February 28, 2025

How to Start Quilting After Retirement

By Signal Mountain · 3 minute read

Quilting is a unique craft that lets you interact with your creativity by piecing together fabric and patterns. While it takes time and dedication, the resulting quilt is well worth the effort. It'll be colorful, beautiful, and full of personal touches and inspiration.

So how do you start a project as a quilting beginner?

Let us help guide you through the process. Listed below are all of the key things you need to know to learn quilting in Chattanooga. Keep reading to get started!

Learn Terminology

The first step of any beginner quilting guide is to familiarize yourself with the general terms you'll run into during the project. Trying to go into any new hobby without a little research is going to lead to frustration.

Instead, take the time to learn and get used to seeing the terminology so you can browse quilting pages without needing a dictionary for every other sentence. Some terms to start with include:

Quilt top: the front-facing side of the quilt
Backing: the back-facing side of the quilt
Batting: the stuffing that goes in the middle of the quilt
Basting: the act of putting all three above terms together into a finished piece
Seam ripping: the act of undoing stitches after making a mistake
Layout: the grid you'll use to create the pattern of your quilt

Once you have the most common terms memorized, you've already started building a solid quilt-learning foundation.

Gather Supplies

When you want to start a quilting hobby, you'll need to begin collecting the right supplies. In its most basic form, quilting needs:

Fabric
Batting
Sewing needle
Thread
Scissors
Ruler

With only these few supplies, you can create a wonderful quilt that completes the cozy appeal of your senior apartment. Any other supplies you add to your quilting toolbox will be extras that help the process go faster.

As a beginner, it's best to start with the bare necessities until you find a process that works for you. Once you know how you like to create your quilts, you'll be able to add other supplies without investing in items you never end up using.

Choose a Style

As a craft that's been around for many generations, quilting has a variety of different styles. Each other can affect both the process and the final result of your quilt. To make your job easier, pick one style that appeals to you most and work with that before moving on to another one.

Traditional

As the most simplistic method, one of our favorite quilting tips for retirees is to start with a traditional quilt. All you need is a single layer of fabric for the front and back. Sewn together, you'll then stuff the quilt with batting before sealing it shut.

Appliqué

This method uses the traditional quilt as a base but expands upon the idea. You'll apply extra patterns and shapes of fabric - other materials - on top of the front-facing quilt top. This can turn a plain quilt into something unique and fun.

Patchwork

When people think of quilting, this is often the style that comes to mind. Patchwork quilting is a celebration of color, patterns, and textures. You'll use many differing pieces of typically square fabric to design your quilt, each with a top, middle, and bottom layer.

With these pieces finished, you'll then sew all of them together into one single blanket.

Paper Piecing

Paper piecing is much the same as patchwork, extra the sections of the quilt are smaller and more intricate. Think of the design much like the art of origami: the quilt often has thin strips of fabric in various shapes to create a delicate design.

Practice Sewing Skills

Since sewing is such a crucial skill in achieving a beautiful quilt, you'll want to practice your sewing skills before applying them to your finished piece. Sewing straight lines into scrap fabric is perfect for this kind of practice. Sometimes your practice piece can even find use in other ways, such as a unique coaster.

Try bringing your practice piece with you to casual senior activities so you can work on your technique while enjoying other entertainment.

Slow and Steady Process

As you work on your quilt, you'll want to keep in mind that quilting isn't an activity you should rush. Using a needle and thread takes precision when you want to make uniform stitches.

Even if you use a sewing machine to speed up the process, you could end up making mistakes that will cost you time, energy, or supplies.

Remember that quilting is a relaxing hobby that should make you happy. A finished quilt is a grand achievement, but the journey is also a vital part of the process.

Regardless if you want to make a quilt for a charity donation, a gift, or to keep for yourself, try not to rush. You'll achieve better results if you take your time and enjoy the process - no matter how long it takes to reach the finish point.

Join a Class

When in doubt, quilting classes in Chattanooga are the way to go. Not only will you get instruction from an expert, but you'll also get to join a group of people who also have an interest in quilts.

This can turn the art of quilting into a social opportunity that'll help you remain active during retirement. You can brainstorm new design ideas or trade tips and tricks with other quilters. You could get together outside of class to continue your sewing and make new friends at the same time.

Plus, you'll always have somewhere to turn for help whenever you run into an issue.

Become a Quilting Beginner in Chattanooga

Your journey as a quilting beginner doesn't have to be a lonely one. Join like-minded seniors in a thriving local community to make the activity even more enjoyable.

Signal Mountain Senior Living can offer you a welcoming Chattanooga senior community surrounded by all-natural beauty to inspire your first quilt. With our warm staff and expansive list of activities, amenities, and services, we aim to make every resident feel special.