UN-learning and RE-learning how to quilt

YOU GO GIRL!! Common sense is so refreshing.

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SNIGDIBBLY
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"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
I have two distinct quilt-making styles. One is for classes when I know I
am being watched, and the other is for me when I am alone. Don't ask me
how
but over the years I have developed the habit of switching between the two
without even thinking about it.

On bad habits - as long as someone is not a physical threat to themselve,
other quilters or their quilts - I will let them go at it however they are
comfortable. They are warned about posture, backache, blunting tools, etc
of course, and shown the traditional methods and sometimes my own
variation.
But if they really want to do things their own wat why shouldn't they?
That's how new and better methods are developed. They might even teach me
a
thing or two. Most of them settle into pretty "normal" habits quickly but
not forcing them seems to work better.

--
Cheryl ^;;^ ^;;^ ^;;^

http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest

catsatararat (YAHOO msgr)

A large number of electrons were
terribly inconvenienced to send this -
at least read it.

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." wrote in message
oups.com...
I've been making all types of quilts for almost twenty years as well as
having taught quilting classes for about 6-7 years in the mid-90s till
our local fabric store went out of business. I've found that I need to
go back to beginner's books periodically and un-learn or re-learn my
techniques. I *know* how to do it, but I find sometimes I wander off
the path and develop bad habits and/or get sloppy (mostly in my cutting
and safety practices with the rotary cutter). If my basic skills
aren't excellent my more advanced skills will suffer since I don't have
a strong foundation to build on. Also, new and better methods and
tools are being developed every day and I need to keep up with the
advances being made in our craft.

Do you find yourself getting in a rut or complacent and needing to
un-learn bad habits and re-learn correct basic techinques?

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Where can we see pictures of your quilts & other work, Nightmist?

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"NightMist" wrote in message
...
On 18 Aug 2005 08:49:40 -0700, "Leslie & The Furbabies in MO."
wrote:

I've been making all types of quilts for almost twenty years as well as
having taught quilting classes for about 6-7 years in the mid-90s till
our local fabric store went out of business. I've found that I need to
go back to beginner's books periodically and un-learn or re-learn my
techniques. I *know* how to do it, but I find sometimes I wander off
the path and develop bad habits and/or get sloppy (mostly in my cutting
and safety practices with the rotary cutter). If my basic skills
aren't excellent my more advanced skills will suffer since I don't have
a strong foundation to build on. Also, new and better methods and
tools are being developed every day and I need to keep up with the
advances being made in our craft.

Do you find yourself getting in a rut or complacent and needing to
un-learn bad habits and re-learn correct basic techinques?

Yes Ma'am!

I do a lot of sewing, and if I don't keep myself in order I swap over
techniques inappropriately.
For example I have gone and sewn entire blocks with a 3/8 or a 5/8
seam allowance. Now there would be nothing wrong with that, except I
cut most blocks with a quarter inch allowance. If it is a block with
curves things can get really ugly when you do a dumb like that!

So if I have done a fair bit of garment sewing I will sit myself down
and run over the simplest things about putting together a quilt before
I so much as take the cover off the machine. Vice-versa if I am
sitting down to make clothes after a long stretch of quilting.

Sometimes I will sit down and put myself in the right mindframe by
sketching out a design and doing the math for it. Sometimes I will
pick up a book or three and read through basic techniques. Though I
do that mostly for garment sewing as I have reletively few quilting
books. Sometimes I just rattle off a mini project that takes a
specific skill I have to focus on.

Since I mostly do Really Big Quilts I want to be in the right sewing
mode and proceeding with confidence. Otherwise I will end up ripping
a whole great lot. Having the basics in order and done well are what
make the quilt IMHO.

NightMist
--
"To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge
it, requires brains." -Mary Pettibone Poole

When I beat my DH into taking pictures with the digital camera, and
then find someplace nifty to post them, you can go there.

Why can I take good pics with a regular old 35 mm slr, but can't get a
decent one with the digital camera?

Maybe I should start nagging for a scanner instead of nagging at him
to take pictures.

Tried Wally world's transfer to disc thing. Made me remember why I
don't develop film there.....

NightMist

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 08:49:15 -0500, "SNIGDIBBLY"
wrote:

Where can we see pictures of your quilts & other work, Nightmist?

--
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SNIGDIBBLY
~e~
"
/ \
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/snigdibbly.
http://www.ebaystores.com/snigdibbly...ox&refid=store
"NightMist" wrote in message
...
On 18 Aug 2005 08:49:40 -0700, "Leslie & The Furbabies in MO."
wrote:

I've been making all types of quilts for almost twenty years as well as
having taught quilting classes for about 6-7 years in the mid-90s till
our local fabric store went out of business. I've found that I need to
go back to beginner's books periodically and un-learn or re-learn my
techniques. I *know* how to do it, but I find sometimes I wander off
the path and develop bad habits and/or get sloppy (mostly in my cutting
and safety practices with the rotary cutter). If my basic skills
aren't excellent my more advanced skills will suffer since I don't have
a strong foundation to build on. Also, new and better methods and
tools are being developed every day and I need to keep up with the
advances being made in our craft.

Do you find yourself getting in a rut or complacent and needing to
un-learn bad habits and re-learn correct basic techinques?

Yes Ma'am!

I do a lot of sewing, and if I don't keep myself in order I swap over
techniques inappropriately.
For example I have gone and sewn entire blocks with a 3/8 or a 5/8
seam allowance. Now there would be nothing wrong with that, except I
cut most blocks with a quarter inch allowance. If it is a block with
curves things can get really ugly when you do a dumb like that!

So if I have done a fair bit of garment sewing I will sit myself down
and run over the simplest things about putting together a quilt before
I so much as take the cover off the machine. Vice-versa if I am
sitting down to make clothes after a long stretch of quilting.

Sometimes I will sit down and put myself in the right mindframe by
sketching out a design and doing the math for it. Sometimes I will
pick up a book or three and read through basic techniques. Though I
do that mostly for garment sewing as I have reletively few quilting
books. Sometimes I just rattle off a mini project that takes a
specific skill I have to focus on.

Since I mostly do Really Big Quilts I want to be in the right sewing
mode and proceeding with confidence. Otherwise I will end up ripping
a whole great lot. Having the basics in order and done well are what
make the quilt IMHO.

NightMist
--
"To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge
it, requires brains." -Mary Pettibone Poole



--
"To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge
it, requires brains." -Mary Pettibone Poole