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Advice please on sew easy strata star
I just finished 'birthing' the Sew Easy Strata Star. Up until now I was thinking this is great it turned out wonderfully!
Now here is where I'm needing help, as I've never quilted a birthed quilt. I have stitched in the ditch successfully with a layered table topper so I could 'ease' the fabric from the center out. I usually send all my quilts out to the LA. I have only quilted small wall hangings etc., again all were layered. With this table topper having the sewn edges I'm not sure how I will keep from getting puckers and folds. I have quilt pins the curved type do I just pin, pin, pin and then pin once more? Any words of wisdom of those that have been-there-and-done the Strata Star or quilted a birthed quilt will be most appreciated. |
When I made mine I used lots of pins and then rolled it tightly and did a stitched from one point all the way across to a point then did the same the other way so it was in four parts and it made it easy to do more quilting. I have made 3 and used the same method. Hope this makes sense.
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That is a problem with a birthed quilt. It can pucker easily when quilted. Quilt as far apart as the batting will allow and pin, pin, pin.
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This is why I personally hand baste; for me it's more controlling than pinning.
Jan in VA |
I ended up starting to press the ends flat and then press the quilt. Usually cotton will stick to cotton fabric and I put only a few pins in.
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I put a binding on mine and quilt before.Maybe you can try that next time and hope you can quilt this one where it looks ok......
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Originally Posted by Jan in VA
(Post 7070686)
This is why I personally hand baste; for me it's more controlling than pinning.
Jan in VA I'm so glad that you responded to my asking for help in quilting the Sew Easy Strata Star. I always appreciate when you share your wonderful knowledge. If you wouldn't mind my questions here... I've never basted a quilt or table topper. I went to YouTube and watched Sharon Schamber's video on herringbone hand basting, is this the type of basting that you would suggest on this smallish piece? Or would I just use longer stitches along the linear lines of the star? I have to look on the Warm and Natural to see how far apart I can stitch...I was hoping to stitch most of the lines, however now think that less would probably be better? What do you think? I know this is probably a silly question but how long of a stitch length would you use? |
Originally Posted by Mary O
(Post 7070816)
I put a binding on mine and quilt before.Maybe you can try that next time and hope you can quilt this one where it looks ok......
Thanks for taking the time to reply....Ohhhh, I must confess I cannot understand how to cut bias strips. I've watched a couple of YouTube videos and fold like this and cut like this makes all those old gears in my head go whack a doodle. I never gave a thought to quilting a birthed quilt...so I hope I can 'get' quilting this smallish piece as it was fun seeing the star come together and I do want to make more. |
Originally Posted by ManiacQuilter2
(Post 7070770)
I ended up starting to press the ends flat and then press the quilt. Usually cotton will stick to cotton fabric and I put only a few pins in.
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Originally Posted by Ruby the Quilter
(Post 7070441)
When I made mine I used lots of pins and then rolled it tightly and did a stitched from one point all the way across to a point then did the same the other way so it was in four parts and it made it easy to do more quilting. I have made 3 and used the same method. Hope this makes sense.
I had so much 'fun' making this and seeing it come together and I do want to make one for each season until I got to this point and I don't want to make a mess of quilting it. So thanks so much for your explanation it does make sense to me. My thinking was point to point too. Did you stitch the outside edges? I was wondering if that would be necessary to keep the back from eventually rolling/shifting to the front or would the linear stitching keep it in check? |
Onalee, have you ever watched a Eleanor Burns video where she teaches you how to make bias binding because it really is not that difficult to do, there are many other people who teach it as well Jenny Doan also has a video. Good luck with your Strata topper!
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Originally Posted by Ariannaquilts
(Post 7070999)
Onalee, have you ever watched a Eleanor Burns video where she teaches you how to make bias binding because it really is not that difficult to do, there are many other people who teach it as well Jenny Doan also has a video. Good luck with your Strata topper!
No I never 'thought' of Eleanor for cutting on the bias...of course what a wonderful suggestion! I watched Jenny's but got confused with hers if I remember correctly, which is silly because she's a wonderful teacher. It's embarrassing because I'm sure it 'is' much simpler than what I've made it out to be. I'm going to search out Eleanor's video. Thanks so much Maria, for taking the time to suggest these two ladies :0) |
Just wanted to add that I have never understood how to cut bias binding, either, and that whenever I try to quilt something I've birthed, it's very problematic if I quilt too closely. Somehow the pieces don't fit as well together after I turn as before :o
But then again I'm a little lazy with the pinning... |
I have made five of these. If you are using cotton batting and press well the layers will stick together. I pin mine well and like Ruby quilter I stitch in the ditch point to point then quilt each section from the center out. I may start past the center so I don't have so many loose threads right in the center. I do have a pfaff with the even feed and never have had puckering. Use a walking foot to do your quilting. You can pull your loose threads to the back or hide them with a needle like Leah Day. Good luck. Just take your time, it's not hard.
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I guess I've made seven of these instead of five. If you do a search on here for Star Spin Tutorial you will see pictures of one I did and some of the quilting.
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Originally Posted by Dogwood Quilter
(Post 7072029)
I have made five of these. If you are using cotton batting and press well the layers will stick together. I pin mine well and like Ruby quilter I stitch in the ditch point to point then quilt each section from the center out. I may start past the center so I don't have so many loose threads right in the center. I do have a pfaff with the even feed and never have had puckering. Use a walking foot to do your quilting. You can pull your loose threads to the back or hide them with a needle like Leah Day. Good luck. Just take your time, it's not hard.
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I'm not sure what size the Sew Easy Strata Star is, but I have often "birthed" quilts from placemats, table runners, to wall hangings and small baby/lap quilts. I use Warm & Natural batting, so after turning the quilt, I press with an iron to smooth the quilt out, then I pin often to rule out ripples or tucks. I will often, after quilting the main portion of the quilt, I will stitch a half inch to 3/4" around the edge of the quilt as a "fake" binding. Just pin often and you should be fine.
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I have only birthed 2 small quilts and they came out well for my beginner status. I turned them right side out then SITD all over then done a 1/4" all around the outside of the quilt. They both turned out well in my opinion. Of course I am still considering myself a beginner. But I am still PROUD of how they came out.
Jeri |
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