It’s been over 25 years since I bought some ugly fabric and inadequate supplies in a quest to make my first quilt. That first quilt was a technical and aesthetic disaster, but I was hooked, and I started learning everything I could about quilting. While I was soaking up all that information, there were plenty of things I didn’t quite learn as early as I would have liked.
Whether you’re brand new to quilting or you’ve been at it for years, these are the beginner quilting mistakes I made so you don’t have to. Here are the 7 things I wish I’d known when I first started. Please learn from me.
Buy the Good Fabric and Thread
When I first started quilting, my daughter was nearly four, and four-year-olds aren’t cheap. I wanted quilting to be my hobby, but I also knew I couldn’t spend a lot of money on it. So… I went to JoAnn’s and bought the 70-cent fat quarters and $1.99 cotton fabric. And polyester thread. With coupons. Don’t get me wrong, JoAnn’s improved the quality of their fabric before they closed, but that wasn’t the case 25 years ago.
I started feverishly making quilts with my discount fabric and thought I was doing a good job. Everything looked nice, the seams lay flat, and the quilting went smoothly. Then it all fell apart. Literally.
I firmly believe in using quilts and not putting them away to avoid damage. But after only about a dozen washes, the seams started coming apart, the fabric tore away from the seams, and the quilting and batting began coming undone. It was heartbreaking.
So I started visiting local quilt shops and carefully selecting high-quality fabrics that truly appealed to me. I focused less on building my stash and more on acquiring good materials that would last. It has been so worthwhile. (And once you’ve invested in good fabric, it’s worth knowing whether to prewash it before you cut.)
Don’t Be So Quick to Give Away Your Talent
My first several quilts got handed out like candy on Halloween.
Coworker had a baby? Quilt.
Sister’s husband’s niece’s classmate is getting married? Quilt.
Friend’s dog went a whole day without pooping in the house? Quilt.
OK, maybe not that last one, but you get my point. Even though my technique has improved a lot since I started, I’d love to have one of those earlier quilts just to look back and see how far I’ve come. Or maybe not. They weren’t made with good fabric.
Buy Tools and Supplies Like You’ll Never Buy Them Again
Obviously, my first cardboard cutting mat didn’t last past the first quilt. Cardboard isn’t exactly self-healing, if you know what I mean. Then I bought a small self-healing cutting mat that I could hardly fit my fabric on, and I stored it leaning against a wall. It ended up with a permanent curve and would never lie flat for cutting.
Later, I splurged on a large 24x36-inch mat and made sure it always lay flat. That was 18 years ago, and I’ve only needed to replace it once due to heavy use. Eventually they can’t heal themselves anymore, but that was a good long run. Spending the extra money, and treating it well, made that mat a more economical investment in the long run.
The same holds true for scissors, fabric storage, and other tools you’ll use every day.
Investing in good quilting supplies and tools will always pay off in the end.
Self-Confidence Is a Thing
I’ve been part of guilds and quilting groups across the country, and one thing is guaranteed to happen at all of them. A quilter, whether a beginner or an expert, holds up her quilt during show and tell. Then she starts talking about everything she doesn’t like about it, or what she thinks she didn’t do right.
What?
Maybe it’s because most quilters are women, and we’re not supposed to think we’re amazing? But consider everything that goes into making a quilt: choosing the pattern and fabric, then spending hours cutting, piecing, basting, quilting, and binding.
And then you stood up and put yourself down.
No more. When you go to show and tell, stand up confidently and be proud of what you’ve created. Will everyone like it? No. But that’s okay. You know what went into it. Don’t sell yourself short. Instead, try talking about your thought process, what you learned, or what inspired you to make the quilt in the first place. Speak positively and be proud.
Posture Is Also a Thing
My quilting spaces have changed a lot over the years. A converted computer desk in the corner of the living room. The kitchen table. Eventually, a dedicated studio with a custom-built sewing desk. Many of those setups were not kind to my posture. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself, “Spine straight, shoulders back and down.”
There are plenty of exercises and stretches we can do to make good posture second nature. Talk with your doctor about what would work best for you, and then do it.
Don’t Chase Trends
Trends in quilting come and go. Traditional versus modern. Prints versus solids. Machine piecing and quilting versus handwork. Plus, all the hashtags for quilt-alongs make you feel like a cool kid.
Resist the urge. If modern truly speaks to you, embrace being modern, and avoid taking on traditional projects unless you have a strong reason. If you’re not enjoying the project, it will feel like a chore to finish. We’re not here to do chores. We’re here to nourish our souls with creativity.
I can’t tell you how many projects I’ve started just to be part of something on social media. Or because it was a look someone else liked. Those projects sat in my works-in-progress pile and weighed on me like a psychological noose. Some I’ve let go of. Others I’ve managed to turn into something that truly makes my heart sing.
All I’m saying is to be yourself. You’ll be happier in the long run.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask “Stupid” Questions
Some of my biggest quilting breakthroughs happened when I asked simple questions. Yeah, I looked a little silly for a moment, but these questions helped me learn, and then challenge, the rules of quilting. Here are a few I asked early on:
Why a quarter-inch seam?
It’s large enough to hold the fabric together, but small enough to avoid bulk.
What’s the difference between quilting cottons, batiks, and homespun fabrics?
Quilting cotton is regular woven fabric. Batiks are tightly woven and dyed with wax. Homespun is very loosely woven, usually in a plaid.
Why is it called quilting when that’s only part of the process?
Honestly? No one ever gave me a good answer to that one.
Starting out doesn’t have to be lonely. And you don’t have to make all my mistakes to get good. If free motion quilting is on your someday list, grab my free guide, Free Motion Magic. It walks you through everything you need to know before you even sit down at your machine. Happy quilting.
