I taught my 10 year old granddaughter how to sew on my Pfaff Performance Icon. I demonstrated French seams just for fun. The next day, while I was out on errands, she made her own tote bag with French seams that are better than mine. She now has her own Brother machine and makes all kinds of stuff. It's great having a sewing companion.

I've been told I'm too old to learn quilting or machine embroidery, at 72. Well, I ignored the naysayers and bought a Baby Lock Aurora. I love your channel and think I can learn a lot from you. Thank you for being a Teacher instead of a Preacher! Big hugs...Donna

I am so glad I found you. I am a 69 year old beginning quilter, once was a theater costumer and primarily a lifelong learner. Key, to me was you saying”go ahead and do it”. We learn as we go, right, and we do it for us. Just seeing your daughter so joyous reminds me that that little creative spark is so vulnerable. What a luckily child to have a mom who understands that.

21:58 Yes!!!! I didn't even quilt for a year and barely made about 3 super simple strip piece charity quilts before I took on my most ambitious quilt project... my own pattern! And boy was it a pattern lol. My math wasn't mathing, I messed up several times, some points didn't meet up, and there were sooo... many... pieces.... but it actually turned out beautiful and got the praise of everyone in my quilting group who had quilted for 10+ years. Even with the mistakes, I felt so proud that I took on another self-made pattern. Those ambitious undertakings taught me a lot and really honed in my skills. I'm not afraid to take on "complex" projects and the shortcomings don't stress me out because it's all a learning experience and I'll never get good if I don't try. "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!"

I was a garment sewist for 14 years before I tried my hand at quilting. I'm self taught. Made tons of mistakes. Still learning little things here and there. First quilts were quite adventurous for a beginner, but not that great. I'm actually glad I just jumped in and started on more complex patterns. Fast forward 33 years later...I know my style, my strengths and weaknesses. The only time I stopped enjoying quilting was when I started making quilts that I thought I should be doing instead of what I loved. Lesson learned. I do this for my own enjoyment, and I have good quilts, great quilts and sometimes not so great quilts. Usually someone enjoys them and that's what really matters to me.

I am an A type personality. I have been the most impatient person I know. I'm now 75 years old and found quilting during the COVID lockdown. Two years on, I'm the most patient person I know, I feel like I'm ten years younger and, I'm learning something new everyday about the world and art of quilting. Other than the odd A-line skirt or box blouse, hemming and the odd rudimentary alteration, I've done little to no sewing in my life. I bought a second hand Janome Quilters Companion, and haven't looked back. The quilting rabbit hole has lured me in and I'm hooked. I laughed when you said you gave all your early quilts away. I'm doing the same thing. My friends and family are getting all the learner's projects. But I'm tickled with every one I've made. I refuse to hear critcism unless it's constructive, I'm gradually gathering proper tools, and gradually learning about fabrics and the world of textiles. I also am a huge KF fan! Oh my gawd. Thank you for these 15 reminder tips. Most I've learned, but I believe that a good student goes into every new project with an open mind, and open heart and a willingness to step into the unknown.

Your daughter is so cute and amazing!!! I hope I can be like her, not afraid to make mistakes and excited to show off her work. You're an amazing mom for giving her the keys to your machine.

When I started out I thought smaller would be easier! 😂 yes I began with mini quilts. When I took my first actual class and the pieces seemed so huge (3” squares were the biggest I’d used up to that point) I was amazed at how easy it was to line things up!!!

Thank you and i have done my mistakes too. I started to quilt after COVID-19 and was 70 years old. Before started to quilt the last time I touched a sewing machine i was 18 years old. Watching videos (over and over) in my IPad computer have help me a lot and still have a lot to learn. Know I’m sewing everyday and making things for family and friends. It’s my therapy since COVID-19, I don’t go out as much as i used too. Thank you again.

I have been quilting for 30 years and never knew about the quilters knot…my life is changed!!!

Gurrrllll!!! Sitting here watching this video just nodding my head in agreement with all these pro tips! Even the first part talking about how your were such a busy college student and then you graduated and were like “now what?! I need to fill my time.” Same!!! I started a few years out of grad. school and just took the attitude of “let’s figure it out”! I had people tell me that I should not try a t-shirt quilt because of the difficulties with stitch and I now have a line customers waiting for me to make them custom memory quilts! 🥳 I also won our county fair after only 4 years of quilting! You made such good points that I hope will help take some frustration out for our fellow quilters…quality fabric, a quality machine, willingness and patience. Also, I have never had someone give a quilt back to me because my points didn’t match🤣🤣 thanks for all that you do!!

Thank you for these words of encouragement. I am turning 71 in a few days and gifted myself with a long arm machine and frame. Do I ever have so much to learn as I have no one to teach me or turn to for guidance. O. Top of that the arthritis in my hands makes life difficult but I do not give up easily. Wish me luck. Suzy H in Florida.

Your daughter looks so proud of her quilt and she should be - at 60 years of age and a newbie to quilting, I'm not sure that I would attempt that. Super impressive!!!

This is such an encouraging video and I love that your husband still uses his quilt!

My boyfriends grandmother taught me to quilt the first time I ever went to visit her and I fell in love so much that I taught both my sisters how to quilt we all have much to learn. Sadly I don’t get to visit grandma more than once a year due to distance and I’m so happy I get to learn some tricks here thank you for all you do ❤

I was tidying up an old cupboard recently and came across a patchwork quilt that my mum made on a singer treadle machine back when I was a child and I am 71 and it gave me the buzz to start a quilt of my own. My mum’s quilt was made with bits of material from dresses we wore as children and it brought back so many memories. I haven’t started yet but am in the process of building up my collection of things I need. My fear (or one of them) is the design - I am not a naturally creative person and a bit scared to take that first step. Your video has given me that confidence to take my first step. I will check out your tutorials. I live in Ireland and quilting is not as popular as it is in the US. It’s difficult to get books as a lot of companies don’t send to Ireland so it’s great to have the online guidance and encouragement from the likes of yourself. Thank you.

3:14 - Presser Foot Size 4:32 - Walking Foot 5:41 - Pressing Seams 7:28 - Threads 9:36 - Rotary Cutters 10:57 - Batting 'Sandwich' 11:57 - Safety Pins 13:09 - Binding 15:00 - Quilters Knot 15:57 - Strip Quilting 16:40 - Pricing/Quality of fabrics 18:16 - Fabric Styles 19:27 - Sewing Machines 20:47 - Quilt 'Police' 21:59 - Designing is hard??

OMG, I didn't know how bad of an idea it was to take my bias cut HSTs and spray them with waaay too much starch and steam iron then while pulling and tugging them into submission. It was a hot mess! But, I made it work and I'm snuggled up with that quilt right now. :)

My first quilt made in 1971&72 was a Noah's Ark for my new baby boy. I used scraps from my own sewing for myself and my hsuband. It has double knit, velour, corduroy, and denim among the cottons from my scraps. I quilted it with large stitches and embroidery floss. Eric loved it and slept with it for many years. It is in

My mom is a seamstress by trade and owned a fabric store growing up so sewing was always in my blood. I made doll clothes and stuff but never quilted. When I met hubby and he told me his first wife used his old shirts to make a quilt, I thought it was brilliant so I thought I'd give it a try. I always loved being in her store but since I was on a mission, it made it more intoxicating and bought a "Quilting for Dummies" book - 30 years ago, I threw caution to the wind and fell in love. I didn't have the luxury of the internet and videos. I'm self "taught" and was focused on the "hug" than perfection. Today, I decided to actually sit and watch videos since the 2 I'm working on have their own special challenges. I ran across this video and I kept saying "OH! That explains the thread" and "Sewing through all 3 layers for binding" was a quickly learned lesson after the first binding. Some of these things I figured out on my own but this video was PERFECT! I'm so glad I went down the rabbit hole! THANK YOU!

Thanks for the great tips. I’m a beginner and I’m excited to get started.

I love that I randomly found you! I have made all those mistakes (even the binding) and I am still new to quilting and I am happy to see you are so encouraging and supportive! I am subscribing and will be watching! Thank you for making me want to start quilting again.

Loved the story about handing your daughter the long arm -- such an awesome teaching moment!!

I've been quilting for about 20 years when my daughter moved to Wisconsin and we had great teachers. Because of corvid, I didn't quilt, I just concentrated on staying alive. But now, I'm 87 and have quilts I want to/ need to finish. For me, your presentation was a refresher course, I sincerely thank you. And I agree with you about the quality of fabric, just touch it or hold it up to the light, you'll know quality when you see. Thanks again

Hi from Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK

Oh my goodness!!! I needed to hear all of this!! Thank you!!

You got me when you said, it can be a hot mess and still be loved.

I'm a self taught quilter. I got several quilting books way before I started quilting. I started my first quilt 6 years ago, finished it a year later. Auctioned it off. My grandmother use to quilt, crochet and more. I learned the quilter's knot from her, I just didn't know what it was called. I started learning how to sew in Jr High School. I made clothing, pillow covers, bags and did repairs. (Still do repairs) I also did a lot of Crocheting. Now, I just quilt. Finances are tight so, I get a lot of my materials from thrift stores, people who are getting rid of a lot of scrap materials and more. I also shop at Walmart a lot. I've made something like 6 quilts, 5 quilted pillow covers, table cloths and have 9 plus pre-quilts cut and ready to sew together. I just finished a DC Comic quilt, Batman, for my nephew and an elephant quilt for his youngest daughter. I'm in the process of making a Log Cabin quilt for my mom. My goal is to make and donate many throw quilts for cancer patients at the cancer center that my husband was at. I'm having fun with quilting!! 😁

I started quilting when you marked around cardboard templates and cut with scissors. Rotary cutters and quilting rulers are relatively new tools for me. Thank you

Don’t beat yourself up! We all started somewhere! 😊

Many years ago, the late 80's, I went to a "Fast Patch" quilting class, essentially strip quilting. I has heard about rotary cutters but thought they were just some expensive toy that would go out of style. When I attended the class the heavens parted, the angels started singing and I was awestruck. It made so much sense and seemed a much more efficient was to make a quilt. I had been interested in quilting but the though of sitting for endless hours cutting out one tiny piece at a time was too daunting. Today I am the proud owner of several rotary cutters, rulers, templates and cutting mats.

You're a breath of fresh air! Awesome piece. 😉

I had no idea how much I didn't know! Thanks for your information 😊

Eye opener for so many things. Thanks.

Hi, i'm Esther from milwaukee WI. I loved this video. i'm about to start my first quilt and this video is going to save my life.

My husband and I just listened to your video and chuckled. Thanks for voicing all the "oops" that we have encountered on our journey. Keep up the great work.

As I take my passion for sewing into the quilting space I give myself permission to practice at the level I am at right now, with the tools I have on the budget I can afford. It's the pleasure of the journey alongside the increasing knowledge that makes functional things I can celebrate finishing. All you said is true, I just don't yet have access to everything I desire but I've come a long way since I started to seriously apply myself to a more quilting focused practice. More prolific in numbers of projects, more interested in patter and design. You just start where you are at dream, make goals happen and keep moving forward. Yes this last month I've been doing binding. One small thing after another so it becomes like muscle memory and easier each time. Even doing pieced binding. Plus today yes I ironed lots of seams open because it made sense to do ut. Cheers to all the Noobies out there like me 🇦🇺💜🇺🇲💚👍😊🖐

I love your daughters quilt.

I have watched this video a few times and always good to revisit.

You will never know how much you encouraged me through all your tutorial series, but none were as encouraging as this one. I know you are going through major changes in your journey that are deeply discouraging, but I will always appreciate you, your team and your love of creating that knows no bounds or limitations. Your next best version is just around the corner. Meanwhile I appreciate all the content you’ve created to help me along my quilting journey. God bless you and yours

Girl! You are so fun and honest… just so precious 😅 I didn’t know anything at all when I agreed to do a BOM from Quilters Newletter Magazine, with alternating star blocks and applique blocks, with 1.5” pieces! Teeeeny tiny HST’s and flying geese😱 but I did it and it’s my treasure!

I went to quilting classes many years ago and then I didn't do any quilting for many years. When I decided to try it again, I had no idea what anyone was talking about. I thought I had gone to a baking website instead of quilting. When I took the classes there were no precuts (layer cakes, jelly rolls, honeybuns) and we used scissors only. As you were saying with the strip cutting, I made a full size quilt and cut out every piece from yardage with scissors. Maybe that's why I had quit so many years ago.

One time I was making a pinwheel quilt with some charm packs I won at a class I took.. learning to embroidery with my machine… So I brought my 84 yr old mom to see what I was doing … it was turning out quite nice… I had no home for the project.. just wanted to learn piecing & lining up seams… She says …. Will that fit on my bed??? Um… how could I say anything but, “yes it will…”lol.. So now I was PRESSED TO FINISH IT… also I showed her the embroidery side of my Bernina 770… as the demo started… suddenly she had a pillow cover she wanted made with the embroidery hoop .. lol it was FUN.!! She was a hoot… the very next day she calls me & says she wanted me to stop by her retirement home… next thing I know…. I’m hemming pants coats, & darting clothing… lol I did love & enjoy the time with her. It was so awesome I could help her & give her something from me… She’s shrinking in stature & store bought clothing is a challenge for her. So I bought the machine from funds SHE HAD GIVEN ME… & I wanted her to see I was using the gift… & learning to quilt has given back to her fancy pillow tops, & clothing she can wear… yes the quilt made it onto her bed..

I completely agree with not discouraging people from trying something they want to try, and I also think that sometimes they can become so frustrated with trying to do something beyond their skill that they will just quit. So weighing how to say that they might want to try something a little less challenging is also important. I had this happen with a friend, who wanted to make a quilt, she wanted to design it and do some very complicated things with circles and applique. I didn't want to discourage her so I let her go at it and she got so frustrated with how hard it was, that it took another year before she'd try quilting again. I talked her into trying something a lot more simple and now she loves it. She has the skill now, to do what she had wanted to do and this time I'm confident she will do much better.

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! MANY THANKS FOR ALL THE INFORMATION. IT IS A PITY THAT THE USA HAS SUCH FANTASTIC SHOPS. I LIVE IN THE UK.😊

Wonderful video! Totally agree. My suggestion is to buy fabrics for projects and not build a stash. Having a stash is overrated and expensive. Congrats on all of your hard work with your company and tutorials!

I love your videos! Your daughter's reaction to her own accomplishment is incredible...she just jumped in! She didn't know she couldn't! That's perfect!

The look on your daughters face with her finished quilt is priceless. Good job Mom

Omg seeing your daughter with that quilt was so sweet!!!! Thank you for letting her be creative! ❤

I knew how to sew but learned quilting by watching TV shows on PBS and home channel. I entered a quilt contest at our local fair. I won my category, but the one judge gave me some tips which I appreciated. I still like to check out tips like yours.

Gosh, the whole thing about quilt design being difficult... you aren't kidding. I spend most of my time creating and so I'm used to designing things, using color and contrast and shapes, etc. So imagine my surprise when I was trying to design my purple and pink quilt. I was fumbling around with it, when my mom handed me some graph paper and told me to do some scribbling on it. The design happened under my nose and we were all impressed by the final product. The same with the second quilt, but this one is way better. I'm glad i didn't freak out about whether a design was a bad idea. I just went for it and it turned out alright.

THank you!! I love the encouragement for everyone. I have been fighting with my machine for a long time, trying to tell myself if I did, thus and such better, all would be well. I'm going to check out your video about buying a new machine and quit fighting with this dinosaur!

Lots of great info for a newbie! Thank you for sharing!

Never heard of a quilters knot. Thank you!

What a wonderful video, Stephanie! Every quilter needs to see this. I started quilting in order to use up old fabrics I did not want to toss and many of my 'masterpieces' fell apart in the wash or needed constant repair. Once I began using better fabrics I realized the difference and never looked back. Quilting is definitely a learning experience.

Ok, this was me. And some of it still is me. Thanks. I am into my third big, Queen or king, quilt. My first one is still in the unfinished pile. In between I spent a lot of time on small projects. I wish I had a quilting guild near me, I am always learning and thank goodness for KZfaq.

Love your positive attitude and encouragement!

Good video. I am a new quilter. Two other things I wish I knew when I started quilting. 1. Pin pieces when you sew. I cut precisely, but without pinning, my stitching for a log cabin square was just a little off. Pinning helped keep everything more accurate. 2. Use a dry iron. Do not use the steam. Steam can stretch the material and alter how the quilt comes out. Enjoy the journey.

Hi. I just recently found out that if you are having some tension issues it might be because you have to change the needle. This is what happened to me. I hadn't changed my needle in all the time that I was quilting. I found out that I need to change it with every new project. I felt silly but no one told me this. And now my tension is great!

Thank you for your video, I have never made a quilt but I’m cutting pieces to try making my first quilt.

You are such a sweet, lovely person. I learn so much from you. My sewing machine that is marketed as a quilting edition did not come with a 1/4 inch foot. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I'm sure if I had never quilted before that I would have done the same thing you did with the foot that came on the machine.

Thank you for the positive spirit you share!

I like the advice stick with the nice people 💓

Re the cost of big box store fabric: Recently I bought some batting for my latest quilt at JoAnn's and walked over to check out the fabric out of curiosity. I was shocked! The prices were very close to those of my local high quality quilt shop, only about dollar a yard less. It is so worth it to me, even on a fixed income, to buy the good stuff. My labor is worth it. My skill is worth it. My time is worth it. The love I put into each quilt is worth it!

just found you. I enjoyed this video. It was like going back in time. I didn't have anyone to help me either. I bought all the tools and books. I had them for at least three months before I actually started quilting. But I finally took the plunge with a Mother's Day magazine with a small "quilt in a weekend" pattern. I did quilt it from start to finish in a weekend. I was so proud and my daughter as well. She was 3 yrs old at the time. She is now 30 yrs old. I still quilt. And she is still my only judge. She was the one who said, "You have quilted forever. More than anything else." I didn't realize it until she said it. I consider myself a knitter and I also crossed stitched and sewed many of her clothes, over the years. But quilting has been something I never let go. I could lie and say I don't know why I never let it go. I wanted to work with color. I still do. It's easy to work with fabric. It allows more freedom and forgives many mistakes, as you stated in your husband's quilt. I never want anything I make to win a prize except from the person I made it for. Because it was made with love.

This was fabulous information. I've been quilting for a few years and I still make lots of mistakes, but when I've given the quilt to someone they love it even though there are mistakes and they don't see them. I still have trouble with points and especially my cutting. I'm going to start using some sort of weights to keep me from shifting the ruler. As I tell everyone, I do a little quilting, but I’m not a “quilter”. I can say if you love to quilt keep at it as you continue to learn from your mistakes. Again thank, for your videos.

Im just gaining interest in quilting, purchased some fabric and some beginner items yesterday. I cant wait to start.

I too, met a snob quilter. I had just started and created a pillow cover for my bed, a log cabin pattern. She literally gave me the "nose down" look. I was very proud of my log cabin pillow, am d she crushed me in two seconds. I do not meet with her group any more.

"Just do it!": the mantra that makes it possible to improve :) Great video!

I started my first quilt in 1968 (I'm currently 67). Nobody knew anything about quilts then. I hadn't even seen a quilt up close, I didn't have an instruction book. So I was making a 4 patch quilt. Knowing nothing about templates, I cut out a square, then laid it on fabric (my mom's scraps of all sorts from her sewing) and cut around the square. Eventually I got the top done and managed to attach the batting and backing by tying with a cord of some kind but horrible to get through the layers. I finished it right before heading to college in 1973. I loved that quilt, it had a lot of bright colors, was very scrapy as are most of my current quilts. Unfortunately, my first quilt didn't last long. Many years later while going through my quilting stuff I found some of the 4 patch blocks that had never made it into the quilt. I took them apart and discovered, 1. Much of the time I had been sewing with a basting stitch. My mom had an old straight stitch only Singer that was older than me and I didn't have a clue how to change the length of the stitches. 2. The pieces were sewn with all sorts of thread colors and types. 3. Each of the squares were different sizes and varied by 1/2" or more! 4. I had sewed upholstery fabric to lightweight crepe. I recut four of the pieces and sewed them together and have them as decoration in my sewing room. The fabric in that block is also leftover fabric from dresses I had made in Home Ec so those pieces sewn together have a lot of memories. At this point I can't remember how many quilts I have made after 50. I have bad arthritis so I don't sew/quilt as much as I used to and mostly only Project Linus quilts as I can't handle the weight of bigger quilts at all. I use a Janome Skyline 9 that has a button that lowers and raises the resser foot from the front. Using that saves my right arm and I can sew for about twice as long if not more than the about 15 minutes I could sew when I had to snake my right arm through the throat of the machine and to the back. Sometimes just one button can make a whole machine worth it. I made so many mistakes over the years and I am still learning.

Love all 15 tips! As a sewer, I didn’t consider quilting because of all the cutting. After seeing a rotary cutter, my life changed! Then I discovered you tube tutorials and pre-cuts. When encouraging others to try quilting, I lead with these things that maki it easy, and more fun!

Oh my! I didn’t know about the presser feet size either! Lol. Went to a class and that poor teacher……she had her hands full with me. But it taught me so much. And that’s been so many years ago. Never looked back and just kept learning more about quilting. Thanks for the video. Guaranteed someone out there learned from your mistakes.

My nine-year-old granddaughter made her first quilt. it was all wonky and hot mess, but she loved it so much she threw the quilt I made off her bed and she sleeps with her quilt every night. I love it!

You are darling. So fun to listen to!

He looks like a king ☺ good job girl ☺

Just found this video and OH MY GOSH! I never knew that about the pressure foot! Holy smokes!

Ignore naysayers! Learning new things is good for your brain and prevents dementia as we age. I took up quilting classes on a Singer. Now I use a wonderful Janome HD9BE. I love my hobby!

Making quilts is one of the most amazing things that anyone can do, and actually giving someone you love a quilt is another 🤩🤩 Quilting is definitely my therapy, my happy place 😊 Most people see the beauty in the quilt that you have created 🥰 If they point out any mistakes then they aren’t someone you should be making a quilt for 🤷‍♀️ How sad to be only able to see negative things 😳 🇬🇧

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge through this video. I’ve been quilting for over 30 years and find I can always learn something new from other quilters. I made my first quilt using an Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day book, and I just used the edge of my regular presser foot as a guide. I had no idea what I was doing. I even used a loft batting because I didn’t know any better. A few years later I signed up for a beginning quilting class at a LQS and the quilting world opened up to me. I truly enjoy your positivity and down to earth approach in all of your videos. Subscribed!

Thank you❤

Thank you so much for sharing such great information, Stephanie.

I love your energy and your willingness to help quilters!

Like gold, this video. Thank you!!

Stumbled upon this and had to watch! I've been quilting for a while now, but it was refreshing to hear about the issues I've had and validate that I'm not crazy! Something that I didn't know way back in my beginner days - how to prepare the quilt top for the quilter. I asked a local quilter to quilt for me (I was fairly new to the area, quilting and needed to send to my daughter ASAP). When she said yes I just handed her the quilt top. She was very kind and didn't say anything but now I know that I should have squared it , trimmed off the unnecessary border edges and made it easier for her to put it on her longarm! I know now! We are now good friends and I still learn so much from her! - Thanks for the info you gave today. It was a good reminder.

Thank you for all of these tips and insights! All are so true! I especially love the encouraging last idea of just going for a quilt challenge as your little daughter did, be fearless, just try it, and enjoy the process and learning.

Great video Stephanie. Especially loved seeing your sweet daughter and her quilt--what a treasure!

Your first quilts are the best and loved by those who you made for them. It is the thought and love you put into each one.

Thank you so much for sharing and being vulnerable! You are so inspiring! Keep being the great teacher you are!

I love your tutorials and your approach to quilting. Thank you !

I discovered you with your demo on a strip rug made in greys. You are such a wonderful teacher. I’ve been sewing since I was 10, quilting about 20+ years and at 75 still learning from you. I giggled through your 15 mistake video as I’ve experienced some of the same. But still learned something new. I highly recommend to newbies to follow your videos. You are so kind to offer discounts with purchases.

Love your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your time and knowledge. ❤️❤️

I love this!

Love Love Love this! Thank you for posting ~ love your videos!

Thank you for sharing ♥️

I am learning to quilt by watching videos. Would have loved to have a teacher. I loved you sharing all the things you didn’t know. I’m in the same boat as you, just learning as I go, just keep rowing 🚣 and sewing 🪡 🧵 🇨🇦

Best advice ever!!!!!

About to start on my first quilt so this was so helpful and encouraging

Thanks so much for sharing!

Great info, Stephanie!

Thank you. I needed to hear all of it.