7 Things I Learned Quilting

Another thread talked about learning in the beginning stages of quilting and when I replied, I found myself compiling this list of things I have learned myself. I added to it some and I thought I would share with everyone my "newbie" pearls of wisdom:

#1 My machine does not have catastrophic fails when I hit the petal and nothing happens. It is that I too have left the foot up.
#2 All the little mistakes you make, chances are no one will ever even notice. You might not either when you are finished. I have went to show someone a mistake I made and couldn't find it. It felt good.
#3 Make labels for your quilts so you can look back and see exactly when you made them. I put on my name, the month I made the quilt and I always name my quilts. Even if the names are silly.
#4 Safety pins are only as safe as the person using them.
#5 Don't sew until 3 am, you will get back to it the next day and be pretty sure you were drinking heavily the night before.
#6 HAVE FUN! Quilting is fun and relaxing and take the time to love every minute of it!
#7 Don't get too concentrated on sewing because it is that very moment that the phone will ring and make you pee your pants. You may or may not pee your pants, I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I pee my pants.

Ha! I can totally relate to #5....It is not worth it to stay up till 3...and then spend hours ripping it out because it looks so wrong. I also have a problem cutting after 11 pm...the things we learn on our quilting journey!

Congrats on the pregnancy...and best wishes to you.

Thanks! Love your sense of humor and remember we like to see pics of projects completed so when the bun comes out of the oven take a pic and post it for us! Congrats!!!!

I would never think of making labels for my quilts! I think that's an awesome idea to remember when/where/how you made a quilt. Especially nice when you're making quilts for a future little one like your own! Wow, 35 weeks. Time is getting short now! Be sure to post pictures, like Kathy said, we love seeing the completed project :D lol

LOL! They ALL make sense - especially #7. :D

They all make sense. Congratulations on your little one. SOON!! Can't wait to see pictures.

You're right in every way. Don't forget to post pictures of your completed projects!
Thanks in advance and all the best to you and your baby.

Michèle

Great list ttucsko I think between the two of us we could even make this list longer. But it is a fun journey that we are on. Best wishes to you and your little one.

Look at that - not only does she dispense pearls of wisdom, she also is a great multi-tasker. Imagine quilting and carrying around a baby in her incubator. Anxious to see what both efforts create.

One thing I learned - is that a seam ripper is sharp enough to stick right in a finger! Good luck with the new baby and I hope it will be an easy birth for you - post some pics :)

Great List. I can relate to #7.....not the being pregnant part... the peeing your pants part! I sneeze .... I pee! I cough...I pee! I laugh....I pee (and then I cuss at Sandy for the funnies!)....

Good luck with the expected bundle of love.

We are always so critical of our own work....be kind to yourself. Quilting is and should be fun....no quilt police anywhere around here (thank goodness!). I love your newbie pearls of wisdom...we oldtimers need to read these, too. Thanks for sharing:)

A few I've learned to add to the list:
#8 When you tired, put the rotary cutter down & walk away....even with a ruler you can't cut a straight line!
#9 Mentally working on the "quilts in your head" doesn't help finish the quilts in front of you!
#10 When it's all going "too smoothly" stop and check your work!

Need I say anymore? Late at night, too much coffee, in a hurry to go to bed, didn't notice it till I took a pic of quilt. I kept looking at it and thinking it looked off...and when I looked at a picture....BINGO!

Too funny!! Happy "Birtday" to Tyler!

If you were a Newfie then "Happy Birtday" would make perfect sense lol I grew up leaving the H out of the "H-alphabet". Anyone who's been to Newfoundland (or knows someone from "Da Rock") would totally understand lol

Yes Dee you are completely correct "buy"

As for #5....I am sewing right now...insomniac here, but I do find I use the seam ripper more often....love your list :D

A seam ripper does not just rip seams!! it has the capability of ripping a whole lot more!! especially if you are sick of ripping out seams you have 'done wrong'!!