The Sewing Room

PootleFlump_3

Hello ladies. Hope you are all well. I havent posted on here for an eternity as I tend to use our facebook page but its not allowing me to upload piccies just now and I really need your help!!!!

Im making a playquilt for when the baby arrives and is doing "tummy time" but I really need advice on the quilting part please. I want to keep the quilting to a minimum and just do a grid format rather than freemotion but because there are words on it I was wondering if you guys think I should use invisible thread rather than white or coloured. I dont want to ruin it as I quite like it so I thought invisible might be the way to go. Also, would you quilt diagonally or just straight lines down and across?? Im new to quilting as you know so wanted to check what you guys thought first. Here is it. Ive basted it as you can see (bit squint but will do the job) so its ready to be quilted. Any thoughts/advice??? I need to get it finished before I go into labour so Im totally running out of time! :rotfl: xxx

midge61

Hi Pootle. Personally I would use white cotton as the invisible thread is a stiff feel to it although I know you can get a dinner one now. And down and across will look fine and not detract from the words. Draw lines on with quilter pencil and will wash out.
It looks great by the way and hope you get it done in time.

barbeka

I too would quilt it in white as invisible thread can be quite sharp, especially any ends. Quilting in a straight line can be quite tricky so you need to make sure it's well pinned & lines clearly marked. I would not quilt over any letters but continue the line where the letters aren't. It would look like you'd appliqued the letters over the top of the quilting.

Alternatively you can quilt wavy lines so it doesn't matter if a line goes a bit off I've found it's quite effective, you have to make sure the lines definitely have curves in it.

Nice mat - might have to pinch the idea! :T

PootleFlump_3

Thanks folks. OK Ill use white rather than invisible then. How would you stop and start then when it came to the letters? Im machine quilting rather than hand and new to it. Would you reduce your stitch length cut your thread then start again and then just knot and slip through to your wadding once done??

pennib

Pootle; Gorgeous mat.You have done the letters so neatly, did you cut them by hand or do you have one of those fancy gizmos that cut letters?
I'm sure Barbeka will be back to explain how to do the letters.

These little chappies were made from my scraps of baby socks that I had.


Little Joey and Petronella.

PootleFlump_3

pennib wrote: »

Pootle; Gorgeous mat.You have done the letters so neatly, did you cut them by hand or do you have one of those fancy gizmos that cut letters?
I'm sure Barbeka will be back to explain how to do the letters.

These little chappies were made from my scraps of baby socks that I had.


Little Joey and Petronella.

Love sockies Pennib!! Are you still selling yours? I was reading about all the new guidelines on facebook and loads of ladies getting into a right panic about how they arent allowed to sell them anymore unless they have CE certificates or something? Its causing uproar and stress for many little businesses as you can imagine although I imagine its only if they have sew on eyes it will cause an issue. x

Anyway, tangent, sorry.

I actually do have a fancy gizmo that cuts letters from fabric and loads of other stuff but I didnt use it. I just used freezer paper and a letter template for it. Hope you are well. Not spoken to you in ages hun. x

cuddles123

I have been making some little gift bags. Can't decide if they look like flowers or butterflies.

dizzy_lizzie

PootleFlump wrote: »

Love the quilt Pootle...:D

Pennib two more cuties have been 'born'

Cuddles they look like lovely butterflies to me :T
I've not done anything else on my machine since the cushions. Been busy organising a baby shower for DD which went brilliantly! In fact she said it was Perfect, Bless her.
x

Justamum

Mooloo wrote: »

I have deviated from the sewing and at the moment I am actually knitting with strips of old t.shirts. Cut it in a spiral, about an inch or so wide, and cut from the bottom up to the sleeve end. Rolled into a ball, and hay presto something to knit with. Loving it. Bye bye to those Tshirts that were a bit passed their sell by date.

I've got a pile of old t-shirts which I made into balls a while ago, and I tried to crochet with them. It's not very easy! I think knitting them might be easier, but I don't have any knitting needles any more - I got rid of them ages ago as I find knitting really boring I might have to go and buy a paid though just to use the t-shirt balls up.

Tamster150

PootleFlump wrote: »

I would just quilt over the applique - I am to lazy to keep stop/starting.

I think I would quilt lines vertically across the quilt, quite close together but deliberately make them a bit wonky - maybe use tape to mark the first line but then just use the edge of my machine foot to do the rest. Once washed the quilt will have a lovely texture from all the quilting.