Quilting is 99% Cutting and Pressing
Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but it’s not THAT far off. Proper cutting and pressing are some of the most important things you can learn while starting out – pressing in particular. The more time you spend making sure your seams are pressed properly, the cleaner your individual blocks come out. And when you spend time making sure each block is neat, you’ll enjoy the process of putting them all together since all your seams will be better aligned.
It’s Worth Investing in Good Tools
Quilting is a hobby that is admittedly not very accessible. A great sewing machine, high quality fabric, and proper tools can definitely make your wallet very light very quick. However, buying a few good quality tools right off the bat may save you some headache later. Sewing in general has a pretty steep learning curve especially if you don’t have the luxury of a free teacher (thanks Mom!) There are some great tutorials plastered in every crevice of the internet, but sometimes we need someone to correct us as we go along.
If you can afford to splurge and plan to dedicate some time into the hobby, these are a few tools I recommend buying right off the bat:
- A heavy-duty rotary cutter (your wrists will thank you later)
- A large cutting mat
- A good variety of rulers
- High quality starch (Best Press is a fan favorite and rightfully so)
Don’t be Afraid to Rely on Community
The quilting community has been rapidly growing in recent years, and there are so many online resources for quilting tutorials. Don’t be afraid to join several facebook groups, reddit threads, and local quilting groups to form your own community as well. Odds are, others have struggled with the same things you have (picking a pattern for certain fabric, your machine’s tension being off, etc.) and are willing to lend a helping hand and share some tips and tricks. Sharing a photo of your latest project to those who understand the work and love that goes into a quilt can be so rewarding, and sometimes its just nice to commiserate with others when things aren’t quite working out.
I’m happy to answer any questions about what I’ve learned so far in my quilting journey, and I hope you find a sense of community here in my little cozy corner of the internet~