Starting to Quilt? Here's What Nobody Tells You...

So, you've decided to start quilting. Welcome — your weekends and free time will never be the same!

I'm Avery, and I've been quilting long enough to know that when someone asks, "how do I get started?" what they really need is an honest answer, not just a supply list. So that's what I'm going to give you!

1. This hobby is as expensive as you make it.

Let's get this out of the way first, because nobody talks about it. Quilting can be done on a budget — or it can quietly become the most expensive hobby you've ever had. Both are valid! The key is knowing that going in.

A beginner can absolutely start with a simple pattern, a yard or two of fabric, and basic tools. You do not need to spend $200 before you make your first block. Start small, learn the basics, and then decide how deep you want to go.

2. Those gorgeous new fabric lines? They're not cheap — and you'll want all of them.

Here's the thing about quilting fabric: it comes in "collections," and new ones drop constantly. They're beautiful, they're coordinated, and they are absolutely designed to make you want to buy the entire line!

New release fabrics typically run $13–$15 per yard. That adds up fast. My honest advice? When you're just starting out, shop your local quilt shop's (or your favorite online store like Patch & Purpose Quilt Co's) sale section, look for precut bundles, or grab some good quality solids. Save the splurge fabric for when you know exactly what you're making.

(You'll have plenty of time to fall in love with the new releases. Trust me — that phase is coming whether you plan for it or not!)

3. You will become obsessed. Plan accordingly.

I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to prepare you! There is a reason quilters talk about their "fabric stash" like it's its own entity. Fabric is beautiful, it's tactile, and when you find a print you love, your brain says I need this.

Give yourself a budget. Or don't. But know that the obsession is real and it sneaks up on you fast!

4. You only need a few tools to start.

Before you fill an Amazon cart, here's what you actually need:
• A rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat
• A quilting ruler (a 6x6 and a 6x24 are my personal favs)
• A sewing machine (any basic one works!)
• An iron — honestly, I still use the one my grandma passed down to me. As long as it gets nice and hot.

That's it! You can quilt with just those four things. Everything else is a "nice to have."

5. Your seam allowance is everything.

This is the thing beginners mess up most, and it has nothing to do with skill — it's just about consistency. Quilting uses a ¼" seam allowance, and if you're off even a little bit across many seams, your blocks won't line up. I highly recommend using a heat erasable pen to mark your ¼" seams when you are just starting. This gives you spatial awareness and helps you understand what your seam really looks like. 

Sew a test square first. Measure it. Adjust your needle position until your ¼" is truly ¼". Your future self will thank you!

6. Start simple — and finish it.

The best first quilt is a finished one. Not the most impressive one, not the most complex one. A finished one! Pick a beginner-friendly pattern, buy what you need for that project, and see it through. Whole cloth quilt kits are great because you don't actually have to do any piecing - you just get to practice on the quilting side. Another personal favorite is baby quilts because they are very tangible. 1-3 days max depending on your distractions (mine being my two daughters).

You'll learn more from finishing one quilt than from pinning fifty on Pinterest!

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Ready to get started? Browse our Beginner Friendly Collection under "The Edit" tab for patterns and tools hand-picked for new quilters — and if you have questions, I'm always just a message away!

Happy quilting,
Avery