Hi all,
I hope someone may be able to advise me as I haven't a clue how to proceed. I have lots of questions.

Mainly I sew, cross-stitch, but over the years I have made a couple of dozen 16" square embroideries that I would love to turn into quilts. I have just started on a embroidered edging for the first one.

I have sewn the squares together to the correct size for the bed but am now completely at a loss on how to do the batting. I would like to just quilt it along the stitching lines that join the squares together, is that possible or does the stitching need to be much closer togther?

Do I quilt through the three layers (top, batting and base)?

I would like to use a washable batting, which one is best?

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, hope it's no too much to ask.

Thanks.

Take some time to read threads on this board before proceeding. It could save you a lot of trouble!

The only batting I know that could stand to be quilted 16" apart would be Warm n Natural (and even that would be stretching it). The quilting is what keeps the layers together and prevents shifting. WnN is needlepunched through a scrim, which makes it much more stable than other battings. If you tried to use a regular polyester or cotton batting with quilting 16" apart, you would have disaster on your hands after a washing or two.

Yes, the quilting goes through all three layers. There are many tips that are helpful for layering and quilting, so that you don't get unwanted puckers and tucks in the backing, etc.

Are you planning to hand quilt or machine quilt?

Thanks for replying, I think I'll have to stitch round each piece of embroidery, that will solve the problem of there being too much space.

I was hoping to machine it as it would be easier and quicker, but maybe it would be better to machine stitch the straight lines and then hand stitch round the designs.

I have read through about 10 pages but couldn't find the answers, you are all so experienced and produce such wonderful work, I was even a bit hesitant to ask such basic questions. :-)

Hello Deeds, and welcome to your new obsession!

Quilting is a pretty magical kind of thing. I will try to address your questions as best I can. Your embroideries CAN be turned into a quilt successfully, and you are asking all the right questions to make sure you don't blow it. It would be a shame to take beautiful work and make a mess of it.

Yes, you can just stitch along the seams of the squares, but I would recommend some other stitching as well as most battings need to be quilted a bit more closely to avoid bunching and migrating of the batting upon washing. Depending on how large the center of your embroidery is, perhaps you can run a quilting stitch around the perimeter of the design in each block?

Yes, you quilt through all three layers. Your quilting stitches will serve to attach all three layers together securely. Think of it like stapling papers together. If you only staple the top two, the bottom one will "float" away.

As to your question about the batting, I believe most battings are washable.

It would be helpful to you to pick up a good basic book on quilting. Harriet Hargraves books are tremendous for machine quilting, and there are many good books that can help show you how to hand quilt.

My best suggestion would be to go to your local quilt shop (LQS) and ask if there is someone who has experience in hand quilting (I assume you are planning to do this by hand) who might be willing to give you some tips and pointers. Perhaps that person can help get you going and her advance and encouragement will be invaluable to you.

Best of luck in putting this together. Never be afraid to ask even the most basic questions. We all have to start somewhere. And post pictures of what you end up doing!

Hope This Helps,

Odessa

Thank you so much Odessa, that's really helpful. Unfortunately I don't have a quilting shop closer than 100 miles, so I am really on my own (except for cyber help).

Here's a link to 12 of the designs, I have lots more just no photo's yet!

I'm planning an embroidered border too - I must be mad :D

http://s462.photobucket.com/albums/q...Dee571/Sewing/

Those are just stunning! Please let us know where you got the patterns - my dd would probably just love to run those off for me! If you let us know where you are located, there may just be someone close enough to help you out.

Those are beautiful. Maybe you can do some machine tacking in the blank spots, and outline the actual design in quilting. Before you decide to do anything, you will need to at least hand wash the blocks. Some embroidery threads are not as stable as sewing thread, and could bleed.

Thank you, that's really kind of you.

Some are from Elizabeth Bradley, others are from photo's and I've made my own charts, all over really, been making them for years and just putting them away in the cupboard, but decided now is the time to do something with them before old age sets in and I can't. The only common factor is the fabric they're sewn on 27 count cotton evenweave.

I'm in Cornwall in the far south west of the UK.

wow oh wow - I just looked at your pics again. those are counted cross
stitch??? - the time you have spent - it boggles my mind - they are just absolutely beautiful.

I'm blushing now , you're so kind :D .

Yes all counted cross stitch, I try to keep the designs about 160 stitches x 160 stitches so they are all roughly in proportion.

The squares have all been washed and ironed. I always use DMC threads as they seem to be the most colour fast, and that was also my thoughts when I chose the fabric as it's very stable.

I have another 9 photo's to add tomorrow if you'd like to see them.

Those are beautiful pieces! It would be a shame to mess these up. I would hand quilt around the shapes of the flowers. If you are machne quilting, please use a walking foot so that your fabrics don't bunch up either on the top or the bottom.

absolutely more pics! am going to think on this one overnight. wonder about some kind of cross-stitch to join the whole "sandwich" (quilter's terminology for top, batting and backing). i need to think more outside of the box on this one - good grief, i can even envision it put together with a metallic brocade for the sashings to match the weight of your squares (think greens & blues combined).

Deeds,

no time to check out your photos yet, but here's another thought: do you have a local community college/university nearby? They may be able to assist.

And if that fails, come back to us -- we'll be your teachers! We can help you with tutorials and descriptions that will not fail you. We promise to help!

I can't get into the pictures :cry: Says I need a password or open an acct :?

if you really want to just outline the blocks, instead of reg. batting, you could do as I do for some quilts. I use regular bed blankets, the plain ones in the size I need, (twin, king) and the quilting can be as close or as far as you need it to be. I hand quilted several, , and first time just finished machine quilting one that way. This one is smaller, lap sized.

You can also google "quilting tutorials" and find some great informatiion.

Thanks for all your advice, I feel much more confident now to start making up my first quilt. I am going to attempt to stitch between the blocks by machine and then outline the flowers etc by hand. I am so fired up and excited. I didn't know where to start yesterday and now I have a plan!

I have added another 9 photographs.

The password for the album is

lindenlea23

please have a look :D

Just saw the pictures.. They are beautiful :mrgreen:
Sharon

trying to use the link to view your pics, but cannot seem to get logged in.....it is asking for password.

Beautiful work Deeds. My husband and I both cross-stitch so I know how much time and work has gone into every lovely flower.

I am sure you will be able to get all the help you need on this board - just ask a question and someone will have the answer or be able to point you in the right direction.

GOOD LUCK and keep us up to date with your progress and post photos. :thumbup:

Just got to the photos - these are beautiful....May I make a suggestion? Have you thought about adding sashing between these blocks? Like perhaps the dark green that appears in most of these squares? That would frame each of the blocks (squares) and (I believe) really set each off.

You could add a 1 1/2 in strip to the right side of each block, except the final one in each row. When each row is then stitched together, you can add a 1 1/2 unfinished strip between each row as you are piecing the rows together. Then add the 1 1/2 inch unfinished strip to each side, and A 1 1/2 inch strip across the top and bottom.

Whatever you decide, I am certain it will be FAB! Please post pics as you are progressing with piecing the quilt top. We all are very interested. :D

Dee Dee, your work is exquisite (can't spell). Agree with Shorebird about putting sashing around them. A step further, get some material and make a quilt, see how it is done and learn the tips that you will need before you tackle your embroidery. You have a lot of talant and time involved in those pieces, they are wonderful :D