How do you back your charity quilts?
06-20-2021, 05:37 PM
#31
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,949
I don't spend much for backings on a donation or play quilts and I won't use cheaply made fabric. A man's 3x quality cotton shirt will make a backing for a baby quilt. I find these all the time for a few dollars at thrift shops.. Need a bigger backing use four shirts and piece one. There is no excuse to use crap fabric for a quilt to give a person that has nothing.
Teens love the rag quilts. They are easy to make and are very durable using quality cotton shirts and left over fabric. I have the large rag die and a Go. I cut batting with the 6 1/2" square die, sew two ten inch squares together with batting in-between. Sew an X in the block and then run the block through the 8 1/2 rag die. . Overlap the edges and sew a row then the rows together. I can do a large size throw for a teen in less then a day.
Teens love the rag quilts. They are easy to make and are very durable using quality cotton shirts and left over fabric. I have the large rag die and a Go. I cut batting with the 6 1/2" square die, sew two ten inch squares together with batting in-between. Sew an X in the block and then run the block through the 8 1/2 rag die. . Overlap the edges and sew a row then the rows together. I can do a large size throw for a teen in less then a day.
06-21-2021, 02:20 AM
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Dunwoody, GA
Posts: 156
I love reading how many people make quilts to give to others!! I too make a number of quilts to give to others (dislike "charity quilt' label). I buy flannel sheet sets on sale (got king sets from BB&B last year for less than $25) and that will line, or back five or six quilts. I shop Thrift Stores and have made fantastic purchases. If you have a Thrift Store near you, get to know the people and ask them to call you when they get in fabric. Some stores will do that and I've gotten complete stashes several times. Usually less than $1.00 a yard. Check there for sheets too.
There is a difference between "cheap" fabric and "sale/discount" fabric.
God bless each of you for taking your time, talent and fabrics to brighten someone's life.
There is a difference between "cheap" fabric and "sale/discount" fabric.
God bless each of you for taking your time, talent and fabrics to brighten someone's life.
06-21-2021, 05:15 AM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,066
I think we should acknowledge that if you've been around donated items you see some things that make you wonder about the donation...
I used to belong to a large guild and we supported Ronald McDonald House. When we had our work drives, there was a lady at intake and her job was quality and she was very good at that. Unfortunately she was not so good at delivering constructive criticism and that fell to another person. But they had a very good system, some projects were accepted as is, others sent for a bit of rework, and still some others were discretely tucked under the counter as unsuitable. A kind way was found to discuss the reason/problems.
In my thrift store shopping I do see used Project Linus or other group labeled blankets, and it is true they are usually nothing special. But hey, I also see some lovely special things made by loving hands donated all the time as well. And the important thing is that they were received and used and are now being offered again.
There are many organizations and many needs for donation projects from big and small and happy to sad. Some of us do have the time and interest, but not unlimited finances. I simply could not sew as much as I would like at $12/yard, top/back and batting and thread too. When you do a number of projects a year, yes the batting and backing and everything else adds up including wear and tear on the sewing machine.
And while I have lots of time, it's limited enough for me to not want to work on projects I don't want to work on! In the last couple of years some of the projects have challenged me in different ways. I'm pretty much always working on some project, the biggest difference for me is whether I know it has a home yet or not. Some of my projects I am making for me
Some I make for others, like next up is one for my hubby's Aunt. And some, well, I don't know what their end story will be so I do my standard level of work and care with the standard level of fabric I would be happy to keep for myself or wrap my own grandchild in.
I used to belong to a large guild and we supported Ronald McDonald House. When we had our work drives, there was a lady at intake and her job was quality and she was very good at that. Unfortunately she was not so good at delivering constructive criticism and that fell to another person. But they had a very good system, some projects were accepted as is, others sent for a bit of rework, and still some others were discretely tucked under the counter as unsuitable. A kind way was found to discuss the reason/problems.
In my thrift store shopping I do see used Project Linus or other group labeled blankets, and it is true they are usually nothing special. But hey, I also see some lovely special things made by loving hands donated all the time as well. And the important thing is that they were received and used and are now being offered again.
There are many organizations and many needs for donation projects from big and small and happy to sad. Some of us do have the time and interest, but not unlimited finances. I simply could not sew as much as I would like at $12/yard, top/back and batting and thread too. When you do a number of projects a year, yes the batting and backing and everything else adds up including wear and tear on the sewing machine.
And while I have lots of time, it's limited enough for me to not want to work on projects I don't want to work on! In the last couple of years some of the projects have challenged me in different ways. I'm pretty much always working on some project, the biggest difference for me is whether I know it has a home yet or not. Some of my projects I am making for me
Some I make for others, like next up is one for my hubby's Aunt. And some, well, I don't know what their end story will be so I do my standard level of work and care with the standard level of fabric I would be happy to keep for myself or wrap my own grandchild in.
06-21-2021, 05:23 AM
#35
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,949
Marshall Dry Goods have good quality 108 backing at very low prices.
https://marshalldrygoods.com/shop/fa...s-by-the-yard/
https://marshalldrygoods.com/shop/fa...s-by-the-yard/
06-21-2021, 05:33 AM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,386
I feel all my quilts are gifts to someone special so I try to use a nice backing no matter who it may be. True, the price of fabrics are going up so when I see a sale on backings I try to pick some up that I think might work on a quilt I'm doing. Of course I've got a quantity of backings right now so haven't bought any fabrics since Nove 2018 except a couple fat qtrs I needed to enlarge a border someone decided they wanted a larger size. Luckily I was able to find this fabric as I bought the kit years before. I rarely buy kits but this time I did for the colors she chose..........not my colors so didn't have many in my stash.
Also, have lost my sewing mojo for the past 18 months so everything just sits looking stupidly at me wondering when I'll get off my duff and get busy again.
Also, have lost my sewing mojo for the past 18 months so everything just sits looking stupidly at me wondering when I'll get off my duff and get busy again.
06-21-2021, 10:00 AM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Central NM
Posts: 1,578
I recently joined PL in my area and went to my first meeting last month. Loved the show and tell. My two came up for show. She said wait til you guys see the back...I'm using UFOs that have lost their interest for use in my home. Several said...it's a 2fer! Front and back! Speeds up the process and getting rid of UFOs. Hopefully some gals will join my band wagon. For me plain backing is boring compared to what I'm using.
06-21-2021, 01:50 PM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,660
Be careful using high count thread sheets. It makes it harder to quilt the finished quilt. Make sure your machine can handle the sheet you chose. Much easier with a walking foot than FMQ.
I've used good quality sheets with the lower thread count (hard to find) and have done some beautiful FMQ on them.
I've used good quality sheets with the lower thread count (hard to find) and have done some beautiful FMQ on them.
06-21-2021, 06:11 PM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 589
So many great observations and ideas here - thanks for sharing. I have a question for those of you who piece your backs. I have really struggled with keeping pieced backs on grain. I've done two - one like Julienm1's that was for me - it was my first pandemic quilt and I didn't have anything suitable for a backing, so I made a second quilt out of the stuff I'd used on the top and mashed them together. The other was to make up for fabric that wasn't wide enough for a backing. Both of them ended up being slightly off-kilter. Since I did stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, it's pretty obvious. So... any tips for making sure the backing is squared up to the top?
