Quilter extraordinaire Linda J. Hahn offers up her most useful, time-tested tips and tricks in quilting for beginners.
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Chain piecing is the go-to method for block construction in quilting for beginners and experts alike. It’s quick, clean, efficient, and a great way to bash your stash of fabric scraps!
Starting a quilt
Once you’ve gathered all your supplies and picked the quilt block design you are going to use, you’ll want to dedicate a good deal of time to cutting your fabric.
- Pro Tip #1 : Keep two scraps of fabric to use as a leader and ender, AKA starter and stopper, AKA beginner and finisher. These will be used for chain piecing, or sewing the seams of all your block pieces without breaking your thread.
First lay out your quilt block. Use a marking tool to draw your seam lines on your block pieces, or press them to make creases where the seams will be.
- Pro Tip #2 : Use spray starch if you are going to finger press your fabric as a time-saving alternative to iron pressing.
- Pro Tip #3 : If possible, engage the needle down feature on your sewing machine to keep the needle down every time you stop sewing and keep your fabric in place.
Starting with the leader, run the machine and place the starting point of the first block piece right up against the end of the leader piece. Sew along the mark or crease you made to indicate the seam line. Place the starting point of the next block piece right up against the first.
Continue in this fashion for as many pieces as you need to sew without cutting the thread. You’ll be surprised how much piecing you get done in a short amount of time with this technique!
Finally run the ender or finisher through the machine to conclude chain piecing. On your next chain of pieces, that ender will become the leader.
Now cut to separate all the pieces you’ve sewn in order to continue assembling your block.
- Pro Tip #4 : Trim your block pieces to prevent uneven fabric bulk in your final quilt.
Lay out your block once again to be sure you stitch the pieces together in the right orientation.
- Pro Tip #5 : Connector squares are such a popular method of block construction because they allow room for error.
Complete the piecing of your block and trim to square it up.
Finishing a quilt
Once your quilt blocks are complete, you can piece them together, add some basting and backing, and get to quilting your layers together. Many people opt to send their quilt tops to a longarm quilter for this step.
Finally, square up and bind the quilt. Congratulations! You now understand why quilting is one of the most addictive crafts in the world. It’s incredibly satisfying!
Now you can try out the tons of free quilt patterns that are available online. The free quilt patterns with tutorials will go a lot smoother and help you glean good quilting habits from the start.
How did you get your start in quilting? Share in the comments section!
Get this week’s free Quilting tools & classes bundle when you submit feedback and start to always feeling proud of your results Click here to learn more now
I have always enjoyed sewing and started out making my clothes and kids clothes. I always wanted to learn how to quilt so I just started on my own, and I sure made some mistakes but I have learned a lot in years. I have been sewing since I was 12.
I love this thankyou
These are great tips to speed up the project and insure a greater degree of accuracy!
Will be trying them
Today.
I grew up watching my mom sew she sewed for others. She could do anything! My Grandmother making the most beautiful hand sewn Quilts. I never felt like I could do them justice….But I am a good seamstress, but even thinnking about making a quilt is so out of reach. I’m ready to tackle a quilt in my grandmother’s honor. I miss her much! Thank you K for making this dream obtainable.
Always loved sewing. Retired and went to sewing class where I live. Loved watching them quilt and started it myself. Love learning new techniques and patterns.
I love the beauty in the colors people choose knowing they did this along time ago. Some tell a story, the craftmanship of it all I’m so intrigued !
I’ve enjoyed sewing since I was a teenager. Started quilting as an adult with my mother when we took a beginners class being offers by some sweet elderly ladies from the community.
Pam, I have been a sewer, for much of my life but have never attempted a quilt. I have recently retired and have joined a quilting group. My grandmother made quilts and now I feel it is my time to try.
I have always wanted to quilt! I just purchased a new Brter sewing machine and am eager to try it out! I have been taking care of my grandson for the past 13 yrs so have not sewed in a long time! I am anxious to try!
Quilting has been a dream of my mine. I am an old lady and if I am going to do this the time is now! I just bought a new Brother machine and am anxious to try it out!!
Quilting allows you to add colour and patterns into your daily life. You can sew at your own speed. It’s fun and gives useful things as a conclusion.
My mother was an excellent seamstress & made lots of our clothes as we grew up. She encouraged me to sew as I grew. My grandmother made lots of quilts, her daughter (my mother) made one or two, herself. My sister & I both quilt.
Wish I had seen this before I did my first quilt it was full sized and I had no idea what is it was trial and error.
I learned to quilt after working at a quilt store part time. I learned to sew when I was very young from my granny and sewed my own clothes after that. Thanks for all the tutorials y’all offer.
As a child sticker doll cloths from scraps of mom’s fabric she had left over. As an adult I wanted a quilt for my bed. My sister was a great sewer. I asked her to make me one her answer was I will teach you how to sew it yourself. We both attended quilt classes the following week. Both of us enjoyed new friends and a beautiful quilt. Love this tutorial. Love learning thanks to my beloved Sis.
My grandmother stood me in a chair to handstitch a quilt she pulled down from ceiling to handquilt if my stitches were to big she pulled them out I had to do it over
I started sewing many moons ago from my Grand Mother and then my Mother, and my other Grandmother. I took every class in Jr. And Senior High school on sewing I could get ahold on, and have never stopped. I have always wanted to create a quilt and have so many ideas running through my head, and boat loads of fabric waiting to be stitched up. I’ve been working at it and your fabulous tips are going to help in so many ways. Thank you so much, because with my newest purchase, a long arm quilting set up, I will be able to go from start to finish sooner!!👍😄
Love that method I have been doing everything you showed for years. It is a great then to show new quilters so glad you do this for anyone interested in quilting and it is always nice to review things again
I learned how to sew while I was a preteen. My grandmother taught me how to use her sewing machine. No one else sewed in the family, I made clothes for myself and my siblings. When I had children I made clothes for them as well. But I quit sewing 20 plus years ago other than repairing clothes for my grandchildren. I discovered how to make quilts a year ago. I enjoy reading the information you provide.
It’s always great learning new things about quilting. I use to make my children’s clothing but always wanted to learn about quilting and our local pensioners club had an ad in the newspaper about a quilters class for beginners and I signed up for it. Love it very much.