Here's how you can get started with DIY quilting

There is little doubt that quilting is among the most popular fabric arts you can indulge in. However, getting started with DIY quilting can be a tad overwhelming, given the fact that it requires great care and intricacy.
If you're interested in quilting but are completely lost about where and how to begin, here are a few tips that should help you getting started.
Advertisement
1. Supplies
Make sure you have the right supplies on hand, including:
- Scissors for cutting off threads and uneven edges.
- Rotary cutter for cutting the fabric.
- Rulers and measuring tape: These are vital tools for quilting, as Amy Smart of  Diary of a Quilter explains. Quilting requires accuracy and being as efficient as possible when it comes to cutting fabric. You'll need a long ruler and a square ruler.
- Seam ripper: This handy tool also is a must-have for all quilters. Even the most experienced quilters have trouble sewing perfect seams from time to time.
- Self-healing cutting mat to protect your working area from cuts.
- Pins to keep the fabric together (make sure they are big enough to easily spot if you drop any).
- Thread: Using 100 percent cotton thread is highly recommended by Connecting Threads.
- Fabric: This may sound pretty obvious, but choosing fabric can give a beginner quilter more than one big headache. Which one is the best to get started? Are some types of fabric more difficult to quilt with than others? Smart recommends cotton as the best one, but you can also use other types of fabric, such as denim, flannel, wool or batik, as Seams and Scissors explains.
- Iron: This may sound unnecessary, but an iron (better with steam option) will be extremely handy when it comes to getting rid of wrinkles and setting your seams.
- Sewing machine.
2. Quilting basics
When starting off, make sure you have adequate seam allowances. A quarter of an inch is the ideal measure. Even a slight deviation can affect the final outcome, so be careful. You also must learn to press the fabric.
Rachel May, author of "Quilting With a Modern Slant," offers a few handy tips on quilting basics, shared my Mother Earth News, that you should check out.
Coming back to preparation,  make sure you have enough fabric and also that you have chosen the right fabric for your needs. Once you have washed, ironed, pieced and basted your quilt, you need to learn how to bind it.
Advertisement
3. Mistakes
Being a beginner, you can forgive yourself if you do make some mistakes, for instance, running out of fabric. However, learning about the common DIY quilting mistakes can help you avoid them altogether.