The Sewing Room

rufusdog52

Hi HMO, that looks lovely yet again. The quilt that I have started is triangles like yours but its all a mixture of fabrics and colours, so really colourful. I was just using up the odd scraps I had laying about. The piece I have made up already is about a yard square so would be the centre of the quilt. One of these days I will make a frame round the outside and then I can start adding other bits to it to make it a decent size. Not sure yet how big to make it, either lap size or single bed size.

Cant wait to get sewing again but I have no heating upstairs and its way too cold to work up there at the moment.

rufusdog52

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

I bought a "template" kit from fleabay, one that you iron on to the material and then cut out which I did, sewed them together in rows but the rows don't line up?

I have attached a couple of photos, one of the piece and one with the piece stitched and a type of kit used although not the exact pattern (can't locate it at the moment, threw it somewhere in despair!) :rotfl:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91707691@N04/8396539424/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91707691@N04/8396539480/in/photostream/

Hi Moments

When I sew squares together if you feel the fabric, one way has a stretch to it, the other way is just solid. Try to get all the solid sides together when making a strip (this is not always possible if you are having to turn squares around for the pattern on them) then when you go to sew the strips together pin each join together down the length of the strips then as you start to sew you should be able to ease each square out so that it fits with the one underneath so that the seams match up. Once you have finished and pressed the new seam any easing should look fine. It is always best to get the seams together first though before sewing as this is what makes the quilt look good. The odd one missing wont matter if its not too far out as long as the next one is back on track, often this will give it the homemade look that makes quilts so nice to look at.

Another tip is after you have sewn the triangles together to make the squares in the first place, give them all a good press and then if you have a cutting mat lay them on and make sure they are still properly square and trim them all to the same size. This way you know you are starting off with perfect squares. If you don't have a cutting mat then cut out a square from a piece of paper and lay this over the top of each square and cut off any edges sticking out. Check them all before cutting as if you have one that has come up slightly smaller then you will have to make all of them smaller to match.

moments_of_sanity

Evening Ladies, we have had snow all day so have got a few craft bits done - still not unpicked that god awful mess I "made" yesterday!

I know HMO mentioned that she uses a Cuttlebug but I have seen this Sizzex on fleabay, does anyone use one of these for cutting fabric and if so are they any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sizzix-Original-Die-Cutting-Machine-/281053057494?pt=UK_Crafts_Cardmaking_Scrapbooking_DieCutting_Punches_EH&hash=item41701151d6

sammyw

Hi Everyone, I keep trying to get more involved on this thread but find it moves along so fast - any tips for keeping up?

I'm looking for inspiration for my next quilt. I'd like to use paisley fabric and it needs to be mostly green but other than that I'm open to suggestions - does anyone have any book/website suggestions for inspiration? Or pics of quilts you've done that include paisley fabric?
Really need to get back into the quilting side of sewing - I've been spending more time on my x-stitch lately as I can't decide what to do. lol!

rufusdog52

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Evening Ladies, we have had snow all day so have got a few craft bits done - still not unpicked that god awful mess I "made" yesterday!

I know HMO mentioned that she uses a Cuttlebug but I have seen this Sizzex on fleabay, does anyone use one of these for cutting fabric and if so are they any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sizzix-Original-Die-Cutting-Machine-/281053057494?pt=UK_Crafts_Cardmaking_Scrapbooking_DieCutting_Punches_EH&hash=item41701151d6

I have one of those and they do cut fabric, I have only had it a few months, my sister gave it to me and I dont have many dies for it at the moment, not sure which ones go with it lol except for the ones that she gave me and similar to them. They do not cut out shapes that big though, not the ones I have anyway

rufusdog52

sammyw wrote: »

Hi Everyone, I keep trying to get more involved on this thread but find it moves along so fast - any tips for keeping up?

I'm looking for inspiration for my next quilt. I'd like to use paisley fabric and it needs to be mostly green but other than that I'm open to suggestions - does anyone have any book/website suggestions for inspiration? Or pics of quilts you've done that include paisley fabric?
Really need to get back into the quilting side of sewing - I've been spending more time on my x-stitch lately as I can't decide what to do. lol!

Sammy, you go to the top of the thread on the green bar and go to thread tools and then subscribe to thread, make sure you tick the box for email notification or something on those lines and you will get an email when someone posts.

hmo

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

Evening Ladies, we have had snow all day so have got a few craft bits done - still not unpicked that god awful mess I "made" yesterday!

I know HMO mentioned that she uses a Cuttlebug but I have seen this Sizzex on fleabay, does anyone use one of these for cutting fabric and if so are they any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sizzix-Original-Die-Cutting-Machine-/281053057494?pt=UK_Crafts_Cardmaking_Scrapbooking_DieCutting_Punches_EH&hash=item41701151d6

That's the original sizzix I think before the big Shot came out, I think it's the "bigz" dies that cut fabric all the ones I have are that the anyway.

You would have to check with the seller if you can put bigz dies in that old type machine

Bigz dies are thick and cut bigger shapes hence the name

hmo

sammyw wrote: »

Hi Everyone, I keep trying to get more involved on this thread but find it moves along so fast - any tips for keeping up?

I'm looking for inspiration for my next quilt. I'd like to use paisley fabric and it needs to be mostly green but other than that I'm open to suggestions - does anyone have any book/website suggestions for inspiration? Or pics of quilts you've done that include paisley fabric?
Really need to get back into the quilting side of sewing - I've been spending more time on my x-stitch lately as I can't decide what to do. lol!

I've not done anything with paisley but have a few quilts on my website follow link to my home page under my initials over on the left

Keiss_21

Love your quilts hmo, you work so fast!! Must have a go at the pinwheel blocks done that way. I have parts of a charm pack and jelly roll in Morris Tapestry left, so might use a suitable plain fabric and make up a quilt with them...should be fun!!!

Wish I had got a Big Shot last year (2011)...which if all the machines would be best for fabric...is it the AccuQuilt Go? Not likely to get anything like this in the near future, but worth consideration for a long-term buy.

Not done as much sewing as I'd like this weekend...still sorting out everything for filling in my first tax return..I know I shouldn't have left it so late, but kept putting it off. I am collating the last of the receipts for all the fabrics ect that I have bought 2011-2012...very scary when the totals come in!!! :eek::eek: Only Feb - April 2012 left to do now, with everthing else sorted, filed and on several spreadsheets. This is probably overkill, but it will make my life much easier in the future, just a bit painful at the moment!!

Right back to it now for another hour.

Have a good week everyone x

hart44

Well it's be FAR too long since I last came to chat to you all I am so glad the oldies are still around and lovely to see new sewers too
I will make sure I don't leave it as long again before saying hello
Love the quilts x