I taught my 10 year old granddaughter how to sew on my Pfaff Performance Icon. I demonstrated French seams just for fun. The next day, while I was out on errands, she made her own tote bag with French seams that are better than mine. She now has her own Brother machine and makes all kinds of stuff. It's great having a sewing companion.
Wow! That's fantastic! It's so fun when our children and grandchildren enjoy the same hobbies and activities as us, isn't it? You set your granddaughter up for a lifetime of enjoyment!
I've been told I'm too old to learn quilting or machine embroidery, at 72. Well, I ignored the naysayers and bought a Baby Lock Aurora. I love your channel and think I can learn a lot from you. Thank you for being a Teacher instead of a Preacher! Big hugs...Donna
Don't listen to nay-sayers. Quilting is not difficult if you start with basic squares - I did my first one with zero instruction and just knowing how to use my mom's sewing machine (which is now my sewing machine). From there, you just learn to improve and get fancier as you go. Most importantly, have fun! Also, you can start with some smaller items such as placemats, etc for practice vs taking on a huge quilt.
I am so glad I found you. I am a 69 year old beginning quilter, once was a theater costumer and primarily a lifelong learner. Key, to me was you saying”go ahead and do it”. We learn as we go, right, and we do it for us. Just seeing your daughter so joyous reminds me that that little creative spark is so vulnerable. What a luckily child to have a mom who understands that.
I am an A type personality. I have been the most impatient person I know. I'm now 75 years old and found quilting during the COVID lockdown. Two years on, I'm the most patient person I know, I feel like I'm ten years younger and, I'm learning something new everyday about the world and art of quilting. Other than the odd A-line skirt or box blouse, hemming and the odd rudimentary alteration, I've done little to no sewing in my life. I bought a second hand Janome Quilters Companion, and haven't looked back. The quilting rabbit hole has lured me in and I'm hooked. I laughed when you said you gave all your early quilts away. I'm doing the same thing. My friends and family are getting all the learner's projects. But I'm tickled with every one I've made. I refuse to hear critcism unless it's constructive, I'm gradually gathering proper tools, and gradually learning about fabrics and the world of textiles. I also am a huge KF fan! Oh my gawd. Thank you for these 15 reminder tips. Most I've learned, but I believe that a good student goes into every new project with an open mind, and open heart and a willingness to step into the unknown.
21:58 Yes!!!! I didn't even quilt for a year and barely made about 3 super simple strip piece charity quilts before I took on my most ambitious quilt project... my own pattern! And boy was it a pattern lol. My math wasn't mathing, I messed up several times, some points didn't meet up, and there were sooo... many... pieces.... but it actually turned out beautiful and got the praise of everyone in my quilting group who had quilted for 10+ years. Even with the mistakes, I felt so proud that I took on another self-made pattern. Those ambitious undertakings taught me a lot and really honed in my skills. I'm not afraid to take on "complex" projects and the shortcomings don't stress me out because it's all a learning experience and I'll never get good if I don't try. "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"
I was tidying up an old cupboard recently and came across a patchwork quilt that my mum made on a singer treadle machine back when I was a child and I am 71 and it gave me the buzz to start a quilt of my own. My mum’s quilt was made with bits of material from dresses we wore as children and it brought back so many memories. I haven’t started yet but am in the process of building up my collection of things I need. My fear (or one of them) is the design - I am not a naturally creative person and a bit scared to take that first step. Your video has given me that confidence to take my first step. I will check out your tutorials. I live in Ireland and quilting is not as popular as it is in the US. It’s difficult to get books as a lot of companies don’t send to Ireland so it’s great to have the online guidance and encouragement from the likes of yourself. Thank you.
Gurrrllll!!! Sitting here watching this video just nodding my head in agreement with all these pro tips! Even the first part talking about how your were such a busy college student and then you graduated and were like “now what?! I need to fill my time.” Same!!! I started a few years out of grad. school and just took the attitude of “let’s figure it out”! I had people tell me that I should not try a t-shirt quilt because of the difficulties with stitch and I now have a line customers waiting for me to make them custom memory quilts! 🥳 I also won our county fair after only 4 years of quilting! You made such good points that I hope will help take some frustration out for our fellow quilters…quality fabric, a quality machine, willingness and patience. Also, I have never had someone give a quilt back to me because my points didn’t match🤣🤣 thanks for all that you do!!
How true! Having a quality machine you can afford that has a dealer nearby to help when problems arise is priceless and money well invested. Service your machine at least once a year to keep your baby humming along.
When I started out I thought smaller would be easier! 😂 yes I began with mini quilts. When I took my first actual class and the pieces seemed so huge (3” squares were the biggest I’d used up to that point) I was amazed at how easy it was to line things up!!!
Your daughter is so cute and amazing!!! I hope I can be like her, not afraid to make mistakes and excited to show off her work. You're an amazing mom for giving her the keys to your machine.
Thank you and i have done my mistakes too. I started to quilt after COVID-19 and was 70 years old. Before started to quilt the last time I touched a sewing machine i was 18 years old. Watching videos (over and over) in my IPad computer have help me a lot and still have a lot to learn. Know I’m sewing everyday and making things for family and friends. It’s my therapy since COVID-19, I don’t go out as much as i used too. Thank you again.
I started quilting when you marked around cardboard templates and cut with scissors. Rotary cutters and quilting rulers are relatively new tools for me. Thank you
Me, too! The rotary cutter cane out just after I was making my first quilt! The rotary cutter and mat are a miracle! They are largely responsible for the renewed interest in quilting that happened in the 1970’s!
Exactly, as I stated, I was 14 and mom wanted something we could do as mom n daughter, so we joined a quilters circle at our local Long Island Firehouse. We then each had a project to make on our own and had 10 weeks to complete n bring in. All done by hand, cardboard templates we made, scissors, a regular flat school ruler and chalk to mark. My mom's came out flawlessly( she does all crafts) and mine.. let's just say we all laughed, some gave constructive criticism, a few shook their heads and one old quilt police asked me if I liked to bake. It was a glorious lesson to learn to do all that by hand, make projects that took FOREVER and spend precious time with my mom, and the elders of our community. I will never forget that time, lovingly❣️
My boyfriends grandmother taught me to quilt the first time I ever went to visit her and I fell in love so much that I taught both my sisters how to quilt we all have much to learn. Sadly I don’t get to visit grandma more than once a year due to distance and I’m so happy I get to learn some tricks here thank you for all you do ❤
My mom's first quilt is my baby blanket, and I still love and cherish that thing and me and my mom bond over patching it up throughout the years, it's changed so mutch since then but I love it even more after we patch it up!
I've been quilting for about 20 years when my daughter moved to Wisconsin and we had great teachers. Because of corvid, I didn't quilt, I just concentrated on staying alive. But now, I'm 87 and have quilts I want to/ need to finish. For me, your presentation was a refresher course, I sincerely thank you. And I agree with you about the quality of fabric, just touch it or hold it up to the light, you'll know quality when you see. Thanks again
My first quilt made in 1971&72 was a Noah's Ark for my new baby boy. I used scraps from my own sewing for myself and my hsuband. It has double knit, velour, corduroy, and denim among the cottons from my scraps. I quilted it with large stitches and embroidery floss. Eric loved it and slept with it for many years. It is in
As I take my passion for sewing into the quilting space I give myself permission to practice at the level I am at right now, with the tools I have on the budget I can afford. It's the pleasure of the journey alongside the increasing knowledge that makes functional things I can celebrate finishing. All you said is true, I just don't yet have access to everything I desire but I've come a long way since I started to seriously apply myself to a more quilting focused practice. More prolific in numbers of projects, more interested in patter and design. You just start where you are at dream, make goals happen and keep moving forward. Yes this last month I've been doing binding. One small thing after another so it becomes like muscle memory and easier each time. Even doing pieced binding. Plus today yes I ironed lots of seams open because it made sense to do ut. Cheers to all the Noobies out there like me 🇦🇺💜🇺🇲💚👍😊🖐
I am so encouraged by what you said, (sentence that starts with "start where you are...) that I intend to make this a sign and hang it in my studio. Thank you so much for your sharing.
Thank you! What I would give to have a walking foot and really nice material! But at 70 and just getting started, I love my $200 Brother. I hit estate sales during the summers and have got some beautiful fabric for pennies on the dollar. I'm just so afraid to mess things up..lol. Just got done with my first "semi quilt". Beautiful birds in autumn forest panel turned into dining room drapes. Bordered and lined. My lines on both sides match up perfectly. I am so proud of that 😊. Love all the help from this channel and the commentors. Thank you all so much!
Pls try not to be so afraid of making mistakes, we ALL do it. Pls remember that when babies are learning to walk, they fall down & then learn to get up. It's only frabic after all & can often be redone if the mistakes were really big. Often quilter's mistakes are only obvious to the Quilter & the User or Observier, never knows about it.
Your daughter looks so proud of her quilt and she should be - at 60 years of age and a newbie to quilting, I'm not sure that I would attempt that. Super impressive!!!
This was fabulous information. I've been quilting for a few years and I still make lots of mistakes, but when I've given the quilt to someone they love it even though there are mistakes and they don't see them. I still have trouble with points and especially my cutting. I'm going to start using some sort of weights to keep me from shifting the ruler. As I tell everyone, I do a little quilting, but I’m not a “quilter”. I can say if you love to quilt keep at it as you continue to learn from your mistakes. Again thank, for your videos.
Hi Helen, I started using a weight after seeing one being used on yt. As I didn't have a dumbbell I used the base of my pestle/ mortar (never sure what that's called). Worked beautifully. Point being you're bound to find something heavy enough in the kitchen or hubbie's toolshed.
I don't use weights to hold down my rulers. Instead, I pasted on small Sandpaper Dots to underside of my rulers to keep them from slipping while cutting w/ rotary cutter.
@@jacquelenebennett4028 Yes!! I learned from Donna Jordan of Jordan Fabrics on YT! I have a rubber coated 5# weight I use and it solved the problem! Also works well as a door stop in my sewing room! 🤣
I love that I randomly found you! I have made all those mistakes (even the binding) and I am still new to quilting and I am happy to see you are so encouraging and supportive! I am subscribing and will be watching! Thank you for making me want to start quilting again.
Girl! You are so fun and honest… just so precious 😅 I didn’t know anything at all when I agreed to do a BOM from Quilters Newletter Magazine, with alternating star blocks and applique blocks, with 1.5” pieces! Teeeeny tiny HST’s and flying geese😱 but I did it and it’s my treasure!
Many years ago, the late 80's, I went to a "Fast Patch" quilting class, essentially strip quilting. I has heard about rotary cutters but thought they were just some expensive toy that would go out of style. When I attended the class the heavens parted, the angels started singing and I was awestruck. It made so much sense and seemed a much more efficient was to make a quilt. I had been interested in quilting but the though of sitting for endless hours cutting out one tiny piece at a time was too daunting. Today I am the proud owner of several rotary cutters, rulers, templates and cutting mats.
You are such a sweet, lovely person. I learn so much from you. My sewing machine that is marketed as a quilting edition did not come with a 1/4 inch foot. 🤷♀️🤦♀️ I'm sure if I had never quilted before that I would have done the same thing you did with the foot that came on the machine.
My husband and I just listened to your video and chuckled. Thanks for voicing all the "oops" that we have encountered on our journey. Keep up the great work.
Thank you for these words of encouragement. I am turning 71 in a few days and gifted myself with a long arm machine and frame. Do I ever have so much to learn as I have no one to teach me or turn to for guidance. O. Top of that the arthritis in my hands makes life difficult but I do not give up easily. Wish me luck. Suzy H in Florida.
I am 82 and I finally learned to listen to the advice 'TAKE BREAKS" When I feel the first twinge of arthritis or any pain, I stop and usually take a drink of water. I am not like these younger generations who live with a water bottle attached to their hand. I have to remember to grab that H2O
I love your videos! Your daughter's reaction to her own accomplishment is incredible...she just jumped in! She didn't know she couldn't! That's perfect!
My 7yo niece was the same way as your daughter. I took her to the quilt store, but it was closed. She didn’t want to wait to start her small quilt, so to WallyWorld for some fabrics we went! She had her own idea of what she liked, but made a pretty cool doll quilt with puppy & kitten fabrics along with a solid or 2. We were proud of her perseverance to do the sandwich & SITD quilting almost completely by herself!
What a wonderful video, Stephanie! Every quilter needs to see this. I started quilting in order to use up old fabrics I did not want to toss and many of my 'masterpieces' fell apart in the wash or needed constant repair. Once I began using better fabrics I realized the difference and never looked back. Quilting is definitely a learning experience.
You will never know how much you encouraged me through all your tutorial series, but none were as encouraging as this one. I know you are going through major changes in your journey that are deeply discouraging, but I will always appreciate you, your team and your love of creating that knows no bounds or limitations. Your next best version is just around the corner. Meanwhile I appreciate all the content you’ve created to help me along my quilting journey. God bless you and yours
No matter what don't give up. My first quilt was worse than her's. My dad loved it for over 10 years before it started to fall apart. Frayed holes everywhere. I ripped that baby apart and redesigned and made him a new one saving what I could. He LOVES it still. Each quilt brings a new challenge but also something you learned before to help make the next one a little easier.
THank you!! I love the encouragement for everyone. I have been fighting with my machine for a long time, trying to tell myself if I did, thus and such better, all would be well. I'm going to check out your video about buying a new machine and quit fighting with this dinosaur!
Wonderful video! Totally agree. My suggestion is to buy fabrics for projects and not build a stash. Having a stash is overrated and expensive. Congrats on all of your hard work with your company and tutorials!
I knew how to sew but learned quilting by watching TV shows on PBS and home channel. I entered a quilt contest at our local fair. I won my category, but the one judge gave me some tips which I appreciated. I still like to check out tips like yours.
Oh my! I didn’t know about the presser feet size either! Lol. Went to a class and that poor teacher……she had her hands full with me. But it taught me so much. And that’s been so many years ago. Never looked back and just kept learning more about quilting. Thanks for the video. Guaranteed someone out there learned from your mistakes.
I completely agree with not discouraging people from trying something they want to try, and I also think that sometimes they can become so frustrated with trying to do something beyond their skill that they will just quit. So weighing how to say that they might want to try something a little less challenging is also important. I had this happen with a friend, who wanted to make a quilt, she wanted to design it and do some very complicated things with circles and applique. I didn't want to discourage her so I let her go at it and she got so frustrated with how hard it was, that it took another year before she'd try quilting again. I talked her into trying something a lot more simple and now she loves it. She has the skill now, to do what she had wanted to do and this time I'm confident she will do much better.
I am learning to quilt by watching videos. Would have loved to have a teacher. I loved you sharing all the things you didn’t know. I’m in the same boat as you, just learning as I go, just keep rowing 🚣 and sewing 🪡 🧵 🇨🇦
This video was beyond amazing. I started out my sewing adventures when I was about 16 and my mother kept telling me I’d never do anything with it. I kept at it and even made some clothes back in the late ‘80’s. Then at age 21 I took a quilting class - I was the youngest female there by 30 years! The women were amazing and taught me about the 1/4 inch foot (who knew😂), using good quality fabric and not to race through my projects. I’d add to your list: pressing your fabric before cutting really helps, make friends with your seam ripper, buy the best machine you can afford, and always measure twice!
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge through this video. I’ve been quilting for over 30 years and find I can always learn something new from other quilters. I made my first quilt using an Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day book, and I just used the edge of my regular presser foot as a guide. I had no idea what I was doing. I even used a loft batting because I didn’t know any better. A few years later I signed up for a beginning quilting class at a LQS and the quilting world opened up to me. I truly enjoy your positivity and down to earth approach in all of your videos. Subscribed!
I love your positivity, thank you. I also didn’t know that the presser foot wasn’t a 1/4 in. the difference of pressing and ironing, and not using water in my iron because of the grossness! Great information, thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Stumbled upon this and had to watch! I've been quilting for a while now, but it was refreshing to hear about the issues I've had and validate that I'm not crazy! Something that I didn't know way back in my beginner days - how to prepare the quilt top for the quilter. I asked a local quilter to quilt for me (I was fairly new to the area, quilting and needed to send to my daughter ASAP). When she said yes I just handed her the quilt top. She was very kind and didn't say anything but now I know that I should have squared it , trimmed off the unnecessary border edges and made it easier for her to put it on her longarm! I know now! We are now good friends and I still learn so much from her! - Thanks for the info you gave today. It was a good reminder.
I'm a self taught quilter. I got several quilting books way before I started quilting. I started my first quilt 6 years ago, finished it a year later. Auctioned it off. My grandmother use to quilt, crochet and more. I learned the quilter's knot from her, I just didn't know what it was called. I started learning how to sew in Jr High School. I made clothing, pillow covers, bags and did repairs. (Still do repairs) I also did a lot of Crocheting. Now, I just quilt. Finances are tight so, I get a lot of my materials from thrift stores, people who are getting rid of a lot of scrap materials and more. I also shop at Walmart a lot. I've made something like 6 quilts, 5 quilted pillow covers, table cloths and have 9 plus pre-quilts cut and ready to sew together. I just finished a DC Comic quilt, Batman, for my nephew and an elephant quilt for his youngest daughter. I'm in the process of making a Log Cabin quilt for my mom. My goal is to make and donate many throw quilts for cancer patients at the cancer center that my husband was at. I'm having fun with quilting!! 😁
Making quilts is one of the most amazing things that anyone can do, and actually giving someone you love a quilt is another 🤩🤩 Quilting is definitely my therapy, my happy place 😊 Most people see the beauty in the quilt that you have created 🥰 If they point out any mistakes then they aren’t someone you should be making a quilt for 🤷♀️ How sad to be only able to see negative things 😳 🇬🇧
Ok, this was me. And some of it still is me. Thanks. I am into my third big, Queen or king, quilt. My first one is still in the unfinished pile. In between I spent a lot of time on small projects. I wish I had a quilting guild near me, I am always learning and thank goodness for RU-vid.
Video answered a lot of questions for me...I'm self taught, started making baby quilts in the mid 60s. Would take years off and when I'd return to quilting, made the same old mistakes again! Love your tips andd helps. Just finishing up an embroidered quilt I started 30 yrs. ago!
I LOVE this video! All the things I didn't know! And I know there are still many I have yet to learn, but that's part of the fun. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and mistakes and making it fun at the same time.
Thanks for your stories/tips. My background is apparel design. I started quilting when I was pregnant with my first child and no sewing machine. (my husband joined the navy in his 30’s). I only owned an industrial sewing machine at the time and could not move it with us as we went station to station. I am self taught. I just wanted to share my beginner mistakes.. 😅. 1st one was cutting w/o a rotary cutter. yes I cut everything with dress maker scissors. 2nd mistake, I did not know you needed different batting for hand stitched quilts. 35 years later.. I still love quilting. RU-vid has made it better. Taking classes has been fantastic. I now own a used longarm which i am so happy to have. I enjoyed you videos and your obvious enjoyment for quilting.
Love all 15 tips! As a sewer, I didn’t consider quilting because of all the cutting. After seeing a rotary cutter, my life changed! Then I discovered you tube tutorials and pre-cuts. When encouraging others to try quilting, I lead with these things that maki it easy, and more fun!
I went to quilting classes many years ago and then I didn't do any quilting for many years. When I decided to try it again, I had no idea what anyone was talking about. I thought I had gone to a baking website instead of quilting. When I took the classes there were no precuts (layer cakes, jelly rolls, honeybuns) and we used scissors only. As you were saying with the strip cutting, I made a full size quilt and cut out every piece from yardage with scissors. Maybe that's why I had quit so many years ago.
Love your attitude! My very first quilt was a queen sized pattern. I have designed every quilt since then. “Are they going to win any awards? Hell no!“ but I designed them with love and gave them to people I love. I am in the middle of my first collage quilt - a whole new world!
Totally loved this. I'm self taught got a mini machine when I was 6 and made very rough Barbie clothes. Now I make a lot of items along with quilts and sell at a local farmers market. Some people do come in my booth and critic my work. At first I was a bit upset with negative remarks like fabric choices and why didn't you or you should remarks. My dad who is a artist told me to respond to them with. You know it's really easy to get your own market booth and sell your own style of products. I would love to check out what you make. I'm know to have the most colorful booth at markets. Thankyou for all the info you just laid out. You are very helpful to all of us who love what we are doing with fabric. Terri Townsend Montana.
What a fun video. I started watching Sewing With Nancy but nothing ever fit. Then some how I found a lady named Billy and Alex on TV. I went to the mall and a Singer sewing machine store sold fabric and have been hooked ever since. Still no professional learning but what fun for 40 sum years.
Thank you for taking the time to do this, especially since its not even your channel. It is much appreciated. I wish more channels out there would do this.
This was such a great video…..I remember struggling with the 1/4” seam allowance so much. I just didn’t know how to test it, etc. I really think we’ve all hit the same milestones in the learning curve that you did. The one thing I was confused about that you didn’t mention was borders. I didn’t realize that you could piece the borders. And when I figured that out, I thought you were supposed to join them like you joined binding….on the diagonal. I went into a local shop and asked a gal I knew and she kind of gave me a strange look, Ike why was I asking this. Sooooo, I learned another thing. And on the subject of borders, I finally figured out how to make the, not wavy….whew….. I, like many others began garment sewing, and had no idea that quilting was a lot different. And when you’ve sewn all your life you think you can quilt, no problem. Not exactly. So until I found a local quilt guild, I was self taught …. All be it with a ton of RU-vid videos. A guild is a great place to learn and share this wonder, fun, creative craft with like minded people and make new friends! Thanks again Stephanie for sharing your journey!
Even though I've learned all of the things you discussed over the past 5 years of quilting, this video was so refreshing to realize I was not the only one who learned all of it the hard way, as did you! Thanks, Stephanie!
I’m a new quilter at the age of 84 always wanted to see . But raised a big family that kept me busy . So in my season years my son bought me a smart tv and got videos on quilting and decided to try it out . So I’m trying love your video so helpful I’ll keep ❤
Awesome! Thank you for this 😊 especially the 'just do it'! I have sheep, and want to make a quilt with their wool as batting....I'm just going to get it done!
I just watched this video and it validated everything I learned on my own when I first started quilting just 2 yrs ago. I had not sat down at a machine in over 35 years. My very first project was place mats and napkins. Then my second was a jelly roll rug (learned on your video) and went straight to log cabin, grand central and other patterns for baby quilts. I have learned more from doing projects that require me to go outside my comfort zone. My seam ripper became my best friend. You are right about one thing, my quilts may not be perfect, but the love put into them makes up for the imperfections. You're a great instructor and I have learned so much from your videos. Thank you
WOW. I just found your video. Im a new fan you are the bible of quilting!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been quilting for a couple years now but I do make all kinds of bags. You are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing all this. I have no one that Sews that could help. Hello from ohio
Thank you for all of the information. I'm a very beginner and I'm gathering information before I get all of my materials to make my first quilt. Ohhh my there's a lot that entails on quilt making.
