BS: Any quilters in the house?

Subject: Any quilters in the house?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 06:47 PM

Am wondering about how to finish a quilt...ie best method or easiest method.

Binding vs stitching and turning the quilt....if you stich and turn the quilt, do you also catch the batting in the seam so it is secure or is it just "free" inside (like a pillow in a pillow case) til you do the quilting?

Any tips would be welcome...

Feel free to email me!

Thanks!

Mary [e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Jande
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 07:25 PM

Personally I like the binding, and I prefer to catch the edges of the innards so it won't drift much. But then I'm self-taught, so perhaps another opinion or ten would be helpful, especially from a "real" quilter.[wink]

Most libraries have really good books on the subject but tend to use them for ideas rather than for "methods", so I don't remember if there is a proper way or not.

Good luck with it!

~ Jande

PS: What kind of design are you doing?

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 07:45 PM

I've made several and always bind them. You can use ready-made binding or make your own by cutting ~one yard of cotton material on the bias. Since I have a friend do this for me, I forget the dimensions. The way she cuts and folds it, there is a double thickness of material on the edge. (Not like the commercial binding that ends up with a single thickness.) Since she restores historical quilts and organizes a huge quilt show here in town, I just do what she advises. I have to get a book from the library every time I get ready to miter the corners! They say that judges look at that to really find the "best in show."

I'll send you a picture of the baby quilt I made last summer. If you have any other questions, let me know. It was a nine patch with many blocks of pastel colors I cut all from the same material. With a white background, it turned out beautiful. I pieced this one on machine.

I also bought a queen-sized fan design quilt top, and spent two years quilting it! A real heirloom...worth megabucks too.

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Jun 01 - 08:27 PM

I use binding--I sew it on the machine thru the batt and back, then 1/4" turn and hand slip stitch to the top. I really like binding better; you can quilt and then bind.

If you try to turn a big quilt inside out (which is a bugger in itsself), then quilt, you are likely to end up with bubbles/wrinkles at the edges (or somewhere). You can "tie" using inside out, but as far as I am concerned, if you "tie" it is not a Real Quilt...........(purist,eh?)

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 01:53 AM

Jees, didn't realise there were so many closet quilters out there.....

Stitch that bugger through as many layers as you can - otherwise if you wash it in a commercial washer it all ends up in a lump at one corner and the other end is frayed to bits... voice of experience here - have always sewn through and never sent to a cleaner since!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 05:43 AM

WOW! What great replies!

After watching endless shows on the telly (Eleanor Burns comes to mind) and taking notes coupled with browsing through books and having several ideas go through my mind over the years and even putting several to pencil/marker and paper (or once, on computer spreadsheet) I am finally making my first attempt. Yes, self-taught.

I am starting with a twin size nine patch made of 9 different fabrics (based on a configuration I saw in some catalog such as Pottery Barn or similar). I decided I would leave the Irish Chain for another time (couldn't decide on 3 colours I wanted to use for it! LOL)

Had only ever remembered hearing about "turning" quilts until I started browsing the books then learned about the binding method, which I understand is more durable (especially when the double thickness is used). I shall have to look into this more when I reach that point.

Catching all the layers makes MEGA sense!

Thanks everyone for your comments thus far. Mary, the baby quilt is BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for emailing it to me!

Sorcha, I am laughing re the comment on "tie" quilt method. Which leads me to another question...

Comments anyone re machine vs hand quilting? (Machine would certainly go faster if it is a simple "stitch in the ditch" or other straight line design.) And re hand quilting....to bees wax or not to bees wax? (How exactly do you do that--thread the needle and pull the thread through the wax?) I am getting more curious and interested the more I go along!

Well, it is fast approaching 3am and I had better get some shut-eye!

Thanks again EVERYONE!

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 11:16 AM

I have seen beautiful machine quilting, but I can't seem to do it. I think you have to remove the presser foot and lower the feed dogs, and hand feed the bloody thing. When I try I just make a mess. I end up with big wrinkles in the back because the thickness causes the top and back to feed at different rates.

I have seen huge "free standing" quilting machines--the quilt is put on rollers, and the machine is mounted above them. Then, you just move the machine over the quilt. Sort of reminds me of using a router........

RE beeswax---all it does is keep the thread from knotting; you'd be better off to buy "Quilting thread" or buttonhole cord. It's a stronger, heavier thread. You got the technique right, tho.

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:23 PM

I've heard of a "walking" foot (other names as well) for use with machine quilting to prevent the back from wrinkling. Haven't found one in my area yet....bet they are a pretty penny as well. (Only guessing.)

I've seen quilting thread...so what you are saying, Sorcha, is that bees wax isn't necessary if that type thread is used.

I'll probably get everything done and freeze when it comes to the actual quilting! LOL

And I just thought of another question....What colour quilting thread? My fabrics are primarily blue (navy/royal) with some tans and creams mixed in...is it preferable (more traditional?) to use a colour thread that blends in or to use a "natural" or even white thread for contrast?

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: dwditty
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:28 PM

Some folks from are church are really into it. Click Here for Quilt.com I don't know anything about quilting, but apparently they do.

dw

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: dwditty
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:29 PM

Oops. www.quilt.com

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:35 PM

Whatever color you want, Mary. I have done both, but be warned that if you use contrasting thread, your stitches will show more! If this is your first quilting project, you might be happier with the results if you use matching thread.

If you use quilting thread, it is coated with something so it doesn't knot and is "slicker" than Dual Duty. Silicone, maybe. They used to use beeswax because they could only get the one kind of thread, so no, you don't need to use it.

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 03:41 PM

Will check out the website.

And good point re stiches showing more with contrasting thread!

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Megan L
Date: 08 Jun 01 - 04:51 PM

Brilliant thread, I've been telling our womans meeting about the "Changi quilt" and we have decided to begin our own memory. It should be an experience, 3 have never tried embroidery, 1 has only ever done cross stich and 2 of us are dabblers, thank goodness 1 of us is a talented seemstress and sticher.

Must get some books to find out mabout some of the things you have spoken about, it sounds so interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Roo
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 07:41 AM

Make sure the batting is bigger than you want by a couple of inches all round at least. The batting will "shrink" in as you quilt. Tack all the layers together from the centre of the quilt out... to the corners first, then out to the sides and finally in between so the tacking looks like a starburst. This way the layers don't pucker when you quilt. Start quilting close to the centre of the quilt and work out. Again, this helps to avoid having puckers in the quilt especially when machine quilting. I like binding the quilt at the end. Use the thread as it comes off the reel (ie, thread the needle before you cut the thread from the reel)... this will minimise knotting in the cotton. Hope this helps a little

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 08:20 AM

I remembered a few more hints I learned the HARD way.

Use a #12 needle for small stitches. It's tiny, you'll have to buy it at a quilting store, and by all means, use a needle threader too!

Use ONLY preshrunk cotton material. I used a heavy white polyester on my first quilt and hated it everytime I quilted in that part. Just too heavy.

I learned how to put a knot in the sewing thread several years ago after sewing ALL my life and doing it the hard way. You wrap the thread around the needle and pull it off to make the knot.

I use an oval quilting hoop, even for large quilts.

I like to machine piece and then hand quilt. I look for patterns I can sew in strips on the machine. I usually have a colored picture of the quilt so I can quickly see which piece to sew next.

I have a computer program for designing quilts (came with a greeting card software program). It's great for getting the order of pieces, but not really good for visualizing how the finished quilt will look.

My husband's grandmother told me (years ago) to push the needle through a bar of soap to make it glide easier. Nobody else has ever heard of this.

The best tip --- (make take a drawing) When finishing a line of hand quilting...instead of making a knot in the thread and pulling it to the under side...push the needle through half-way, zigzagging on either side of the stitch line about 4 or 5 times.(Sometimes you'll be pushing the head of the needle through the material.) Clear as mud?

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 08:22 AM

Also, I bought a rotary cutter (~$7) which makes cutting the pieces much easier.

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 07:00 PM

Wow! Even more great tips! And over the weekend I discovered a store called "The Quilt Shope" in town--lots of quilting supplies.

Roo, your description for the pin basting is much better than any I've read in the books I have! Thanks.

Mary (in Kentucky)--lots of good tips! I've heard the one re the soap...not sure if it was for sewing needles or the pins used for pinning fabric--or maybe both.

Thanks everyone!

Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Any quilters in the house?
From: JennieG
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:17 AM

I prefer to bind the edges of my quilts and it's a good chance to throw in a different coloured edging too - as for hand vs machine quilting I choose machine as I would like to have my quilts finished in this lifetime, not the next!
I have a wonderful CD of songs by Cathy Miller of Canada, all quilting songs - several have an Oz connection. I have been fortunate enough to hear Cathy sing them too; she sang for my quilting group a few months ago. The CD is called One Stitch At A Time and nearly all the songs were written by Cathy. Songs to quilt by!
Cheers
JennieG