Loki

Anyone here quilt? Anyone have advice for someone who really wants to learn how, but still has trouble getting her mom's sewing machine to run reliably? I've got a book on it, read several websites on it, have thread, needles, pins, scissors and fabric, but I'm still sort of clueless about the whole thing. And I"m away at college, so I don't really have access to any people above the age of 25 or so, who might have retained these wonderful old arts (though my school does have 'knitwits,' the group that knits stuff for charity).

This'll sound very un feminist, but women of my generation really haven't been taught to sew or knit, or crotchet.

Tips, books, websites, all will be greatly appreciated.

vixstile

I remember once when I was 15 I had to be at my stuffy old aunts house for some family gathering thing, and my aunt changes the chanel to some show about quilting. I was like oh great, now I have to watch some show about quilting!. But then they started showing these award wining quilts and I was like WOW!!! That quilt really kicks ass!!!

I had no idea you could do such creative things with quilting.

RevDahlia

Quilting, needlepointing, crocheting, knitting feminist here. These things are not sexist in and of themselves; they only become so when it's assumed that women MUST do them, and men won't.

That said, the advice: First, get that machine running right. Look in the Yellow Pages for the number of your local repair shop. It is incredibly frustrating to quilt well with a janky machine, particularly if one is a beginner.

Second, take a class. Quilting basics are not terribly complicated, but I find that they make the most sense when someone is showing you. Then, you can refer to your books. Jo Ann Fabrics (big chain) offers classes.

And, if you want to jump right in, make a Rail Fence block to bolster your courage. Here is one. Easy as pie, and you'll feel accomplished.

Evangelion

Why?

catjerome

Forget that "unfeminist" jazz. Feminism is about making your own choices and thinking/acting independently. It doesn't mean that you have to deliberately give up traditionally feminine pursuits like needlecraft, cooking, wearing makeup, etc. If it helps, think of it as "reclaiming" quilting for the modern liberated woman!

The way I see it, I'd rather have as many self-supporting skills as possible, regardless of their traditional gender identities. It might seem more "modern" to know nothing about cooking meals or sewing, but that'll just kneecap you when you have to make yourself dinner or replace a lost button.

Anyway, on-topic: when I first started learning to quilt, I had a good time with the Quilt in a Day series:

http://www.quilt-in-a-day.com/

Those books break everything down into simple steps and explain things thoroughly (although don't necessarily believe what they have to say about actually finishing the quilt in one day - yah, right!).

The first one I made was a Log Cabin quilt - nothing but strips and squares. Dead easy, and you can do so many different arrangements with the final batch of quilt squares.

Cipher Girl

Hi Loki

Several years ago, I wanted to learn to quilt. I made a small lap quilt. I went to an arts and crafts store and picked up a kit to make a small lap quilt. The kit contained instructions, material, and the directions of how to make the Log cabin pattern. It was very easy. This or taking a class is probably the best way to get started. Also once you get your sewing maching repaired, just try sewing strips of cloth together to get straight seams. It will help.

It was a small project, so that I could see if I liked to quilt. If I had more time, I would probably do more. But I think I have too many hobbies.

A friend of mine who is a Mennonite is constantly amazed at the crafts that I have learned. She jokes that I would probably survive a nuclear winter since I've learned to:

1) Take the wool freshly sheared from a sheep, wash it, comb it, spin it, dye it, and knit a large afgan from the yarn.

2) Take the fat cut from butchered hogs, boil it and separate the fat from the other liquids, add lye to it, let it turn into soap, then process the soap and add lotions, and colors to it.

3) Go crawfishing, crabbing and frog gigging. Then make something like crawfish ettoffe, or crab gumbo. My father also taught me to feild dress a deer and how to butcher a deer and preserve the hide.

4) Make my own beef jerky.

5) Grow my own vegtables, and can them.

I'm such a geek. It seems that once I learn a craft, I like to learn how to make everthing from scratch, all the way to the basics. Currently I'm learning to make stained glass windows. It's a lot of fun.

Good luck with the quilt and have fun.

Babylon Sister

Yeah! Another soul ready to be brought into the fold (no pun intended).

I have been quilting for about 5 years and am completely and utterly addicted. It's so much fun!

I'll go with RevDahila and suggest a class. I am self taught and although I learned pretty well on my own, I learned faster, better smarter ways to do things from the classes I've taken. Besides, quilters are some of the most fun folks around. They are smart and creative and can inspire you to great things. They will also be there to cheer you on when you finally get those half-square triangles to match in the center of that pinwheel block. There's probably a quilt shop in your town if there isn't a big fabric chainstore. They love new faces.

When you are starting out, I'd suggest you start with good fabric. The $4 a yard Wal-Mart stuff may work for your first attempts, but you will find that it may not be all that stable when you wash out the sizing and it may shrink alot. Quilters are divided on whether to prewash fabric or not. It really depends on you.

Make sure you have a good clear acrylic ruler (61/2" X 24" w/ 1/8th marks) and a rotary cutter and mat if you plan to do machine piecing. Scissors just don't do the job. Especially if you are making anything larger than a place mat. If you decide to hand piece, scissors will do fine.

Ditto RevDahlia on getting your machine running well. When it is running, practice sewing a 1/4" seam. There are ways to mark a line on your machine for a guide or you can look for a 1/4" foot. The 1/4" seam is very important.

Also, get a good iron. And remember, when it says PRESS, it means PRESS, not iron (you know, that back and forth movement that made us all hate that job in the first place.)

I could go on and on for pages, but I wont (for now). Anyway, Welcome to the wide world of quilting! I hope you love it.

Loki

You guys are getting me even more excited!

I'm a car-less student, so I don't have easy access to a jo-ann or anything of the sort, but it's easy to get involved in Ann Arbor, so I'll check around at the public library and churches and stuff to see if there's anything that might be applicable.

I've seen some references to using a paper pattern to make the squares; is this the same principle as using a pattern to make a skirt or whatever? Just pin the pieces to the fabric, cut, sew?

Thanks for all the good info!

Evangelion

:notworthy

Babylon Sister

About the paper patterns. There are some paper patterns that will help you make half-square triangles etc., and then there is "paper-piecing" which is entirely different but actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Carol Doak has some handy books.

Some of the "paper patterns" you have seen may be templates. It has been my experience that these are to be avoided at all costs! (I never got very good grades in scissors in kindergarten and it plays hell with my arthritis.) You didn't say if you plan to use a rotary cutter or scissors. With scissors, templates will probably be the easiest method; with a cutter, it usually easier to cut strips and then cut the strips into the smaller pieces you need. A rotary cutter requires an acrylic ruler and a mat (which can be kind of expensive.) Using templates takes up less room. Which ever method you use, I would suggest you invest in some zip-lock bags. There's nothing worse that losing part of you block.

If you can't get to or borrow some books, I have half a jillion quilting books and patterns and am more than willing to share. I can even send you some of the beginner books I no longer use if you'd like. Let me know.