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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MaryW
Date: 04-28-2005, 09:34 AM (1 of 23)
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I have to admit I will never be a real quilter. At least I don't think so. Not if it means paying strict attention to measurements and methods of application for fabric pieces. I love quilts, but to make every background square the same size or press seams a specific way is not for me. Not at all. I start off wanting to make a quilt, the Log Cabin for example. I love the look of it and the masculine colors I want to use but when it comes to sewing all those strips,  forget it!I would rather watch paint dry, but I am impatient. If I could just get those strips put together, voila, a lovely top. I tried a miniature quilt last week. I cut out all the tiny pieces, hand pieced and it came out looking like a lampshade, not the Dresden Plate I wanted. So, everything went in the garbage! It was only scraps.  I thought a small project would be fun. I will try again, maybe I am just not in the mood lately. I dunno.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Julia's Nana
Date: 04-28-2005, 09:58 AM (2 of 23)
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I am having the same problem with my BOM blocks..............I have this picture in my mind of what I want and it is NOT working. Can't believe that I have turned something so fun and simple into such a major production. I did April's and spent a lot of time on it and still not happy with it................I want to have a nice, color coordinated quilt when I get done and putting the limitation of just three fabrics has made it harder than it needs to be. I need to just DO it I guess and see how it comes out in the end. Hang in there Mary..........for every project that goes in the trash, there will be one to go on the bed someday................ |
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001 Total posts: 361 |
From: joannequilts
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:03 AM (3 of 23)
Well now, aren't we in a mood ms daisy? First things first here, by saying you will never be a quilters is wrong. Quilters don't just make large quilts, see perfection in every strip etc. Quilting does take patience and that is what it teaches. Stop being so hard on yourself my dear  Minature dresden is quite the task. Now I think I have the perfect solution for you. Have you ever heard of "Quilt by Number?" https://quiltbynumber.net/eshop/home.html |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070 
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From: joannequilts
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:05 AM (4 of 23)
Norma, the biggest fear for quilters is color. Don't limit yourself to just a few colors, play with those colors, take my word for it once they are put together you would never think in a million yrs that it would look so good. 
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User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: dmoses
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:09 AM (5 of 23)
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I love the look of quilts, but feel that I will never become expert at it. My first quilt was done on a serger(mostly), and the idea of it was really good(I think), but I made some mistakes in my 'thinking through' process, and of course, it is very difficult to get exact seams with the serger, so I now have a baby quilt that I can't give to anyone. I am now attempting to make two baby quilts(identical to save time), following a pattern. It is very simple...each block is three strips side by side, and one across the top or bottom. It is very frustrating trying to be exact in cutting and seaming, and very disappointing to find that despite my best efforts, the corners aren't always point to point...And these are simple rectangular pieces!  I finished one top yesterday, and when I look at it, I focus on all of the mistakes... My husband came home and commented on how nice it looked! So, I will keep at it, and hope for the best. These are supposed to be gifts, one for a coworker of my husband, and another for a neighbour, both of whom had baby boys recently. I would like to finish them before the children are grown up! I am now trying to figure out what would be the best way to quilt them...that's another thing, quiltmaking involves a lot of decision making! Ugh! I hate decision-making!   I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: CraftyB
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:29 AM (6 of 23)
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Don't give up! I also thought that a miniature quilt would be a good place to start. The problem with that is the accuracy of cutting and stitching is less forgiving than in a quilt with larger pieces. Every little error causes problems. I think you may be happier with a larger quilt (but not too large at first), perhaps a wall hanging or lap size, that uses larger pieces. Rail fence is a good pattern to start with. All pieces are straight cut and strip pieced. Here's a link or two to some instructions. If you do a search, there are many more with good examples. http://www.quilterscache.com/P_R/RailFenceBlock.html http://www.quickquilts.com/golden/14_pattern/ I think that once you get started on a project such as this, you'll be successful. Good luck and let us know how you are progressing. |
User: CraftyB
Member since: 12-13-2004 Total posts: 4 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-28-2005, 10:37 AM (7 of 23)
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Maybe this weekend I will find something suitable. I love the handwork in small things. However, if anyone sees fabric pieces flying around and hears words I can't type here, it's me. I've thrown another fit!
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Hogmami
Date: 04-28-2005, 11:16 AM (8 of 23)
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Just one word of advice, don't start with a star. My first quilt was the Ohio Star. I don't know how much ripping out I did but alot. How upset I got, It ended up on the floor and in the corner everyday. I did finish it. My daughter loved it and still uses it.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 04-28-2005, 12:23 PM (9 of 23)
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Mary how about a pattern like this? It looks pretty easy and shouldn't take much time. http://www.quilters-world.com/freepatterns/pdfs/feb05_slightlyseminole.pdf Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: joannequilts
Date: 04-28-2005, 12:40 PM (10 of 23)
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Oh that is a cute pattern.
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User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070
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From: allie-oops
Date: 04-28-2005, 12:57 PM (11 of 23)
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My first quilt took me 20 years to make, and I made every mistake in the book. I had NO CLUE what I was doing - just saw a pic in a magazine, and thought I could do that, lol. The biggest mistake was using an inkpen to mark my seam lines [I had never sewed before]. I ended up putting ribbon, stitching down both sides of it, on every seam to cover the ink that showed. It was all done by hand. The first night I slept under it, I was hooked for life. Then I started making wall hangings. I'd take a picture, blow it up big, [not bed size, lol] and draw it on fabric. I'd quilt the outline, then use paint or fabric markers to do the color. That was great fun! I still prefer that to doing applique, although my embroidery machine makes quick work of applique now. Here's a link to my photo album at webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/allieoops101 Scroll through until you see the 20 year quilt. I had a master quilter tell me that the ribbon would be the first thing to go, but it has held up very nicely and the ribbon looks like it was just put on yesterday. It also helped it look like it was perfectly pieced, lol. And remember - most quilters of history made a deliberate mistake in their quilts, as it was known that only God could make a perfect work. So if their quilts were turning out too perfectly, they made a mistake on purpose! That helps me with my quilts now, as there's no way I can make one without a mistake. Mary, why not make up your own pattern, with every block different? Or there are a lot of patterns out there like that. It really helps with the boredom factor! Allie "onward through the fog"
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User: allie-oops
Member since: 10-25-2002 Total posts: 282 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 04-28-2005, 01:41 PM (12 of 23)
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Mary, unfortunately, measuring is important in quilting. My very first quilt I tried was from a Better Homes and Gardens quilt book that I got from the library. It was a rail fence but with four colours and had three sets of borders. It was a "beginner" quilt and it was to be tacked or tied not quilted. Well, the quilt was strip pieced and the blocks were to be cut 6.5" square. Sounded easy so far. But the instructions had me assemblying the quilt by rows and alternating the direction of each block. I had to sew 11 rows with 9 blocks in each row. Then I had to sew all the rows together. This was when I discovered the importance of measuring and sewing that 1/4 inch seam allowance. Every row I put together I would have trouble matching the seams and the rail fence looked like it needed "some repair work" (preferably with hammer and saw). On every row, I spent a lot of time ripping out and resewing or taking in seams just to get things to line up. When adding the borders I discovered that one end of the top was longer than the other by about 1 1/2 inches so the pieced border didn't line up at each end. Had to remedy that by gathering the longer end. I finished that quilt and it fits perfectly on my double bed in my spare room. After that experience...I make sure I measure as I sew the blocks because it saves in the long run. Basically it is similar to sewing a garmet and you don't pay attention to sewing that 5/8" seam...you can end up with a garment that doesn't fit
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: Magot
Date: 04-28-2005, 02:20 PM (13 of 23)
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Norma - if you want to stick with your three colours do so, but take on using tints (colour +black) or shades (less intense almost as though you addes water to the colour and it has faded a bit) in the same hues, You get a lot more variety in your fabric choice and the overall effect will still be integrated. I am doing mine as you know in shades of gray, white and black - but that means I can also use any pattern in black and white, large or small print - the different weights give a different feel to the fabric, cream, gray-green,gray-blue, beige, dark blue and so on. If you are not sure of the tonal value of a fabric, photocopy it in black and white next to some others - it will then be easy to tell if it is darker or lighter and judge the effect you will get. Donna. once you get the tops quilted the slight imperfection become much less noticable as the 3 d effect takes more of your eye than you think it will. Stitch in the ditch is a great way to hide dodgy corners - as they say on this site - "ask me how I know". The joy of having an item handmade with love outweighs the perceived imperfection of the finished article by it's creator. Mary, slap yourself around the face and repeat after me "I am not a quitter!" Log cabins come together realy fast because of all the strip piecing that you can do. I just arranged all my strips into piles of colours , lights and darks. Often I sewed the strips together in on e long piece and then attach the blocks to it like flags down the sides. Slash with the old cutter and turn through 90 degrees and away you go again. The blocks all build up at the same time this way and you end up with them all finished simultaneously so then you can play with them all over the floor untill you get a design you like. Alternatively do one of these http://www.amisimms.com/tstutorial.html and be whacky so it doesn't matter if the points match! love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 04-28-2005, 02:38 PM (14 of 23)
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Mary, Kaye Woods says there are 2 kinds of quilters; points and pointless. So, if you're a pointless person, maybe you should try some of the curved quilt piecing or one like the one Magot suggested from Ami Simms. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-28-2005, 06:14 PM (15 of 23)
Patsy, that was interesting. That link paralyzed and closed down my whole system. Is there an alternative. LOL. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: plrlegal
Date: 04-28-2005, 06:29 PM (16 of 23)
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Mary, I'm sorry. Try www.quilters-world.com and then look under quilt patterns at the bottom of the page when it opens. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: Julia's Nana
Date: 04-28-2005, 11:45 PM (17 of 23)
| Thanks for all the suggestions but my problem is not the colors themselves as much as it is the patterns in the fabric that I chose. I have that red checked stuff as my main color and it just didn't lend itself to anything for the attic window................and still keep the feel of the quilt. Anything I found would stick out rather than blend together. If I hadn't used so much of it in the first two blocks it wouldn't be a problem but it is the main fabric so to speak. But I figure that Dec is a ways off and one of these days I am going to look at a bolt of fabric and it will talk to me................. |
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001 Total posts: 361 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-29-2005, 07:57 AM (18 of 23)
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Which pattern were you referring to Patsy?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MaryW
Date: 04-29-2005, 11:22 AM (19 of 23)
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Jo, paper piecing is just not my cup of tea.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 04-29-2005, 11:32 AM (20 of 23)
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Mary, I use to think the same way about making a quilt. I think it is not only because of patience, but we seem to live in a society of wanting instant gratification and a quilt seemed that it would take years to complete for myself. When I finally decided to try something, I went with a "raggy" quilt. It was perfect starter quilt for me as I didn't have to worry about being exact in the cutting and no seams to press. (Just clip). There are several free patterns on the internet. For material you can use flannel, homespun, and denim. They also can be sewn together pretty fast. I know the quilt I did for a friends baby, (it was about the size of a lap quilt) took me 13 hours to make. (I tracked the time just to see how long it took me). In fact the quilt I'm working on now for our truck camper is a combination of regular blocks, but I'm going to be putting it together as a "rag" quilt. The blocks are also very large (15 inch) finished. This way my mistakes are not as noticable and the queen size quilt will get done faster! (I hope). 
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 04-29-2005, 02:52 PM (21 of 23)
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Mary take a look at the "Slightyly Seminole Runner". It looks like it would be fairly easy and not a lot of points to match. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: blackie
Date: 05-15-2005, 07:29 PM (22 of 23)
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I would say I am at an Advanced Beginner level for quilting. I *never* thought I would have the patience to quilt. My first quilt was just 9" square blocks with big poofy batting, a sheet for the backing, and tied with Red Heart yarn (classy!). It was hideous but a gift for my then-boyfriend now-husband and of course he still has it and loves it. My second was from a kit (fabric NOT included) and I still tied with yarn but I was a bit more creative with colors and started warming up to using a rotary cutting setup (my mom's). The next quilt I quilted on my machine and discovered the pain of not having a walking foot (which I still don't, sadly). I have gradually improved to the point that I enjoy the process, not just the end product. Over time I have come to really enjoy experimenting with color schemes and as far as techniques I always try to do something new for each project. I am about to tackle my first foundation pieced quilt. My favorite quilt I've made is a Halloween one that has tiny pieces and is a black / orange / green scheme. When I wore it wrapped around my babies I have had people yell at me from across the street, "Nice quilt!". My advice is to try a quilt or two, then take a beginnner's class. Even though I'd done a few quilts, I found going back to square one with a beginner's class was very helpful. There is something to be said for trying it yourself first and then having a pro teach you. The funniest thing about ladies (and men!) who are professional quilters or who teach is they are SO anal retentive that THEIR ways are the best or fastest. I once saw an all-out verbal brawl after I innocently asked about prewashing vs. not. Now, of course there aren't perfect ways to do things - but these tips are usually well-thought out and it's good to get a system down to speed up your techniques and so you can focus on the artistic side rather than just the technical side of quilting.As far as tips where you press one way every time, or pin a particular way, or cut with your rotary cutter and ruler a particular way - they seem like fussy tips but they save SO much time. The rotary cutting skills I learned in Beg. Quilting class have made me 100% faster in cutting out garments. I hardly waste any fabric, I am very fast, and I haven't cut off any major body parts with it (yet). see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: Bama
Date: 05-27-2005, 07:58 PM (23 of 23)
There's always string quilts and crazy quilts.  You don't have to be so perfect with them. That's why I LOVE them. When I'm having more patience, I'll do more difficult blocks.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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