How I Got Started

Approximately two and a half years ago I decided I wanted to make a quilt.  Nothing too involved but something  very simple.  I decided I'd make a patchwork quilt.  I can remember the patchwork quilts my mother had made out of her left over fabric.  She sewed our clothing and curtains when we were young and wasting fabric or anything at all was not heard of.  Those quilts were well used and so comforting on my days home sick from school.

So where did I start on my adventure?  I needed a sewing machine, easy right?  Not for me.  Of course I wanted one with all the bells and whistles.  I bought a machine that was WAY over my head.  Next I purchased books and DVD's on quilting.  Feeling a bit overwhelmed I mentioned to a friend/coworker that I had started this new adventure but that I was feeling lost and a bit confused about what I needed and where to start.  Well, I picked the right person to share my hesitation with.  She said, "Oh, I make quilts!"  And she started to tell me about the many things I would need.  Yikes!!!  What had I gotten myself into?  Later in our shift she brought a printout to me.  On the printout was a picture of a ruler , a rotary cutter and a cutting mat.  She had also written what size ruler was best.  "There things will get you started", she said. 

Soon after that I trotted off to a store the next available day to get those three things and then picked out a multitude of fabrics I wanted to include in my quilt.  I then practiced cutting fabric with the rotary cutter and ruler.  I made plenty of mistakes cutting the fabric .  I either cut pieces too short or the ruler would slip as I was cutting but I continued to cut.  I just wanted to sew, sew, sew!  Finally I pieced my patchwork quilting, following directions from my books.  "sew this piece to this piece, right sides together. Press seems to dark side", and so on and so forth.

Thank you to Karla for helping me get started!  We have since gone to two quilting retreats together.