Information For Quilters
Looking for a new hobby? If you enjoy making things with your hands and want to be able to use fabric for you new craft, you may want to take advantage of the quilters groups that may be in your area. If you don’t have a community center to visit in your town, there are still a number of resources you can turn to on the Web that will give you all the information that quilters need to know.
The YMCA or local church groups in your area will most likely have groups for quilters that meet every week or so. When you search the Yellow Pages in your area, you can talk to the leaders of these groups and ask about the skill levels of each of the members so that you’ll feel more comfortable before your first meeting. You may also be able to get a schedule of the projects that the group is working on, so you’ll know which sewing skills you’ll need to work on for the month. Members can share patterns with one another, as well as showcase their work at meetings, and if you decide to work with a partner or smaller group within the organization, you may find that your skills are enhancing in no time.
There are also a number of books for quilters that will help you to enhance your skills. If you’re a visual learner and need to see instructions in written form, you should definitely check out the books that are available from the American Quilters Society. You’ll find great titles like ‘Needle Felting: Simple Techniques, Beautiful Projects’ published by That Patchwork Place, or you can order Susan Schrempf’s ‘Simple Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Machine’. These and similar books will help you with specific quilting skills, and the pictures in the book will give you a good idea of what the finished product is supposed to look like. You may also want to visit local bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, or Borders to find quilting books that you’ll find helpful.
If you need to find more patterns that are for quilters of all skill levels, you may want to check out www.quilterscache.com. There are so many selections for you to choose from, including the Rise and Shine quilt, which is a great quilt to use on the beds of your children, or in the guest room. You may also want to try the Apple Core table runner, which will look great in a country-style kitchen or dining room.
There are more resources for quilters available on the internet as well; check out informational websites like about.com or www.associatedcontent.com for straightforward information about quilting that will help you to improve your skills. Good luck!
By Crafts Editor
