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Question about doing the quilting part

Question about doing the quilting part

Old 06-21-2009, 08:26 PM
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Hi everyone.

I am making my first "real" quilt at the moment and I'm starting to get the blocks together.

I found some hlepful youtube videos on using a rotary cutter, doing the binding and some other tips, but nothing on the quilting part.

I would like to keep costs down rather than taking it to a professional so I am hoping I can do this on my home machine - a janome memorycraft 7500

So far I think that the process is that you lay out the top, bottom and batting, and leave enough batting and bottom incase of a little shrinkage. Then the whole lot is pinned with safety pins starting from the centre out.

Then is it ok to put this through my sewing machine?
How do you do things like straight lines if you're in the centre of the quilt and have no machine lines to help line everything up?
Any tips for tackling this? I dont' want to ruin my quilt top when I get up to this stage.

It would be great if there are any tutorials available, especially video tutorials.

And here is one of the blocks I have done so far.

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/...477d872e_m.jpg[/img]
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Old 06-21-2009, 08:36 PM
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I love your block, there is several ways to tackle the quilting, you need to decide what kind of quilting you are going to do, free motion, stitch in the ditch, are just two, there are a lot of things that you can do. depends on what you want it to look like when you are done. what size will it be when you are done?
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Old 06-21-2009, 09:05 PM
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Hi cutebuns.

The finished quilt is planned for a single bed. It will be 12 blocks joined with the same thin black border as in the block and then a thicker border of black at this stage. I am waiting until the blocks are together before deciding for sure on the border.

I have no idea about types of quilting terms. I don't think I am up to free motion quilting at this stage. I know i have the right foot attachment, but when I had a go I was all over the place in terms of control with it. Something with straight lines would probably be better. Is there a style you would recommend for a beginner?
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Old 06-21-2009, 09:19 PM
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There are a number of methods you can use to mark a quilt if you want straight lines to follow. There are pens with disappearing ink, inks that wash out, chalk pens....You may want to google quilt marking and this is a lot of info out there on this :D probably on U Tube, too :D :D :D
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Old 06-21-2009, 09:23 PM
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I would be tempted to do some echo quilting. Which means that you sew beside the lines, you use the lines that are there to follow. you can line the side of the foot up to them. Or if you want to sew further than that from the black lines there are sometimes guide pieces that come with some machines.
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Old 06-21-2009, 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Metanoia
So far I think that the process is that you lay out the top, bottom and batting, and leave enough batting and bottom incase of a little shrinkage. Then the whole lot is pinned with safety pins starting from the centre out.
Yes, you sandwich those three components, but the key is that they have to be flat when you do them. I press the backing and the top prior to assembly, and I make sure that the heavy creases are out of the batting. I lay out the backing (right side down) on a large table and tack it down with a wide blue painter's tape (easily removable). Then I center the batting on the backing, making sure to pat it down smooth. (The tape will help keep the backing from shifting.) The top goes down last and it too needs to be patted out from the center to the edges.

It is a good idea to plan the quilting before pinning the sandwich, so you don't put a bunch of pins right in your line of sewing. The recommendation is to pin a distance no larger than your hand - that should be sufficient.

Stitch in the ditch (SID) is one of the easier straight-line options to quilt. You sew right down the seam line on your block. It's hard to say where the seams fall on your quilt, but you can certainly quilt down each block row in both directions. Then you can always add lines for each block.

Good luck.
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Old 06-21-2009, 09:51 PM
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Welcome to the board from Southern California. An easy way to quilt would be to come across the diagonal on the blocks or use a wavy or decorative stitch in the ditch between the blocks. I love to stitch across the diagonals with a decorative stitch, so fast and easy.
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Old 06-21-2009, 10:31 PM
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Your block looks awesome. Love the colours. My twin daughters want a quilt made with similar blocks. Sigh - Will I ever get out of my s-room??

There is a wealth of quilting information out there on the internet. Just google quilting and you will be bombarded with a plethora of information. Have a quick look at some of the sites, then, refine your search to something a bit more specific eg: machine quilting or hand quilting etc. You can spend a lot of time on the net, but, it is worth it. I have spent hours on the net, and basically, have taught myself what to do. Books are great too, tho' they are very expensive.

This forum is great for tips, advice and tutorials - you only need ask and the answers are given freely. A truly wonderful group of people.

Good luck with the quilting and we want progress reports and piccies please.

Whereabouts in South Australia are you? Dianne
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Old 06-21-2009, 10:52 PM
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Very good job on those blocks. Can't add much more than the tips already given. If you're near a public library see if there's any books that have some good pictures of different quilting methods.
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Old 06-21-2009, 10:57 PM
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For a beginner quilter, Stitch In The Ditch (SID) is the easiest and best. You can make practice pieces later to practice other techniques on. There are lots of youtube videos on quilting, here is a good one to start with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGsGxY7V920&feature=fvw


You can always go to one of your local quilt shops and ask if they have any beginner lessons, or if someone will demonstrate the technique for you. They should be happy to help.

Good luck, and be sure and show us the finished product.
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