Quilting

I just joined a Quilting Club with my friends :rotfl: I missed the first 2 meetings where we were supposed to cut our fabric into squares, though, so I'm behind everyone else. I've never made a quilt in my life, so I'm excited that we are all making our first quilts together. :D The only thing I know how to do is tie baby blankets...my nana used to make a new blanket for every new baby in the family, and since her and my mom are so close we would always help tie them afterwards, so I've known how to tie a quilt since I was 4.

I'm somewhat nervous about using a sewing machine...I can count on one hand the number of times I've used one.

Who else loves quilting or wants to learn?

What is quilting? :blush:

What is quilting?

When you make a quilt. ;) This (http://www.kallistiquilts.com/graphics/gallery%20current/split%20squares%20taupe.jpg) is the quilt design I'm making...except my fabric is darker and brighter...if that makes any sense.

I have been making quilts for years. Of course, I don't do it the way my Great Grandmother did. Hers was completely by hand...beautiful work! I just don't have the patience for that, or the time for that matter. I just make squares (that I tear, not cut. That way, they are 'thread straight'.) I do all my sewing by machine. The first quilts I made were for my children. Large squares and I used yarn to 'knot' in intervals. That was 15 years ago. They still have them! They are still in one piece too.

I have since taken the time to do the topstitching by machine. Sometimes with a contrasting color to make the quilt 'pop'. Here are 3 of the more recent ones:

This one is a baby quilt for my great niece.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t53/maebelle_photos/Picture018.jpg

This one was a wedding gift for a friend.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t53/maebelle_photos/Picture044.jpg

This one was a gift for a friend (just because).
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t53/maebelle_photos/000_1825.jpg

mac_attack, how is the quilting class going?

OOOH!! So pretty!! I always wanted to learn to quilt -- but there is the problem with my inability to use a bobbin correctly....

I love the color combo on that last one -- I couldn't do it because I cannot put together colors at all!!

Thanks Kim. Maybe when the kids are older and you have a bit more time :lol: you will be able to correct that little bobbin problem. Finding fabric patterns that actually go together just takes a little practice. Also, what one person likes, another might not. It is a matter taste. Besides, I'm sure you would be fine at putting colors together. You do so well with that in the Graphics Contest. :agree:

I got my fabric picked out and cut into the squares, but then the girl who was supposed to help me moved...I'm going to track her down and force her to help me! It's going to look great when it's done tho! It's mostly all blue and brown.

.. I tried quilting once.. it's not really my thing... A friend of mine was having a baby, and I was making the quilt for her... I never got around to finishing it.. Her son is almost 2 now...
I might start it again when another friend of mine gets pregnant..

I still have three baby quilts that are overdue. Work, graphics and general life keep getting in the way.

I wish I knew how to quit. I am going to get a book and see if I can learn to do it that way.

I would love to learn to quilt by hand. I am still trying to learn all the fancy stitches of crocheting. oh well another thing for my list i guess good luck with the quilting.

I'd love to make one of these, but I have so many projects on the go I don't know if another one is a good idea! :)

Where have I been? How did I not see this thread months ago???

Anyway, I'm a big quilter, and I'd love to help out with any questions anyone has. I'll check back here often. I actually sell quilting fabric for a living, so I'm more than happy to give advice or point people to quilting resources if they'd like.

One thing I'll show you, which is awesome, is this HP quilting site...
http://www.sewhooked.org/paper_piecing/hp_paper.html

That should inspire you! I've made the snitch pattern and the broomsticks. They were pretty easy once you got used to the method. Anyway, I will check back later.

:)

I do a bit of hand patchwork from time to time - I find it very relaxing.

This is a quilt I've been making on and off for about 20 years:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Melaszka/th_quilt3.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Melaszka/?action=view&current=quilt3.jpg)

And this is the first quilt I ever made, when I was about 15:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Melaszka/th_quilt2.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Melaszka/?action=view&current=quilt2.jpg)

I do a bit of hand patchwork from time to time - I find it very relaxing.

Wow!!! You are a serious quilter! I make more simplistic and modern quilts. In fact I strategize about how to use the least amount of seams possible. I'm a bit lazy in that aspect.

Here's one I made for my friend's baby (sorry it's not rotated properly):
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3442/p1010905r.jpg

Here's one I made for my friend's baby (sorry it's not rotated properly)

Wow! That's fabulous! It's beautifully designed and looks really modern and sophisticated.

Wow! That's fabulous! It's beautifully designed and looks really modern and sophisticated.Thank you :blush: I have some doll size ones I should post. Those are so much fun because you can have them totally finished in one afternoon.

Im currently making a puff quilt... It involves sewing 300 individual coloured squares (Im doing a rainbow of african prints) to a backing square of Calico, stuffing them, then sewing them together. The final outcome will hopefully look something like this....

http://www.myquiltsdream.com/images/puff.jpg
Although alot brighter of course


At the moment I am about 180 squares in and finding it hard to keep going... Does anyone have any determination inspiration??

At the moment I am about 180 squares in and finding it hard to keep going... Does anyone have any determination inspiration??
Wow, that is very ambitious!

If you can get a large block of time + good music, or a podcast, or an audio book + the prospect of a new project once you finish = it may motivate you to get it done. I tend to buy new materials for the next project when I'm almost done with one just so that I get motivated to finish the first. :) Good luck!

Wow, that is very ambitious!

If you can get a large block of time + good music, or a podcast, or an audio book + the prospect of a new project once you finish = it may motivate you to get it done. I tend to buy new materials for the next project when I'm almost done with one just so that I get motivated to finish the first. :) Good luck!

I know! I wanted to make a couch blanket and because my partner is tall I need to make it extra big. I normally sew when im watching a movie or tv at night, but as work is getting busier i find it harder to concentrate = Thus loosing motivation. My aim is to get it done by Christmas... When I do I will post photos :)

This is the centre panel of a quilt I am making at the moment:

http://www.cosforums.com/picture.php?albumid=1311&pictureid=15424

I try to recycle old material as much as possible, rather than buy new stuff especially for the project. I use a lot of old clothes/dressmaking scraps begged off family and friends and if I need a lot of one material, e.g. for backgrounds, borders and the quilt backing, I try to buy old sheets from jumble sales and charity shops.

I know! I wanted to make a couch blanket and because my partner is tall I need to make it extra big. I normally sew when im watching a movie or tv at night, but as work is getting busier i find it harder to concentrate = Thus loosing motivation. My aim is to get it done by Christmas... When I do I will post photos :)That is generally when I knit. I'm working on socks for my hubby right now. But I have also agreed to donate a twin sized quilt to my kid's school auction. I think I'm going to go blue and white this year so that families of boys and girls will both like it.

This is the centre panel of a quilt I am making at the moment:Love it! How much are you hand sewing. I see those red stitches and am thinking this quilt will take you a while.

I try to recycle old material as much as possible, rather than buy new stuff especially for the project. I use a lot of old clothes/dressmaking scraps begged off family and friends and if I need a lot of one material, e.g. for backgrounds, borders and the quilt backing, I try to buy old sheets from jumble sales and charity shops.I've only done one quilt with recycled fabrics - it was out of old men's shirts for Earth Day. All the kids in school decorated a square and I quilted it up.

I have such a large stash of fabric that I'm still working on using it up. I used to sell quilting fabric, so when I closed my shop I save some of the best bits for myself. :)

How much are you hand sewing. I see those red stitches and am thinking this quilt will take you a while.

it will take me a while, but that's OK, as I quilt more for the enjoyment of the process than the end result! Yes, I'm doing it all by hand (although I may use a machine to sew the backing on. I have a sewing machine somewhere, but I'm not great with machines)

I've only done one quilt with recycled fabrics - it was out of old men's shirts for Earth Day. All the kids in school decorated a square and I quilted it up.

That sounds incredible! Really personal and special.

I have such a large stash of fabric that I'm still working on using it up. I used to sell quilting fabric, so when I closed my shop I save some of the best bits for myself. :)

That sounds heavenly. I love fabrics. Get me in a fabric shop/haberdashers, and I'm like a kid in a sweet shop.

it will take me a while, but that's OK, as I quilt more for the enjoyment of the process than the end result! Yes, I'm doing it all by hand (although I may use a machine to sew the backing on. I have a sewing machine somewhere, but I'm not great with machines)I'm officially impressed. I hope you keep posting pictures!
Get me in a fabric shop/haberdashers, and I'm like a kid in a sweet shop.I know! Whenever I go into a fabric shop I have to touch everything. It's a bit silly but I just have to pet those pretty prints! :)

I have this delicious Japanese double gauze that I'm dying to cut into, but i don't want to use it for the wrong project so I just keep unfolding it, staring at it and then refolding it. I'm not crazy, really! :whistle:

I have this delicious Japanese double gauze that I'm dying to cut into, but i don't want to use it for the wrong project so I just keep unfolding it, staring at it and then refolding it. I'm not crazy, really! :whistle:

It sounds gorgeous! I know what you mean about the ritual unfolding, gazing and refolding. Once the scissors sink in, there's no going back, so you want to admire it for as long as you can :)

I'm making a quilt at the moment. I'm not following a pattern, I've just got some fabric, which I've cut into squares and I'm hand stitching together. I think when I get to putting the back on it I'll have to get a sewing machine!!

Yay another quilter! :clap:
So I'm working on one like this right now: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/blue.html for the school auction. It was fun trying to decide how to coordinate all the blues I bought. I'm attempting a meandering quilting stitch on top (second time ever doing that) and it's coming out ok.

I always find that when I'm halfway through one quilt I want to start another. What sort of crazy is that? Although it might be because my kids start saying things like, "I want that in pink!" and I start thinking, i could do another one of these... :)

I'm making a quilt at the moment. I'm not following a pattern, I've just got some fabric, which I've cut into squares and I'm hand stitching together. I think when I get to putting the back on it I'll have to get a sewing machine!!

That sounds pretty much like how I make quilts! I'd love to see a picture of what you're doing/when you've finished.

Yay another quilter! :clap:
So I'm working on this one right now: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/blue.html for the school auction. It was fun trying to decide how to coordinate all the blues I bought. I'm attempting a meandering quilting stitch on top (second time ever doing that) and it's coming out ok.

I always find that when I'm halfway through one quilt I want to start another. What sort of crazy is that? Although it might be because my kids start saying things like, "I want that in pink!" and I start thinking, i could do another one of these... :)

:wow: That is fantastic! The design is beautiful and it is so impeccably sewn. (And the meandering quilting stitch is far, far more than merely "ok").

That sounds pretty much like how I make quilts! I'd love to see a picture of what you're doing/when you've finished.

It's very much a work in progress. It's taken me six months to get where I am now. I must take some pics and upload them so I can share them on here and FB.

:wow: That is fantastic! The design is beautiful and it is so impeccably sewn. (And the meandering quilting stitch is far, far more than merely "ok").
I realize I should have specified that that blog isn't me - it's this awesome woman that I met a while ago who totally inspires me. I'm copying her design with a few tweaks here and there. I just didn't want to take credit for someone else's work! :)