New quilter

What will be valuable is the 'how to' and 'set up' section which I
expect she will include at the beginning.
The patterns can come later. And, if you want to do a simple block
pattern, just do it. Take a look at Cheryl's show (just posted). There
is just such a quilt towards the end - a blue, yellow and green quilt
made up of squares, with rectangles for the outer border. It's simple
and lovely. There are several patterns that just use squares and
rectangles - or you can make one up. It's a good idea to leave
triangles for a week or two! Not because they are difficult, but you
don't want to be thinking about bias edges just yet perhaps/
..
In message , Catherine
writes
Thanks Patti. That puts it in the right perspective.

I've ordered the Jinny Beyer book about hand quilting and it should be
here in two days according to Amazon. I tried to get the perfect
piecer, but alas it couldn't be shipped to me. I saw while browsing
other books there are necessary supplies I'll need like a hoop,
thimble, some good thread, good light source, needles (and not just the
kind I'm used to that come in traveling sewing kits) and a bunch of
other little things I didn't recognize, so I bookmarked the page. Today
I'm going shopping and getting myself all set up for when the book
arrives, and then I'm gonna dive right on in.

Oh yeah... almost forgot, I need to get some fabric, but I don't have a
clue where or what to get. I mean, do I just go out and buy what I
think is pretty? Or should I get a pattern and follow the instructions
on it as to what to get? I have a good eye for color combination but I
saw so many books written on color alone I'm beginning to doubt myself.

If any of you ladies familiar with German fabric shops have some tips
on where to get cloth, I'd be grateful.

One more thing... Jinny Beyer's stuff is gorgeous, no doubt about that.
But what I'm looking for, having not seen the book mind you, is
something less intricate than what she has on the cover. Maybe a block
quilt or a scrap quilt to start. I wonder if Jinny will really begin
me at the beginning or will I be trying to emulate her masterpieces at
the outset.

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Queen of Squishies wrote:

Hey, Cat, nothing like being late on the scene here, but I do want to add my
great big welcome to the group! I will be reading the rest of this thread
to pick up some hand-sewing tips myself now....... : )


thanks!

In article ,
Catherine wrote:


Oh yeah... almost forgot, I need to get some fabric, but I don't have
a clue where or what to get. I mean, do I just go out and buy what I
think is pretty? Or should I get a pattern and follow the
instructions on it as to what to get? I have a good eye for color
combination but I saw so many books written on color alone I'm
beginning to doubt myself.

Work with what you love and then you will be happy working on the
project.

If any of you ladies familiar with German fabric shops have some tips
on where to get cloth, I'd be grateful.

One more thing... Jinny Beyer's stuff is gorgeous, no doubt about
that. But what I'm looking for, having not seen the book mind you, is
something less intricate than what she has on the cover. Maybe a
block quilt or a scrap quilt to start. I wonder if Jinny will really
begin me at the beginning or will I be trying to emulate her
masterpieces at the outset.
Actually, the book does not include the pattern for the cover quilt.
There are other patterns in the book and yes, they are more simple than
the cover quilt.

Also, she has many single block patterns on her website. Have you
looked around there to get an idea yet?

http://www.jinnybeyer.com

marcella

Roberta Zollner wrote:

You could come alone... Sometimes husbands just get in the way ;-)

Actually, if you felt like sending your address to a complete stranger
(privately), I would be glad to make you a little starter kit for a dresden
plate block. Very traditional, easy to do by hand. Wouldn't cost me anything
but an hour or 2, since I'm surrounded by all the supplies necessary.


Wow, Roberta, thank you! How generous. Two hours of work isn't
anything to be scoffed at. If you find the time I'd be grateful.
My e-mail: drivethewire(at)yahoo(dot)com


You mentioned a shortage of Americans in your neighborhood. Go to
www.fawco.org, and you should be able to find the contact for the American
Women's Club in Köln -that can't be very far away. (You can also find a sort
of reference for me -follow the links to FAWCO Foundation, Fundraising,
Friendship Quilt. I'm the person who assembled them.) If you can't find a
Köln address let me know and I'll look it up for you.

Checking it out.

Roberta Zollner wrote:
The Karstadt and Hertie here have a tiny shelf with American patchwork
cotton -costs way too much, but sometimes it's all there is. Have a look
around your local newsstands -there are several patchwork mags in German,
most with very basic instructions for beginners, and all with lots of ads
and shops and places to order stuff. There's also the French one, think it's
called Magic Patch. Might find something in a town near you! It's possible
to use cotton curtain fabric, except that it tends to be a bit heavier than
patchwork cotton and thus harder to sew by hand. Also, the designs tend to
be large scale and not so good for smaller pieces.

The problem you will eventually face is whether to work in metric or inches.
I do both: inches for piecing blocks, because all my rulers are in inches
and I'm used to the quarter-inch seam. Then I switch to metric for cutting
long borders and backing and binding strips. Of course, it's a bit
schizophrenic when I come across a German design I want to try, and
sometimes find myself doing it half and half. (But German designs I want to
try are rare.)
Roberta in D


That's something I never thought of... German quilting magazines.
Just obvious enough to be overlooked.

I was shopping for rotary cutters today too. There are two good
brands, I saw, not too expensive. First was Fiskars, which I've heard
of, and Olfa, which I haven't. Consumer info says the majority prefer
the Olfa because the blade doesn't stay sharp for long on Fiskars.

Any comments?

As for measurements, I don't think that'll be a problem. I've got a
good conversion tool and can use either one.

Patti wrote:

What will be valuable is the 'how to' and 'set up' section which I
expect she will include at the beginning.
The patterns can come later. And, if you want to do a simple block
pattern, just do it. Take a look at Cheryl's show (just posted). There
is just such a quilt towards the end - a blue, yellow and green quilt
made up of squares, with rectangles for the outer border. It's simple
and lovely.


Yes! That's just what I had in mind.
There is also a quilt picture from the album of another poster whose
daughter (?) made it for a class project where they had to make
something from found items and the total cost couldn't be more than
$3.00. That little beauty was a work of genius. I fell in love with
it on first sight.


There are several patterns that just use squares and
rectangles - or you can make one up. It's a good idea to leave
triangles for a week or two! Not because they are difficult, but you
don't want to be thinking about bias edges just yet perhaps/

No, not just yet.

Marcella Peek wrote:

Work with what you love and then you will be happy working on the
project.

If any of you ladies familiar with German fabric shops have some tips
on where to get cloth, I'd be grateful.

One more thing... Jinny Beyer's stuff is gorgeous, no doubt about
that. But what I'm looking for, having not seen the book mind you, is
something less intricate than what she has on the cover. Maybe a
block quilt or a scrap quilt to start. I wonder if Jinny will really
begin me at the beginning or will I be trying to emulate her
masterpieces at the outset.

Actually, the book does not include the pattern for the cover quilt.
There are other patterns in the book and yes, they are more simple than
the cover quilt.

Also, she has many single block patterns on her website. Have you
looked around there to get an idea yet?

http://www.jinnybeyer.com


Yesyesyes. I love it.
Haven't gotten thru the whole thing yet, but I'm going back now to
check out the single block patterns you mention.

Catherine wrote:

That's something I never thought of... German quilting magazines.
Just obvious enough to be overlooked.

I was shopping for rotary cutters today too. There are two good
brands, I saw, not too expensive. First was Fiskars, which I've heard
of, and Olfa, which I haven't. Consumer info says the majority prefer
the Olfa because the blade doesn't stay sharp for long on Fiskars.

Any comments?

As for measurements, I don't think that'll be a problem. I've got a
good conversion tool and can use either one.

I can't comment on the Fiskars but I love my Olfa rotary cutter.

--
Melinda
http://cust.idl.com.au/athol

And I love my Fiskars!
The replacement blades are interchangeable, Catherine, so the theory
about one being sharper than the other doesn't hold water!
..
In message 1131248703.277826@idlweb, melinda writes

I can't comment on the Fiskars but I love my Olfa rotary cutter.


--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

I use both and haven't noticed much difference. IMO the Fiskars is easier to
hold, but this is something you just have to try out for yourself.
Lots of the trouble with dull blades comes from allowing the screw to get
too loose so the blade wobbles a little bit. This will make it dull faster.
Also, you need to practice holding the cutter so the blade stays
perpendicular. If you cut at an angle, it's the same as a wobbly blade, and
it's also a safety risk. Keep the cutter clean -dust out the lint now and
then. Don't use your fabric blade on paper, and only use it on a cutting
mat. (I have a handle in a different color and save old blades for cutting
paper.)
And remember that blades simply do not last forever. Would you expect a
razor blade to remain sharp forever? It is not fair to blame the cutter
handle for the normal lifespan of a blade. I never really timed a blade, but
mine seem to last about half a year. And I cut a lot.
Roberta in D

"Catherine" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Roberta Zollner wrote:
The Karstadt and Hertie here have a tiny shelf with American patchwork
cotton -costs way too much, but sometimes it's all there is. Have a look
around your local newsstands -there are several patchwork mags in German,
most with very basic instructions for beginners, and all with lots of ads
and shops and places to order stuff. There's also the French one, think
it's called Magic Patch. Might find something in a town near you! It's
possible to use cotton curtain fabric, except that it tends to be a bit
heavier than patchwork cotton and thus harder to sew by hand. Also, the
designs tend to be large scale and not so good for smaller pieces.

The problem you will eventually face is whether to work in metric or
inches. I do both: inches for piecing blocks, because all my rulers are
in inches and I'm used to the quarter-inch seam. Then I switch to metric
for cutting long borders and backing and binding strips. Of course, it's
a bit schizophrenic when I come across a German design I want to try, and
sometimes find myself doing it half and half. (But German designs I want
to try are rare.)
Roberta in D


That's something I never thought of... German quilting magazines. Just
obvious enough to be overlooked.

I was shopping for rotary cutters today too. There are two good brands, I
saw, not too expensive. First was Fiskars, which I've heard of, and Olfa,
which I haven't. Consumer info says the majority prefer the Olfa because
the blade doesn't stay sharp for long on Fiskars.

Any comments?

As for measurements, I don't think that'll be a problem. I've got a good
conversion tool and can use either one.