Whether you are a beginner or an experienced quilter, there is always something new to learn and explore in the world of quilting. From selecting fabrics and patterns, to learning new techniques and styles, a quilting journey is a journey of discovery and creativity.
Where Are You on Your Quilting Journey?
What is a Beginner Quilter? A Beginner Quilter has mastered certain basic skills, and is confident in their ability to use their sewing machine. A Beginner Quilter is different from someone who is just starting their sewing journey.
The Beginner Quilter has been working on (or maybe even mastered) the following things:
- Familiar with all basic functions of their sewing machine. This includes threading the machine, changing the bobbin, adjusting tension, changing stitch width and length, and basic maintenance for their machine.
- Can follow a basic pattern and understands lower level quilting terms such as: backing, binding, blocks, seam allowance, scant, wrong sides together, and right sides together
- Can sew two pieces of fabric together in a straight line.
- Knows the difference between pressing and ironing.
- Can successfully use a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler to cut out their project pieces.
Other Things a Confident Beginner might be working on:
- Basic Applique
- Basic Paper Piecing or Foundation Paper Piecing
What is an Intermediate Quilter? An Intermediate Quilter not only has all of the skills of the Beginner Quilter, but also has discovered a passion for quilting. Congratulations, if you have made it this far, you have officially caught the “Quilting Bug”! You have probably been quilting for a few years now, and have mastered a few different quilting techniques.
The Intermediate Quilter is starting to venture into learning new techniques and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. Here are some things an Intermediate Quilter might be working on mastering:
- Curved Seams
- Tips and Tricks for making their quilting projects easier such as: pressing complicated seams, piecing more efficiently, chain-piecing, bias edges, mitered corners, etc
- Can confidently pick out appropriate fabrics for their project.
- May choose to participate in Teacher-led retreats, classes, or even cruises.
- Can use a plethora of different rulers to achieve their desired design.
- Can confidently do a foundation paper-pieced project or paper pieced project.
- Have experimented with different types of fabrics such as cotton, minky, or even t-shirts.
- Is knowledgeable on what thread/needle to use for each project.
What is an Advanced Quilter? The advanced quilter is someone we all love to learn from. They have most likely been sewing for many, many years and have definitely mastered a few different techniques. An advanced quilter probably has one or two styles of quilting that they prefer, but they know they prefer that style after many years of trial and error. This quilter may be designing their own patterns or even teaching classes and retreats. Not much stumps this quilter. They have tried it all!
The Advanced Quilter has mastered many techniques, but here a few things they have definitely mastered:
- Have probably been sewing so long that they may not remember when they started!
- Can complete their quilt start to finish (quilting included), but some may still choose to send off to be longarmed.
- Speaks fluent quilter. They know all the terms and abbreviations. A wonderful source of knowledge for a beginning quilter!
- At this point, this quilter is probably only taking most classes to be with other quilters. They probably already know the technique that is being taught.
- Is an expert at combining fabrics, and has a good eye for color.
- Experienced with all types of fabric. May even design fabric of their own!
- Enjoys sharing the tips and tricks that they have learned on their sewing journey.
- May enjoy teaching classes to other quilters.
- Can now sew just about anything that is put in front of them. No quilting technique is too hard for them to attempt. Have mastered many, many different techniques and found some that are their favorites.
