Crafts
ThisModernLove
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
How hard is it to learn to quilt?
in Crafts
I have a basic sewing machine at home. I've never really followed patterns before but I've made a couple fleece hats, some rice heating pads, and a couple of basic bags/purses.
My mom wants a paw print blanket for Christmas and I can't find the kind of one she wants so I thought about making her a quilt since I found a bunch of fabric I think would work.
Is quilting something with enough googling and library book reading that I could teach myself without too much frustration or should I look for a class?
Re: How hard is it to learn to quilt?
I took a class at a local quilt show (it comes around once a year) but it was pretty specific (so I'd recommend trying to take a more general class.) We also have a fabric shop that offers quilting classes here, but I haven't tried that haha.
I think it's definitely something you can learn from google and a library book, but I have a lot of trouble with the actual "quilting" part of the whole thing, ever after a class or two.
I taught myself to quilt about 10 years ago by reading "idiots guide to quilting" and "quilting for dummies". One covers hand piecing more the other focuses on machine piecing. One of my favorite websites for pattern ideas and tutorials is www.quilterscache.com
I will admit that the part of quilting that I'm rather weak in is color theory. I have learned that if I pick colors I like then it all goes together. I also have yet to find a scrappy quilt that doesn't go together.
In addition to the advice of measure twice and cut once, remember that the steam iron is your friend. (In making clothing you iron open the seam, in quilting you press the seam to the darker color.) In quilting the seam allowance is 1/4" . There are some patterns that you can use the seam allowance of your choice, but you then have to remember that the blocks will come out a different size then what you might have initially planned.
As for the actual quilting goes, I'm pretty lazy and usually tie my quilts. I rarely use my sewing machine to quilt my quilts because of the bulk and weight of the project. If you want it machine quilted and it's a bed size quilt instead of a lap quilt you could always ask at your local quilt stores for a long arm quilter recommendation or Google one in your area.
Hope this information helps!
My grandmother has been quilting for years and years, but of course she was never able to take a class lol. Her mother and grandmother taught her. She uses patterns too though.
I'm in the process of making a quilt out of my fiance's and my old rock band tee shirts (: I think it will make a great blanket for my son when he's a little older! My brother has a very cool quilt that will be similar, made out of our parent's old Harley Davidson tees!