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by **daikininz** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:44 pm

caturn wrote:Just wondering why you have to use a paper backing. I have never heard of that.

I think its because the paper gives the pieces of the block some strength while you sew them together. The "rules" for hand-quilting seem to be a little different to the "rules" for machine quilting. Those squares in the corners of my block have sides only 3cm long... the diamonds are 6cm from point to point along the length... the triangles are 2.5cm point to base, and 5cm long the longest side. You can make bigger ones though! It is quite an intricate pattern (this one is called an Armish Star) and uses up scrappy pieces of material really well.

by **caturn** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:49 pm

TBH anything that fiddly just puts me off :lol:

Did you see all my simple easy peasy squares. LOL

Looking around at finished quilts I've decided I prefer modern types with squares and rectangles over traditonal patchwork patterns. I like one called turning twenty so planning that for my next attempt -with proper quilting fabric next time too I promiise.

by **daikininz** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:54 pm

caturn wrote:TBH anything that fiddly just puts me off

I love handsewing, so this suits me fine. I had a couple of friends around this morning for a coffee-and-sewing-while-the kids-are-at-kindy-time, and one of them is like you in that. She's making a Christmas themed quilt in a sewing class, and had a whole heap of blanket stitch to do around some appliques. I was cracking up listening to her mutter away as she sewed :lol:

and she thought I was crazy for wanting to handsew such small pieces. :lol:

by **hannah** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:30 pm

Erica-Jane wrote:Actually I'd like to see pics of a tidy work room

nah there really is no such thing!! :lol:

But mine got moved from one end of the house to the other :roll:

Didn't get anything done last night but today wee man slept, so I'm almost set up in there 8-)

so maybe tonight i'll get my selected fabrics cut into!

by **sunbird73** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:19 pm

holy shamoly daikini! that looks hard! how long does it take you to do one block?

I am far too impatient. I have great plans of quilting by hand after I machine sew the blocks together, cos I visited a friends ma who hand quilts and they were gorgeous :smt060

But the last thing I started with hand stitching is still sitting in the cupboard half done :oops:

Was embroidering easy stuff on a duvet cover but got bored with it (and my disappearing pen stuff disappeared and I would have to draw it on again).

So I think I might be daydreaming about handquilting. I do want this quilt to be finished before DS1 grows up and has kids! Tho it does look so nice when done by hand....

by **daikininz** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:53 pm

Remember I haven't sewn the block together yet! I'll tell you how long it takes once I've done it :lol:

It took me a full evening (around 3 hours) to make the templates for the fabric and paper pieces.
I've spent about 4 hours so far cutting out paper lining and fabric shapes (and haven't done the full amount I'll need... I'll work that out properly next week)
It's taken me about 3 hours to tack the paper and fabric for that block together - most of that was spent figuring out corners, since I've made my seam allowance a little bigger than necessary.

This afternoon I tacked 6 pieces in 30 minutes with interruptions from the children so I'm definitely getting faster.

I love hand stitching, and am really enjoying seeing the pieces take shape. However, I've got plans brewing for some more quilts (for my children) and those will definitely be machine made, if I can get my sewing machine to stop throwing tension hissy-fits.

by **Erica-Jane** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:26 am

I measured the kid's bed and did a bit of maths and I'll need 165 squares a bed :shock:

I'm pretty sure I have enough fabric but that is a lot of 15cm sqares.
I'm feeling all intimidated :chicken:

any tips?

by **hannah** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:33 am

Erica-Jane wrote:I measured the kid's bed and did a bit of maths and I'll need 165 squares a bed
I'm pretty sure I have enough fabric but that is a lot of 15cm sqares.
I'm feeling all intimidated any tips?

crikey

templates and a cutting wheel?

by **AliG** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:30 am

hannah wrote:
Erica-Jane wrote:I measured the kid's bed and did a bit of maths and I'll need 165 squares a bed
I'm pretty sure I have enough fabric but that is a lot of 15cm sqares.
I'm feeling all intimidated any tips?

crikey templates and a cutting wheel?

Bigger squares??? I'm going to finish the one I started about 3 years ago (or possibly more, but who's counting :wink:

), but instead of making it for our king sized bed, I might make it for Izzy's king single :lol:

I'll take some pics of what I've done so far (when I get home - at work at the moment) - but they're big squares, cos I wanted something quick and easy for a first project.

Although, I'm not sure if "quick" is really the right word ... :huh:

by **missymoomoo** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:24 am

I'm so confused. There are so many patterns I like. I've narrowed it down to these:

http://lovelylittlehandmades.blogspot.c ... quilt.html
or
http://lovelylittlehandmades.blogspot.c ... quilt.html
or
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li ... d=22802389
or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29413154@N ... otostream/
or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16439811@N08/3589166577/
or
http://neverenoughhours.blogspot.com/20 ... owers.html

sorry ladies, don't expect you to look at all of them, I must stop looking because I just keep seeing something else I like

:roll:

by **Baroness** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:31 am

LOL Missymoomoo,
I looked at them all, I love looking at quilts.
I think its the fabric you like, all those quilts have beautiful fabrics.
One that I came across is 'Disappearing nine patch'
http://quiltsatcs.blogspot.com/2007/04/ ... orial.html
and theres heaps more if you google it. I am going to try it next.
(Just in case you needed another idea :twisted:

)

by **Baroness** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:37 am

Oh and to add...
I have found that a cutting wheel and a quilting ruler makes it soo much easier to cut blocks, a very worthwhile investment.
But if you are not into cutting straight, then maybe....
Wonky Log Cabin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888EGHyAV3o
its an 8 min video, but quite neat.... :wink:

by **caturn** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:13 pm

Erica-Jane wrote:I measured the kid's bed and did a bit of maths and I'll need 165 squares a bed
I'm pretty sure I have enough fabric but that is a lot of 15cm sqares.
I'm feeling all intimidated any tips?

Hehe thats why mine ended up with 8" squares cos anything smaller seemed too :shock:

I needed 54 squares to make one to just lie on top of the bed. Once you get cutting it won't take too long esp if you can cut long strips and then cut into squares.

I bought a rotary cutter and that wasa lot quicker but I would recommend getting a good one, mine is a cheappie and not so good.

by **Erica-Jane** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:25 pm

I was seriously considering drawing around a template with pencil and using scissors because I don't have a cutting mat big enough for my cutter to be useful :oops:

I'm a Philistine I know. The major problem is that the plan is to make 4 the same(ish) so thats 660 squares. I'm not sure I'm strong enough :lol:

by **macca** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:30 pm

Suggestion - start small like a cot quilt or something. The first one is a real learning curve and i found mine really intimidating - if i hadn't been doing a class i probably would have chucked it in and given up.

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