patchwork newbie need some help!

wendy52

The programme which Pont referred to 'Quilt in a Day' with Eleanor Burns.
I watched it on Sunday at 11am.
There is a web site... www.quiltinaday.com

I thought that she was quite amusing...especially when she disposed of her cut off fabric!

jeffy22

I've always wanted to make a patchwork blanket (especially using materials from old clothes and things that have memories for me) the only thing is I have no idea how to go about. I dont have a sewing machine but I can handstitch pretty well and used to embroider as a child.

I want something i can snuggle up in in winter to would I need to make more of a quilt cover? whenever you see patchwork quilits on movies they always seem quick and cosy.

please help as i have no idea where to start

InfamyInfamy

Not an expert...I am sure there will be people on here who are, but I would start by making several card or paper templates of a shape like honeycombe or square etc (think tessilation). Then pin and cut out shapes and build up that way. You could then back it with an old blanket for thickness..............

Hardup_Hester

Cosy, yes, quick, no. Especially if you are planning to sew by hand. I did make one quilt in 2 days, but I was in class for the 2 days, the blocks were 6ins square & it was sewn on a machine. There are so many techniques your best bet would be to get a book from the library, the WI Complete book of Patchwork & Quilting is a good one.
Hugs Hester

jeffy22

its not something i wanna make quick. kinda like a long project that i can keep coming back to

THIRZAH

Try the hexagons if you want a slow project-I've done a couple over the years. They do keep your lap warm while you are sewing them.

You can either buy the templates or cut them out of card. You will need two-one for the material and one for the papers.I went on an embroidery course once and the tutor recommended using the paper from old envelopes for patchwork as it doesn't slip when you try to tack the material over it so save your christmas card envelopes.

23rdspiral

once you're in the swing of things, the hexagonal method is relaxing and is only really worth doing by hand ~ so will show off your skill and effort more than if you were to do something straight (and therefore easier on a machine) like a 'log cabin'! have you looked on Flickr for patchwork quilts, there are thousands of photos for inspiration there done by ordinary people.

a hint for making the quilt larger with less fiddly work is to make the pattern pieces up then seperate them out with plain runner strips in between. though this might not work with a hexagional design, maybe better with straight edges.

or you could just use larger patch pieces! especially good when you are using sentimental fabric you want to actually see the patterns of - try searching for "Ezra's quilt" at soulemama.com to see what i mean.

i hope i havent broken any rules by mentioning other websites, it's just really hard to talk about quilts without pictures!

ChocClare

Most of the quilts you see in books are made using a strip piecing method, where you cut a lot of pieces at once. This won't work so well with bits and pieces of sentimental fabrics as you can't cut the strips so well.

If you search for "scrap quilt" or "charm quilt" on google images, you will find loads of quilts which use bits and bobs of material rather than lots of samey fabric.

Have you thought about crazy quilts? With that, you cut out large squares of calico or sheeting - say a foot square - and you sew to it scraps of fabric which can be any shape or size. You can also decorate with embroidery. It just depends on whether you like the look (example here).

Finally there is cathedral windows - with these you have a plain background with a square of your chosen fabric in the middle - and it backs itself as it goes and is easy to do by hand - looks like this (though of course the background doesn't need to be white).

If you find a quilt you like, post a link - I'd be happy to tell you how easy (or not) it would be to do by hand.

luxor4t

I think this is fast & easy, even when hand sewing (ie running stitch for the layers). It works with random scrap fabrics too:
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-make-ragged-squares-quilt.html

LilacLillie

I am not a 'crafty' person but feel like I would like to make a patchwork quilt to celebrate 2010
I think all the tips on the OS board have finally rubbed off on me, and I am inspired by everyone sharing what they do/make, especially so after seeing the lovely blinds made by Caterina last weekend :T

There used to be a class near me (shall look in new year), if so will join, if not a library book will do (hopefully).

I'm not sure though where to get the material from?

I want to do a colour theme and not spend to much cash on fabric.
I have a sewing machine, very little skill but I do have time.
The method in this madness is two fold, to not go shopping as much as I do

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saving money

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and to have a craft achivement at the end of the year

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clever me

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Now the help bit please, where will I get material? Maybe offcuts?
I live in East London which used to be home of the rag trade, so possibly still a few places around.
What can you all suggest????
Thanks
LL