several questions

Just do it. No matter how hard you try, you'll never make a perfect quilt, and your first quilt is going to be a lot less perfect than your subsequent efforts. Aim to make it a learning effort. I aim to make each quilt a learning effort. Make a small quilt, crib-size or lap-size, don't spend a lot on fabrics, choose a simple design and if you don't like it when you're finished, donate it to a women's shelter, nursing home or other recipient who will not criticize you for any flaws, or even notice them!

Many people have a tendency to get frozen about trying new things. They will spend a lot of effort accumulating supplies and equipment, thinking about it, worrying if they're doing the right things, unable to start, afraid to make a mistake. Most people have a streak of this, and have to learn to overcome it. It boils down to fear of failure, and setting your standards too high. You can't be good at anything without going through a stage of fumbling beginner. Expect to make mistakes so don't sweat it when you do. Mistakes teach you what not to do next time. Don't be too critical of flaws. Even the real experts make quilts with imperfections. As you gain experience, the flaws will be less frequent and less obvious. Besides, perfection is for machines. Why aspire to imitate a machine? It's the little (or not so little) irregularities that show the quilt is a unique handmade object, not something from a factory.

You should be able to put a small quilt with e.g. 4-6" square patches together in a few hours, and machine-quilt it in a simple straight line design in another few hours. You'll have gotten a big start on all the basic skills of quilt making and be ready to try something more complex for your next effort, or to make a better version of the same quilt with less time and effort and stress. You'll have something to show for your efforts, to keep or give away, and you'll be much more confident for the next quilt.

Note that a lap quilt for a person in a wheelchair should be no larger than 36" x 45" to avoid getting entangled with the wheels. You can put something like this together from large squares quickly, and it will be greatly appreciated by someone in a nursing home. Ditto, a child's quilt maybe 45" square will be a wonderful morale-booster for a woman and child in a shelter for the abused or homeless. In either case, use strong washable fabrics and polyester batting, which is the best and easiest for simple and minimal machine quilting anyway, and withstands frequent washing well. (I usually use strong or dark colors and patterned rather than solid fabrics for these quilts, avoiding whites and pastels, so dirt won't show as readily. It's embarrassing for a disabled person to spill things and it really helps if stains don't show!)

For pattern ideas, I recommend

formatting link
Try Streak of Sunshine, a quick, attractive and easy pattern, with detailed illustrated instructions, ideal for a beginner. Bonnie, the author of these pages, has an incredible store of wonderful ideas at all levels of difficulty, but many super-easy designs that look much more complicated to the non-quilter's eye than they are to make. It's all free, and her friendly and funny style is very encouraging for the beginner.

So relax and have fun. Remember that those prize-winning quilts on web pages were made by people who started out as inexperienced as you are, and developed their skills over many years and many projects. If you could make a prize-winning quilt first time around, those quilts wouldn't be very impressive, would they? And you don't have to aim for a world-class quilt. Just aim to enjoy yourself, learn, and share your quilts with others who will be as amazed at your early efforts as you are at the show quilts.

Reply to
bae
Loading thread data ...
42 ... answer for each question is 42.

PAT

Jacquel> I have a few questions I would like to ask, I hope someone will > answer me :)

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

LOLOL! ......... shame on you, Pat.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Reply to
Karen, Queen of Squishies

One day remind me to tell you about what I went through to get a bottle of '42 Port for a friend's 42nd birthday ROFL

Reply to
Cats

Oh Pat, indeed 42 is the answer! Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long for the answer. lol

Reply to
Ceridwen

Karen, she only said that to me because she knew I didn't have any chocolate.

Jacquel>LOLOL! ......... shame on you, Pat.

Jacqueline

formatting link
and other fun things

Reply to
Jacqueline

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.