Updated Nov. 11, 2025
It’s been over 25 years since I first bought some ugly fabric and inadequate supplies in a quest to make my first quilt. While that first quilt was a technical and aesthetic disaster, I was hooked and started learning everything I could about quilting. While I was soaking up as much information as I could, there were obviously some things I didn’t quite learn as early as I would have liked.
If you’re new to quilting or have been at it for some time, please learn from my mistakes!
Buy the Good Fabric & Thread
When I first started quilting, my daughter was nearly four, and four-year-olds aren’t cheap! While I wanted to make quilting my hobby, 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. After only about a dozen washes, the seams started coming apart, the fabric simply tore away from the seams, and the quilting and batting began coming undone. It was heartbreaking.
I started visiting local quilt shops and carefully selecting high-quality fabrics that truly appealed to me. I was less focused on building my stash and more interested in acquiring good materials that would last a while. It has been so worthwhile.
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 & 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 carefully ensured 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 with those mats. 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.
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 — will hold up their quilt during show and tell and then start talking about the things they don’t like about it or what they think they 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 discussing your thought process along the way, 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 ranged from converted computer desks in the corner of the living room to the kitchen table, and eventually to a dedicated studio with a custom-built sewing desk. Many of my setups over the years were not conducive to good 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 styles. 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. Then, 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 because I wanted to be involved in something on social media or because it was a look someone else liked. These projects sat in my works-in-progress pile and weighed on me like a psychological noose. Some I’ve let go of, while 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.
This is my version of Hexy MF from I’m a Ginger Monkey. It was supposed to be an entire EPP top, but that original pattern was weighing me down. Once I made modifications to make the project my own, I was able and excited to finish it.
Don't be Afraid to Ask Stupid Questions
Some of my biggest quilting breakthroughs happened when I asked simple questions. Why a quarter-inch seam? What’s the difference between quilting cottons, batiks, and homespun fabrics? Why is it called quilting when that’s only part of the process? Yeah, I looked a little silly for a moment, but these questions helped me learn – and then challenge – the rules of quilting.
For the record, it’s a large enough seam to hold the fabric together but small enough to avoid bulk; regular woven, tightly woven dyed with wax, and very loosely woven fabrics—usually a plaid; and no one ever really gave me a good answer to that last one.
