Would you recommend this pattern for a first quilt?
10-20-2012, 01:24 AM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Warwickshire, UK
Posts: 168
Would you recommend this pattern for a first quilt?
Hello,
After receiving some great advice from my thread about supplies I feel ready to tackle my first proper quilt.
I saw this pattern today. There is a written pattern and a tutorial at Missouri Quilt Co.
http://englandstreet.blogspot.co.uk/...l-pattern.html
Would you recommend this as a first pattern for me to tackle? I have general sewing skills but patchwork and quilting are new to me.
Many thanks.
Clare x
After receiving some great advice from my thread about supplies I feel ready to tackle my first proper quilt.
I saw this pattern today. There is a written pattern and a tutorial at Missouri Quilt Co.
http://englandstreet.blogspot.co.uk/...l-pattern.html
Would you recommend this as a first pattern for me to tackle? I have general sewing skills but patchwork and quilting are new to me.
Many thanks.
Clare x
10-20-2012, 01:54 AM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
as long as you are able to sew a consistant 1/4" seam- tend to be fairly accurate- you should be able to make the quilt. if you tend to be on the (impatient) side of personality traits you may want to start with something a bit different- but as long as you can go slowly, sew precisely, and (follow) along you should be find. everyone has their own (learning curve) my first quilt was quite extreme, i know intermediate/advanced quilters who still don't want to tackle what i did for my first- but it worked out ok for me...you need to know yourself and your tendancies- if you tend to be a bit more (impatient- consistancy not your cup of tea) a simple patch work may be a better choice to start with- I would jump in & make that one though...
since it's a jelly roll quilt- do you plan to purchase pre-cut strips? or cut your own? if cutting your own-you also have to be capable of cutting accurately-
if purchasing jelly rolls, know that even pre-cuts are not always accurate (few people are really perfect-in spite of what they may believe)
I like the pattern & hope you make it & show us pictures of it!
since it's a jelly roll quilt- do you plan to purchase pre-cut strips? or cut your own? if cutting your own-you also have to be capable of cutting accurately-
if purchasing jelly rolls, know that even pre-cuts are not always accurate (few people are really perfect-in spite of what they may believe)
I like the pattern & hope you make it & show us pictures of it!
10-20-2012, 02:00 AM
#3
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,134
Cute pattern.
So, not to scare you off it but I just want to mention three things that were not included (they never are) in the video or pattern but that, as a new quilter, you should be aware of before you start.
And they are not just relevant to this pattern
First:
Not all jelly roll strips are created equal.
It's kind of hard to maintain a perfect strip width, even with a perfectly sewn 1/4" seam allowance, if you start out with unequal strips.
http://www.bearpawproductions.com/us...May%20Vary.pdf
This way you can be sure you'll end up with a 2" finished strip width.
Second:
When sewing strip sets, always alternate the direction when you add a new strip.
So after sewing the first two strips together top to bottom, turn the strip set and add the third strip (so what was the bottom is now going through the machine first).
This helps stabilize the strip set, and prevents it from bowing (which can happen if you're always sewing in the same direction). It's a torque thing.
In the case of this pattern, also alternate the directions when sewing the two strip sets together.
One side top to bottom, the other in the opposite direction.
And third (and MQC always does this):
When you cut those squares from the strip sets, please be very aware that the ALL the edges are exposed bias.
That means they are very stretchy.
And once you stretch bias, there is no unstretching it, and it can easily change the dimensions of your blocks.
So handle with care, and when you press the blocks, do it gently.
Same goes for when you attach the blocks together.
Otherwise, you could end up with a quilt top that has the topography of the Rocky Mountains.
You might want to starch the strips sets before you sew them together.
I'm a starch fiend, so I like mine to be as stiff as possible but I realize that's a personal choice.
However, some starch will help stabilize the strip sets so that when you're ready to cut those squares, they'll be less likely to stretch.
Other than that, go for it.
Enjoy the process and post pictures when you're done.
So, not to scare you off it but I just want to mention three things that were not included (they never are) in the video or pattern but that, as a new quilter, you should be aware of before you start.
And they are not just relevant to this pattern
First:
Not all jelly roll strips are created equal.
It's kind of hard to maintain a perfect strip width, even with a perfectly sewn 1/4" seam allowance, if you start out with unequal strips.
http://www.bearpawproductions.com/us...May%20Vary.pdf
This way you can be sure you'll end up with a 2" finished strip width.
Second:
When sewing strip sets, always alternate the direction when you add a new strip.
So after sewing the first two strips together top to bottom, turn the strip set and add the third strip (so what was the bottom is now going through the machine first).
This helps stabilize the strip set, and prevents it from bowing (which can happen if you're always sewing in the same direction). It's a torque thing.
In the case of this pattern, also alternate the directions when sewing the two strip sets together.
One side top to bottom, the other in the opposite direction.
And third (and MQC always does this):
When you cut those squares from the strip sets, please be very aware that the ALL the edges are exposed bias.
That means they are very stretchy.
And once you stretch bias, there is no unstretching it, and it can easily change the dimensions of your blocks.
So handle with care, and when you press the blocks, do it gently.
Same goes for when you attach the blocks together.
Otherwise, you could end up with a quilt top that has the topography of the Rocky Mountains.
You might want to starch the strips sets before you sew them together.
I'm a starch fiend, so I like mine to be as stiff as possible but I realize that's a personal choice.
However, some starch will help stabilize the strip sets so that when you're ready to cut those squares, they'll be less likely to stretch.
Other than that, go for it.
Enjoy the process and post pictures when you're done.
Last edited by MTS; 10-20-2012 at 02:03 AM.
10-20-2012, 03:03 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,371
This would be a great first pattern to make. It is very, very easy and have little to no points to match. http://www.spotlight.com.au/inspirat...-garden-quilt/
You can make it larger by adding more rows. You would just need to measure your project for the finished size of the extra borders if you wanted to make it larger than the two sizes given.
I made it recently and it is my new favorite go to quilt pattern
You can make it larger by adding more rows. You would just need to measure your project for the finished size of the extra borders if you wanted to make it larger than the two sizes given.
I made it recently and it is my new favorite go to quilt pattern
10-20-2012, 03:04 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
I think you can do it. I enjoyed the tutorial and thought I would like to make it. It's a nice quilt! I would follow everyone's advice. It's great advice and really needs to be followed in order for the quilt to end up looking nice. But, heck yes, you can do it. I would watch the video a couple of times while I'm making the quilt, just to firm up in my mind what I'm doing and that I'm doing it correctly. But, go for it!! It's a good beginner quilt, especially with a YouTube video directions. You can go to YouTube and type in "Jenny Doan" and up will pop lots of her tutorials on different quilts BTW.
10-20-2012, 04:01 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eastern Canada
Posts: 3,356
Looking back, I can tell you that if I knew all that could go wrong, I never would have attempted my first quilt.
I had to deal with bias edges and they were a bear.
I dealt with it and came out with a pretty good quilt for a beginner.
I still don't like working with bias edges.
Starching is strongly recommended.
I had to deal with bias edges and they were a bear.
I dealt with it and came out with a pretty good quilt for a beginner.
I still don't like working with bias edges.
Starching is strongly recommended.
10-20-2012, 04:08 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Millbrook, Alabama
Posts: 3,340
i think its great for a first quilt.....when i started quilting i chose a pattern with stars....and while i love it it def has mistakes but its still my favorite quilt...and its nice to look back at my mistakes and see how far i have come...so even if you don't make this one perfect it will be special to you and a reminder of your quilting journey...best of luck
10-20-2012, 04:54 AM
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
Posts: 51,433
i was crazy enough to do tumbling blocks as my first quilt... but then i didn't know enough to know that it is a difficult pattern. it was frustrating at times, but turned out great. if you are brave, jump in! there's tons of advice and support here.
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