questions from a first time quilter

goose · Post by **goose** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:42 pm

I'd love to make dd2 a quilt for her birthday, but have never made one before. I would like to make it from stash, not a combo of a few fabrics that coordinate but more likely a multitude of random fabrics. Has anyone made a quilt of all squares before? Is it easyish? Anything that could go terribly wrong? Do I need a quilting ruler?

Kaz · Post by **Kaz** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:54 pm

I made one from a bunch of minky scraps (I'm not a quilter). The hard part was placing the squares so they would look random, it's actually quite hard to get it looking good.

I sewed them into strips then sewed the strips together, construction was quite easy.

I'd recommend a cutting mat, wheel and ruler which makes cutting much faster than with scissors.

sjl · Post by **sjl** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:45 pm

Ditto the recommendation on the ruler, rotary cutter and mat.
There's a tutorial here http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2012/04/ ... orial.html for one method.

Whatever you do don't try cutting out single squares and stitching them together, that way lies madness...
Strip piecing (either as per the tut or with more fabrics /longer strips depending on the size of your scraps) and working in blocks that can then be joined is much better.

NPMum · Post by **NPMum** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:23 pm

Do strips and arrange them like a rainbow.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:11 pm

That tutorial is perfect, thank you

I have a mat and a rotary cutter, used to have a quilting ruler but haven't seen it for a few years and have no idea where it's gone

Cool, will start choosing, ironing and cutting fabrics this evening

grizle · Post by **grizle** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:48 pm

Just note that tutorial is for a postage stamp quilt (basically very small/stamp sized pieces sewn together), so I'd be ignoring the sizes but follow the idea IYKWIM

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:58 pm

My first quilt was a basic set of squares, made into rows then stitch the rows together. I was really pleased with how it came out (back in 2008!)

Dunners · Post by **Dunners** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:38 pm

I made Emily a rainbow quilt, where each colour was made up a of a scrappy "coin stack" with that general colour. It was really effective & a lot of fun to make. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/88805423876279282/

I made this one for Nicky's friend http://www.pinterest.com/pin/88805423876279237/ It was a lot of fun to make, and is an alternative to squares being one-after-the-other for the entire top.

I've spent hours pinning ideas & reading tutorials. I have a 1E5 book that I've sketched designs I've found that I like (and I've coloured them in to help me remember the blocks etc). There are dozens of designs I can't wait to make (I just need the time!)

I found the switch to making quilts very addictive, you have been warned!

goose · Post by **goose** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 1:28 pm

grizle wrote:Just note that tutorial is for a postage stamp quilt (basically very small/stamp sized pieces sewn together), so I'd be ignoring the sizes but follow the idea IYKWIM

Yes, I think most of my scrap pieces are big enough to make the squares at least twice that size. I like the method though

goose · Post by **goose** » Fri Mar 07, 2014 1:30 pm

Leanne, I've seen pics of your quilts, they are beautiful! I've held off for a few years because I know it'll be a slippery slope from here

goose · Post by **goose** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:20 pm

I've made my first quilt front over the past week, am absolutely addicted now

I finally found my library card (at the library

) and issued a stack of quilting books. It would seem there are library staff who are quilters, cos they sure have a lot of quilting books, even modern ones

I used the books as an excuse to check on my neighbour who was recently widowed, and we drank coffee while looking through the books before I decided on a pattern.
All of the fabric is from stash

One fabric I've had for years after buying it in a Spotlight sale, and the other my MIL gave me from her fabric cupboard a few years ago. The back will be part of a sheet that was mine as a child and is now used on my girls' beds, and the binding is grey quilting fabric.
This morning I went into Napier to buy batting (got enough for 2 quilts this size, 107 by 146cm) and some quilting pins. I remember my mum using long pins, but these days they have curved safety pins, what a brilliant invention!

Will post a pic once it's completed, hopefully within a week

sjl · Post by **sjl** » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:14 pm

go you! looking forward to the pics...

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