Where My Quilting Journey Began...

                                                     

My First Block

In the Summer of 2007 my little family of 3 moved to Viroqua, WI. Its a very quaint area, seems every little town has a Local Quilt Shop (LQS) and many local ladies are VERY talented in the art of quilting, sewing, and crafting. I didn't own a sewing machine, basically I knew how to sew a button and that was it, but I saw those quilts and I wanted to make one! 
I got a hand-me-down sewing machine that didn't work well, and I found fabric that I loved and I started making a mess. The thread knotted, the material frayed;  it was all a disaster. BUT there were some lovely ladies at the church we were ministering at that met once a week to make quilts for the sick and elderly, so I went and they embraced me, even with my complete inability to sew a single straight line. Those wonderful ladies taught me many key things...

Cutting Fabric:
1. You need a cutting mat, a ruler, and a sharp rotary cutter. 
2. Cut away from you, never bring that blade towards your mid-section they are sharp.
3. Hold that ruler firmly.
4. Always close the rotary blade when you are finished, and keep them away from kids. 

Sewing:
1. 1/4 inch seems. 
2. Right sides together. 
3. Always press your seems (I had no sewing knowledge so I didn't know this at all). 

If you want an amazing tutorial for "Beginning Quilting Basics" from an amazing quilter take a look at Amy's Blog - Diary of a Quilter. 

So I made a few 9-Patch Blocks (9 small squares of the same size, sewn together to make one block) and I thought I am ready for more! I want to make something useful and beautiful.... Thus began my journey with the table runner. That will be my next post.