Welcome to /r/quilting where no question is a stupid question and we are here to help you on your quilting journey.
Feel free to ask us about machines, fabric, techniques, tutorials, patterns, or for advice if you're stuck on a project.
We highly recommend The Ultimate Beginner Quilt Series if you're new and you don't know where to start. They cover quilting start to finish with a great beginner project to get your feet wet. They also have individual videos in the playlist if you just need to know one technique like how do I put my binding on?
So ask away! Be kind, be respectful, and be helpful. May the fabric guide you.
Is a large ironing board worth it? I am considering splurging on the Reliable brand 'Longboard' -- the size is tempting, as I find myself having to wrestle pieces over my much narrower current board. But...$379 is a lot to drop on an ironing board!
Crazy money imho. I ended up buying a rolling kitchen cart with a granite top from Marketplace. Put a wool pressing mat on it and am so glad I did
https://preview.redd.it/sel4dxexc2ag1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=644938a19d40dbcbcde571d2d91cb6b1da07a41a
Storage, wheels and it pretty to boot!
The size is invaluable, but you can diy one easily enough. I have a 24x48 inch piece of plywood on top of a short sturdy bookshelf. I have a wool pressing mat on top. I bought a 60” long wool mat online for less than the smaller designated ‘quilting’ wool felt pressing mat. Cut off the overhang and you have a bonus small/travel pressing mat! Mine is just jerry rigged, but there are several tutorials detailing ways to attach a surface to your existing board, or create one from ikea cabinets or bookshelves. Then put on batting and a cotton cover. All for (usually) significantly less than a commercial board.
There are DIY solutions out there, both here in the subreddit and on YouTube, if you want to make your own version.
However, and this is the sticking point: how often are you pressing yardage or large quilt tops? Do you have the physical storage space for a long, wide board?
I went with a wider board instead of a longer one (mine is the Bartnelli Pro Luxury Ironing Board Extra Wide 62x19”), waited for it to go on sale, and haven't looked back. It's not as expensive as the Longboard but does what I need, which is be wide enough.
Thanks for the recc! Either wider or longer would be good, I think; I don't press a ton of yardage but my current one is narrow enough that it seems like I can never get enough in one go.
*nods* I don't have the room for a longer board, but one that was wider worked out better for my setup.
If I had a straight line of quilting get a little wavy in the middle can I just rip out and replace the wavy bit or do I need to do the entire line again from side to side?
If you can hide the start and stopping points, I would just take out the wavy area.
Can I wash this? I got a precut half yard of fabric from a LQS and when I opened it to press, I noticed it’s got dirt lines. I’m using for a block exchange so really don’t want to send dirty blocks….
https://preview.redd.it/2y1pfhptge9g1.jpeg?width=2598&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7e3efc48930a8f67052442683d6a2388e0f339d
I would definitely wash it. Sometimes those soil lines won’t come out, so find out before you cut into it. Since it’s a half yard, wash by hand. Let it soak a bit and rub the dirty line a bit. After rinsing I hang mine on a drying rack while really damp, flattening out wrinkles while wet, then iron it when it’s still a bit damp.
Ahh good to know it might not come out! Thanks so much for the advice, I will definitely give this a try tomorrow. Hopefully it comes out but if not, I’ll cut around them and use for something else.
I worked in fabric/quilt stores for years and some fabrics arrived with stains on the fold line. They were often grease-based and didn’t always come out, even with Dawn detergent. Some fabrics get a fade line on the fold and there’s nothing to do for that, other than cut around it. Fingers crossed yours comes clean!
“Quilt more densely” bears repeating.
Been quilting for decades and seams in my work that have come apart were poor choices of fabric (rayons and a cross grain flannel binding) as well as when I tied a quilt. As a quilter I was able to go back and machine quilt the tied ones (multiple times increasing density because of the rayon mentioned above) in the end after 30 years of wear & tear at beaches & parks I hand appliquéd new blocks with batting over those disintegrating blocks (they were all vintage Hawaiian fabrics to begin with)
That same quilt has 2 sister quilts that have only been used for decorative purposes and they were still fine when my sibling sent a photo of them last month.
I can't tell you how many times I've quilted over popped seams or reinforced seams because i was impatient with my quilting the first time.
What does 'easing a seam' mean?
Here are some instructions: https://cuddlecatquiltworks.com/blogs/tutorials/easing-in-fullness-in-quilt-piecing
TLDR: it means if the seams don't line up perfectly, you can make it work.
To me it means make it work. You make the two pieces fit together. Even woven fabrics have a little give that aid in finessing two pieces together if needed. I tend to use lots of pins in these situations.
Aside from the fact that most patterns are based on a 1/4" seam, if I rework the calculations, would there be any negative consequences to using a larger seam, like 1/2 inch? I somehow doubt 1/4" seams are durable for daily use quilts. I haven't come across any videos/articles demonstrating how wider seams could potentially affect the quilt's construction. Let me know!
In addition to what u/mayeb-someday said, it's generally not done for most quilts, although it is recommended for flannel-based piecing due to the way flannel shrinks more than regular quilting cotton.
As for durability: I find the seams that rip open in my quilts are the ones where I went with too scant of a seam (far more than a 'scant quarter inch').
If you're consistently sewing a 1/4-inch seam (or even a consistent scant quarter inch), your quilt's durability is actually increased as a result because the bending/twisting/folding that happens over a quilt's lifetime will also be consistent across those seams.
I did sew 1/4" seams, but I noticed the edges started fraying pretty quickly - not sure if it was the fabric itself or something about how I cut it?
Most likely how it was cut if you’re using woven cotton (quilters’ cotton). The cuts need to be cut with the grain if you’re cutting squares/rectangles; bias or rounded edges are a different matter and will stretch and fray a bit.
I’m sure there are tons of YouTube tutorials on how this is done. If you’re really having trouble lmk and I will try to write it out with pictures for you.
Could be either or both, but I'm leaning towards the fabric being the issue. The looser the weave of the fabric, the more it's going to fray.
The main effect of adding a wider seam allowance on construction is bulk. On blocks with multiple seams meeting, tiny pieces, or intricate points, 1/2” seams make it harder (or impossible) to press, match points, and keep everything aligned. For medium or large squares, it’s usually fine, but for small or detailed blocks, the extra thickness can make piecing tricky, affecting pattern accuracy. In some patterns with very tiny pieces, the seams could be larger than the pieces themselves, making it impossible to press or potentially doubling or tripling the thickness of your quilt top depending on how you press your seams. If you’re concerned about durability, I would focus on high quality fabrics and thread, lowering your stitch length when piecing, press seams to the side, and even quilt more densely for peace of mind!
My town lost their JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby is only an option for some solids. Who runs good online after Christmas fabric sales?
i like Hawthorne Fabric -- https://www.hawthornesupplyco.com/
My favorite online fabric retailers:
I know they've been running deals all week.
Regarding Jen Kingwell's "Pick a Petal" quilt: how much of each lolly fabric do I need? I can't afford to buy a yard of everything. Other quilters have said they had fabric left over. I'm trying to figure out how much.
It's a pretty scrappy quilt, so I'm putting together some lolly-lime fabrics of my own to blend in.
Do you have the pattern? It ought to have fabric requirements listed, or if you're participating in it as a block-of-the-month program (which it appears to be as it's not available elseway , whoever is running should be able to give that info to you.
Is there any comprehensive guide that compares long arm features and prices?
I’m not personally aware of any, but I feel like this is something that might be available to members of the Longarm League: https://www.longarmleague.com/
Does anyone not want to join a guild or do anything social / responsibility because for you quilting is relaxing, mediative and a solo hobby?
Why do people use old materials in new projects? I get the upcycling, make use of old sheets or the old wool blanket for batting. I'd feel weird gifting or selling something like that. Using sentimental items to make sentimental projects I definitely understand, but that's different.
Edit to add: Thank you very much to those that responded. Excellent reminders that the purpose and history of quilting outweighs the "new" things in many situations. It has helped give rational arguments to my neurotic tendencies.
Using old materials doesn’t depreciate something for everyone. I find older fabrics often to be softer and of higher quality. I personally see the history of repurposed fabrics as a distinct plus, and would rather receive/make a quilt from repurposed, thrifted, or stash fabrics than new fabric bought just for my quilt. It’s more in line with my environmental/anticonsumption values, and it feels more in keeping with the tradition of quilting! You may disagree, but that’s my reasoning!
Excellent points. I hadn't thought about the texture changes.
Stash fabric that's been sitting in the pile for a long time but not made into anything, I see that as "old new stock".
I absolutely agree about environmentally friendly. The "waste not want not" making the most of materials. I wouldn't hesitate in using that to make things for myself or my household. My brain is probably just making a problem out nothing.
I hope I didn’t come off as judgmental or overly critical—I think everyone has their own entirely subjective definition of what’s good! And that’s actually great bc then we have lots of cool variants of “good” walking around inspiring us. I like old things, but other people like new things, and if the people you are gifting to like new things, then you probably like giving new things to them :)
Not at all. I'm sure my original question could have also come across as judgemental, but wasn't intended to be. :)
Not everyone is able to afford the cost of new materials. The use of repurposed textiles allows quilters to access that craft who might not be able to otherwise. Diversify is incredibly important; accessibility increases diversity. The majority of quilts were originally made using repurposed clothing, blankets, and other materials that could no longer be mended or used for their intended purpose.
Additionally some of these quilts are kept by the maker and there are many individuals who don't mind receiving these quilts as a gift. The used materials are typically washed prior to being used and once again after they have been transformed. Some consumers intentionally seek out these types of quilts. By repurposing these used items makers are able to reduce the amount of fabric in landfills. 92 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away each year; the average American contributes 75 lbs per person per year.
Oof. The cost of materials. It has been a long long time since I've done any sewing. I'd completely forgotten the price of fabric. I saw the total and choked. The other question was "how the hell does anyone afford this hobby???"
Oof is right.... I found a recipe the other day from when I first started quilting, the beginning of 2020, solids were under $7 a yard and prints under $11. Much closer to $9 and $13 now. Which isn't a lot, but let's pretend that the average quilt takes 20 yards of fabric, prints, background, backing what have you. Let's say we use 10 yards of solids and another 10 of prints.
2019: $70 + $110 = $180 per quilt. 2025: $90 + $130 = $220 per quilt.
That's $40 more or nearly 20%. That's an additional $10 every year for each quilt you make in a year. I'm fairly certain that prices increased substantially from 2018-2020, so I'm sure the numbers would be shocking if we had some older data. All this to say, modern quilting as we know it is quickly becoming a luxury. $220 is a fairly low price for a large lap quilt, and that amount doesn't include the cost of the batting, thread, or other necessary supplies.
I predict quilters will start to shift away from larger projects and mini quilts, wall hangings, bed runners, quilted accessories and clothing will become more popular. I think we will see more quilters using alternative fabrics and materials, especially as quilt backings. Additionally more expensive fabrics like Tilda or Minky will be sold less and solid sales will increase. Quilters will become more price conscientious and the more quilters will delay purchases until there's a sale.
I am less certain, but I would also suggest that manufacturers will start reducing the number of collections produced in a year and the number of prints in each collection. Precuts might see an increase in popularity as well, charm packs especially.
Overall, I foresee a decreased number of active quilters (not accounting for the fact that the average quilter is estimated to be in their 60's), a decrease in sales, and a shift in the types of quilts being made. I suggest we all consider how we can help keep quilting accessible and how to convert more of our friends and family into quilters.
It's part of the quilting tradition to reuse existing materials, but it's totally fine not to want to do that, just as it's totally fine to do so. People have lots of reasons to choose one path to make a quilt vs. another.
Another excellent point. What is quilting if not tradition. Great grandma would be deeply offended if we didn't use what we had first.
Does anyone have any quilt con experience to share? I’m a beginner but have absolutely fallen in love with the craft for the last couple of months, and I thought it could be fun and immersive to experience quilt con, but I also don’t know what it’s realistically like. Conventions are overwhelming to me so it’s helpful to hear a little firsthand experience others have had.
I’m a little cautious because I’ve seen a lot of negativity aimed at quilt con online. Mostly complaints about quilts being rejected that seemed intermixed with some slamming of the event. It seems controversial to some.
I’m interested in: meeting other quilters, seeing lots of quilts and getting inspired, buying fabric (lol) and other “gear,” seeing innovations and technology, learning, and hopefully getting some swag… curious if this is what I could expect.
I didn’t read other responses to this, due to time constraints, so apologies if I repeat any other’s advice. Just fyi, I am neurodivergent so going to the grocery store is often stressful for me. That being said, I have been quilting a long time and have been to some big shows pre-covid. I attended my first QuiltCon in 2024 in Raleigh, and will be going when it is there next year. It is a nice venue- there were more people than expected but they handled people well. I can’t speak to taking classes, so here is my experience over 4 days: if you want to see the quilts and shop, I recommend coming the last 2 days, and even coming later in the day if possible. Bring water and snacks, as options can be iffy. Pace yourself! There are so many quilts (duh) but it can be visually overwhelming. My friends and I found ourselves looking at and taking photos of the quilts for an hour, then wandering to the vendor area awhile. Then back to the quilts. Getting water, sitting a bit- do wear comfy supportive shoes!
At Raleigh, you can see the entire room from above and we tried to pick a less crowded area of the show to start in, which helped. They have a QC app, which gave details on vendors and their location and vendors had coupons and special offers only available if you mentioned them or showed a code in the app. There are make and take opportunities, but they were so crowded it was crazy. Many many of the vendors booths were small and very crowded, which was disappointing. There are free presentations every day, also detailed in the app, which were very informative. I learned a lot from a thread vendor presentation and got a nice spool to try. Because many of the booths were so crowded, I ended up with only a few bits of swag: some stickers 😁, a cute pin, and a fat quarter of nice fabric. Vendor demos are good- I saw demos for the stripology ruler, which I had only seen online, show pricing for that was good, as was an app coupon/special at the Kai scissor booth. (I like their scissors)
For us it was rotating through the show, vendors, upstairs to a large open area that allowed for some space, or places to sit, eat, just generally get away from the crowds. Then repeat. I was there 3.5 days and I swore there were quilts I still didn’t see! My friends are not like me and know I may need to step away to recharge, and there were many others there doing the same thing. I took a set of earbuds to use, in case I needed them but didn’t need them as much as I anticipated. If you are thinking of going to Raleigh, and are driving, parking is pricey, just anticipate at least $25 a day. If there are any quilt teachers or bloggers you want to meet, many post on insta if they are doing a meetup at some point. Sorry this is already so long, but you mentioned the rejection posts, and the negativity. All big (judged) quilt shows attract way more entries than they can possibly accept. For 2026 I’ve read there were over 2,000 entries and around 420 quilts accepted. The specific judges choose based on their criteria, and there will always be quilts that don’t fit those criteria. It is the way. The negativity towards QC seems to stem in part from people who have issues with either the MQG itself, or the other main issue I have seen frequently is how many people get 2 or 3 quilts in the show and someone else gets zero. I haven’t entered, although several of my friends have, and it is something to think about when viewing the show.
My recommendation is definitely go- take what you need in case food/water/noise/crowds are an issue. Take breaks before you think you need one, stay hydrated! Try all the things you might possibly want to- I tried a longarm machine, which I have no real interest in owning, but it got me thinking in a different way about my own quilting. Take advantage of vendors and the opportunity to see items in person/ handle them, that you might not have usually. I have no quilting stores near me so it was nice to see some lines of fabric I was interested in, patterns Iv’ve considered, and also to thank some of the bloggers I have read for years. While it was exhausting, it was also exhilarating to be around people who love what I love!!
I live in Phoenix - which was the location last year. I got a multi day pass and didn't attend any lectures. I just browsed the vendor hall and admired the quilts.
In my experience, you should be able to accomplish all of those goals. However, meeting goal one may be a bit more difficult if you attend the event as I did. I didn't have lots of conversations with other quilters except once when I was sitting in the lounge area relaxing. I suspect if you take a class, you will have interactions with your fellow classmates. The good thing about the strict jury process to get into the show was I was able to buy a pattern from a QuiltCon reject entry - and I love that quilt. My final conclusion for myself is I wouldn't travel to future QuiltCons, but would happily attend if it was local again. Hope this helps.
Very helpful, thank you!
I have done other sewing conventions but not the quilting ones. It is great to be with “your people” — nerds who share your love of the craft. If you decide to take the plunge. I would try to sign up early so you can get registered for the classes/demos that interest you, that is my favorite part after admiring all the phenomenal makes (then my third fave thing is enticing fellow attendees to go out drinking with me somewhere near the convention hotel).
Also please make something awesome you can wear to the con — it can be a great quilted coat, of course, but at most craft cons anything that is me-made in almost any medium is gonna attract admirers and start a discussion. A crocheted necklace or a quilty purse or a knit sweater will all get a shout.
If you are at all on a budget, you are going to need to work hard to stick to it. The sales area is so enticing and there are definitely attendees for whom money is no object, who are great enablers.
The sales bit is so true!! Vendors often offer event specific pricing even on items that rarely if ever go on sale; additional items can often be bought for less than any discounted price seen online or in stores. Some vendors even sell their floor models on the last day, even if they were only used during that event, but this is less common. Depending on the event, day of attendance, and the specific vendor they may offer shipping or limit sales to take home only. I suggest leaving room in your suitcase regardless.
Oh can't forget to add, they also sell event specific swag!
I’m on a serious budget; the shopping sounds hard! Thank you for all the info, especially the tip on wearing something handmade!
I've never been to a quilt con or other large event; but I have been to smaller, local shows and they have all been wonderful!
My suggestion to you is to connect with your local quilting community. There is more than likely a quilting guild or group in your area, additionally local quilt shops and sewing machine retailers are often heavily involved with the local quilt community. I've personally found the quilting community to be very welcoming. I'm sure you would be able to connect with at least one other quilter in your area regardless of where you're located. I live in a very rural state and there are multiple guilds, shops, and events.
As for large events, like the International Quilt Festival, which takes place in Huston, Texas I've heard very little negative criticism other than what you've described, which wouldn't have a significant effect on you as an attendee. I would suggest you look for videos on YouTube; there are many in depth videos which are filmed at these events. Simply type in the name of the event you're interested in followed by a year.
That’s great advice. Thank you! I’ve been invited to my local guild but I haven’t been yet just because the timing didn’t work.
I want to quilt my throw sized gift with straight lines on my normal sewing machine—do I need to get a walking foot? I’m using fleece batting, so it’s not very thick.
Related: can I just use a normal sewing needle?
Lastly: how perfectly flat do I need my sandwich to be? The fleece is stretchy, unlike the cotton batting I’ve used previously (the only other quilt I’ve made!), and it made the sandwich process d i f f i c u l t. I hand tied my other one, so idk how type A I need to be to quilt it!
A walking foot is not absolutely necessary. It will help evenly feed both layers through the machine but if you don’t have one you are fine. If you can raise the foot pressure do so; also use a longer stitch length than what you used for piecing say 3-3.5mm.
The better the quilt layers are basted the better the outcome will be. Needle size should be 80/12; type Microtex or topstitch is preferable but if you don’t have that as long as it pierces the material you should be fine.
Alternatively I would suggest trying a specific quilting needle as well; sizes 75/11 or 914 as recommend by Schmetz. This type of needle is similar to the above but is engineered specifically for piecing and quilting. The needle is designed to eliminate skipped stitches and allows the needle to easily penetrate the fabric. They also sell the same needles with a chrome plating which reduces heat and results in higher quality stitch. They are fairly affordable, less than $8 for a pack of 5. There is a noticeable difference between a universal needle and a task specific one but it's minimal.
A Microtex needles are made for quilting and or topstitching. I buy them in bulk 100 for seventy bucks. Amazon.
$8 for a pack of five 😬is another example of price gouging because it says “quilting” on it.
That's untrue actually, the price of Schmetz Quilting needles aren't inflated when compared to any other type of needle. The increased price is due the convenience package size, items sold in bulk are typically much cheaper. Additionally, $8 is higher than the typical price; I prefer to share the higher cost.
Schmetz needles are sold in bulk as well. The cost for 100 mircotex needles from the Schmetz website is $68. I'm sure they can be purchased from other retailers for less. I listed the price for a five pack as a single $68 purchase isn't always realistic and most casual quilters would struggle to use 100 needles in a five year period. Additionally the Schmetz Chrome plated quilting needles sell for a few dollars more, $74 for a 100.
While microtex needles are perfectly suitable for quilting; quilting needles are specifically designed for that purpose. Mircotex needles have a very acute point, meaning sharp, and are commonly referred to as such. They are engineered to pierce through the fabric, this isn't the case with quilting needles. Quilting needles are designed to push between the threads. When using a quilting needle the fabric fibers will mesh back together while a microtex needle will leave a hole. Quilting needles are tapered and the tip is rounded. The tapered needle almost acts as a channel for the thread, this allows the thread to pass through multiple layers without interfering with other fibers, specifically quilt batting which results in smoother stitches.
Microtex needles are wonderful and work great for quilting, especially when piecing however quilting needles are specifically designed for quilting and typically cost the same mircotex. Deciding which needle to use is entirely up to the individual, there is no right or wrong way to sew. My intention is to share what I know in regards to quilting not to make corrections.
This was so informative, thank you for writing it all up!
Thank you. Quilting needles make a big difference. I’ve used topstitching needles for denim quilts with fleece batting and they are great.
One other question, do I need to pull the fabric through my machine? I usually just let the feed dogs pull the fabric through, but admittedly, I haven’t sewed this thick of something together before.
You really never want to be pulling fabric through your machine, the whole design of the machine is that the feed dogs are doing all the pulling. I know sometimes a tug feels necessary, but that is really fighting the machine and is likely to damage it.
Things you can do: change the thread tension, change the speed (either through easing off on the foot pressure on the pedal, or with a maximum-speed lever on the machine), change the needle, change the foot, change the foot pressure. All of those features are there to optimize the machine’s capability to do its job successfully.
You shouldn’t have to. You don’t want the machine pulling up all the weight of the quilt though—I usually have the bulk of what I’m feeding through supported on my lap and ensure that there’s always a little slack between the rest of the quilt and what’s under the needle.
Perfect answer! I love that this sub tries to get people their answers right away. Thank you
That was all super helpful! Thank you for taking the time to reply!! I’m also especially thankful for the comment about stitch length… Maybe I would’ve figured it out lol, but you definitely save me some heartache!