new quilt book, a lot of the older ones are just fine for the basics and usually still in the library.

[funkymonkey]

I have this book; it's been really helpful getting started. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/069621 ... UTF8&psc=1

[Knittenkitten]

I am doing a small wall hanging type quilt by hand for two reasons. One I don't have a machine and two I can take the pieces with me anywhere and do a few here and there. I tend to take it with me to school to do between classes (I had a few hours between each class) and to any places where I know I'll be waiting a while.

I would suggest Jenny Beyer's books if you want to try hand sewing a quilt. She does amazing quilts all by hand. She has a website here: www.jennybeyer.com
You ought to at least check it out.

I would also check youtube as I have found a lot of different quilting how-tos there.

[MeiTow]

Kewl! I can never get to my library when it's open (they keep shortening the hours to the point where it's not even open on the weekend and closes before the hubby gets home from work -.- ) but I was debating on going to someplace like Half Price Books and seeing what they have used. I hate going to bookstores because they always seem to be overpriced for some reason.

I might try my hand at hand sewing small pieces in the beginning but I remember not being nearly as good hand sewing as I was with the machine. Plus, hubby's been wanting a sewing machine for awhile now (he likes to sew too) and we could learn to quilt together!

[tnitnetny]

I personally love the quilt in a day books for beginners. This is a great pattern to learn to quilt with: http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/book/12339.

But yes, you definitely need a sewing machine to make the top. In order to quilt it all together, you either need to send it away to be quilted, or have a machine that is either meant for quilt or be a higher end (probably at least $800 machine). If you use a less expensive machine, you will break the motor if you try to assemble the layers on it.

I am also in the middle of making some classes for Craftsy. It is a great site that you can watch techniques and videos to learn something new. Although there are no "learn to quilt" classes there (I am currently designing one), it is a great site to learn more once you have the basics.

I also give quilting lessons in person and through Skype. Because I am the biggest one here that says taking a class or lessons in person is REALLY important to make sure you do things like iron in the right direction, etc. Joanns and your local quilt shop will also offer live classes. But the first thing you need to do is get a machine.

This machine would be fine with just making the top if you send your quilt away to be layered and assembled:
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Feature-R ... ng+machine (I actually have this one as my back up machine if something were to happen to my main one).

This is probably the minimum you would need if you wanted to "quilt" (sandwich and assemble the layers) yourself:
http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewing/M ... ZDOWtzD_IU That machine you would have to call around to get the prices on it. I am a brother person, so only know those machines. Although if you can find a sewing machine dealer near you a lot of times they may have used machines you could buy.

Hope this helps!

[MeiTow]

Thank you Tnitnetny! I will definitely look into those. My browser bookmarks crafting section is getting huge.

[missabaldwin]

I found this blog a few months back....
http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/p/beginn ... eries.html

And I used it to make two quilts. I found it to be amazingly helpful.
The actual tutorial is for a baby quilt. I just added squares.

Spoiler

My husbands quilt... modeled by the dog.


And this is mine, with a little cross-stitch in the corner.

They aren't perfect but they were my firsts.

I'm glad I'm not the only one delving into the world of quilting.
I will absolutely be following this thread for more info from other quilters.