Quilting

Ive read you post with interest ,I have done a good deal of patchworking ,but I like to work mine by hand,so im not sure if you are meaning how do you put the backing on,thus making them into a quilt,or how do you quilt the blocks you have finished.But if you have a good look around the internet there will be lots of sites that will be able to give you guidance.The quilters clubs are not for me,I have watched them working and I much prefer to work in my own way,they all seem to work in a certain style.The old cosy quilts are beautiful,and the Durham quilts are too,im not sure if you have ever looked at any ,but if you havent take a peep on the internet,they were real labours of love.

That is great. I sure wish I knew what to tell you on how to quilt them. I have never done that in my life either. I have some family members who do some quilting though and they are pretty good at it. I hope someone can tell us more on how to quilt. I would love to try it some day and make some nice things for myself and for the family too.

There are some good quilting shows on PBS. I have never completed a top, or quilted a quilt. I had a friend who had me help tie a quilt once. Look around for an assisted living facility, call their Social Services or Activities provider, and have them help you adopt a granny. It would help you, and it would help the person who got to help you. If not that route, how about a local senior center? These are lost arts that we need to preserve. Congratulations on finishing two tops. There is probably a "Quilting for Dummies" book there is one for everything else, if you were to ask your local bookstore.

Welcome to the world of quilting marilyn. Congratulations on making your quilt tops. It's a huge task. There are several ways you can quilt the tops. I've tried a couple. You can of course spend the money for a quilting machine, or even purchase a quilting rack, but I found a much easier way (for me) to quilt my tops. Once you have the tops completed, purchase quilt batting - enough to fit the size of your top. You will need a space large enough to lay the top flat. I use the floor sometimes, and sometimes, I lay it across the bed I'm going to use it on. Lay the top flat, place the batting to fit, then, I use a solid color sheet (your choice of color) over the batting and start from the center, pinning in place with safety pins (so they don't come out). Pin the top, the batting and the sheet every 8 to 10 inches or so, working your way out to the edges. Decide on your quilting pattern, straight stitch, vertical or horizontal, or both, or sometimes, according to the patterned material on the top, you can stitch swirls, circles, stars or whatever. If you use a sewing machine to quilt, take your quilt to the machine and start to stitch the top, batting and bottom together, making sure you remove the pins before you stitch. If you do it by hand, use a large needle with yarn to 'tack' the places you have pinned. It might take a few attempts before you are pleased, but that's what makes it so much fun. If you don't like it, take the stitches out and do it over. Quilting is therapy for me - and the finished product is a terrific accomplishment, whether you use it on your bed or as a throw. Don't sweat the little mistakes. The art of quilting has been lost over the years. If someone notices a few small mistakes they need to try it on their own. It's not a small task. I taught myself to quilt. It might not meet the quilting clubs standards but I love them just the same.

I have never really tried quilting. I do some crafts like cross-stitching, crocheting and knitting though. I have seen some quilted products and they really look great. I have seen books and magazines about quilting but have never tried this craft yet. With regards to your concern, why not try looking for videos on quilting. This way, you just don't read the instructions or directions given. You can actually see how things are done and really do not have to worry about certain lingo.

Hi Marilyn, Congratulations on your first two quilts! That's wonderful! I've only been piecing quilts for about four years now, so I'm no expert. However, I've learned some by trial and error. Although I've tried hand quilting, it is a bit much for me, given the amount of time it takes. Though there is nothing like a hand-quilted quilt, there are other ways to connect your quilt sandwich that are just as beautiful and work well. Machine quilting is very popular nowadays and can look great! Just make sure to use a walking foot made specifically for your sewing machine so your fabric sandwich doesn't bunch up and get too puffy (unless that's the effect you want). I "tie off" most of my quilts to be honest. Most of the time, I am making them for a specific event and don't have the time to do otherwise. Tying off quilts isn't popular with some folks, but I've never had someone complain when I give them a quilt that's been tied off. Plus, it's really easy! Once you have your quilt top, batting and backing pinned or hand basted, you can tie. I like to use embroidery thread in a color or colors that compliment the colors in the quilt. Others like yarn. Once you decide on that, thread a large needle and begin in the middle of the quilt and work your way randomly toward the edges and around. You can make your ties 6 inches apart or 8 to 10 inches apart. It's really a personal preference. Go in from the top of the quilt and come up from the back. Cut off the piece and then tie it into a square knot. I trim my thread (or yarn) to about 3/4-inch long. Continue until you're all the way around the quilt and then you can remove your pins and bind your quilt. Quilt shops often offer quilting services. Prepare yourself though for an additional expense anywhere from roughly $40 for a small, baby quilt, up to over $100 for larger quilts. There are times this is a good idea, especially if your quilt has several small pieces in it. Hope that helps a bit? Happy Quilting!