For the past few days, after dinner, I have been working on a new project. So, instead of washing the dishes or spending quality time with my hysband, I'm sewing a patchwork. Hopefully, if I don't screw up, it will become a picnic quilt. I never made a patchwork or a quilt! I actually had to look up those two terms on wikipedia...to make sure I had the right vocabulary!!! My plan was to use all the small pieces of fabric (in green and navy) that I had in my stash. I'm not following any pattern. I just go with the flow and play with the different fabric options. Such freedom :)However, now that the top layer of my quilt is done, I don't know what to do next!!! Batting? Quilted pattern? Bias binding? I'm a big girl, I can figure it out but if someone has some advice I will happily take it! One last thing, is it normal to get "patchwork headache" after a few hours of cuting/sewing/ironing???
Friday, 9 May 2008
I have a question!!!
For the past few days, after dinner, I have been working on a new project. So, instead of washing the dishes or spending quality time with my hysband, I'm sewing a patchwork. Hopefully, if I don't screw up, it will become a picnic quilt. I never made a patchwork or a quilt! I actually had to look up those two terms on wikipedia...to make sure I had the right vocabulary!!! My plan was to use all the small pieces of fabric (in green and navy) that I had in my stash. I'm not following any pattern. I just go with the flow and play with the different fabric options. Such freedom :)However, now that the top layer of my quilt is done, I don't know what to do next!!! Batting? Quilted pattern? Bias binding? I'm a big girl, I can figure it out but if someone has some advice I will happily take it! One last thing, is it normal to get "patchwork headache" after a few hours of cuting/sewing/ironing???
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16 comments:
hi claire,
i find i get headaches too because the chair is not the right height for the table i sew at.
when i make picnic quilts i tend to use cotton flannel as my batting and sometimes i don't bother with the three layers... love to bind quilts for 2 reasons. the first is it is like a frame for the piece and the second is that i tend to change bindings to give the quilt a new look when i get bored of it.
hope this helps, but i do not see myself as an expert.
LOL! This looks great so far! And my friend Michael over at www dot state of the craft dot blogspot dot com has a great 3-part tutorial on making a quilt - just look in the blog archive under "February 2008." And good luck! (sorry, it doesn't seem like it would let me leave the actual link)
I just finished my first quilt a little while ago so I'm not an expert either. I learned some good tips from the binding tutorial at "sometimes crafter dot blogspot dot com". I did everything on my little machine and sewed big and small squares and rectangles to connect the front and back. Good luck!
Now that you top is "pieced" you add the batting...for a picnic blanket something thin. Then you can quilt it or tie it. Quilting it requires some practice sewing by hand or machine to sandwich all the layers together. Check with the batting requirement to see how close the quilting needs to be. Tying it is simple knotting yarn or thread every so often or as the batting requires---every 6-10 inches) the you sew on the binding--either the same color as the back or a coordination color and here's a good tutortial on how to do it.
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/continuous_quiltbinding/index.html
Love that picture! I'm no quilt expert but the order is batting, basting, quilting and binding. I got lots of useful info from Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts - she's very nice and has quite a bit of useful info on her blog! Happy quilting!
PS. If you need it somewhere on my blog is a useful link on flick re binding I can email you.
PPS. Get yourself a walking foot if you're going to quilt with the machine, it REALLY helps!!!
Hey Clo,
Your quilt looks great and the picture is way to creative, I love it, way to go!!
Clo -
This looks so great! As you know I just finished my first quilt and it was only a 9 block quilt...so, in my "small" experience it is better to use something with a medium weight (I used Warm and White) and then I put the third material on the back and used it as the border. My quilt can be seen tomorrow on my blog (It's a mother's day present for my Mom) so you can see it there. Look at Freda's Hive and e-mail Nanette...she's helped me a ton!
patchwork headache is common- one suggestion i would have for you is to keep the quilt really thin if you plan on using it for picnics- mayb don't use batting al all, just another layer of cloth between the top and bottom. you don't want something heavy or thick to carry with you when you go for a picnic but rather something that folds up easy and isn't heavy. and i'd use a linnen or thick cotton for your backing- something dark that won't really get stained by grass or mud. can't wait to see the finished project!
Next step is to make your "quilt sandwich with batting as the middle layer and cotton fabric for the back. I use safety pins to baste the layers together. Then you quilt. You can do this in your machine. Maybe pick a simple quilt design like a grid. Use the same color thread on the top and in the bobbin if you want to avoid headaches. The experts (I am not one) say to "drop the feed dogs" but I don't do that if my quilt design is simple. I think Purlbee has a good tutorial on binding a quilt after you are finished with the quilting. GOod luck!
Looking great so far! I am currently taking a quilt class and I would think that once the quilt top is done you'll want to find some backing and batting and baste those together. :)
I'm not a quilter but just wanted to say that your quilt looks great so far! I love your fabrics and it will be perfect for picnics.
The picnic patchwork quilt looks great, good luck with the next stage. Maybe use a thin washable wadding and then the bace layer, so it can be put in the washing machine. Have fun!
Once again Claudia you have done yourself proud. Love your patchwork picnic blanket, your fabric choices and layout are great. You seem very intuitive about these things and it looks like you have lots of suggestions. Good luck!
Hi!!! good luck, please post your work of art when you finish!!
kisses
Puri
No advice here,I just popped in to say hello:0)
Love the color combination.
I hope you are well,
Natasha
x
I reallly like the drive you show in your sewing....Such happiness and spirit :0)
Your quilt looks marvellous and the combination of colours and prints are just perfect.
But I can't give you the answer to your question (but you already had so many). I'm absolutely NO good at quilting!!
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