I Need Some Encouraging Words

Hello,

I'm a beginner sewer.  In fact I'm still learning how to sew straight lines on paper with an unthreaded needle from Diana's Rupp's book S.E.W.  I have 2 small children, one of them just turned 3 months old.  I've been wanting to sew a quilt for him.  A friend called me today and she's been sewing for years.  She told me it might be better if I give up the quilt idea and sew other things as quilt making is very difficult and very time-consuming.  She said the one quilt she tried to make for her infant daughter is still sitting in a bag unfinished because it was difficult.  And she knows how to sew clothes.  I see all these amazing quilts by ladies who say they've never sewn a quilt before.  At first I thought, if they can do it , why can't I?  But the thought now occurs to me that just because it was their first attempt at a quilt doesn't mean that they haven't been sewing for years.  Am I fooling myself to think that I can sew a quilt before my son starts to walk when I'm still learning to sew a straight seam?  I could use some guidance and encouragement right about now.

Thanks for Reading,

Elizabeth

Of course you can sew a quilt!  Go for it!  If you start with something that just has squares it's actually much easier than sewing clothes and you'll master the "sewing straight" by the time you finish.  Off the top of my head I don't have the name of any blogs or books that would be good but I know there are tons out there and I'm sure someone else can recommend one/some.
Don't be discouraged...just have fun!

I certainly understand where you are coming from with this posting. I have an 18 mo old daughter and I wanted to make a quilt out of her 1st year clothes. i had a sewing machine sitting in my closet for 2 years with GOOD INTENTIONS!!!!  well my aunt, who is a quilter/sewer, came up one weekend and we just did a crash course because I was so confused about how to even thread the damn machine!!!  where the hell is the bobbin!!  i was completely discouraged before she SHOWED me what to do with my machine. We did basic stuff and she had me practice things over and over. We also did a very simple pattern for a baby's dress to see how using a pattern worked. She also showed me how to make a quilt sandwich and all of that. I have been sewing ever since and having so much fun. the best thing that has worked for me is practice, practice, practice. I just threw myself into it and if i messed up, took it apart and tried it again (the beauty of sewing)  No one said you had to make a king size quilt for your son...a baby size lap quilt is VERY manageable and i would suggest practicing on just small squares, maybe like 1 ft x 1 ft or even 2 x 2, just so you know the process. There are so many fun and practical things you can do once you learn to sew. I hope you dont give up so soon.

i forgot...go to the library and get quilting books/sewing books....you'll learn the tecniques you need and there is TONS of stuff on here and on the internet. Just google quilting tutorials or sewing tutorials.

Books and on-line videos are a great help when you want to learn something new-- but nothing beats taking a class and learning from a live person. Iif there isn't a shop near you that offers classes don't be afraid to ask around.  You could even put up a little note on the bulletin board at the local grocery store/library. etc.   Quilters are very kind and 'sharing' folks and I'm sure you will find someone to help you.

Choose the right tools, ie. rotary cutter,ruler & mat  and a simple pattern , like Takes 3,  from www.the-teachers-pet.com and you will be well on your way.

Good luck

I'm so sorry you had such a load of discouraging words sent your way.  Of course you should go for it!  S.E.W. is an excellent book to start with.  Diana Rupp has such wonderful advice in there and the projects are very doable and easy to understand.  The baby quilt that is in that book is a really good first quilt to do.  My first quilt was the lap quilt in Amy Karol's book.  It turned out a bit lumpy and with slightly crooked edges, but it's still nice and warm and I love it anyhow.  I've been sewing for almost 2 years and my first projects were rather fishy at best, but I just kept on going.  Sewing is one of those things that the more you work at it, the better you will get.  You can do it!

You should give it a try.  Remember, there is no such thing as perfection.  I've been sewing awhile and still make mistakes.  You just have to let go and realize that you'll make mistakes and that is what the seam ripper is for.  If you never try, you'll never know if you can do it or not. 

Ahh, ditto on the seam ripper...it's a very non-judgmental friend.

I definitely think you should go for it!  I just started sewing in the middle of January, and the only prior experience I had was a very frustrating and nightmarish semester of home ec in junior high.   So I was pretty much starting from scratch, following along with the manual to figure out to thread the stupid thing.  Three weeks after I bought my machine, my coworker was having a baby shower, and I decided that I wanted to make a baby quilt for them.  So I went and bought one of those kits from Joann's, it already has the fabric picked out and there's a very simple pattern that goes with it - all you have to do is cut and sew!  So I started it on Wednesday, and the shower was on Saturday.  I got it done, and was really pleased with how it turned out.  And my coworker loved it. 

So don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't (or shouldn't) do it.  It's really easy, especially if you stick to squares and rectangles in the beginning.  I do recommend a walking foot, it helped a lot!

I'm going to echo everyone else.  Go for it.

Before my 1st quilt I only ever sewed a pair of clam diggers (the pants that just go past your knees) - one leg had the wrong side of the fabric showing, the other the correct side. No one told me there was a right and a wrong side before I started. And one appliqued pillow that I gave my mom.

Then, I sewed a quilt. Just cut a bunch of squares and 'stitch in the ditch'. It wasn't too big (crib sized?) so it was easy to cut out squares, easy to sew them together into rows, then sew the rows together for a top. Use a sheet or just sew fabric together for a back. Throw some batting in the middle and voila!  You have a quilt.

Then I sewed my daughter's christening gown - and sewed one sleeve on inside out. No one ever noticed.

Just sew.  Your little 'mistakes' will most likely only be noticeable by you. And, really, your kids won't care. They will just love that it is something you made them.

I think I have a seam ripper in every room!!!

You can surely do it!  Choose your quilt carefully at the beginning and you'll have fewer headaches.  Things to look for: small size, not a lot of points that have to match exactly (sashing between blocks could be an answer here), and a lot of squares or rectangles instead of a lot of triangles and diamonds.

When it comes to the actual quilting, you may want a walking foot or a darning foot for your machine (walking foot does wonders for straight-line quilting by having feed dogs at the top of the fabric that work with the feed dogs in the machine; darning foot lets you move your quilt around to quilt 'freehand').  If you have neither of those, and you're having trouble when you try to quilt it, just tie the quilt instead!

I like to use snuggly flannel on the backs of quilts for little ones.  Cotton batting (thin) seems easier to quilt by machine - for me - than thicker poly batting.

I'm a firm believer in sewing for your babies.  That way, you'll have practice in before they are old enough to actually look at what you're sewing for them critically.  My babies are 9, and are wonderfully able to look right over any mistake I make, because I made something *just for them*.

Good luck!

Go for it! Skip out on the sewing on paper, and take a risk of sewing on material (put a new needle in first - the paper will have blunted the other one!)

This comes from one who is a professional procrastinator, and someone who doesn't take risks. I started sewing just before Christmas - I worried about the chance I might ruin a bit of fabric, which would be money down the drain, and the thought my colours would never match as beautifully as those I've seen on blogs and things... But actually, 3 aprons later, and all those straight lines along the edges of the pinnies had me a lot more confident!

Now, I'm hooked! I recommend the SMS doll quilt sew along as a first off - it's a small project - so minimal outlay, shouldn't take too long, and is achievable. You could always make a few doll quilt tops, and then sew them together with some sashing in between to make a larger one, and then do the sandwiching - it might feel a bit less daunting doing a bit at a time then stitching it all together!

And, as everyone else says you can always rip the stitches, and start again.

I never sewed anything before really and I love quilting.  Sorry your friend said such discouraging words.  Maybe she's one of those people who don't finish any project they start - not just quilting.  Listen to the advise of all the ladies on this board that have responded already.  And you don't have to be perfect for a baby quilt!

Okay, girlfriend, you just have to go for it.  The first thing I ever sewed was a quilt.  No joke!  It was fantastic and it got me hooked on sewing.  Now I sew all sorts of stuff.  My biggest piece of advice... well two pieces is first scrap the paper.  It is nothing like sewing with fabric.  So, that's got to go.  Next, find a local fabric store (not JoAnn's or Hancocks or anything like that... I am talking about a quilting shop).  Chances are they have classes for beginners.  I made a sampler quilt for my first one at one such store and it showed me how to do most quilting squares.  It was awesome.  I think the trick is having someone show you the basics and then off you go!  Don't give up... but be warned that you will become addicted.  I happen to think this is a good thing!

Good luck... be sure to come back and show us your finished quilt!!