Quilting

[bleedingheart]

Anyone make quilts? I find it fascinating and after I finish the "Big Curtain" project here at the house I plan on doing some quilting.

Funny thing is that I like the more intricate quilts but it looks like I would have to do much of that by hand.

I was thinking of making a crazy quilt but do you have to follow the rules of quilting? Can't I just patch fabric together until I get it to the desired size and then add backing..etc??

[denile01]

1. Quilting Crazy

Hi Bleedingheart, Fabric addict and sometime quilter here.

The usual way to do crazy quilts are to patch your fabric onto foundation squares, which are easily sewn together. You can do that all by machine, and add hand embroidery (or machine stitches) on top to embellish.

I love the "crazy" look worked into traditional blocks. Check out this site http://www.stargazey.com/home/

[bleedingheart]

2. cool web site!!

I love sewing and have enjoyed getting back to it as the kids have gotten older...it was tough when I had babes and toddlers but now they are old enough to not get into stuff and my eldest will even read his books to me as I sew...it is just so sweet...(having one of those maternal teary moments)

[denile01]

3. Awwwwww

that is sweet! Enjoy 'em while you can. My oldest is moving 2,000 miles away on the 20th. Talk about teary moments. :cry:

[KarenS]

4. I quilt =)

I am relatively new at it (only 2 years worth),,,, as with everything else, I learn on my own (books, internet). I quilt for my kids, grandkids & charity plus I just finished a queen-sized quilt for our bed !!!

I think there are 'rules' for some folks and the rest of us just make what we want !!

I have read some of the history of crazy quilts and 'in the old days' they usually were just for decoration (no batting, no quilting per se) plus they were made from velvets, satins, etc,,,,,

I think 'just patching faric together' and adding backing is a fun & creative idea ~ go with it!!!

If you don't know about these ladies check this website out, it will set you free :)
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/

Have fun!!!

[MO_Dem]

9. Hi KarenS

Did you see the PBS program on the ladies of Gees Bend? I just happened to catch it, and thought it was really interesting.

I grew up in a "quilting" family, but you're right about learning on your own. No matter what people try to teach you, it is following our own inspirations and intuitions that makes quilting interesting and rewarding.

[KarenS]

10. Hi MO_Dem

No, I didn't see the PBS program, but my Mom did and she tipped me off to these ladies,,,,

I just like the unconventional and I love the old-fashioned recycling aspect of scrap quilting


:D

[ccjlld]

5. My Mother teaches quilting

She's been teaching for about 10 years now. She got into quilting by taking a "Block a Month" class. This is basically what she teaches in her Beginning Quilting class. With a Sampler or Block a month quilt you piece and quilt each block one at a time and then put them all together at the end. It's a good way to learn how to do different piecing techniques.

I have several quilts she's done and I wish I had pictures I could post. My mother has a great talent for putting color and pattern together.

[BamaGirl]

6. I recently had to "repair"

a quilt that my great grandmother made. It's actually her only surviving quilt as far as I know. It's patches and strips with a blanket for batting with the yarn ties. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I just need to replace some of the missing yarn. I have a lot of old remnants and some old scratchy blankets than none of us like to use so I was thinking about following her pattern and making the kids quilts.

[denile01]

7. Tied quilts

All of the quilts my grandma made were tied, and she did used older blankets as batting. In those days, it was out of necessity, a way of making use of everything; and still a good idea.

Your kids will love quilts you make for them!

[bleedingheart]

8. that sounds really neat...

I will have to look for a picture of one...

[XemaSab]

11. There's a technique I learned about

last night called "stitch and flip" quilting. I think it's what someone above was desribing.

You take a small irregularly shaped patch of fabric, sew on another piece, and iron it down, and cut it, and you just keep adding pieces until you get a "block" or a whole quilt. It looks simple and the results were pretty cool.

There are books about it. Try google. :-)