I have searched the internet for detailed information on some questions pertaining to wool quilts, and cant find it. This is the place to come, I dont know why it took me so long to ask!
1) When piecing the blocks together, do you put it, the blocks together like a "regular" quilt?Do you press the seams to one side, or open them up & press?
2) Do you still have a quarter inch seam allowance, or is it more, or less!
3) If you applique, should you use like Heat n Bond Lite since the fabric is heavier than cotton, then use the pearl cotton to do your stiches around the applique?
I apperciate all of your help, thanks! :D

I'm looking forward to some answers to your same questions. In cleaning my closets, I came across all sorts of pendleton woolI bougth many years ago to make suits - former life when worked in a professional office - now I do not need suits and the wool feels so nice to the touch. The wool looks in good shape -I stored it with cedar blocks so I do not see any moth holes.

So if anyone can answer the original question, you will make two board members very happy. :D

This website has a little information on wool quilts. Making one is on my long list of future projects - http://www.quiltsbycts.com/quilts/wool_quilts.htm

I googled too and didn't come up with many results.

Vickie

The Angels were guiding my hands tonight. I found a book I have had for many years titled "The Wool Quilt" by Jean Dubois. Published in 1978. I will look through for some suggestions.
Meanwhile my initial thought is to decide how the quilt will be used - to cover, a throw or wallhanging.
I have a wook throw that my aunts made many years ago. It is simple squares. Therefore, I would consider simple shapes as the bulk of seams might be nearly unmanagable.
I also remember my aunts making clothing from wool and they always shrank the wool before working with it.
I glanced through the book and saw 1/4" seams mentioned and some good info about applique. I'll try and search more.
It would be helpful to know how you plan to use the quilt.
A few years ago there was a wonderful exhibit of wool quilts at the Vermont Quilt Festival. They, of course, were antique quilts and many were wholecloth in design and hand quilted.
So I await answers to the questions above and see what I can find.

There is a copy of "The Wool Quilt" Patterns and Possibilities, now on ebay. price is $5.99

I hope she gets it!!!!!!

I had saved the following website on making small wool quilts:
http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/felte...t-pattern.html

And this example of a wool quilt for inspiration:
http://www.apqs.com/quiltboard/viewthread.php?tid=5426

I think with wool seams you want to press them open with steam, and possibly even pound them open toreduce bulk -- at least, with felted wool. Dressmake weight wool might not need that treatment.

I would definitely not use less than 1/4" seam allowance; maybe more for felted wool so the bulk could be distributed with pinking shears or grading. For the seam allowance, I would probably do sample pieces to find out how the seam allowances will lay. Wool has different weights, so I'm thinking a lot will depend on the weight of the wool.

For applique, the website examples I gave are all of felted wool. Felted wool does not need a turned-under edge; raw edge is fine. Felted wool would not require a fusible.

For non-felted wool, I would make a few samples to see if fusible would work for raw edge. Or, for turned under edges, I would use a freezer paper technique such as Harriet Hargrave's.

Would you be doing the stitching around appliques by hand or machine? In either case, if you want the stitching to show, you would want to use a heavier weight thread such as pearl cotton. Again, I would make a few samples to figure out what is going to work best. (Incidentally, if you are doing the stitching by machine, you can simply treat two threads as one through the needle to make a too-fine weight thread look heavier.)

Weight can be a concern with wool quilts.

WOW! You guys are awesome! I would be using the quilt for the bed, the winters here are brutal! I think a wool quilt would be the perfect thing to snuggle up under.
I have bought some felted wool, and the rest is from clothes and scarves I pick up at yard sales, ( I always check to make sure its 100% wool). I have quite a collection and would like to get it started soon. Some of the applique pieces are a little thicker than the base wool I will be using, I think it's fulled wool, I read an artical on it.
The pattern I have based this quilt on, is Spooky Threads, with my own twist.
All applique will be done by hand, just the blocks will be machined pieced.
The pattern for the blocks I have drafted is just 14" blocks,I dont want alot of bulk, or to have the blocks take away from the applique.
All of you have been a great help, thank you (((HUGS)))

Prism, That Woodsland wool quilt, OMG! You were right, now thats inspiration at its best! Mine is not that detailed, my eyes are too bad for that, lol. I read that her background and backing is flannel, this gives me something else to think about now :-D !

Thats the same site that I saw yesterday before posting my question. Not much "how to" info, huh? I was a little dissapointed.

you can also felt wool sweaters to make wool

http://www.ehow.com/how_2104288_make-wool-quilt.html

another cool link

http://resweater.blogspot.com/2009/0...nt-balsam.html

just found this photo of a wool quilt while surfing, awesome!

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/l...431188.html?14

I found this tutorial while surfing on wool quilts, Enjoy!

http://cyatutorials.blogspot.com/200...ool-quilt.html

First thing I would do with all that fabric is machine wash and dry it at warm temperatures. (overcast the edges so it doesn't fray.

AVOID HOT water and long agitation times


Many wool fabrics wash up beautifully if not "shocked" by water temperature extremes.

Sheep get rained on and they don't seem to shrink.

I just checked out all of the wonderful sites that you have all suggested, SO much info, and cool ideas, thank you all so much!

.....but what would happen if you tossed the sheep into the hot mineral bath at the local spa.....lol

That might not be too pretty, Holice!hehehe

I love working with wool, my favorite quilts to make :)
i use a slightly wider seam allowance than 1/4", but probably not quite 1/2", press seams open on the heavier fabrics, to one side it they are thin, and go that way ok...i tried fusable once for my appliques...did not like the results at all, it was hard to work with and hard to stitch through...now i just use freezer paper templates and if i need to hold an applique in place while sewing it down i use pins, but usually i just hold it with my fingers if it's a small piece, pins for large ones. make sure you wash all of your wools before beginning, as long as you wash them in hot water, rinse in cold, then dry in hot dryer your wool will not fray when you are hand stitching it. my last big wool quilt i used an awesome double sided heavy flannel from benartex for the backing and a wool batting...it is SOFT, FLUFFY, OH SO WARM, AND just an awesome quilt!!! the one i'm working on now is more crazy quilt style with embroidered blocks, appliques, what ever...it's gonna be great! if you visit the web site for the cotton patch quilt shoppe (in East Tawas, Michigan) one of the links is for customer show and tell...my black wool quilt is the one she shows on the link :)
jump right in, once you start working with wool you will find you want to use it more and more...at least i did.
good luck.

I have just started to look up patterns and info on Pendleton wool quilts and found someone who abuts her pieces and joins them with different edging and decorative stitches. Sounds good to me to eliminate that bulk but what do you wool-experienced quilters think. I really don't want to felt the fabric.

I make a lot of wool quilts- some pieced, some appliqued, some both- I generally press my seams open since they are a bit thicker than when using cottons. I also use a slightly bigger seam allowance (maybe 3/8" instead of 1/4") when appliqueing I know some people do use a fusible. I never do- I either use a pin, just hold with my fingers or maybe use just a dab of glue in the center of a piece *most of the time I use pins-then hold with my fingers. I tried fusible once years ago- had a lot of problems with it- it was difficult to get it to hold through the thickness of the wool and it was difficult to hand stitch through- so once was all it took for me- but like I said- many people do use it. I love working with wools- there are many good sites to visit with patterns, inspiration, help, tips, and resources- a couple to check out- Sue Spargo (if you like modern designs) or Halbrook designs, primitive gatherings & Lisa Bongean if you like more rustic designs. there are many more-

What type of wool you are using makes a difference, too.

Some wool is very loosely woven, some tightly woven. Some is almost as 'lightweight' as quilting cotton. Some is almost 1/4 inch thick.

Has it been shrunk? Has it been felted?