How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips. Here’s my beginner quilting advice, the things I wish I would have known when first starting out. This is real life advice for someone who has never touched a sewing machine before but wants to make a quilt.
Let me start at the beginning, I got this wild idea that I wanted to make quilts but I didn’t know how to sew. So wild right?! Crocheting was getting a little boring. I have recorded quilting shows on PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) for the past 6 years and every weekend would watch people making these cool quilts. I really wanted to try quilting but I owned nothing that I was watching on those shows. Not one single item, nada, nothing…..so I knew I had to start from scratch. But where to begin?
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT!
After you read this post, make sure you also check out How To Learn How To Quilt: Beginner Quilting Guide. It’s jam packed with even more information, links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. It also has a section with free quilt patterns that are great for beginners. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!
Grab a copy of my Quilt Planning Journal, filled with graph paper and some note pages to help you design at least 4 quilts or sewing projects! I have been using mine for a little while and already I am jotting down ideas as I see them and reminders about websites where I have seen some ‘must have’ fabric, so I think this can be so much more than just a design book. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process! Click the bar below.
New Quilter Tips – 5 Quilting Tips for Beginners
- Start Small – buy the basics.
- Sewing Machine – learn how to properly use your machine.
- Homework – watch tutorials, study your subject.
- Shop Sales/Use Coupons – don’t pay full price.
- Fabric – buy in person.
New Quilter Tips – Start Small & Buy The Basics
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips. Here are the basics to get started.
- 45mm rotary cutter (blades are included)
- Small cutting matt
- 6″ x 24″ straight ruler
- Pins
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Thread
- Fabric
- Sewing machine
I tried to use scissors instead of buying the rotary cutter and cutting matt but don’t recommend it. You have to have really sharp scissors and you need to cut in straight lines.
New Quilter Tips – Learn How To Use and Clean Your Machine
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips. Sewing machine – learn how to properly use and clean your machine. Whether you borrow or buy your own machine, learn how to use it, clean it and care for it. I’m not going to lie, this part was scary and intimidating to me but you need to learn how to use the tools to take areas of the machine apart in order to clean it, oil it and then put it back together. Sewing machines no longer come with a written manual. Manufacturers direct you to their website to find and download the electronic manual for your make and model. All sewing machine brands have YouTube tutorials on how to set up the machine including threading it, loading the bobbin and adjusting the tension so it stitches correctly.
New Quilter Tips – Listen to your machine, it will talk to you
By the way, you need to use your ears because your machine will tell you what’s wrong with it too by the sounds it may make. The needle may need to be changed, you may need to take apart the case and clean out lint or thread. You also need to have an eagle eye and pay attention to sewing with 1/4″ seam, making sure that seam is really accurate and to sew in straight lines. You need to use your eyes to make sure the stitches look correct and your tension and presser foot is adjusted correctly as well. Bottom line, use all your senses to help you sew.
My very first sewing machine
Even if you are able to borrow a machine from a friend, eventually you will need to get your own. My first sewing machine was this Singer Start. I actually wore it out trying to quilt a queen size quilt on it, not recommended for quilting anything bigger than a table runner or small baby quilt. This machine was around $100.00. It’s perfect for a beginner machine to sew clothes.
New Quilter Tips – My second sewing machine
My second machine was this Singer Heavy Duty 6380 Sewing Machine and it comes with an extension table which I really liked. This machine was around $300.00. You can quilt on this but the throat is very small. The throat is the section where your rolled up quilt would go and needs to slip through when you quilt your item. The smaller the throat, the harder to quilt.
New Quilter Tips – Shop Sales & Use Coupons
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips. Always buy your sewing supplies on sale or with coupons. I regularly use the Jo-ann Stores app on my phone and they always have sales. This store has 50% off one regular priced item at least once a month and that’s when I go and buy one of the more expensive supplies items like the cotton batting or a ruler or rotary blade refills. I prefer going to a craft store instead of buying online because it’s instant gratification and I don’t have to wait for it to ship to me. I typically buy my batting and sewing supplies at the craft store and buy fabric online or at a local fabric store.
New Quilter Tips – Watch Tutorials, Study Your Subject
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips. Do your homework, study how they are doing things and then try to do it too. Here are the channels I watched when I taught myself how to sew.
Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine Tutorial
New Quilter Tips – Buy Fabric in Person
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips.
Buy fabric in person. This is a no brainer for beginner quilters. Of course you want to buy fabric in person so you can get started right away. The fastest way is to grab fabric at the craft store or your local fabric store. I bought a fat quarter sample pack at Jo-Ann’s when I started because I was clueless. I seriously had no idea what I was doing. Just winging it all the way.
The sample pack had maybe 5 small sheets of fabric that all went together. It was cheap, poor fabric but that’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to practice, I just wanted the basics, I suggest the same for you. Now that I am a little more experienced, I would suggest finding your local fabric store and go exploring. However, be warned, you will spend at least an hour browsing. It’s so funny how fast time fly’s when your in a fabric store!
New Quilter Tips – Shop in store for fabric to learn about the different types
I also suggest buying fabric in person until you become familiar with it. Quilts require 100% cotton but not all cotton fabric is the same. Also, some fabric for new quilters looks and feels like pure cotton but it may be a cotton/polyester blend and you don’t want that fabric. I had to re-do a quilt border 3 times because I thought two different fabrics were pure cotton only to find out they were cotton/polyester blend. I only discovered my error when I was making my quilt sandwich and my quilt top would not lay flat. Instead, it kept curling and you cannot quilt a quilt that won’t lay flat. Side note: I was gifted fabric from someone so didn’t purchase it myself and to me it looked and felt like pure cotton.
New Quilter Tips – Buying fabric online can be disappointing
Also, when cotton fabric has patterns or prints on them, they sometimes don’t feel soft or feel right for your quilt. I bought Halloween fabric online from fabric.com and was very disappointed with how the fabric looked and felt in person. The glow in the dark fabric was awful. I learned this one the hard way.
Once you have practiced and done a few basic charm pack quilts (2 packs of 5″ charm squares), quilted it and completed the binding a few times then you can buy fabric online through places like Fat Quarter Shop and Missouri Star Quilt Company. When you find designers you like on either of these sites you can google that designer in Amazon and they have pre cuts and fabric packs you can get that typically cannot be found yet in your local fabric stores at slightly discounted pricing.
New Quilter Tips – Was wanting to quilt a wild idea?
How To Be Successful and Spend Less – New Quilter Tips.
Was wanting to quilt a wild idea? Heck YES it was, but I’m so glad I did it.
A few years ago, I got this wild idea that I wanted to make quilts. The idea was wild because 1) I didn’t know how to sew, 2) I didn’t own a sewing machine, 3) I lived in a small house and 4) I had no idea where to start except that I had to get a sewing machine.
Fast forward almost 3 years and now I want to try sewing clothes but patterns scare me and zippers are still tricky (hahaha). I don’t know why but now that I’m over 50, I’m afraid of more things, I procrastinate like nobody’s business and really have to push through those feelings and try it.
New Quilter Tips – Learning a new skill is so rewarding!
My advice is go after the things you want to try, don’t let fear our doubt stand in your way. Don’t give up, stick with it and I promise you it will be fun and you will have your machine dialed in and purring like a kitten. Once that happens, sewing and creating quilt blocks and then turning those blocks into curtains, quilts, pillows or maybe even an outfit will be your new passion. Sewing and quilting should come with a warning label though because you won’t be able to drive by a fabric store without stopping! You will appreciate sewn items more, knowing the amount of time and energy that goes into making handmade items. I hope you try it, have fun and don’t forget to laugh often because it’s way better than crying when you get stuck or frustrated!
New Quilter Tips – Additional Beginner Quilting Supplies
Here are some quilting tools and supplies I recommend. I make a small commission if you purchase through the links, this helps to support this free content. For more info, check out Supplies for Beginners (Best Tools To Start).
Rotary Mat Cutting Mat (Self-Healing Mat)
28 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades
45 mm Rotary Cutter with Sharp Blade (start with this one)
45 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades (start with this one)
60 mm Rotary Cutter Replacement Blades
4.5″ Square Ruler for half square triangles
12.5″ Square Ruler for blocks
Sewing Machine Beginner (see my about me page for more info on sewing machines for beginners to the one I use today).
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Sew Nikki Free Resources
FREE PATTERNS
Flying Geese Throw Quilt – Flight
Pinwheel Table Topper Pattern – Jolly
Log Cabin Scrappy On Point Quilt
Chevron Placemat Quilt Pattern
Strip Quilt Block Pattern – Roundabout Quilt
TUTORIALS
Learn How to Quilt Beginners Guide
How Long Does it Take to Make a Quilt for Beginners
Learn to Sew – Conquering Your Fears as a Beginner
How to Quilt on a Regular Sewing Machine
How to Sew Binding on a Quilt – Quilting Tutorial
Best Fabric for Quilting: How to Shop Like a Pro!
How to Make Half Square Triangles – Easy Formula Chart
How to Baste a Quilt: Beginner Spray Basting Tutorial
10 Essential Quilting Tips for Beginners
How to Sew a Pillowcase With Flap in 15 Minutes
How to Sew Quilt Squares Together | Quilting Tutorial
Joining Quilt Binding Ends for Beginners
How to Cut Fabric for Quilting- Easy and Accurate
How Wide to Cut Quilt Binding & Make Easy Strips
Pieced Quilt Backing Ideas – Super Simple Backs
How to Make Quilt with Sashing and Cornerstones
Quilting Supplies for Beginners – Best Tools to Start
How to Machine Quilt with Walking Foot
Heat Proof Recycled Denim Potholders
How to Bind a Quilt – Easy Single Fold Binding
About Sew Nikki
If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! My name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.
Follow me on social media (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) so you get notifications when I post new patterns and tutorials.
Want to learn how to crochet? Then check out this post, How to Learn How to Crochet – Guide for Beginners.
Sew, quilt, crochet and repeat!
Barbra-Sue
Great tips! I need to start a baby quilt soon!
sewnikki
Thank you!
Charlene
Oh, this is so amazing! I have been wanting to learn how to sew for years and I love your simple steps to getting started! Especially with quilting. My aunty use to sew and make gifts for us all the time and even made several quilts. I’m definitely going to be following your blogs!
sewnikki
Thank you!
Lisa
I’ve been sewing since I was a young girl and am now teaching my girls how to sew and quilt so these are great reminders for them! I definitely agree with always buying fabric in person!
sewnikki
I’m so glad your daughters are learning because it’s a great skill to have. Happy quilting!
Sheri Renno
This is such a helpful post for an aspiring quilting beginner! It’s good to know about buying fabric in person because not all fabrics are 100% cotton. That seems obvious enough, but probably something I would overlook. It’s also encouraging to know that you don’t need a bunch of fancy supplies to get started. Love the tutorial suggestions as well. Thanks for sharing this!
sewnikki
Thanks Sheri!
Dusty
Love your tips! I love, love quilts, but I am not a quilter. Maybe one day 🙂
sewnikki
Thanks Dusty!