Trim Quilted

Beginning Crazy Quilter: How to sew together blocks?

I have been making a "memory" quilt for my 18 year old for the past year. It is made up of pieces of clothing, trims, blankets, etc. of her life--thus, the memory part. It started out being a crazy quilt and is now 24 12" blocks of busy, fun, chaos--each with its own personality. There is some theme of colors--mostly bright aqua, bright green, orange, purple, and hot pink. But there are also squares that are in reds and blacks and earthy tones. I decided rather than run the squares together increasing the chaos look, I wanted to seperate the squares with some unifying color strips between.

How do I measure this for a twin size bed frame? What kind of material would be best between the blocks? How do I measure and sew strips between my squares? How do I stabalize underneath the varying thicknessess of the materials (I did sew the fabrics to muslin backing.)? Ideas?

Since you already have 24 twelve-inch blocks, I think you just want to add "lattices" ...also called "sashing".

What you use for those would depend on the look you want and the other fabrics you've already used. 100% cotton fabric is always a good bet since it doesn't stretch like many non-natural materials and is thin enough to join to other pieces without creating too much bulk. You could use other fabrics though if you want, and they don't tend to ravel or are too loosely woven.

As for the size of a twin quilt, you'd want ot decide if yours would be used all the way to the floor, or only partway to the floor (with perhaps a ruffle or other "skirt" going the rest of the way to the floor --or not). Measure the length and width of your twin mattress (or look one up online), then add the amount of hang you want on 3 sides and the amount of coverage you want at the head of the bed).

As for measuring and sewing the lattices, that's a math problem I find easiest to do on graph paper. Using the squares of the graph paper as *finished* sizes will be easiest, but you'll have to remember where you needed to add seam allowances so they'd end up that size.

Decide how wide you want the lattices to be (by auditioning them between the blocks).

I find it easiest when laying out a whole quilt on graph paper to get paper with the smallest squares possible so I don't have to remember that one square will later represent 2" or 4", etc.
Then on your graph paper, draw in the first block (say 12", if they are 12 1/2" when unfinished--ie. with seam allowances)... skip the next few squares for your lattice depending on how many inches you want it to be... and add the next block... then repeat till you have all the blocks and lattices drawn in ....finally add any border(s) you may want to increase the overall size of the quilt..

You can then see how long and wide each lattice strip should be for the sizes you want, though you'll have to add seam allowance amounts before cutting out.

Generally, short strips are added to 2 opposite sides of the interior blocks (say on the left and right of each--veritically), then long strips are used the other direction (vertically).
Any end blocks won't need that short strip though since one or two of their sides will have a long strip attached.

That sounds confusing if you don't already know how to do it, but many sites you google about lattices (or sashing) will have pics and instructions...here's one example:

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/quiltinstr/quiltinstr2.html

Adding a batting behind your sewn-together blocks (and any borders you might want to add for your "top") would even out the thicknesses of the various blocks reasonably well as long as the batting wasn't too flat. That might depend on how much difference there really is between the thicknesses of your blocks though. It might not matter much though.
You can try out several general types of batting after you finish the top, or even part of the top, by going to a fabric store where they have at least some batting on rolls...you can audition the way each batting looks and feels when sandwiched between your top and backing.

(stabilizing would probably be done by "tying" the layers in some way, since real "quilting" would be too difficult with as much thickness as you have)

What a great quilt ... know your son will love it!

HTH,

Diane B.

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How to Make Quilting Appliques

Making a quilt applique is similar to writing a book. Work with what you know. I know that sounds trite because it is familiar to you. You need to understand that what is dull to you will be exciting to another. What is familair to you will be unusual to another.

For those of us who do not want to work with the dull and familiar let your creativity shine and introduce a new twist to a common subject. Have you ever been caught expressing "why did I not think of that?" Well, designing an applique pattern is your opportuity to express what you think.

An applique pattern can be any object that you wish to use. Start with a simple drawing. As you become more advanced in quilting then you may wish to make future drawings more complex.

It is not the drawing that is the issue, it is sewing techniques, choice of fabrics, cutting techniques, choice of threads and needles, gluing and pasting, and other no sewing aids or tools that will be used. The applique design needs to be workable with the quilting fabric that you will be stitching. Machine stitched appliques are preferred over hand stitiching for stability.

Before drawing your applique design, you will soon discover that you need to think backwards before you sketch. Ask yourself what stitching will be used to outline the figure, what types and colors of fabric will be used, what threads are to be used or if not using threads are you considering needle punching?

It is important that as you take all aspects of the quilting construction into consideration. Design a workable sample to be sure that your creative mental thoughts can be physically accomplished. Place your applique on adhesive paper, or water soluble stabilizer, or quilting fabric to test ease of application and sewing.

Notice how many ideas can be used for designing applique patterns. One thing that I like to do is to look at coloring books for young children. You are able to find many ideas on how to simplify the drawing that you had in mind.

As you know it is not uncommon for adults to be baffled as to how to simplify. We need to become childlike in our thinking in order to create unique and simple applique designs.

Have you given thought why creating something simple is difficult? I have  discovered that when I have to create a simple design it becomes complex in the thinking process because that simple drawing needs to make an accurate statement to tell a direct and truthful story. Quilting is accuracy; there is no room for vagueness.

The applique can be decorated with various machine stitchery, embroidery, sequins, beading, cording, and other decorative trims for added beauty.

Envision yourself being able to design original appliques. Visit the hobby page of Tricia Deed at http://www.Infotrish.vpweb.com/ and review Quilting Gems. Do not forget to download your free quilting patterns.

About the Author

Through the years I have learned to be a jack-of-all-trades and maybe mastered one. Because my interests are many, diversity has been the road most traveled. Currently my interest is hobbies which I have combined with my internet marketing business.