May we discuss Quilting?

mambury

thanks lucky's mum! I shall have to keep my eyes peeled!!

Mambury

SueB

A really, really small project to work on is a patchwork Christmas card. I madea few of these a couple of years ago. They're really quick to make and they look very luxurious if you use a bit of material with a metallic thread in it. They look even better quilted!

Here's a link to give you an idea.
http://www.craftideas.info/html/tree5.html

Slightly altered to make it a decoration...
http://www.craftideas.info/html/tree4.html

ALFlem

That's brill! I'm so glad other peeps have joined in on this. I thought I was the only one and Hubby was about to disown me.

I will make christmas stockings and a tree mat when we get children (next year hopefully) but for the moment I'm thinking of 'useful' items. The draft excluder is coming along well. We have decided on a monochrome colour theme as I seem to have a lot of black and white....and I sat and made the weights out of rice last night.

I also succumbed and bought some nice xmas patterned blocks off ebay yesterday for £1.20! Yay I love a bargain!

beemuzed

Sorry if this is the wrong place! I'm making a quilt for a cot, so basic straight stitching. I have quilting needles, but do I need a special foot for my machine? I'm rather hoping not, but would value some advice please!

Fourcandles_3

It really depends on the thickness you plan to sew. If I am doing many layers I use a walking foot which was about £20 I think (it was a while ago though).

I don't quilt though I'm dress maker so someone here may know better;)

dander

You can get special walking feet for quilting which are designed to prevent all the layers of fabric and wadding wandering from position. They are not essential, but if you are just using a regular foot, be sure to tack all your layers firmly together by hand before you start machining.

Purple_Sparkles

I only use my normal sewing foot when I'm quilting and don't have a problem, I did teach myself by just sewing odds of fabric together like patchwork then I add the batting and stitch the design I've decided upon. Have a practice and see how you get on. I'm sure somebody more experienced in quilting will be along soon to help you further.

grunnie

In quilting I take off the sewing foot and just sew free. It makes it easier to sew around shapes and you just guide the material through. Hope that makes sense but that is the easiest way to go. If you are going to quilt in straight lines I would do the same and use pins or chalk marks to guide you.

Pink.

Hi beemuzed,

As you've had some replies I've added your thread to the main quilting thread because your query may help others.

Pink

KG

I have a kingsized patchwork quilt which I started ages ago and I figure winter is a good time to finish since I can stay in, not spend any money and keep warm by sitting under the quilt as I sew it...

Anyhow - It all started great and I have sewn all the patches and panels for the front together and have a piece of material for the back (or rather 2 pieces whcih I will join down the middle). I also have a big bit of wadding for in the middle.

Thing is - now I have sew all the patches and panels together I haven't got a clue how best to attach the wadding and the back. I figure I can sew down the sides and even down the side panels with a sewing machine but I'd like to sew round each of the patches and all that bulk won't fit through the sewing machine. I am guessing then I will need to sew round the patches by hand (through the top and the wadding and the back).

But I am very nervous of starting. Can anyone recommend an approach? I was thinking about:

- sewing the two bits of material for the back together
- pinning the wadding, back and patchwork together inside out
- sewing all round the outside first with the sewing machine then pulling the last bit through a small hole and hand sewing that up
- then starting in the middle and hand sewing round all the patches
- then putting the sewing machine round the outside panel.

But I am worried that it will end up being too baggy if I don't stretch the material / wadding the same all the way round.

Any seasoned quilters out there who can help me get out of this conundrum??

KG