Tag: Beginner Quilters

The Salty Quilter - In Defence of Panels

In Defence of Printed Panels

August 21, 2015

Printed panels are a classic feature of quilt shops and fabric stores. Often with cartoons or other themes, they are available for many different kinds of fabric lines. I just can’t resist a gorgeous panel.

With the modern quilting movement, they seem to have fallen out of favour. But I think they are a fun and functional option for beginner and experienced quilters alike. Maybe I can make you reconsider using panels.

For beginner quilters

Like rag quilts, panels are a common entry point for many new quilters. Putting borders on a panel (or not) and some simple quilting to make a cot quilt is quick, easy and a great introduction to the quilting world.

My mom was keen to make a baby quilt for an acquaintance. We found a fantastic (and cheap) Aussie animal themed panel kit and put it together while she was visiting. She had never quilted before, but had a great time and is open to learning more.

My Mom’s first quilt with a panel.

For newbies, Fat Quarter Shop has a handy video for how to cut out a panel.

Quick and easy decor

Panels make great options for making into a quick and easy cushion. You can also staple them onto a canvas from the cheap shop for quick wall decor. Imagine a bedroom set with panels and coordinating fabric.

Christmas (or holiday) quilts

There are heaps of patterns out there for Christmas quilts, but it’s sure a lot of work to only have your quilt out for a month or two each year. The solution? Any of the gorgeous Christmas themed panels. Use them in a quilt, wall hanging or advent calendar.

One of my first attempts at free motion quilting was going crazy with invisible thread over a Victorian Christmas panel. I learned a lot and I still display it every year.

Close up on my free motion quilting with invisible thread. At this point I had only been machine quilting for a few months.

Baby and kids quilts

How often do you find out about a co-worker or acquaintance who’s expecting and need to put together a quilt quickly? A quilt that will probaby be barfed on, shit on, and stepped on. The solution: use a panel.

I admit, I have a couple of special panels stashed away for when certain friends and family members reproduce.

Kids often cycle through favourite characters and activities quickly. Why go to heaps of effort to make a quilt with a subject that will be passé next year? Use a panel.

A quilt top based on a dinosaur panel in progress.

For a challenge

There are lots of creative options for using a panel. Think of how you could cut it up and use it. Incorporate it in with traditional blocks, or modern negative space. Use it in a convergence quilt (Ricky Tims’ Convergence Quilts: Mysterious, Magical, Easy, and Fun). The bigger images are perfect for fussy-cutting, ghost quilting or Broderie Perse appliqué. Missouri Star Quilt Company has some useful ideas for creative ways to use panels with pre-cuts.

In conclusion…

I hope I’ve given you a few reasons to consider using a panel in or for an upcoming project.

Have you used a panel in a project or in a creative way? I’d love to hear about it.

Do not apologise for being a beginner quilter

Don’t Apologise for Being a Beginner Quilter

August 5, 2015

I’ll often see or hear new quilters apologise for being beginners, both online and in real life.

STOP APOLOGISING!

You absolutely do not need to apologise for being a beginner. We were all beginners at some point. No one came out of the womb with a needle in her hand piecing hexagons.

We all at one point went “hey let’s try this quilting thing” and decided to go for it. Commend yourself for actually following through and trying it out!

I realise this is often a gendered thing, but you are in the family now, you don’t need to apologise for being an enthusiastic quilter.

I love beginner quilters for several reasons.

Firstly, they are some of the most out of the box creative quilters. They aren’t bounded in by the rules and traditions of quilting because they don’t know them! They aren’t afraid to try something new or different because they don’t know any better. They aren’t scared to tackle a challenging pattern because they don’t know that it’s considered tough.

Secondly, once you’ve caught the quilting bug, it’s a fever! You can’t get enough! It’s a compulsion. Maintaining this kind of enthusiasm is difficult over the long term; eventually your sewjo will slow down. Embrace this wonderful craving while you can.

Thirdly, they’re willing to try out new techniques. Beginner quilters are open to trying lots of new methods because they haven’t found their favourites. Read lots of blogs, watch lots of videos, check out different books and patterns, and please please please try some classes with different teachers – online and in person. You will learn so much more beyond the topic at hand.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat – try them all. The wonder of discovery is bliss.

Lastly, they aren’t afraid to ask questions. Asking questions opens you up to learning new ideas and techniques. That being said…

Google that shit first.

Often spending 30 seconds in Google can give you a variety of useful answers. It can be bothersome when beginners ask very easily answerable questions over and over.

Come with some research – “I found two different methods, which do people prefer? Quilter A recommends method B for basting, what do you use? Is there an easier way to do X technique? The pattern says to do this, and I looked it up, but I don’t quite understand what they mean.”

A little bit of due diligence can help you to get a deeper, more useful response to questions.

Congratulations on being a beginning quilter!

You only get this time once, enjoy it.