Sewing/ Baby Quilt-making advice please

[Kathryn_V]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Thanks for the warning. I'm still playing with it. I'm not sure I like the pin stripes in the main area, so that is probably going to change, which will make it easier. I will definitely let you know how it goes.

Are you kidding?? I love the pinstripes! I just could never line them up... I would love to see them done up nice!!! It would be the death of me! LOL I'm so OCD that It would forever haunt me!

I LOVE the fabric!! And just in time for the 4th!!!

Make it already! I wanna see it!! I'll dig up pics of the rag I just finished for my dad... one inch seams to rag... its a biggie...


We should start a post your quilts here thread!

[Judy in Waco]

I would love to see your quilts! Oh please!

[Kathryn_V]

ok... I could cry! I called my dad and told him that I needed to reshot his quilt... I don't have photos anywhere and I honestly think I was sre excited to give it to him that I didn't take photos! I've done this on a few projects! It pisses me off to no end when I do that! I never took pictures and now I know better!

Here are the first two quilts I ever made!!!

And an example of my free hand machine quilting. My daughter and I were bored so we decided to try applique, lol and I had Nooooo IDEA how.. so I thought... cut it out, fold the edges in and swe it on! LOL this is what we got! I did the arms and Kate ironed the body... its a bit wavy but thats what makes it so sweet, we will always look at that K and laugh! we had sew much fun making it! and discovering a new way to create together! I ended up playing with the freehand Quilting foot, with the feed dogs down, for the very first time! And found out that I have a knack for quilting! (if I do say so myself!) I really got into a groove and was swirling around like mad! I whipped that out in no time. I was rather impressed with my first attempt at quilting... I think its the most enjoyable part of the process!

[Kathryn_V]

I also have a picture of a table runner I did (in process, I never got a pic of it done though! Again, was in such a hurry to gift it! LOL) It was a gift for my Aunt for Christmas.. it was a Quilt as you go method. Very fun and Very FAST! But I didn't like all the fancy spray adheasive and crap that I had to use... I'm simple...

The other one is a runner for my entry table... Its TINY little checkers are small, small, small! And getting those to line up nicely was fun! LOL I had to alter that one ALOT! it was a pattern for a much shorter and narrower runner and it was square, so I sliced diced and made it biger and cut off the corners! lol Its not done in this pic, but you get the idea.. I was still working on the binding...

[Judy in Waco]

Originally Posted by Kathryn_V

ok... I could cry! I called my dad and told him that I needed to reshot his quilt... I don't have photos anywhere and I honestly think I was sre excited to give it to him that I didn't take photos! I've done this on a few projects! It pisses me off to no end when I do that! I never took pictures and now I know better!

Here are the first two quilts I ever made!!!

And an example of my free hand machine quilting. My daughter and I were bored so we decided to try applique, lol and I had Nooooo IDEA how.. so I thought... cut it out, fold the edges in and swe it on! LOL this is what we got! I did the arms and Kate ironed the body... its a bit wavy but thats what makes it so sweet, we will always look at that K and laugh! we had sew much fun making it! and discovering a new way to create together! I ended up playing with the freehand Quilting foot, with the feed dogs down, for the very first time! And found out that I have a knack for quilting! (if I do say so myself!) I really got into a groove and was swirling around like mad! I whipped that out in no time. I was rather impressed with my first attempt at quilting... I think its the most enjoyable part of the process!

Wow! Those were your first ones? I'm impressed. I haven't tried the freehand quilting yet, and I'm nervous about it. You did great!

It's so great that you and your daughter were able to share those memories.

[Little Bit]

Very nice, Kathryn! You did a good job! Very pretty quilts.

Those table runners are pretty also. The squares are so small in that last one. It reminds me of a tiny pieced quilt and pillows I did (using fabric swatches from a wallpaper book) for my daughter's Barbie. I don't think I would have the patience for squares that small if it was any bigger than a Barbie blanket or if it was something that really mattered.

That freehand quilting looks awesome!!

[Shadow]

Why is backstitching a no no on a rag quilt?

Originally Posted by Kathryn_V

Quilting is my bag! lol I do backstitch! Some do not, others do.. its who taught you and its a personal pref. When doing a rag quilt, back stitching is a no no, so you are right on that one! However normally you would be making the entire quilt at once... (front and back at the same time with rag quilts)

Have you made the front already??? Maybe I totally misunderstood... I hope so, lol

Anyway, I hope you decided on the flannel! Cause it will fray right! I've made some pretty rags and they just get better with time... Remember to use the tught stitch and you'll get YEARS of use out of it! As the fray gets down to the seam that tight stitch will protect the quilt

I can't wait to see it!!! Are ya gonna post pics of the fabric to tease us??? I can't stand the suspence!

[Kathryn_V]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Wow! Those were your first ones? I'm impressed. I haven't tried the freehand quilting yet, and I'm nervous about it. You did great!

It's so great that you and your daughter were able to share those memories.

Make a 12x12 "quilt" and have at it! Quilt a cool pattern, quilt your name! Just put the feed dogs down and go for it! the trick is keeping your hands/fabric moving at a steady pace.... I have a BSR foot that is still in the box... Bernina stitch regulator... it regulates the stitches, duh, and keeps them even so they arent all bunched up them wide and spaced out cause I moved too quickly or not quick enough... lol

Its really fun to freehand! You can do flowers and get real creative! My mission was not to cross stitches! and in that picture, I didn't cross once! It was a blast! My daughter thinks sewing is sew cool... I am going to have her take lessons with me this summer at the local shop where I learned! Its major bonding! I love it!!!

[Kathryn_V]

Originally Posted by Shadow

Why is backstitching a no no on a rag quilt?

Because the backstitching ends up being in the ends that are out in the edges that are supposed to be ragging, and if you have a bunch of backstitched seams hanging out it gets funky...

I backstitch EVERYTHING and I did back stitck on a smaller rag quilt and they ended up being thread tangles... balls kind of things... know what I mean????

[Shadow]

That makes since and I have never thought of it! Thanks! I need to finsih mine someday.

[Judy in Waco]

I have the top done!!! Yeah!!! My first quilt!!! Next step...pin the batting and backing and then....quilt! Wish me luck.

[SladesMommy]

that looks GREAT!

[Judy in Waco]

Originally Posted by SladesMommy

that looks GREAT!

Thank you!

[Kathryn_V]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

I have the top done!!! Yeah!!! My first quilt!!! Next step...pin the batting and backing and then....quilt! Wish me luck.

Yeah!!!!!! What do you think, having used the directional fabric??? Will you do it again?? I LOVE the way your pinwheels turned out!!! What a beautiful top! I can't wait to see how the quilting turns out!!! Are you going to freehand it on the machine??

[Judy in Waco]

I'm going to try to freehand it, but I have no idea what I'm doing. What color thread should I use by the way? Blue?

I just have to put on the walking foot and figure out how to lower the feed dogs. I also need to put in a fresh needle.

Do you start in the middle or one corner?