I would like to start making quilts but I can't even sew. How do I start?

Answer 1

http://www.quilterscache.com has how to's and lots of easy patterns. You can also look on http://www.quilting.about.com there are how tos and patterns on there also.

There are usually lots of helpful people at the local quilt guilds. If you have one in your area you might find a mentor there.

Answer 2

Sewing really isn't that difficult. It just takes a little practice, and the willingness to try something new. Do you have a sewing machine, or are you planning to sew by hand? If you're getting a sewing machine - you don't need anything fancy, but there are a couple of key features for quilting. Get a machine that has a needle up/down feature. In quilting, it's nice to be able to stop sewing with the needle in the fabric (needle down). Make sure it has a quarter inch foot and a darning or free motion foot. A walking foot is also a plus, although sometimes you need to buy those separately. Once you have your machine, get some inexpensive cotton fabric and some neutral colored cotton thread. Just play with the machine until you are comfortable using it. Don't worry about making anything at this point. Read the manual that comes with it and get familiar with what it does.

You'll need a few basic tools for quilting. Get a 45mm rotary cutter (I like the curved handle with the grip that retracts the safety guard - it's a lot safer), a 6" x 12" ruler, a 3" x 18" ruler (or a 6" x 24" ruler - your preference), and an 18" x 24" cutting mat. You'll need small scissors to cut the thread - look for the spring loaded kind - they're easier on your hands. Larger scissors (also spring loaded) come in handy, too. Don't forget the pins (glass head is best, and look for very thin pins) and a seam ripper. Trust me, you'll be doing a lot of "unsewing" at first.

If you can take a class, do. The best ones are from a local quilt shop, but if you don't have one, try a community college. If you can't take a class, invest in a good book. My class used "Start Quilting with Alex Anderson," and I've heard good things about Eleanor Burns and Fons & Porter's books.

Check out all the books and magazines you can - the library is great for this. It's helpful to get a lot of different ideas on everything from piecing techniques to color theory and fabric choice, to seam allowances, to quilting motifs, and on and on. My favorite magazines are Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, Better Homes & Gardens - American Patchwork & Quilting, and The Quilter.

Online, look at QNN TV - it's a website that shows quilting "television" 24 hours a day. Also check out HGTV and DIY Network, if you have them. They both air Simply Quilts. Check your local PBS listings for Fons & Porter, Eleanor Burns, Nancy Zieman, and others.

The internet also has some great websites, including Quilter's Cache and Fons & Porter (Sew Easy Lessons is especially helpful).

Answer 3

Enthusiasm, which you apparently have by describing your sewing machine as "beautiful", and FABRIC ( i am a fabricholic), as well as some of the tools recommended by the other responders. I would recommend to buy several quilting magazines- try ones that advertise "quick" or "easy" patterns. You can self- teach by these, if you already have basic sewing skills. They also have "general how-to sections behind their patterns. Do you have a local quilt shop? They offer classes- usually they will have some for beginners, or the owner or salesclerks can be very helpful with individual advice. Check to see if you have a local quilt guild. You can learn lots there, and meet others interested in quilting. Perhaps an experienced quilter will take you under her wing and help you get started. Good luck- It's a wonderful hobby.

Answer 4

Just a quick note to say that you definitely don't have to know "how to sew" to learn to make quilts. I barely know anything about sewing clothes myself (which is what most people mean by knowing how to sew... following patterns, etc.), yet I did a lot of piecing and making quilts.

The main things you need to know are just how to use your sewing machine in general (like how to thread it, fill bobbins, set the length and width of a regular stitch, pull the tail of the thread out of the way when first beginning to stitch, etc.) and how to sew a reasonably straight line, etc. Straight lines are mostly what you'll be doing when you're piecing.

All the rest is particular to piecing (quilting), so you'd just start by taking a class (fabric or sewing machine shop, community college, etc.), or buying a beginner book and starting with a simple pattern to make a simple quilt --or better just a pillow or doll quilt, or you can have a friend or someone who quilts work with you a little, or you can join a quilting group of some kind (a "guild," or just a few people who get together to make quilts for kids in hospitals, etc.), or learn from websites:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=beginning+quilting

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=learn+to+quilt


Good luck!

Diane B.

Answer 5

Check your local fabric store for lessons in basic sewing and then you can move on to quilting.

Answer 6

Get in touch with your extension cooperative in your town. They may have a quiltting club or guild. Either way the folks at the extension service cooperative will be more than happy to help.

Answer 7

Start by learning to sew. You might take a class at a community college, extension course, adult educationprogram or fabric store.

Answer 8

go join some club, or just learn to sew on your own. NEVER GIVE UP!

Answer 9

call any fabric store and sign up for a class