Stitching the pieces together
Comments
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Mary and Blessings, thank you.
When I took a quilt class over thirty years ago we were taught, prewash, hand piece, iron seams, hand quilt, perfect corners. I think it has changed. It was not easy for me to hand piece the teacher could do almost twice as many stitches to the inch as me. When I later took another sort of class the pieces weren't cut like my DD is cutting them at all. It was a piece for a specific spot, no over cutting after seaming or anything like that. It wqas difficult. I think I can really see why quilting is becoming so popular once again. Results without spending a year on a quilt.
Thnaks again
Oh, I pre wash for all clothing or table goods. I sew the cut edges together. I have forgotten that more than once and have been sorry every time.
Wren tyour crib quilts and directions to use sound really great.
Back to TV
Ginger
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Finally posting some updates from Barbe.
Ladies, here is the finished quilt top. It's just over 5' square. I will get it professionally quilted on a large machine and then hang it in my stairwell.
The next pic is my new project using batiks. The pieces are so BIG that it's going quickly!!
Barbe
Barbe these are great! I love the colors! Girl you sure do have patience to do all those points!
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Barbe it is gorgeous!
Blessing, I will try that asterix block and may even take it to my guild to teach, depending on how well it goes. I also checked out the link on that page explaining the basics of 'free piecing'.
I don't prewash my fabrics before quilting it. I don't think my grandmother did either, I ended up with a twin quilt she made and when I washed it the fabrics bled
and I haven't figured out how to get the bled color out of the quilt.Sheila
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I don't prewash fabric for quilts, but do for clothing.
Last weekend was our club's koi show and with me as President and DH as Show Chairman, we had to focus on that for the time. I had told the kids before they chose a date that they shouldn't get married in Oct. or we would be totally stressed out.
Made the top section of dress #3 last night. I think I will have mother come over on Saturday to put zippers in. MOB came and cut out the sashes. Her hand is not steady but she helped, and I can sew a straight seam. FDIL had gone shopping for the flower girl's dress (thank goodness) and brought it back last night. The girl is 6 years old and FDIL was able to put on the dress with room to spare! Funny thing is the dress was made for a little girl, ie no bust, but it fit!
Love the wall quilt, Barbe. It is gorgeous!
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I love the asterisk quilt. I think I'd do the "Wonky" one, too. It looks fun.
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Thanks ladies...good old paper piecing gets those points!!
Meece, I don't understand what you mean about the fit of the dress on the six year old. Are you saying she has breasts but it fit????
Now let's talk about polyester or cotton thread for quilting!!!! Get ready to rumble!!!!!!!!
Cotton thread for hand quilting as polyester is too strong and will rip the fabric, BUT use polyester for the seams BECAUSE it is so strong and the quilt will last longer!!
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I agree Barbe polyester for seams and cotton for quilting. I'm self taught and that's what I've always used.
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Barbie the quilt is stunning. I have never foundation pieced, need to learn. Ahh the thread. My machine likes cotton thread called aurifil and sews the best with it so I buy it at my quilt store, they have a card they stamp - buy 5 get a large spool free. A quilt teacher once showed us a pillow she made as one of the first projects she did many years ago. She pieced with polyester thread and after years of use and washings the center patch fell out. The thread cut through. I'm sure it could happen with cotton thread too.
I am making an apple core quilt. The template is really big so not so hard. I'll post a picture.
Everyone have a great day,
Mary
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Barbe, not positive but think Meece meant that her FDIL was able to wear the flower girl's dress & there was room to spare, so in my mind FDIL is tiny or flower girl is a big 6 yr old.
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Wow Joni, you figured it out!!!
Mary, the problem with cotton thread is that it picks up the dyes if the fabrics run during a wash so you end up with muddy coloured thread running through your quilt if you don't prewash. That's if you quilted with it. As for piecing, the teacher must have had that centre square very stretched or stressed to do that!! Why didn't the other squares fall out if she was blaming the thread? For applique, you must use silk or cotton as again, the polyester would tear the fabric. But again, the cotton would pick up any dye bleeds unless you prewash. I don't prewash as I don't wash ANYTHING I make! Once year I did make one of those baby quilts with the shredded edges. My poor DH was so confused and kept asking me if I was SURE I wanted him to wash it and then if I was SURE I wanted him to put it in the dryer! hehhehehehe
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Also meant to mention that cotton thread breaks down over time!! I have many vintage quilts I collect and almost all of them have holes where the seams have separated. Wouldn't have happened if they'd used polyester thread!!
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I've just started sewing again after a break of many years and am thinking of doing a little quilting. Between the beginning sewing class at my church and this thread, I've been learning a lot! Thank you ladies.
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Barbe - that quilt is AMAZING!!!!! Did you have a pattern or design it yourself? I know paper piecing would be the only way I could get all those intricate points to work. Your colors are stunning!!!!
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I prewash everything, unless it's for a wall hanging.
I've had too many experiences with colors bleeding after completed projects were washed - even in cold water. Reds are the worst.
I'd hate to give a handmade quilt to someone only to find out later that all the colors bled. So I make sure all my fabric is washed in warm soapy water ahead of time, and dried in the dryer. This also eliminates the sizing put in by the manufacturer, which can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
I also use my new favorite product: Shout Color Catcher. The excess dye soaks into the color catcher sheet.
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Well, I got ONE asterisk block done in class this morning. My friend said she tried them both ways...wonky and straight, and she felt that doing it the straight way was easier. So that's what I tried first.
I had cut 9" blocks for my background fabric, and getting my strips on evenly was very easy. I also had an easier time making sure my cut sections of the block were straight than the ladies doing wonky asterisks.
The other thing I noticed was that in doing it the straight way, I had just enough of the strip fabric (44" x 1") to complete one asterisk. Some of the ladies doing wonky blocks were running out of strip fabric before they finished.
This is my 9" block before trimming. It really doesn't look like it needs much, but the instructions say to make all your blocks first, then trim so they all match. I have an 8-1/2" square ruler that I can use for trimming and squaring up if I need to.
I think I'll try a wonky asterisk next, just to see if I like it better. But this one was really easy!!!
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Thanks for the responses and links for my problem with my seams. I am out of state right now but when I get back I think I will try sewing another dress. I have the pattern and material already for it.
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my apple core quilt, not quilted yet! Dog stepped as I took picture.
mary
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This is a machine applique wall quilt and closeup. I have just this last summer been able to get back to sewing after bc. It is a great way to express yourself and I am thinking
a lot more of some kind of legacy.
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Wow!!! Girls your work is fabulous!! I haven't done any sewing lately as I'm making knitted lace shawls for my daughters as keepsakes that they can wear. They are extremely fine as they are done with 2 ply silk and they feel like gossamer they are so light.
I have a couple of projects in mind once they are done but in the mean time I will enjoy your beautiful work.0 -
I agree with Chrissy, wonderful quilts! i also love the doggie interloper. Meece you are sweet to include the FMIL in the sewing.
Now will someone please tell me where to find out about paper piecing without going to a class. I missed the local class and am starting to think of my class fees as donation since I so seldom make it to the classes.
What I want to make is the old Childrens Corner paper dolls dress for my DGD. The bodice has a band of little paper dolls with braids and dresses across it. The pieces are tiny and I will need help to do it. Any info would be so appreciated.
Thanks Ginger
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That sounds like a cute project, Ginger. I hope that in April I will have a granddaughter to sew for, but will be happy with another healthy grandson.
Yep, Eph got it. The flower girl dress is a girls 14. I have yet to meet her, but it sounds like she is a tall, and sturdy, six year old.
I am ready to start back on quilts or wall art. I would love to make a Christmas tree wall hanging for the holiday season. My mother just gave me a bag of costume jewelry that was my 99 year old aunt's. I think some of it would be to use as ornaments for the wall hanging.
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Ginger, paper piecing is WAY too hard to explain over a post or two. Most patterns will explain how to do it, but you have to think backwards a LOT. Once you "get it" it will be easy. Try to find a pattern in a magazine to teach you or Google it.
My quilt was a Karen Stone pattern, I did mention that a number of times, I don't want anyone to think I designed it!
Blessings I LOVE the asterik!!!! What a GREAT and easy pattern!! I bet when a bunch of you in class put your squares together it looked amazing! How did the wonky one go? Wonky??
Mary, I know that pattern as "spool" not apple core, so I was looking forward to seeing the pics as I didn't know what I was going to see. I LOVE it and the colours you used!!! I NEVER use solids as they are unforgiving if you have a tiny crease in a seam or sometimes even dark threads show through, so it's refreshing to see a quilt with solids - it's somewhere for your eyes to rest when they look at it. LOVE, love, love the machine applique!!! Who's pattern is that?? Fusible webbing? Are you going to stitch down the edges so you can wash it? Or are you going to quilt it all over? What is it's shape - wall hanger?
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Thanks, I learned how to post the pictures but one didn't come out too well. My son helped me over the phone figure it out. Barbie the applecore has no straight seams, the spool pattern is straight, I would like to make one. The pieces are so big it was not too bad to piece, love your curved pieces.
Lumineux is the name of the wall hanging pattern, fusible web and machine buttonhole stitch.
Ginger so fun to be able to sew for DGD. I have no grandchildren and no hope of any, neither DS is married and they are in their 30's.
Mary
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Blessings you explain the asterisk block so well I get a real picture, that I think I can do.
Mary
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Mary, Blessings had a link that showed step-by-step instructions, too! So simple it's a wonder it's just being done now!! You'd think they'd have done this years and years ago.... And thanks for the correction!! Spools do have straight seams!
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Mary, Don't give up hope for grandchildren yet. My son married at 37 and had 2 boys. This after saying he didn't want children ever.
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My son wasn't going to get married or have children either! He has been married for 3 years and has an 18 month old. He's 32.
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My brother never wanted children........he now has two the first at age 42. Where there's life there's always hope.
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I like paper piecing blocks. I found a tutorial on this technique, the only thing I do differently is step 15 (the first starry night block), I leave the paper on the back until I get two blocks sewn together to prevent the bias edges from stretching. I made a wall hanging using a paper pieced Easter egg design (36 blocks) and I waited until I had the entire wall hanging sewn together before removing the paper backing. it does make it a little stiff sewing with all the paper on but it does prevent stretching.
http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?tag=paper-piecing-tutorial
I made a wall hanging using a paper pieced Easter egg design (36 blocks) and I waited until I had the entire wall hanging sewn together before removing the paper backing.
Sheila
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Shiela, thanks I will look at this and see if it will hjelp me figure it out. It is just a panel about 4 x 10" made up of these little paper doll sort of children with embroidered faces and floss hair. I hope I can manage it.
You should put up photos of some of your work, we'd all love to see it. My memory is crap so if ytou already did I apologize.
Ginger
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Sheila, you are SO right!!! Do NOT remove the paper until it is at least surrounded by sewn-in seams!!!! Especially if it is on a bias like ALL curved pieces are!!! There is ONE exception...you cannot sew curve to curve with both sides having their paper on still. One side has to be flexible to bend around that curve. But at least in this case you are immediately sewing the paperless piece together. And do NOT iron the pieces once you remove the paper until, again, they are surrounded by other pieces (in case you forgot) as that will stretch the piece until tomorrow. Paperpiecing breaks a LOT of sewing and quilting rules as the pieces aren't sewn or cut on the weft or weave straight edge.
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