We talk a lot to seasoned quilters- ones who know all the tips and tricks, but everyone has to start somewhere. And if you're just starting out, or maybe just thinking about taking on a quilt project, we've got some tips for you from some seasoned pros.
1. Know Yourself. If you're someone who finds a hobby they're interested in, and goes ALL IN with the shopping, know this is a fast track to burnout (with any hobby, quilting included). I fully recommend going bare bones in your supplies and building as needed. If you start out with too many gadgets and bells and whistles, it'll create more stress than good. Consider your storage space and your needs. If you're a full time RV roadie, it may not make storage sense to buy a 20 piece acrylic template set. We'd love to recommend it to you, but your needs might be better met with our Magic Seam Ruler.
2. Know the Basic Techniques. YouTube is a great resource for learning basic hand sewing techniques- the most common stitch is the whipstitch, but also research the flat-back stitch and the ladder stitch. Tula Pink also has great videos on her process! The general rule of thumb is sewing 16 stitches per inch, but remember that quilting will help hold your project all together. So don't get so caught up in the logistics that it stresses you out.
3. Start-itis affects all of us. Second guessing affects all of us. Sometimes it's okay to not know where the project is going. Just trust the process and it will come together. And if it doesn't, you have a seam ripper. Just start. The only true rules are the ones you set for yourself. That being said...
4. Start small. Or at least, think small. Even if your first project is a king-size Millefiori, don't become daunted. Remember, every quilt ever made was sewn one block at a time. You do one block. Then you do another block. Keep going, then you stitch them together. Boom, you're done! Don't get overwhelmed by the project before you've even started it.
5. Don't be afraid to mix it up. Switch between projects! It's okay! It's a scientific fact that a human can only sew so many hexagons before they go crazy. Put the hexies down and grab some different instead. Switch up where you sew. If you're a TV/Couch sewer, take your work outside and soak up some Vitamin D while you stitch. Instead of twiddling on your phone in a waiting room, that's good stitching time!
Finally, again, the only rules about quilting in general are the ones you set for yourself. Occasionally the quilt police tries to show up- give them a good, Southern "Bless your heart" and go on with your project as planned. You can do this! And we'd love to help you get started.
3 comments
In reply to Lisa Drewes: You can count them as you sew. They are very close together, and are different than machine stitches. Think of machine stitches as horizontal seams whereas in EPP the stitches are vertically joining the edges of the pieces together. Hope this helps.
I want to know how you count the stitches per inch. Most of the examples I see look like they take far fewer stitches, especially if they are sewing traditional EPP. When I think of stitches per inch, I think of the setting on my Featherweight. I sew 10-12/ per inch, and cannot imagine where you could fit another 4-6 stitches. Please enlighten me😊
I want to know how you count the stitches per inch. Most of the examples I see look like they take far fewer stitches, especially if they are sewing traditional EPP. When I think of stitches per inch, I think of the setting on my Featherweight. I sew 10-12/ per inch, and cannot imagine where you could fit another 4-6 stitches. Please enlighten me😊