Quilters Thread

[graylady]

I'm getting the hang of it - finally.

Sewed a perfect block - with all seams aligned. Trick is to make sure all pieces are cut correctly and that 1/4-inch seam is accurate.

It works. Hooray.

I also cut a lot of strips - 2-inch wide - and then into 5-inch long rectangulars.

I devised a system to tape down the strips - 4 at a time - and thus, I cut them with one swipe - at 5 inch intervals.

Now, I need to cut enough pieces to devise an assembly line so that I can keep sewing without stopping.

I'm also using leaders and followers - that keeps the seam line more accurate too.

[cj59]

graylady - sounds like things are coming along well with your quilt, I'm sure it's going to be beautiful and appreciated by your son

I'm trying to decide on my next project. I've always wanted to make a Charm Quilt - where there are no repeating pieces of fabric and all the fabrics are in the same shape. I saw a show in a museum back in the 1990s and all the quilts on display were Charm Quilts. I've wanted to do one ever since.

I have a bunch of charm squares from my days in a quilt guild, and other squares of left over fabric, and I bought a 5 inch tumbler block template. I think I'll start cutting the tumblers from these fabric pieces and piece together a row at a time and see how it goes. At least I'll get to use a bunch of fabric this way

[graylady]

CJ: A charm quilt sounds great. I've got so much fabric that I could do the same - when I finish all the "must-do" quilts on my "to-do" list.

I'm trying to figure out how to align the lattice strips that have corner blocks in them with each row - I'm wary of how well I'll be able to match all those points. I've got to pay attention to my cutting - and then my 1/4-inch seam.

I just put a pot roast in my crockpot and I'm going to sew for a few hours now.

[cj59]

Aug 7, 2016 11:26:29 GMT -5 Joan said:

I expect to find inspiration for a new project or two at the quilt show. I have never been good about labeling my quilts, so that is a small project I'm working on. I will have to borrow back a few to get it accomplished.

Joan - hope you enjoy the quilt show and find some inspiration. I love going to shows and seeing the quilts and shopping at the vendor stalls

[graylady]

I'm finding that piecing a quilt top is hard work - and often quite tedious.

But - I do get a lot of satisfaction from getting the block put together correctly, with seams matching, etc...

Even in the short time I've had since I began this project, I've improved considerably. And I now realize that measuring - and measuring again - is crucial - and my seam ripper has become a handy tool - when I've sewn two pieces together right to back - etc...

I've completed 12 of the 48 blocks - and I've finished cutting most of the block pieces - but not all the sashing pieces.

I've devised more efficient ways of cutting - and am feeling more confident.

But I also get tired - and - hot. The iron is constantly by my sewing machine.

I'm working at this project about 3 to 5 hours a day - so far - though I had several days last week and the week before go by without any work at all. but I'm catching up now. I'll have the top pieced by the end of August - and I can spend September doing the quilting. 

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[Deleted]

I just found this thread, woohoo! I've been quilting 20 years, and am currently starting a baby quilt for a friend. The baby is only a month old, so I'm ahead of schedule, right? 

cj59  you asked about a slippery sheet (sorry, I don't remember the real name) I have that, I believe, and it does help with free motion quilting. 

[Deleted]

graylady   This is the "slippery sheet", and one of the few gadget type things I have found to be worthwhile for me. You have to cut out a space for your needle, but otherwise it is ready to go. The only difficulty is accessing your bobbin, if you have the drop in type. 


www.sewslip.com/


edited to say back when I bought it one had to cut out the needle hole, but now it is precut for you. 

[cj59]

Aug 10, 2016 10:59:57 GMT -5 @treschats said:

I just found this thread, woohoo! I've been quilting 20 years, and am currently starting a baby quilt for a friend. The baby is only a month old, so I'm ahead of schedule, right? 

cj59  you asked about a slippery sheet (sorry, I don't remember the real name) I have that, I believe, and it does help with free motion quilting. 

Thanks for the recommendation treschats.  I have about 15 quilt tops done and I need to learn to machine quilt so I can do them myself.  I had a LQS machine quilt two quilts I had finished a few years ago and it cost $400 - that did include, backing, batting and binding.  But I can't afford that to get those other 15 done, so I need to do them myself

I think you are right on schedule for that baby quilt

[graylady]

Treschat: thank you so much for that link - which I followed and found. That is a wonderful machine quilting aid. I wish it were much longer - so it could extend out further from the sewing machine. I just told my DH that he'll have to devise something for me when I get around to the machine quilting part of this project.

I did machine quilt my sampler quilt - and the other two projects I actually "finished." It's not an easy task at all - but I managed.

So - this slippery sheet will be helpful for sure.

Now - where to purchase it - since I don't do any on-line purchasing. I'll have to try Joann's to see if they carry it.

I'm making the rest of my half-square triangle today - and have a string of the squares going through my sewing machine today.

I'm making good progress - and am enjoying it.

Thanks you for staying in touch with me. I check this board every day - and am always sorry when I don't see anyone posting.

[corgi]

graylady, I've heard, though I've never tried it, that Teflon oven liners work as well. They're the size of the bottom of an oven, so maybe big enough for what you need.

[capesha]

I am on month 3 of the Queen Bee BOM quilt from Keepsake Quilting. It might be done for Christmas. It is for my youngest sister who is still the Queen Bee of our family. There's opportunities for appliqué, piecing, and fun quilting practice each month. It's really cute.

[cj59]

Hi Everyone,

How are things going on your projects? I enjoy hearing about what you are working on.

graylady - how is your quilt coming along?

corgi - thanks for the information about teflon, I think I've read that people have used that too in place of the Sew Slip.

capesha - that BOM sounds really nice. It's great to get experience in the different techniques, isn't it?

I'm hoping to take some quilt classes this Fall and there are also a few shows that I'll go to. I need to finish the back of the pillow I'm working on and put it together. I hope to get that done this weekend. It's just been so hot that I'm not really motivated to create anything.

Hope everyone has a good day and a good weekend

[graylady]

CJ: Nice to hear from you. I've been piecing every day. I'm beginning my 4th (out of 8) row of blocks. But I have all the half-square triangles made for the whole quilt - so that has speeded up the block finishing. I've had to stop and cut more pieces - and am working on finishing up 2 x 5 inch rectangles.

I've been sewing at least 3 hours a day - and on some days, after resting / dinner / I have sewn another couple of hours. I'm bound and determined to get all the blocks done by August 20 - so that I can begin the sashing. That will take another week probably. Then, I'll begin the "dreaded" machine quilting.

What's slowing up the process is that I like watching the Olympics - the 4-hour recap - and that takes me another 3 hours probably - because I record it and then fast-forward through all the ads and most interviews, etc...

Have you started planning your machine quilting?

I'm already thinking about the 3rd quilt on my to-do list. The 2nd one is one I've already started for my 49-year-old daughter - unmarried, no children - lives alone - former teacher - has had serious health issues - and works for Costco now. But she's always been an outdoors woman and athlete. So - the quilt she picked out is a Bear's Paw pattern. I've got about 4 of those blocks made.

But the 3rd one will be for my youngest son and his wife (late 30's) and it's a Hawaiian themed quilt and I'm looking at Hawaiian log cabin patterns. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[corgi]

Well, if we're talking to-do lists:
1. Art quilt I'm working on now
2. Small art piece for upcoming show
3. quilt for community service for my guild
4. finish throw quilt started in a class two months ago (had to order border fabric, once that's on the top is done)
5. THREE lap quilts that were supposed to be Christmas presents last year but hopefully will be this year (I have a pile of jelly rolls, so they should be a snap)
6. new quilt for my bed (two long haired cats = short lifespan for quilts on my bed!)
7. Next art quilt, due for January show submission deadline

There's what, four months left in this year? Yikes.

[capesha]

I'm having fun with the Bee quilt. Each block is a little different. I like that I can carry the pieces with me if I'm going somewhere. I try to have a book, some kind of stitchery, and a snack/water always on hand whenever I go out of the house (car trips etc.) You never know what might happen. Traffic jams, Cujo, lost in the wrong state......😏 I need to be ready. 

[alfa]

All this talk of precise 1/4" seams that align and pressing everything in the right direction makes me twitchy.

I am much more of a "close enough" kind of quilter. I'd never finish anything otherwise. I'm just not that good at following rules.

[cj59]

Aug 12, 2016 15:51:03 GMT -5 graylady said:

CJ: Nice to hear from you. I've been piecing every day. I'm beginning my 4th (out of 8) row of blocks. But I have all the half-square triangles made for the whole quilt - so that has speeded up the block finishing. I've had to stop and cut more pieces - and am working on finishing up 2 x 5 inch rectangles.

I've been sewing at least 3 hours a day - and on some days, after resting / dinner / I have sewn another couple of hours. I'm bound and determined to get all the blocks done by August 20 - so that I can begin the sashing. That will take another week probably. Then, I'll begin the "dreaded" machine quilting.

What's slowing up the process is that I like watching the Olympics - the 4-hour recap - and that takes me another 3 hours probably - because I record it and then fast-forward through all the ads and most interviews, etc...

Have you started planning your machine quilting?

I'm already thinking about the 3rd quilt on my to-do list. The 2nd one is one I've already started for my 49-year-old daughter - unmarried, no children - lives alone - former teacher - has had serious health issues - and works for Costco now. But she's always been an outdoors woman and athlete. So - the quilt she picked out is a Bear's Paw pattern. I've got about 4 of those blocks made.

But the 3rd one will be for my youngest son and his wife (late 30's) and it's a Hawaiian themed quilt and I'm looking at Hawaiian log cabin patterns. Any ideas would be appreciated.

graylady - it sounds like you are getting that quilt done.  I give you a lot of credit for your hard work with that and I hope you get it all done to take to your son

I like the Bear's Paw pattern too.  I'm sure your daughter will love that quilt.

I'm sure you're find a good pattern for your youngest son's quilt too.  A log cabin would be nice, and you can really make it pretty depending on your fabric selection

I hope to get to some machine quilting this Fall.  There are a few local quilt shops that offer training on using their longarm quilting machines.  Then you can rent the machine at the store to quilt your own quilts.  I'm thinking of taking one of those classes and seeing if I like using the longarm. 

[cj59]

corgi - Your list of quilts sounds so interesting. I've used Jelly Rolls in a few quilts too. All these pre-cut packs they have now are so helpful.

capesha - I love having hand projects to do too. It's nice that they are portable and it calms me to do handwork.

[cj59]

Aug 13, 2016 7:43:27 GMT -5 alfa said:

All this talk of precise 1/4" seams that align and pressing everything in the right direction makes me twitchy.

I am much more of a "close enough" kind of quilter. I'd never finish anything otherwise. I'm just not that good at following rules.

alfa - unless I'm working on something as a gift for someone else, I don't get too bothered to have everything perfect either.  I figure "close enough" is good enough for me

I found that it stressed me out worrying so much that my "points" and other seams weren't perfect and I let it go so I could just enjoy the process of working with the fabric and creating something

[Joan]

I just took a machine quilting class at the Grand Rapids quilt show. It was a good class & gave me several tips on how to do it better. Of course, the best tip is PRACTICE! I have three quilts in the works, and I can't afford to pay a long-arm quilter to do it. I need to get started, but they will be fine.

[graylady]

CJ: I didn't know that such a thing was possible - to rent a long-arm machine - wow!

But I'm "not" going to be doing that. Certainly not on this current quilt anyway. I'd never have the time to take a class and learn how to do it. At least, I've gone through the process of doing the machine quilting myself - at least once.

But I have been thinking of taking another class - one where I can bring in a current project for help - pointers, etc... (But not right now.)

I didn't do much work yesterday - had an engagement for the early evening and after coming home, I just watched the Olympics recap.

I also have a few smaller projects I'm thinking of doing for Xmas gifts. 

As to the discussion on "matching points" and being "perfect," I will chime in on that. My points aren't "perfect," but they're "close enough" so that I don't have to resize all my blocks - or start over.

I remember well the problems I had with my sampler quilt - the blocks were so haphazardly sized - that I had to work hard on framing them with lattice - in order for the sizes to standardise, etc...

Of course, my son won't care - he might not even notice - as my DH tells me. But "I" notice - so I do my best. What I am doing is measuring each square as it's completed - and if it's way off, I do get my seam ripper out - and start over again. Actually, I get a lot of satisfaction at doing that. Okay - okay - I'm probably a "perfectionist," but I have to live with that.

[corgi]

Aug 13, 2016 7:43:27 GMT -5 alfa said:

All this talk of precise 1/4" seams that align and pressing everything in the right direction makes me twitchy.

I am much more of a "close enough" kind of quilter. I'd never finish anything otherwise. I'm just not that good at following rules.

That's why I got into art quilts. No points have to match up. You cut out a leaf, and it's a bit smaller then you meant it to be, who would know?

I make regular pieced quilts to, but those are more for practice & to improve my skills overall. I think of them like practicing your scales on the piano before you try jazz.

[graylady]

Capesha - what is a "bee block?"

I didn't sew much today - but did get some blocks started. We attended the first production of Seattle Opera's season on Saturday night - so we ate early and left about 6 PM - getting home about midnight.

I will sew more tomorrow - Sunday. 

As to sewing "on point," I guess because I'm a beginning quilter, I'm trying to get it right. I'm not anywhere at the point where I can deviate from the norm. I actually enjoy the design that I've picked for my quilt project and making it materialize before my eyes.

Also, I enjoy heritage quilts more than modern "art quilts." The nostalgia of another time and place appeals to me. 

However, I appreciate art quilts - and all creative efforts - whether in fabric, or paint, or literary - or otherwise. Actually, while visiting an Arts and Crafts Fair just a week ago, I visited an artist whose booth featured her beautiful art quilts. I spoke with her for quite a while and asked about her techniques. She uses mostly hand-dyed silks - and her quilting is definitely part of the design. She uses a modern electronic machine - but not a long-arm - which she wouldn't need unless her projects were much larger. Most of her work is designed to be hung in either a home or commercial setting.

However, my own experience comes from spending many years sewing clothing for my daughter and myself. I also re-designed my own designer peau de soie wedding gown (it was a Priscilla of Boston) for my daughter - hand-appliquing Alencon lace to the bodice and sleeves. I learned to be precise because that's what creates good "fit." 

That was many many years ago - and the only clothing I've produced since have been costumes - though some of them have been quite elaborate.  Most recently - in the past 10 years, my interest turned to quilting - because of my love of design and color.

Maybe I should have titled this thread "Beginning Quilter Tips" - because what I'm doing is pretty basic - no deviations or frills just yet. And I'm not going to discard a block simply because the points aren't quite meeting perfectly - but I am going to keep trying to get them right. And it would upset me more that they were "off point" - than the effort it takes to keep them "on point."

It's like solving a puzzle to me - and I love doing crossword puzzles - and I'm a duplicate bridge player. Figuring out a quilt design and executing it - sort of falls in the same category for me. And finally, it's relaxing.

[cj59]

I think one of the most wonderful things about quilting is that there are so many different types of quilts and quilting techniques, and also how we choose to do them, that there is room for everyone to be a part of it

I'm really enjoying reading about all the different techniques we're talking about on this thread. I hope we'll all continue to share.

Now I just wish I could motivate myself to finish that pillow

[cj59]

I'm happy to say I finished the pillow I hope my brother and sister-in-law will enjoy it and it will remind them of their golden wedding anniversary.

I may wait until it gets a little cooler to start something new. My sewing room is upstairs and that area of my house gets very hot in the summer.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying spending some time quilting