I received my first sewing machine for my birthday last November (Brother CS6000i), and then broke my ankle in early December and couldn’t use the machine. By the time I was ready to sew, I had spent more than several weeks viewing quilt tutorials online and on YouTube. I couldn’t wait to get started! Unfortunately, I spent several days trying to get the sewing machine to work properly and had only sewn three 10×10 layer cakes before it went totally F.U.B.A.R.. Here’s the first one;

First Rag Quilt

After a few depressing days I gave up on the machine and decided to look for a new one (that’s a whole other story within itself, of which I’ll skip). I received my new Singer Quantum Stylus 9950 last Sunday (the 13th) and promptly took it out of the box, hooked it up and went to town sewing my layer cakes together (the blue painters tape helps me keep my fabric straight and marks my half inch seam allowance);

First Rag Quilt

First Rag Quilt

I didn’t work on it Monday or Tuesday, but went back to work on it today and finished sewing all of the pieces together and then did my half inch seam all around the 4 edges. Now all that’s left to do is take my rag quilt snips and snip every half inch or so around all of the fabric sticking up on each of the quilt squares. Then launder it at a local laundry matt (this seems to be the general rule of thumb so you don’t clog up your own washer/dryer with loose thread) and give it a good wash. The more it gets washed, the more the edges will fray which gives the quilt a used and well loved look.

First Rag Quilt

It’s an all white cotton quilt with batting (10×10″) in the middle of each layer cake (I had to cut those separately. The layer cakes come pre-cut in 10×10″ squares). I’ve never done anything on a sewing machine before, and the most I’ve ever sewn is a few buttons by hand on a shirt or pair of pants. I’m pretty damn proud of myself, too.

/pats self on back

Special thanks to all of the YouTubers who share their vast knowledge so freely and lovingly. You gals have no idea how much I appreciate you and all of the tips, tricks, and lessons you’ve taught me; Jennifer Bosworth of Shabby Fabrics, Vanessa Vargas of Crafty Gemini Creates, Melanie Ham of I Heart Stitching, Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company, and Roxanne Blanc of Strikes My Fancy (her videos taught me how to use my Singer Quantum Stylus 9960!). You ladies are one of a kind.