Hello! I'm new to quilting, and in need of help!
 

To all of you skilled quilters, please help me out!

Hello, everyone :) This is my first ever post... on any forum. I've always been reluctant to join forums, though I like reading their threads. But I came here and joined this forum specifically looking for help and support in my journey to make a quilt for my best friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer.



Let me say firstly, I'm a teenager who has never sewn or quilted in her life! I have a great respect for arts and crafts (I love origami!) and I've always thought quilts were beautiful. But I care so much for this friend, he's like a brother to me, and a quilt is just the homemade gift I've been looking for. I'm willing to work hard and learn, and take as long as I must to make this quilt for him. I'm even willing to take lessons as soon as I can. Hopefully, I can get lessons as a gift for my upcoming birthday. Until then, I'd like to learn as much as I can online, so please, please put up with me as I strive to learn!



To start out, my main question is regarding a quilt block that I would like to enlarge into a full quilt top. No tiles (or are they called blocks? I'm still learning the quilting terms :D), just a big, orange awareness ribbon (My friend has chronic myelogenous leukemia).



I was thinking of making the quilt be 59.5 inches in length and 49 inches in width (I measured my favorite blanket for the size) Do you kind ladies have any other size suggestions for a blanket-sized quilt suitable for a 5'7"-ish male?

This video shows quilt block that I would like to enlarge. Please look at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJeJp-TIAqc

^^ My questions regarding the block in this video are:

1. How big is the block without enlarging it?
2. How much would I have to enlarge it in order for it to fit the whole quilt, with maybe some space left for a border?
3. If I were to make a border, how many inches wide (wide is correct, right? Like... how far it reaches into the quilt top) should it be?
4. Would I be able to custom choose how wide I want the border to be?

Questions #1 and #2 are my biggest concerns, so please help me :)
I know I'm asking a lot, and I hope I was clear enough! I'm still learning, but I'm willing to work hard. Please, if anything I said wasn't clear to you, let me know and I will clarify.

Thank you sooooo much for reading this post. I know it can be tedious to read long posts (it is for me), so thank you for your patience :)

Please help me put a smile on my friend's face!

~Ashle

Ashle, how thoughtful of you to undertake this on for your friend. In order to enlarge this the easiest, hopefully someone with the computer program EQ can make a mock up for you. It would help with the dimensions and the amount of each fabric that you will need.

As per your borders, that's a simple one. You pick the width - it is common for each border to get wider and wider. So if your inner border (the one closest to your block) is 2", your next border usually is at least a 1/2" wider.

I stink at drawing out my own quilts. I will be glad to help you with the other steps.

Oops double post

Ashle,
Welcome and good on you for wanting to do this for your friend. I'm guessing you're referring to the ribbon quilt shown in the link you provided. If so, I will bookmark this post and look tomorrow in a book that I havea with many of these type quilts and see what I can find for you.

You will probably still need to do some piecing/sewing to make it as large as you're looking for but I think it's do-able even for an inexperienced sewer like yourself.

I think you're doing quite well with all the terms, all things considered. Yes, the 'tiles' are referred to as 'blocks'. And yes, you can make your borders any size you'd like. Generally you just want the whole quilt to look proportional. It might be easier for you at this point to do a scale drawing and work from the outside in. Draw the overall size of the quilt that you want with probably a 4-6" wide border, then how large you think the ribbon would look good.

I have a few things to do tomorrow but should have time either early in the day or later in the afternoon to get started on this for you. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some reasonably easy instructions for you. And rather than get into specifics here in the forum, I will PM (private message) you with details. So make sure you log in to the forum and check your 'Notifications' tab over the next couple of days.

Not sure where you're located so we might be reduced to online instructions only but I'm sure we can work it out. And I would suggest you 'tie' your quilt as opposed to trying to quilt it either by hand or machine since you are an inexperienced sewer. Google that term and you'll find out what I mean.

Be in touch in the next couple of days. Start thinking of fabrics that go with orange!

Welcome to the board from Texas.

@EmbQuilt,

Thank you so much for responding to me :) Your help would be much appreciated! Please stay in touch with me as I progress in making this quilt. Your advice was very helpful. I don't think I know anyone who is savvy with an EQ program... isn't that an audio equalizer, if I'm not mistaken? Do you know of any other computer programs I could use to achieve these results?

Also, sorry, but what do you mean by the "dimensions"?

Thank you :)

@NJ Quilter,

Your reply truly made me smile! :D Thank you for offering to help me. I'll try to learn as much as I can online, seeing as I live down in the Florida area. Please feel free to PM me, and I'll check regularly every day for your messages :)

Could you explain the steps of "scale drawing" for me? I'd like to give it a try-- If I can learn what to do! LOL

Thank you sooo much :)

Thank you! :)

One more thing before I retire for the night! How do the measurements for my quilt sound? Do you all think that I chose a good height and length?

Thank you!

You might want to make it a hair bigger - if he is 5'7" you are only doing 59.5 that is just under 5 feet , if he wraps his feet in it ~ might be short for him . Better to be longer :)

Thank you for your advice! May I ask what length you would choose in this case? :D

Hi from Ohio! It sounds like your in good hands with NJ Quilter. When your done with the quilt please remember to take a picture and post it. I am sending prayers to your friend. Also take your time and have fun with quilt making.

Welcome from Michigan!:)

welcome from se TX -- hugs to you and your friend -- quilting can be a very creative process: do what you want as there are no rules, no quilt police -- you can even add just top/bottom borders to give more length -- enjoy making the quilt for your friend :o

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Welcome from Ohio!

Thank you! I will definitely keep you and everyone updated on my quilt's progress. When it's finished, I'll post a few pictures for everyone to see :)

Thank you so much for your prayers!

@Lori B., @Abby'smom, @Thumbelina, @lovingmama,

Thank you so much :)

Welcome to the Board from northern California. There are really good people here.

Welcome from Minnesota and happy quilting :)

Does he get cold easily ? Like to be covered up completely ? at 5'7" that is 67 inches so maybe 70 if you want to give him a bit extra space- or are you thinking just a lap quilt ? if it is just a lap quilt the size you mention will work

He does get cold easily nowadays :O I was looking for more of a blanket size than a lap quilt-- so yes, I think your measurements are perfect for him!

Thank you so much for responding :)

@Keep Them In Stitches, @QuiltnNan,

Thank you!

Welcome from West Virginia

A big welcome to the board from the eastern part of Texas. You have come to the right place for help. The ladies and gentlemen on this board are awesome. I haven't been quilting long enough to have the knowledge necessary to answer your questions but I do wish you the best. I also want to warn you that quilting is both an awesome and addictive hobby. Your gonna love it.

You are doing a wonderful thing for your friend. I so admire you for making him this quilt and for just being there for him.

Hello, and welcome from Michigan--Good luck with your project!

Hmmm I was just thinking this morning that someone on the board did a rag quilt that had a large ribbon on it. That would be very easy to do (tiring on the hands) but very warm! I will try to look for the link and if anyone else comes up with it please share.

Welcome to the message board. I'm a new quilter, too, so I won't try to answer your questions. Just want to let you know you are getting advice from some great folks and your project should turn out just fine. Good luck.

I didn't find the member rag quilt but I found this http://www.equilters.com/library/qui...-quilttop.html
If you scroll down you will see a ribbon quilt. It is made with squares and half squares. To get the half squares there is an easy tutorial on YouTube from Missouri star quilting company. I will find the link later. I have to go to an appointment.

Thank you so much :)

The breast cancer awareness ribbon tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilting Company is exactly what inspired me to make this quilt! And the pattern in the link you posted is so close to what I'd been looking for :O That's the right idea I have... though I think that ribbon is a bit too big/the border is too small, but this will definitely help me as I design my pattern.

Thank you so much for taking your time to find this for me!

Thank you to everyone who responded and welcomed me! :D

I am not sure what size each block is that makes up the ribbon but all you would have to do is make your blocks smaller and add more white or whatever your background color is going to be. Also, just make your border or borders larger. I personally like at least 2 borders but it's by no means a written rule.

EQ is electronic quilt an awesome program that I don't have ;(. Lol

http://www.quiltingboard.com/resources/article-27.html

This is an article on how to resize blocks easily.

That is such a thoughtful gift for your friend...Good thoughts to you both

Welcome from Kansas

You are an amazing friend...welcome from Las Vegas!

Welcome from Kansas

Welcome from Upstate NY!!