I began my quilting journey almost 2 years ago and in hindsight there are several things that I would do differently, and I will list them below and say why, this may help you if you are a new quilter.
The first thing that I would do differently is to get feedback from fellow quilters on sewing machines. When I decided that I wanted to try quilting I had no idea where to buy a machine from, there are no sewing machine shops nearby that I knew of and I had no one to ask, so I just went online and did a search for sewing machines for quilting and the Singer Modern Quilter came up, and I bought it. I felt comfortable with the name Singer as this is what my mum had when I was young, so the name was familiar, but this machine is nothing like the metal, heavy duty machine that I remember my mum sewing on.
I had not discovered the UKQU Facebook page at this point otherwise I would have asked for advice on there. Luckily for me I do love my machine but I could have got a more suitable machine if I had done a bit more research. I could have purchased a machine with a larger throat size, or one that does embroidery too. Hey ho….shoulda, woulda, coulda…!
The second thing that I would do differently is not to go online and randomly buy lots of fabric because I thought that I needed to have a ‘stash’ as everyone else online seemed to have one! I look at some of the fabrics and I already know that I bought them in haste and it is unlikely that I will ever use them. So, they will only ever be taking up valuable space of fabric that I do want and they will get donated at some point.
The third thing is that I probably should not have bought quite so many odd things, things that I do not even know the names of but when I saw them I was convinced that they were vital to my work as a quilter……does this sound familiar to any of you? Why do I need a 6 inch piece of plastic to mark out a ¼ inch when I am sewing, it will not stay put and just gets pushed aside by the fabric?
The fourth suggestion is to take your time before investing in anything expensive, I am not patient and I’m definitely a compulsive shopper, but I have learnt to look, ask questions, try it out and then go back another day before committing myself. This gives me time to do more research, compare what it does with other items and compare prices. Do not get swept up with show prices and commit yourself on the spot, the salesperson, if asked, will happily give you an additional week or two to decide and honour the price at shows.
The reason that I say this is because I went to FOQ last year (2017), I had been quilting for 7 months at the time and very eager to have everything. I saw all the fabulous long arm quilting frames and of course I wanted one. I knew that I did not have the space to have a frame that would need to be permanently up so I looked at the type that I could put up and take down as and when required. I tend to make quilts that are double bed size or larger mostly, so of course I needed the largest size. I saw one that I decided would work for me and took down all the details, a week after the FOQ I spoke to the vendor and booked a slot to go and test out and buy the frame. The vendor told me that she recommended that I also purchased the machine that was on the frame when I saw it as it was a good machine and perfect for the frame, she gave me the details of where to buy it too and if I bought it soon, I could take it with me when collecting the frame and she would tension it for me to go on the frame. Just like that I had spent around 3K! Since I bought the frame and machine, I have used the frame twice, I like the frame but do not get on with the machine so do not use either.…..it’s an expensive mistake to make. Although I am currently trying to make friends with the machine and we are both liking each other a little more…
My fifth suggestion would be to carry a list of what you really need to buy and what it must have, followed by desirable features. For example if you are buying a machine make a list of what it must have i.e. a drop in bobbin, thread cutter button or needle up/down button. This will ensure that when you are looking at machines you know which features the machine must have and which features you are willing to compromise on.
On the ‘notes’ feature on my phone I have a note that has a list of everything that I want that I have not come across and the sizes I want. I also have a list of my machines, model numbers, throat sizes etc, so if I come across an item I will know if it is suitable for my machine without having to guess.
Things you should buy to begin your journey:
The best sewing machine that you can afford, that you can piece and quilt with and maybe make labels with too, if this is what you like doing. Will you be taking it to classes, if so, is it suitable to be moved frequently?
A good self healing cutting mat, the largest size possible to suit your budget and available space.
A 24 inch ruler for cutting and maybe a few smaller rulers in different shapes to begin with.
A sharp pair of scissors that are comfortable to hold when using.
A good rotary cutter, maybe an ergonomically designed one if you have weak wrists, in a size 45 and/or 60mm.
If you can afford it and have the space, a good sewing table i.e. Horn cabinet or similar, so that your machine is at the correct height for sewing and your wrists are at the right angle. This will stop you from hunching over your machine and suffering with back pain.
A comfortable chair, with good back support.
Good quality thread that does not give off too much lint when being used, I use Gutermann, but everyone will have their own favourite brand of thread and give you reasons as to why they like it. You just have to see what works for you and your machine. Cheaper threads tend to clog the machine and sometimes the machines will malfunction as they do not like them.
Some fabric that you like, I tend to use 100% cotton as I enjoy the feel of it but not everyone does, some people will use polycotton or other fabrics, again this is very much a personal choice.
An iron that you can keep just for quilting and perhaps a little ironing mat to go with it, these are luxuries not essentials.
A seam ripper, because after all we are only human and we all make mistakes!!!
Anything else, you can buy if you want to but it is not essential, enjoy your quilting journey and I look forward to seeing your projects…..
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