New To Quilting, Would Like a Help Thread!

[vfem]

Hi,
I've been 'practicing' quilting on and off for years... I think I've finished all of like 2 or 3 simple baby quilts. Never anything too big. Now I have a plan, a HUGE plan... and I would like to come get help as I go. I know there are some fabulous quilters here, I've watched a lot of your work.
My plan is to create a Queen size quilt for my Mother-in-law. I want her to have this for christmas this year. I am using some new material but mostly I am using my daughter's old baby clothes. I want my MIL to have something that reminds her of my daughter that she can always keep because she is so far away from us. (Yes, I love my MIL...!)
My current question is, I am using a block pattern I found online, and it seems complicated as all.... so far its working for me, but its going really really slow.

Here's where I got the pattern: (Its the water lily pattern on the bottom left of the page)
http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?parent_cat_id=4&usage=&criteria=flower

Could someone suggest an easier way to go about this? Maybe explain this foundation peircing?! I'm really confused and I'm understanding it as actually sewing the pieces I cut through the paper?

Thanks guys... this is a huge project for me... and its going to mean so much to my MIL. (I told my own mom and she started crying that she would love something like that too... hint hint!)

 

[ginbart]

Boy your sure picked a hard one to start. I will go back and look again and see if I can help you. I will PM you the information. It may not be until tonight as I am getting ready for my silkies coming tomorrow. But this is a big undertaking and you need help. I will be back.

 

[vfem]

Thank you so much! I will be looking for your help.

Oh, and CONGRATS on your silkies!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine.

 

[ginbart]

I hope you understand the PM I sent. If not like I said you are more than welcome to call me. but you will need to PM me your area code. I don't pick up the phone or if you start leaving me a message I will hear you and pick up. If I'm not here I will call you back. I have caller ID.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

That's a project that is just way to big for me to take a bite of. A beautiful block for sure. It's definitely a huge plan. If it ends up feeling like it's too big after you've been working on it for a while I would suggest that you make two lap quilts. One for mil and one for mom. Sounds like the hint you were given may mean that mom's feelings are going to be really hurt if she doesn't get one as well. It's going to take alot of fabric to make those blocks.

I love foundation peicing and have done several small things from that technique and it's still a learning process each time I sit down and start working so don't get discouraged and don't be afraid to scale down the size of the project. They will still be loved no matter what size they are.

Also start google foundation piecing video demos so you can get a good look at the how to's.

 

[vfem]

Thank you ginart! Just the easiest part of layering and cutting a few at a time will make a different... cut back even a little will help everytime.

I am also going to take Sarah's advice, I'm going to google for a video. Just so I know if what I am seeing in my head is really what I should be doing. I'm such a visualist.

I know its huge... but its a gorgeous square, and it will all mean something deep to her! Something she will love more then anything we could ever buy.

 

[calicokat]

Are the clothes you are using knits or more like cottons? Knits (jumpers, onsies, t-shirts, etc.) will make this more difficult too. For those you'll need stablizer. If they are cotton (dresses, blouses, etc.) it should piece and quilt like a regular quilt.

Be sure to post pix so we can follow your progress!!

 

[vfem]

Thanks Cat, I went with all the heavier cottons and such. Nothing that stretches to easy, or slides.

 

[sewchick]

That is a beautiful pattern. I would enlarge it to a 12 inch finished block. That is a hard pattern.

I made this flower awhile ago.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/20760_tiger.jpg
It was hard and I can assure you I would not make more than one of them. I am still clenching my teeth from it.

The thing that was hard was it was an 8 inch block and it would bunch from all the seams. I wish I had enlarged it to 12 inches. How many of those lily blocks are you going to make? Are you going to use a second block? Something easy like a nine patch? Just curious.

 

[ginbart]

Quote:
Your right about it being special. There will not be another one like in the world and all the blocks will be from your childrens cloths that will mean so much. You can't buy that. Good luck with it.