Patchwork and quilting

[Rosalie]

I know we had one of these threads going a while back but I thought I'd start a new one in the hope of prying out some more quilters form the woodwork :lmao:
Being fairly new to this craft I would love to get some discussions going.
I Just finished this quilt as a gift for my niece who turned 40 yesterday. Having made a similar, but lap quilt sized one for a wedding, I loved the Ohio star block so much that I chose it, and some of the same materials for this one.
At nearly two meters square, it was a monster to wrangle through the sewing machine for quilting!
Click for a larger pic.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f130/gyspyrose/th_Petasquilt2.jpg (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f130/gyspyrose/Petasquilt2.jpg)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f130/gyspyrose/th_Petasquilt6.jpg (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f130/gyspyrose/Petasquilt6.jpg)

PS... I found at a recent craft fair, these fantastic gloves for quilting called "Machingers"! They are wonderful for guiding the piece through the machine.

[Kara29]

Rosalie,

I am not a quilter but I am interested in it. I am making two quilts with my Mother in Law for my sister and best friend. I will post photos as soon as we are done with one.

I love your quilts! SO BEAUTIFUL! :smile tee

Kara

[Rosalie]

Thank you Kara.
One of the things I like about quilting is watching the piece as it grows from the pieces of materials to the cut shapes and then the piecing in the various stages. It would be great to see what you are working on.

[ICNDonna]

I've only completed one, but am starting another. I'll have to take a picture and post it.

Donna

[SharonA]

I love quilts. I have never had the patience to put one together, but I absolutely love them. Good job, Ro.

[waterflow]

I made a baby quilt once. ( I have a hard time sewing a buttton on so it took me awhile). I embrodered the name weight and ect. I told my sister it was not for using. If she put it in the washer it would come apart. She was just to keep it for a keepsake. Well, lo and behold she used it, put it in the washer and was in a million pieces. :rolleyes: Wish I could do quilting. It amazes me how the different pictures and designs are in them.

[Rosalie]

Donna, I would love to see your quilt in progress.
Shaz, I don't have a lot of patience either. I suppose thats why I have only ever, and will only ever do machine pieced quilts. :lmao: The hand sewn and quilted ones amaze me at the time and patience let alone skill, required to make one.
Its the scorpio in me..... it has to be done quickly or not at all :lmao: My mum used to refer to me as "rip,s**t and bust " ( I know that will be deleted...but you all get the idea) Dad got labled with that title as well.... bless his soul!
Waterflow, don't give up! Have a go at another one. I did a one day workshop on machine quilting. It was MUCH cheaper than having it done professionally. And, believe it or not, it is really quite simple once you learn the tricks. Do you have a sewing machine?

[waterflow]

Rosalie, I have a singer sewing machine but it was built back in the 1940's I think. They had a news article about it in one of those "think back" magazines. It stays in the closet most of the time. Think I had it out twice last year and had it out before that in about 2 years.

[Rosalie]

Waterflow, as they say 'They don't make them like that anymore'. Your 1940's machine will probably outlive any of the newer models!

[waterflow]

You know I didn't know it was that old. I thought maybe 1960's. Of course with me not using it, it should last forever. :wink: I do know it doesn't like me. The few times I used it the thread knotted up on the cloth underneath or the thread would break off at the needle. No one else in my family had a problem with that machine. Just me. :rolleyes: Then I think all sewing machines have it in for me. Must be some sewing machine groupy thing. The ones in school didn't like me either. I'm one of a kind. :smile tee

[Rosalie]

Your machine may just need a service. The threads knotting underneath sounds like the tension may need adjusting. Sometimes that is as simple as turning the screw on the bobbin. Do you still have any of the user guide books? If not, then you may be able to get them or some answers through the Singer website.
It can be very frustrating... you decide what you want to sew, cut and prepare, get out the machine and set it up, now at this stage you still have the happy smile :) on your face of someone about to be creative and then Pow!.... machine won't work properly and crazy woman arrives :cussing: hahahahaha.... Well, I know that has been me many times!

[Rosalie]

Hey Donna, what happened? I got the email about your reply and the link to your beautiful quilt, but there is no post here......?
I was hoping that I could get a better look with a larger picture. Can you post the picture again?

[suebee2]

Rosalie, I also love quilts, I am working on a "Wash Tub Butterflies" Andover fabrics kit. At this time I am blanket stitching around 8 butterfly squares ( 10 1/2" square. The border has a piano keys border, consist of 58 strips, 6 inches by 2 1/2 inch, multi colors, on each side, and 40 on the top and bottom. I am especially enjoying the hand stitching. I am not good at completing projects in the past, but I have a new Janome sewing machine, and am improving. I made about 8 rag time quilts, from flannel, for the family. Was lots of fun, used lots of fabric, 1 inch seams. Are you familar with this stye. Your quilt is just beautiful. Glad to see you post. suebee

[ICNDonna]

Okay. You can find my quilt at http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s305/mrstsk/?action=view&current=Quiltdesk005-1.jpg

Donna

[suebee2]

Thanks for share the super photos, Quilt is a winner. Love your dog, and the bear? Hope to post some photo once I learn how. sue

[ICNDonna]

The "bear" is our black sheep with her two lambs. :)

Donna

[ICNDonna]

Here's the first block of the doggie quilt I've started:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s305/mrstsk/Shopquiltpiece015.jpg

Donna

[Rosalie]

Donna, thanks for reposting your gorgeous quilt. Was it done as a 'block of the month"?..or were you working from a full pattern and did you design the quilt yourself? I am really getting into this quilting thing and am very intrested as to how others go about putting one together. Also, did you do the quilting yourself? And is it machine or hand quilted? The new block is lovely. How are you working through this quilt? :) I got a smile over the 'bear' comments.

Suebee I would love to see what you are working on now. I have a milllion ideas for my next project trouble is , thats all they are ,'ideas' :lmao:
Are the 'rag time' quilts you mentioned the ones where the seams are all open on the top of the quilt and then 'roughed up' to make them sort of fluffy?

[Rosalie]

Suebee, I forgot to mention that the first quilt I ever did was one with blocks of hand blanket-stitched butterflies. Around the centre butterfly panels were hundreds of multicoloured pinwheels. I had seen it in a magazine and thought I would make as a wedding gift for one of my nieces. Hahahahaha...........talk about bighting off more than you can chew! It took me 6 months just to do the hand sewing on the butterfly blocks. I really hadn't a clue as to what I was doing :lmao:

[suebee2]

Rosalie, Yes, the ragtime quilts I made used flannel, with 1 inch seams, on the out side, then washed to fluff the seams. My grandkids and their parents each have receive one over the past couple years. Quite simple, but warm and cuttely. I have some sample quilt squares I made at a class some 20 years ago, and this will be my next project after the butterfly quilt. I am slow, but am doing better now that I am retired. Will post some photos soon.

Sue

[ICNDonna]

For my first quilt, I wanted to use a variety of blocks so I bought a book --- I decided on the star patterns. Then my husband made plexiglas templates so I can cut them out with my wheel. I designed the quilt myself. Right now I'm having trouble deciding how to make my doggie quilt. It will be all dals, but can't decide whether to use the same pattern with different fabrics. Once I decide, it won't take too long.

My first one is hand quilted, but next one will be sent out for a machine job.

Donna

[Rosalie]

Sue, when you did the flannel ragtime quilts, were they made with several layers of material?
Donna, you have a wonderful husband who would go and make the templates for you. You may just have to share his thoughtfullness around :lmao: .
When you start ypur doggie quilt you will have to show us some pictures of it underway.

[L. Thomas]

Now I don't want you to think I am from the 1890 but the 1950's is closer to it. I am from the South and grew up in rural Tennessee though. I have made several quilts, not on the machine, but a hanging frame. I remember when I learned from my Grandmother.

We would have quilting bee about once a month and the "club" would make a quilt for someone that needed one. If they didn't have anyone they gave it to the hostess. One complete quilt in an afternoon. Everyone just brought scraps from garments they had made. I didn't know there were quilt patterns for a long time. I just thought that was the way they happened to turn out.

I didn't have a "bought" dress (except a few Easter dresses) until I was a senior in high school. If I wanted something special I made it myself. I would go to the feed store and pick out my material. Before they used paper or plastic for bags chicken feed was bagged in material. We had 500 chicken so we had the bags! It took 2 bags to make a dress. I still sew from time to time. My daughter just got engaged and wants me to make her wedding dress.

Oh my, I must be getting older. I have memories that make stories.

[Rosalie]

L. Thomas, how lovely to hear your story. I am also from the 50s but grew up in a big city and my mother hadn't sewn since she was a young wife with 3 small boys and no money. She made trousers for them out of her brother-in-law's navy pants. By the time my sister and I came along, the Singer treadle machine had been put out of service and relegated to the back verandah.
When I started working, my mum put aside the board money we had to pay her, to buy me a new Singer electric machine for me. Since then I have never been without a sewing machine.
Please tell us more about making quilts on a hanging frame.I haven't heard of this method and am quite intrigued as to how they work.
If you have any photographs of these or any or your quilts we would love to see them.

[Kara29]

BEAUTIFUL BLOCK Donna!!! I am finishing up my Sister's quilt. She opens it up Saturday at her Wedding Shower. I am so nervous.......

Kara

[Rosalie]

Kara, do you have any photographs of the finished quilt?
The one thing I have found about giving a quilt as a gift, is that it is always received well. The time, effort and thought that you put into making it is worth more than the quilt itself. While I am working on a quilt, I am also thinking about the person it is being made for. I often have very 'smiley' moments while I am working away.

[Kara29]

Ok,

This is my first quilt. It's very simple and plain. I will also take some photos of my Sister when she opens it on Saturday. She has no idea. She thinks she's getting a painted picture. My Mother in Law brought it over today for me to look at. I am so excited but nervous. I've thought about my Sister every single moment from picking out the fabric to finishing the binding. She's my only Sister.:smile tee

The Quilt's Name is Hana Shima. You can click on them to view larger images.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/th_FinishedQuilt2.jpg (http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/FinishedQuilt2.jpg)

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/th_FinishedQuilt1.jpg (http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/FinishedQuilt1.jpg)

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/th_FinishedQuilt.jpg (http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/FinishedQuilt.jpg)


Kara

[suebee2]

:rolleyes: Kara your quilt is beautiful. Blue is my favorite color, and the prints work so well with your strips. Your sister is very lucky. This was really a very big project. Are you thinking about designing your next quilt? suebee2

[L. Thomas]

I'm not sure I can describe a hanging frame or not. If you can imagine a tic tac toe shape being poles that is what it looks like. It hangs from the ceiling with ropes. The side poles have hole punched about every 4" to 6" so that the qulit can be rolled and held in place. The backing is stretched and tacked to the frame then you put the batting on and then you stretch the top that has been pieced and tack it to the frame. You sit around the quilt and quilt out as far as you can comfortably reach and then you cut the tacking and roll the quilt like a scroll and quilt again. You keep doing this until the quilt is rolled to the middle. Or you can quilt the pieces on the batting/back as you roll the quilt. Then you can take it completely off the frame and bind it.

If you make a patchwork you can tack the backing to the frame and place the batting on top then directly stitch the pieces on. Of course you hand seam the the patches together as you "piece the patches" and then you quilt the "patch"

[ICNDonna]

I'm very impressed! Your quilt is beautiful.

:)
Donna

[Rosalie]

Kara, your quilt is lovely and like Sue, blue is my favourite colour. Your sister will be gobsmacked when she opens her gift. It will be something she treasures all her life! Did you quilt and bind it too?
Thank you L.Thomas for the explanation of the 'hanging quilt' I think I can picture it correctly. The hanging aspect is to facilitate the hand quilting right?

[Kara29]

Yes, I quilted and bound it. The binding was done by hand. The Shower was Saturday. I am so glad it's over. Now I am working on the quilt for my Best Friend's Wedding in May. I am beyond tired.

Liz opening her gift on Saturday

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/th_WeddingShower2007.jpg (http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/Karalynnree/WeddingShower2007.jpg)

[suebee2]

Rosalie, Just noticed your question on ragtime quilt. When I make the ragtime quilt, I make 9 inch squares, one for the top and one for the bottom. Then I sandwich it with a 7 inch cotton batting. Lay the three pieces together and sew and "X" from corner to corner. Make 63 sandwich squares, put together, three square at a time, and continue to the 63 squares are sewed together, that's 7 squares across, and 9 squares down.http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/suebee_photo/morewinter015.jpg You can also make it out of regular cotton, using 3/4 inch seams, planning and design as you go along. sue

[Kara29]

Sue,

That is beautiful! So many pieces. :smile tee

Kara

[Rosalie]

Thanks Sue, you have given great instructions. I will definately be having a go at one of those. Did you use flannelette?

Kara, how lovely to see Liz with her quilt. That is the best part about making one...seeing it opened by the receiver!