AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Question Help...I'm making a quilt for my sister's baby shower and i dont know where to start. Each woman in my family picked out some fabric and i've been designated to put the quilt together because i have the sewing machine. i've never made one before.
I bought a mat and rotary cutter but i dont even know how to use it. Can give me some basic direction. How can can i cut the squares if i cant see the lines on the mat under the fabric.
Thanks for your time.
Gabriela
Answer Hi, Gabriela,
You need an acrylic (see-thru) ruler in addition to the matt and the rotary cutter. (These should be displayed in the same area as the matts and rotary cutters in the store.) You use the lines on the acrylic ruler to trim your squares to size, not the lines on the matt. I would suggest a square acrylic ruler, at least a bit larger than the size square you are trimming to.
There is no way I can give you all the guidelines you need through a response here. Your public library will have many books which can explain the basics of rotary cutting, seam allowances, layout, joining blocks, batting and backing choices, preparing to quilt, quilting itself, and finishing the edges of the quilt.
If there is a quilt shop or fabric store near you, you also might consider talking to them and asking for a recommendation for someone to put it together for you - or taking a class.
