Hello - Question from a beginner
03-11-2011, 09:07 AM
#11
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,134
Here's a pretty basic straightforward instruction page on strip-piecing.
http://www.sewaquilt.com/strip-piecing.html
You can see how you'd sew 3 (or 4) strips together, and then cross-cut to get a multi-patch piece.
So if you make different combinations of those strips sets and do the cross-cuts. Then you can mix and match (we can talk about pressing seam allowances later) without sewing one patch to one patch to another and so on. Way, way quicker.
As for the advantage of the 16 patch - yeah, it's quicker. And that quilt size is so freaking large, those 6 inch blocks are sort of going to get lost on the bed. Try it. Cut a 6 patch of floral fabric and put it on the bed? Does it make any kind of impact.
Since you're working with 2" jelly rolls, you're sort of limited as you can't just change the size of your strips. The only thing you can do is add strips. A 7.5" block is still not huge. Maybe you can do 25 patch blocks (9" finished). Cut up some scraps in those different sizes and see what you like best on the bed.
OK, I really, really have to get back to work. ;-)
http://www.sewaquilt.com/strip-piecing.html
You can see how you'd sew 3 (or 4) strips together, and then cross-cut to get a multi-patch piece.
So if you make different combinations of those strips sets and do the cross-cuts. Then you can mix and match (we can talk about pressing seam allowances later) without sewing one patch to one patch to another and so on. Way, way quicker.
As for the advantage of the 16 patch - yeah, it's quicker. And that quilt size is so freaking large, those 6 inch blocks are sort of going to get lost on the bed. Try it. Cut a 6 patch of floral fabric and put it on the bed? Does it make any kind of impact.
Since you're working with 2" jelly rolls, you're sort of limited as you can't just change the size of your strips. The only thing you can do is add strips. A 7.5" block is still not huge. Maybe you can do 25 patch blocks (9" finished). Cut up some scraps in those different sizes and see what you like best on the bed.
OK, I really, really have to get back to work. ;-)
03-11-2011, 09:08 AM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 187
Ah ok I think 16 sqaures might be the way to go, but I'll test out the different sizes tomorrow. I'll definitely leave my larger blocks to the end then! Considering my accuracy I might end up with completely different sizes lol.
I just tried looking into the setting triangles but as long as it doesn't effect what I'm doing, I'll take it one thing at a time and for now just focus on making my patch squares.
I think when I wake up tomorrow a bit more sprightly I'll look into the strip piecing, for now it's going right over my head.
Thanks again so much for your help! It would have taken me days to figure all this out and I probably would have just gotten it wrong anyway.
I don't doubt I'll be back with a bunch more questions once my patches are done and I have to get to the assembly of the top though.
I just tried looking into the setting triangles but as long as it doesn't effect what I'm doing, I'll take it one thing at a time and for now just focus on making my patch squares.
I think when I wake up tomorrow a bit more sprightly I'll look into the strip piecing, for now it's going right over my head.
Thanks again so much for your help! It would have taken me days to figure all this out and I probably would have just gotten it wrong anyway.
I don't doubt I'll be back with a bunch more questions once my patches are done and I have to get to the assembly of the top though.
03-11-2011, 01:00 PM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In Hiding
Posts: 1,210
Originally Posted by adorabowe
Hi all from Australia :)
I have only just discovered quilting and since I have no-one to learn from, pretty grateful for this site! Although it has been taking a bit of time away from my first quilt :lol:
Anyway I was a bit unsure of what to do next and thought I'd benefit from the wisdom of some more experienced quilters. I'm making a form of a nine patch quilt http://www.craftlovers.com/projects/4746-retro-girl there's the link for a picture but it doesn't have description.
Anyway, my problem is that I want to make a quilt for a queen size bed but am not sure how best to work out how many more squares I need, as this makes 57 inch by 74 inch and I would need102 by 112. It says to cut 384 sqaures of the coloured fabric and 35 of the 6 and half inch squares for the cream fabric. Would I be best to work it out before-hand (even though the maths gives me a headache!) or to join the middle squares as directed and then once I've joined them go back and see how many more I need to make it big enough for the queen size bed? I'm using a jelly roll also and should have more than enough of the coloured fabric, but haven't bought any other fabric yet.
Sorry if this is a bit complicated but I wasn't sure how best to work out how to work out how much larger or how many extra rows I should be adding.
I have only just discovered quilting and since I have no-one to learn from, pretty grateful for this site! Although it has been taking a bit of time away from my first quilt :lol:
Anyway I was a bit unsure of what to do next and thought I'd benefit from the wisdom of some more experienced quilters. I'm making a form of a nine patch quilt http://www.craftlovers.com/projects/4746-retro-girl there's the link for a picture but it doesn't have description.
Anyway, my problem is that I want to make a quilt for a queen size bed but am not sure how best to work out how many more squares I need, as this makes 57 inch by 74 inch and I would need102 by 112. It says to cut 384 sqaures of the coloured fabric and 35 of the 6 and half inch squares for the cream fabric. Would I be best to work it out before-hand (even though the maths gives me a headache!) or to join the middle squares as directed and then once I've joined them go back and see how many more I need to make it big enough for the queen size bed? I'm using a jelly roll also and should have more than enough of the coloured fabric, but haven't bought any other fabric yet.
Sorry if this is a bit complicated but I wasn't sure how best to work out how to work out how much larger or how many extra rows I should be adding.
That is a great pattern to start out with. Just nine patches and and a block to match the 9 patch size. Others are a lot better with math than myself but I would buy that pattern as you would have it in front of you to guide you step by step. You would also have it to refer to on any other quilts you make and you will become good at changing things around. All you really have to do is make that pattern and put it on your bed when finished and decide how many more blocks on each side of the quilt you need for your queen size bed. This is a simple approach but since you're learning it is a valuable approach. You might want it wider than a normal queen depending on what look you are wanting. Also remember you can always add another border. Personally, setting a quilt on point when I started years ago would have frustrated me to no end. I'd stick with this one and become comfortable with my piecing and adding rows before I went on to something a bit more challenging. A few of the other ladies gave you the number of squares you would need so refer back to them. I would have to sit at my calculator to work it out for you but I believe they already did. Always buy a bit more fabric for error factor and ask how long they might have the fabrics you're purchasing/ wanting. Sometimes it can sell out and they won't get anymore in so that is also a consideration in how much you should purchase.
Just take your time, enjoy the process and you'll have it figured out before you know it. :-D
03-11-2011, 01:19 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In Hiding
Posts: 1,210
Adorabowe, for future quilts you can also go to:
http://quilterscache.com
and find enough all sort of free patterns.
http://quilterscache.com
and find enough all sort of free patterns.
03-12-2011, 01:11 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 2,062
Hi Adorabowe...I don't have anything to add to what's already been said as I haven't been quilting all that long myself. Just wanted to say hi from a fellow Aussie...and this is a great site :)
Where abouts are you? I'm in Queensland..Gold Coast.
Where abouts are you? I'm in Queensland..Gold Coast.
03-13-2011, 09:16 AM
#20
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,134
So I must have been having a brain fart yesterday because I gave you some incorrect numbers for the 16 patch. And it was nibbling at my brain this morning so I went back and checked.
The finished block will obviously be 8" square. Duh.
In my head I was thinking the jelly roll made up of 2" strips. I've never bought one or really even looked at patterns because I have more than enough fabric cut my own strips :roll:.
Here's another picture of what the 16 patch would look like. The good news is you would only need 72 blocks, because it would be an 8x9 setting. The finished dimensions of this quilt, including the 4" border, are 99"x110", close to the size you wanted. But you can always add to the border or setting triangles when the time comes.
Sorry for the brain blip.
The finished block will obviously be 8" square. Duh.
In my head I was thinking the jelly roll made up of 2" strips. I've never bought one or really even looked at patterns because I have more than enough fabric cut my own strips :roll:.
Here's another picture of what the 16 patch would look like. The good news is you would only need 72 blocks, because it would be an 8x9 setting. The finished dimensions of this quilt, including the 4" border, are 99"x110", close to the size you wanted. But you can always add to the border or setting triangles when the time comes.
Sorry for the brain blip.
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