Layering your quilt
02-14-2009, 03:17 PM
#11
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
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Originally Posted by Prism99
Before I had the gun, I pin-basted the quilts I intended to machine quilt and thread-basted the quilts I wanted to hand quilt. To do these quilts, I mounted them on my homemade frame. This is simply 4 2x4s to which I stapled doubled-over fabric leaders and marked measurements from the center out to each side. I used C-clamps to fasten the 4 wooden pieces to each other, propping the ends on kitchen chairs. I pinned the backing to the leaders first, matching middles, and created my sandwich from there. I actually liked this system, but it was time-consuming because of the rolling and re-pinning needed for a bed-sized quilt, and ultimately it became too much for my back. It worked best for small quilts. Twin-sized quilts had a tendency to sag in the middle.
02-14-2009, 07:49 PM
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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[quote=b.zangCan you post a picture of this? I think I can picture it in my mind, but a photo would speak much louder. I'm still pinning my quilts, but crawling around on the floor kills me and I find I get sloppy just to get off my hands and knees.
[/quote]
You mean a picture of my 4x4s? Actually, I'm not techie enough yet to know how to post pictures, plus I would have to find the 2x4s in our freezing garage. My setup is similar to old-time frames that quilters used, I think. There may be some resource on the web that has a picture of a similar setup; if I can find one, I will post it.
We just got the straightest 2x4s we could fine at the lumber yard. I used staples to attach doubled-over fabric to the frames -- maybe 8-10 inches of fabric doubled over to 4-5 inches extending beyond the wood. Used a Sharpie marker to mark the center of each wood piece, then marks every foot out to the ends. The markings help with both centering the backing on the cloth leaders and with clamping the 2x4s together so they're not all whacky. C-clamps are simple, inexpensive clamps you buy at the hardware store; just make sure they can handle a double thickness of 2x4s. A lot of my learning was trial and error once I had the 2x4s with leaders and the clamps.
[/quote]
You mean a picture of my 4x4s? Actually, I'm not techie enough yet to know how to post pictures, plus I would have to find the 2x4s in our freezing garage. My setup is similar to old-time frames that quilters used, I think. There may be some resource on the web that has a picture of a similar setup; if I can find one, I will post it.
We just got the straightest 2x4s we could fine at the lumber yard. I used staples to attach doubled-over fabric to the frames -- maybe 8-10 inches of fabric doubled over to 4-5 inches extending beyond the wood. Used a Sharpie marker to mark the center of each wood piece, then marks every foot out to the ends. The markings help with both centering the backing on the cloth leaders and with clamping the 2x4s together so they're not all whacky. C-clamps are simple, inexpensive clamps you buy at the hardware store; just make sure they can handle a double thickness of 2x4s. A lot of my learning was trial and error once I had the 2x4s with leaders and the clamps.
02-15-2009, 07:27 AM
#16
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I baste my quilt on the sewing machine using water soluble thread in the bobbin and on top. I sew a large X pattern through the whole quilt and I can smooth out any puffiness with just a spray of water and then baste each part of space in between the X as close as I want. I can then machine or hand quilt using regular thread. I don't pay any attention to the basting thread. It dissolves in water leaving the machine quilting. :D
02-15-2009, 09:52 AM
#17
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,294
Time to recruit my DH into making what I need. Thanks for the description of your pinning frame. Never having tried spray, and being reluctant to do so, I'm still pinning although this discussion is giving me pause for thought.
02-15-2009, 11:08 AM
#18
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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Originally Posted by b.zang
Time to recruit my DH into making what I need. Thanks for the description of your pinning frame. Never having tried spray, and being reluctant to do so, I'm still pinning although this discussion is giving me pause for thought.
02-15-2009, 11:13 AM
#19
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I baste my quilt on the sewing machine using water soluble thread in the bobbin and on top. I sew a large X pattern through the whole quilt and I can smooth out any puffiness with just a spray of water and then baste each part of space in between the X as close as I want. I can then machine or hand quilt using regular thread. I don't pay any attention to the basting thread. It dissolves in water leaving the machine quilting. :D
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