Encouragement for New Hand Quilters! My VERY First Quilted Item (humiliating myself here, LOL)

[seminolewind]

I've heard of both, thanks!

 

[tiki244]

I think your first quilted block is wonderful, along with the ones you created after that. I am just starting to quilt and haven't actually 'started' yet. I have gotten my fabric together though.

It does seem many would rather just go to Walmart and pick something up. How sad it is and then dispose of it when they are done with it. And what chinzy products I am sure.

I just love love the things made the "old fashioned way" They have so much more meaning and love and pride and history into each and every one of them..

 

[speckledhen]

I wish everyone appreciated good old-fashioned handwork today. Thanks, tiki.


Here are the first few blocks of the log cabin quilt I started, arranged so you can see the pattern start to form. Need about 42 more blocks (at least), plus a border:

 

[tiki244]

That is very very nice Speckledhen. I love the log cabin block.

 

[seminolewind]

I think your first quilted block is wonderful, along with the ones you created after that. I am just starting to quilt and haven't actually 'started' yet. I have gotten my fabric together though.

It does seem many would rather just go to Walmart and pick something up. How sad it is and then dispose of it when they are done with it. And what chinzy products I am sure.

I just love love the things made the "old fashioned way" They have so much more meaning and love and pride and history into each and every one of them..

I used to quilt alot. Machine quilt. The nicest materials, the best thread, etc. I made my DD a lap quilt that is in shreds right now because she used it to cover a hole in her couch. I made her a queen size bed quilt, she now has a king size, and the quilt is in the kid's play room on a couch. I made my mother a lap quilt which I haven't seen more than once. I made my mother a king size bed quilt-took me 6 months because I recut the pieces so many times to get a good pattern. I have only seen it on her guest bed, but have hardly seen it at all.

Meaning? Love? Pride? I don't think that most people understand how much work and heart and soul it takes to make a quilt. It's not something you can just slap together. Well that was 10 years ago. Tiki, I love them too.

 

[speckledhen]

It hurts when people treat them like that. They should be used, yes, but not abused. I don't give my family quilts because of that, though I made an exception for my niece, who I knew would treasure it.

My in-laws used to be big on fishing. I made them the cutest wallhanging and matching pillow with a fish theme, planned and made especially for them. Never saw it again. Asked my MIL what happened to them. She said she couldn't figure out what to do with it. Well, duh, I put a hanging sleeve on it and even gave it to her with a dowel rod in it, sheesh. I swore I'd never do that again. That type person can spend their money on some cheaply made Wally World quilt and have it fall apart after two washings if that's what floats their boat. They just don't understand the hours and hours of work, the eye strain, the hurt fingers, the sore back, etc, the planning, that go into a quilt.

I need to move my chest 'o drawers in my bedroom so I can have my big design wall back. I use an old flannel backed vinyl tablecloth from a discount store pinned to the wall with the flannel exposed. Works great and only cost me about $5. This small piece of flannel doesn't work for designing a bed quilt.

 

[seminolewind]

Hi Cynthia. I just got the wall hanging, and it is Awesome! More stunning than in the picture, if that's possible! Just beautiful. I want to find a place to hang it where the light will show up the stitching. I can't belive your hand quilting, it's just beautiful! Thankyou!

Karen

 

[speckledhen]

I'm so glad you're happy with it. Enjoy, Karen!

 

[tiki244]

I hope this is a good place to ask a quilty question. I didn't find another place.

I just made my first block last night. It is a pinwheel with eight pieces. 3/4 of it is straight but the last 4th isnt. A well probably not the best one to start with. But any way I noticed that at the center there is a lot of fabric and am wonderring if a person trims that? Or? For when quilting it seems it would be difficult. I think I will probably be better able to get them to match up when I cut more accurately. I was very surprised at the scissors I bought. They were not nearly as sharp as I thought they would be. What kind of scissors are good for this? I did pay a bit for mine but not the top of the line either.

I just purchased a sewing machine, just a simple one. I have been waiting years to get one. I haven't used it yet. I pieced this block together by hand. At least I have a reference point now to know what questions to ask.

I was hoping to make some pinwheel hot pads to start out with, but by machine to start with. Not only did I pick the pinwheel~ but two of the three fabrics I picked are directional. lol Awe well is all good learning experience. I have chickens for 2 of the wedges and cut one upside down. And chicken wire for 4 of the wedges, then figured out it was also directional.

 

[seminolewind]

Hi, you're asking about scissors, so I'm thinking-do you have a material cutter? It's like a pizza cutter, only it's for material. And a cutting board, and some rulers.

It helped me to put a piece of tape on my machine at EXACTLY 1/4 inch because you'll be sewing all 1/4 inch seams. It takes quite a while to get seams perfect, and have blocks come out perfect. And no , don't trim, you have to iron it in a way to even it out.