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From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-19-2007, 07:46 PM (1 of 14)
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DD started out asking for fairies in this quilt, and I didn't want to get juvenile fabrics, so I didn't find anything fairy-ish for it. That's alright, b/c I got some wonderful butterflies. I've made up the top and the backing, put my batting in the middle and basted the whole thing. I just had a little mini lesson from mom in hand quilting today. My stitches aren't tiny yet, but I'm ok w/ being a beginner. My Q's: 1) OW! Show me a link to your favorite thimble! 2) When I search for quilting templates, I get links to plastic templates for cutting out pieces to sew together, not for tracing and then stitching. Favorite resources for the _quilting_ part? 3) Back to the fairies: I'm thinking of making a simple line drawing/tracing of some fairies and quilting _that_ design in my larger, plainer blocks. Also simple wands with stars on the end. What do you think? Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 07-20-2007, 01:47 AM (2 of 14)
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Andrea welcome to the world of hand quilting. I'll make an attempt at answering your questions in the order you asked them: 1. Everyone who hand quilts has a different preference in thimbles. I have a custom made Roxanne thimble. It was pricey but is really great to hand quilt with. There are almost as many types of thimbles as there are quilters. I also like one that I have that is like a black leather sleeve that fits on my index finger. As far as your underneath fingers -- you will probably spill a little blood and have very sore fingers until they toughen up somewhat. I don't use anything on the fingers on my right hand (the underneath hand) because I can't feel my needle with anything on those fingers. 2. If you google "quilting motifs" rather than quilting templates, you will come up with a ton of sites that have free "quilting motifs that you can print out and trace onto your quilt tops. 3. I think the fairies in the plain blocks would look really great and really make the quilt delightful for your daughter. Hope this info helps a little and I'm sure one of the more experienced quilters will be along to offer probably better info that I've been able to give you. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-20-2007, 07:53 AM (3 of 14)
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Ah, motifs! Now I am getting the vocabulary! Thanks so much. This is going to be fun! ...tedious and slow as I learn my way, but fun.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: toadusew
Date: 07-20-2007, 08:12 AM (4 of 14)
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Andrea, I'm no expert, but I've also been hand quilting some quilts. My stitches are still far from perfect, uniform, or small, but that's ok since I'm doing this for fun and I'm not out to win any awards. I don't use a hoop when I quilt because I found that it's easier on my joints that way and I just prefer it, although I know most serious quilters use a hoop. I use a plain ole thimble for my right (quilting) hand and nothing on my fingers on the underneath hand. I did have a leather type "thimble" that I used to use on the fingers of the underneath hand, but that got lost in the move. Did you get your fabrics at G Street? I saw some cute fairy fabric there not long ago. Happy Quilting! |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Patty22
Date: 07-20-2007, 08:54 AM (5 of 14)
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Andrea.... in case you do get a few spots of blood on your quilt from finger pricks....... your saliva will remove the blood without staining... it has to do with the enzymes in your saliva breaking down the proteins. Or, hydrogen peroxide and then take water and rinse by dabbing cotton balls on the spot. I have gone through so many thimbles and I still haven't found one I am "in love" with. My fingers swell, so what fits one week isn't comfortable the next. I'm still looking though. But quilting without a thimble is an invitation for an infected finger. Learn to use a thimble even if it seems awkward. Patsy put you on the path for finding quilting designs. There are also books you can purchase with different patterns......but you have the right idea by repeating a motif found in the design of the fabric or your quilt. I just try to avoid complex designs in areas of heavy seam intersections as quilting through seam allowances becomes tedious as well as tiring. Some other tips: - if you find your thread breaking before you come to the end you might be pulling too tightly and the thread will weaken where it comes through the eye of the needle. - I use thread magic to coat my thread before I start quilting. It comes in a little blue box and is a silicone to help the thread pass through the fabric easier. I have had a box for over ten years and I use it all the time. Of course I don't know why I am offering advice, I should have my daughter instruct you. I asked her what she thought of a small quilt I just finished and she commented that my stitches weren't even and one edge was wobbly. Then she laughed and left the room. 
Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: ddreev
Date: 07-20-2007, 10:33 AM (6 of 14)
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Andrea, the method that is most comfortable for you is the one that is the best. I am still changing thimbles for my right hand, but for my underneath finger I have tried Suzanne Marshall's, http://www.suzannequilts.com/index.html, trick of a piece of black electrical tape to keep your finger from becoming sore. She never uses a hoop ,she always has the quilt in her lap. I have tried with the hoop and without and think I prefer without on the smaller pieces. Dorothy D.
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User: ddreev
Member since: 05-29-2007 Total posts: 69 |
From: mmeblueberry
Date: 07-21-2007, 09:48 AM (7 of 14)
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Another suggestion - if you're looking for a guideline for quilting your fairies (which I think is a great idea, by the way!), do a google image search for "fairy outline" or "fairy coloring book." That will bring up several options that you could use to trace onto a piece of plastic template and then cut out for your own quilting guidelines. Good luck! 
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User: mmeblueberry
Member since: 03-22-2003 Total posts: 10 |
From: Patty22
Date: 07-21-2007, 12:48 PM (8 of 14)
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mmeblueberry......Nice to see you..... Andrea and all of you interested in quilting. We are doing a 6" block swap over in the Swap section - Civil War Diary/Love Letter. Many of the blocks are simple designs, so there are blocks for all level quilters. If anyone is interested; come over to the thread and join us. Six fun forum members are signed up so far and the signups will close at the end of August. Blocks will be due by end of November. As you can see there is plenty of time built into the swap. Hope some more quilters join us or even pm me with ideas for different kinds of swaps you might be interested in joining. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: mmeblueberry
Date: 07-21-2007, 10:58 PM (9 of 14)
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mmeblueberry......Nice to see you..... Thanks! I lurk a lot, just don't usually post much.
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User: mmeblueberry
Member since: 03-22-2003 Total posts: 10 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-22-2007, 09:01 PM (10 of 14)
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...I'll have to work my way up to a block swap one day! (Honestly I don't quite get what goes on in one of those.) Thanks everyone for the ideas. I've found a few good leads already, and I can't wait to get to the fabric store to buy some quilting threads!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-29-2007, 11:07 PM (11 of 14)
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Alright, I'm ready to share my newfound bits of hindsight. they're not advice, so much as just...what I've gathered in the past 45 minutes and felt like sharing. Questions to follow. 1- Sometimes having such a fine match of thread color isn't so much help! It's hard to find even which block I'm quilting on if I just look away for a second. 2- For that most-pricked finger on the under-side, a small piece of blue painter's tape seems to be a good balance of sensation and protection. 3- It's going to take a long time to make friends with a thimble, and I'll have to keep on shopping for the right one. But I guess I've got time on my hands, since this is a pretty big quilt. 4- I'm enjoying this, I really am, but I can see why some people rave about those long arm machines. My Q for you: Anyone have a link to a good image demonstrating how to tie off at the end of the quilting thread? My mom showed me last week, and I practiced it a few times, but I can't seem to get it right tonight. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 07-30-2007, 10:52 PM (12 of 14)
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Here are some instructions - I think the first one is the method most used - at least that is the method I used when I quilted my one and only quilt by hand.... http://www.ca.uky.edu/fcs/FACTSHTS/CT-MMB-720.pdf http://www.ehow.com/how_2042386_quilt-hand.html http://quiltersvillage.com/basic/basic16/ TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: JoanieB
Date: 08-02-2007, 12:51 PM (13 of 14)
Welcome Andrea to the world of quilting (hand and otherwise) I truly love to hand quilt but am coming to grips with my sewing machine for machine quilting. I use a Roxanne thimble, they are custom fit to your fingers so you have to find a dealer in your local area. I tried something once that I heard Alex Anderson does which is using your thimble on your index finger instead of your long finger, I fell in love with that method and use it exclusivelyThere are really no hard and fast right and wrong "rules" just what works for you. Your stitches will become more even and consistent the more you do. Have fun learning. Also, try looking up "quilt stencils". If you have a Hobby Lobby or a Hancock Fabrics store near you they usually have a fairly good selection to choose from. Joanie B
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User: JoanieB
Member since: 01-28-2005 Total posts: 68 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 08-02-2007, 08:42 PM (14 of 14)
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all very helpful. Thanks everyone!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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