May we discuss Quilting?

thriftlady_2

Ooh, pretty pretty fabric Penny. I'm not a quilter, I don't like doing anything that takes a lot of preparation before you can start actually making IYKWIM - that's why I like crochet so much, just pick up ahook and some yarn and off you go.

I like looking at quilts though. Do you read Jane Brocket? She's got a new book out soon all about quilting. Sorry the page is taking an age to load so no link, just google Jane Brocket.

teresacat

Penelope Penguin- I really would invest in a cutter if you can. It will save you loads of time and give you more accurate results. I picked mine up fairly cheap off Ebay, but I'd recommend a decent quality as the blade will be sharper for longer which will save your cutting mat. Once you've used one, you'll never look back :-)
Re: size of squares- with your larger print I'd have a bigger size, and perhaps have smaller ones on the tinier print. If you add a plain cotton (perhaps a pale pink?), this will offset your prints nicely. Hope we see the end result :-)

Penelope_Penguin

teresacat wrote: »

Penelope Penguin- I really would invest in a cutter if you can. It will save you loads of time and give you more accurate results. I picked mine up fairly cheap off Ebay, but I'd recommend a decent quality as the blade will be sharper for longer which will save your cutting mat. Once you've used one, you'll never look back :-)

Thank you for that - can you tell me how they work, please? How do you stop the fabric moving about, and ruining your accurate cutting

Penny. x

teresacat

It is a bit of a knack! Don't try to cut too many layers at a time, and if cutting long lengths which need to be folded in half, always ensure that the selvedges are evenly together, or you'll end up with a "V"-shaped piece instead of a straight strip (don't worry, we've all been there!!). Always have the fabric to your non-writing side with your measuring grid pressed firmly down to same side (ie left side if you're right-handed) and always cut AWAY from you (unless you fancy seeing your intestines!) with your cut strip to the right. Once you get the hang of it, you'll be stripping day and night!!!!! ;-)

csarina

You can get little sandpaper dots which fix to the back of your ruler, they 'grip' the fabric whilst you cut. Creative grids sells rulers with the 'grabits processed into the ruler when its made, they also do very good offers on a cutting mat,ruler and cutter. Google them and you will find them quite easily.

I would suggest may be 6 inch squares, you need to cut them 6 1/4 the 1/4 of an inch is the standard seam width for patchwork and quilting. A plain pink would go nicley with the fabric you have bought, stitch in rows and then stitch the rows together. If you are using a machine you can but a 1/4" foot that will fit most machines. Always press the seams first before you open the fabric up to 'set' the stitches and then press the seam to one side....you do not open them out as you would when dress making. We usually press the lighter color towards the dark.

If you put patchwork and quilting videos in and do a search you will get masses of sites that demonstrate exactly what to do.....lots of quite famous quilters too.....good luck......

jojotoo

Sorry, can't do links but if you look at brightandblithedotwordpressdotcom and scroll down to her post on 26th Jan there is a tutorial for a nine patch cushion which you could repeat to make more squares and quilt to make a quilt. The way the squares are cut after stitching makes a brilliant pattern, it's on my list of things I want to have a go at making.

snoozer

jojotoo, that looks brilliant, I'm definitiely going to give it a try.

There's a quilting exhibition in the V & A starting in March, maybe it's the cue for another meet.

THIRZAH

If anyone belongs to the WI there's a voucher for 20% off the entrance price for the V&A exhibition in this years membership booklet.

Alison_Funnell

I have some silk patches I bought from ebay and would love to join in and make one or two cushion covers if that's ok.

I go to the Quilt Exhibition at Hever Castle ( sadly not every year) to see all the fantastic ones on display. If I can upload some piccies to photobucket I shall post a link.

thriftlady_2

Nice quilting blog here.