118 Fabrics & More, located in Sweet Valley, PA, is a popular store for quilters. If you’re new to quilting, what are some common mistakes you might make?
Not Being Picky Enough About Fabrics
For starters, some beginners will use whatever fabric pieces they have on-hand to make a quilt. While you “could” do that, it’s not always the smartest idea. Poor fabric choices can complicate an already detailed experience that involves time, patience, energy and steadfastness. If you don’t want to go wrong, it’s probably best to use 100% cotton for your first few quilts.
Next, you need to think about washability and how people will care for the quilt you make. Again, you can’t go wrong with 100% cotton because it’s easily washable.
Practice Makes Perfect
Thirdly, how are you with a sewing machine? If you’re a new quilter, chances are you lack experience with one. The more time you spend using a sewing machine, the more likely you’ll “get used to it” and figure out what works well for you… and what doesn’t. A lot of quilting (and sewing) is trial-and-error! Meanwhile, you’ll soon discover that certain brands of fabric work better than others on your particular sewing machine. You’ll find your favorites– as well as ones you “never want to work with again!”
Formulating a Plan
Many new quilters do not come up with a plan before they start their work. This is a mistake. It’s important to have an idea in your head as to what the quilt will look like, and a plan for what needs to be done, order-wise. In essence, you have to plan out the quilt either in your head or on paper (or both) so that you have mental guidance during the process of putting the quilt together and eventually finishing it to your satisfaction.
Wrong Colors
Finally, there’s the common mistake of making poor color choices for your first few quilts. In time, you’ll notice certain colors go well together, and certain patterns look good when they’re done with certain colors. Study the quilts you love (and those that you think look attractive) and borrow ideas from those quilts when choosing colors and patterns for the quilts you create.
If you’re new to quilting and need help finding the right fabrics, contact us today.
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