Low Tech Quilting
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,726
What a nice thing to do is pass on your love of quilting. As for fabric....Think outside the box...cotton shirts that are no longer loved. I've seen many quilts made with men and women's cotton dress shirts. Blue jeans if not too thick are fun. If you have a local guild to contact, they may have fabric and notions to donate or machines to lend. I learned to quilt making place mats or if smaller projects are needed...a mug rug.
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,649
I am not aware of any "law/rule" that says one "has to" use only one method when making a quilt.
My first quilt - I hand pieced the blocks - sewed the borders and sashings to the blocks by machine and attached the binding by machine. Hand quilted the quilt and hand sewed the binding to the back.
Still would mix methods/techniques if it is reasonable to do so.
My first quilt - I hand pieced the blocks - sewed the borders and sashings to the blocks by machine and attached the binding by machine. Hand quilted the quilt and hand sewed the binding to the back.
Still would mix methods/techniques if it is reasonable to do so.
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,714
I like the idea of "low-tech quilting."
Lovely things can be made with a relatively low investment for tools and materials.
I feel very overwhelmed when the "necessary list" seems to include - most, if not all, of the following:
A long arm machine - preferably one that can load a king-size quilt
A die cutter for fabric - with all the dies available
The very top of the line computerized sewing sewing machine - or several - for different colors of threads and settings
Quilter's Select rotary cutters- at least one of each size, mats, and rulers (all of them available)
At least a roomful of fabrics, battings, and threads.
A computer, printer, and internet connection to spend time at/on the Quilting Board
A couple of design walls
Enough storage space for all this so items can be located
And adequate working space to spread all this out in to be able to function.
Nothing wrong with having all the goodies - but one can start out "small" -
Lovely things can be made with a relatively low investment for tools and materials.
I feel very overwhelmed when the "necessary list" seems to include - most, if not all, of the following:
A long arm machine - preferably one that can load a king-size quilt
A die cutter for fabric - with all the dies available
The very top of the line computerized sewing sewing machine - or several - for different colors of threads and settings
Quilter's Select rotary cutters- at least one of each size, mats, and rulers (all of them available)
At least a roomful of fabrics, battings, and threads.
A computer, printer, and internet connection to spend time at/on the Quilting Board
A couple of design walls
Enough storage space for all this so items can be located
And adequate working space to spread all this out in to be able to function.
Nothing wrong with having all the goodies - but one can start out "small" -
I'm still not big on one use rulers, don't have a die cutter and do a lot of things the "old way".
#34
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 448
Everyone has raised excellent points! Personally I love my Bernina 170, but I was nearly 50 before I could save up enough to buy it, and even then it was used. I have gone on to acquire most or all of the nice quilting "upgrades", including a very large stash, but none of those would be easy or possible on a tightly restricted income.
That said, I would sure hate to quilt without my rotary cutter, mat, 24" and 12" rulers.
These young women just want to know where and how to start their quilting careers, and we will begin with a mug rug and doll quilts, then a lap quilt. Most cannot initially afford any kind of machine, and will if they like the craft have to save up and hunt for that great, affordable first sewing machine. I am in Canada and we do not have a plethora of resources for recyled/used/thrifted items or materials.
I would like to ask all of you who have hand-pieced about the durability of hand piecing. I take those quilts are handwash only?
That said, I would sure hate to quilt without my rotary cutter, mat, 24" and 12" rulers.
These young women just want to know where and how to start their quilting careers, and we will begin with a mug rug and doll quilts, then a lap quilt. Most cannot initially afford any kind of machine, and will if they like the craft have to save up and hunt for that great, affordable first sewing machine. I am in Canada and we do not have a plethora of resources for recyled/used/thrifted items or materials.
I would like to ask all of you who have hand-pieced about the durability of hand piecing. I take those quilts are handwash only?
Last edited by WesternWilson; 09-30-2021 at 03:02 PM.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Tn
Posts: 9,013
Hand quilting will hold up just as well as machine stitched. As long as the stitches are not too long and a small back stitch every so often. Machine washing on a gentle cycle is possible. If there is doubt, try washing in a front load machine where there is no agitation
#36
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,649
I have had to unsew some of my hand-pieced blocks. They are almost as hard to take apart as some of my machine sewn ones.
There is a "however"
The stitches need to be small/short - less than 1/8 inch showing (I do not know how to count hand-sewn stitches) and back stitched every 4 to 6 stitches. Anyway,that's what I do. Ginny Beyer's hand quilting book is awesome!
Basting type stitches will not hold together . I picked up some squares that had been "sewn" together. Those did not even survive being picked up.
A fairly short, interesting article on needles:
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/the-sewin...9th-centuries/
There is a "however"
The stitches need to be small/short - less than 1/8 inch showing (I do not know how to count hand-sewn stitches) and back stitched every 4 to 6 stitches. Anyway,that's what I do. Ginny Beyer's hand quilting book is awesome!
Basting type stitches will not hold together . I picked up some squares that had been "sewn" together. Those did not even survive being picked up.
A fairly short, interesting article on needles:
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/the-sewin...9th-centuries/
#37
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,649
I think the idea of a mug rug or place mat or table topper as a starting point is excellent. They are fairly useful items, and still provide a lot of opportunities to learn if one like the idea of sewing or not.
Also, it the item ends up being "a learning experience" - the investment was comparatively small in materials and time.
I still think a pot holder - while a useful item - is not the "right" thing to try to learn about quilting.
Also, it the item ends up being "a learning experience" - the investment was comparatively small in materials and time.
I still think a pot holder - while a useful item - is not the "right" thing to try to learn about quilting.