Does anyone make a quilt using gingham ?
 

I have collected all colors of gingham which I got shopping at my various thrift stores. Yesterday I cleaned out my sewing room and wondered if I was saving them for nothing. Since they are not 100% cotton, I wonder if they will fray when repeatedly washed in a quilt. I have many really old quilts but I don't think they have gingham in them either. Do any of you quilters here on the board use gingham ?

One of my first quilts (30 years ago ... ) was all gingham checks, different sizes and colors, tied, with flannel back - it was the first quilt I remember making ... it may still be out there somewhere, I had so many things 'lost' in all my moves over the years.

They will make a lovely, cheerful quilt. Gingham is just a happy fabric (smile). Looking forward to seeing your pictures as you progress.

I think gingham has many uses in quilting, especially with applique. I've been trying to collect bits of gingham for a while, it is such a quaint and tidy type fabric. Enjoy what you have and try it out! :)

I have used some gingham squares in quilts and haven't had any problem with them fraying out. Sounds like you could make a very colorful quilt.

Chicken Scratch is used on Gingham. I've been interested in this for a while!
http://www.pegasusor.com/chicinst.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...ch-t58436.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...ch-t72036.html
http://crossstitch.about.com/od/chic...atch-Patterns/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/9195669/Ch...tch-Embroidery

I have used gingham with no problem. I to had stash that I needed to use and made a baby quilt out of it and turned out very nice

My first quilt years and years ago also had gingham in it. I learned a lesson with that..........don't press with hot iron because it will shrink!!! I never did finish that quilt but still have some of the blocks that I would like to do something with.

I have a well-worn and often washed hand embroidered quilt on my bed that my dear Aunt Mary made MANY years ago and it was sashed with gingham and it is in perfect shape. Very soft and comfortable. Wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world.

I'd like to do a Sunbonnet Sue with ginghams for her dresses etc. I do have one quilt done with red and white gingham that I bought at an auction - unfinished; it looks like a patchwork tablecloth moreso than a quilt top - so I may just finish it as such - using a flannel backing and no batting.. the do SID to quilt it - Its a truly different look.

I made an all-gingham quilt in 1980 when I was expecting our first child. Both our babies used it and my daughter used it with her two kiddos. It's still in use, but mostly as an oversized doll quilt now :). Obviously that gingham has held up well!

See Bonnie Hunter's post today for pictures of quilts made from Dan River Mills gingham http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/...ver-mills.html

I made a crib quilt using gingham several years ago when Dan River gingham was plentiful. It was well-loved and went through many washings. It finally "died" when my son used it for window coverings in his tree house. An estate sale find had a stash of gingham which I am turning into a yo-yo quilt for summer --- another UFO. Making enough yo-yos got real tedious!

Thanks for the link to the BHunter post mem. Really interesting.
Annie

I have a quilt top that is made from chicken scratch blocks. It is so pretty. So, my answer is Yes. You can use Gingham.

I made the cutest baby quilt using all the light colors. It was so cute. And, no, I have no picture of it (story of my life! I guess I am so anxious to get them to the recipient I forget to photograph it!)

I do and they are adorable. I have made several baby quilts with gingham and I really love how the binding looks if you use it on the bias!

I made a D9P with different sized and colored yellow gingham. It was a beautiful quilt but I really didn't like the way it felt even after I quilted it. I don't plan on using gingham again.

I have two quilts that were made for me in the early 80's. Both have been used very frequently and washed just as many times. The gingham has held up just fine.

My mom used gingham in quilts she made for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (some over 50 years ago) and after all this time and repeated washings, they are still going strong!!

I have used a LOT of gingham over the years making baby and toddler quilts. As far as I know, they are all still alive and well. (The quilts, NOT referring to the kids...:))

I have used it and mixed the squares with squares of polka dots, stripes, etc.

...or make a few aprons.....easy and back in style....I always wear an apron in the kitchen....actually have some that I bought at antique stores - gingham with chicken scratch embroidery on them and they wear like iron!!!!!!

I've made gingham quilts for all my grandkids. They drag yhem around all over and they have been washed many, many times. They're great!

I have been using gingham for many years on baby quilts...never had a problem...always prewash fabrics and back in flannel baby prints or zoo animals or numbers...interesting things to grow with the child...great to study at naptime

I too made a quilt of gingham for my daughter. It was a replica of a quilt I had made her over 30 years ago (Holly Hobbie) which she had until it was ruined when she was 20 by a ex boyfriend. So I made this replacement quilt around 10 years ago and it has been washed over and over. Since gingham does ravel just make sure that it is well quilted.

I made several gingham quilts in the 1970's for my son and daughter when thyey were born for baby blankets. My nursery was done in green gingham, curtins, diaper stacker, diaper bag, quilt, and changing table pad. We saved the quilt and other knitted baby things that I had made. We gave them to my son when he had twin boys in 2008.They lasted through many washings quite well.

Yes, I have made a twin size quilt from all different ginghams and I have also done "Chicken scratch". First off the quilt was made for my oldest neice, started shortly after she was born and finished when she was at least 10 yrs old. It was on her bed for years and appeared to hold up well. It does fray, but if you either "quilt-as-you-go" or do quilting (rather than tying) it- there shouldn't be any problems due to fraying.
I had forgotten I even did the "chicken scratch" table cloth until I dug it out this year. It is a red gingham square that fits over a small round table, or looks great in center of a bigger table. So very easy to do!
Hopefully anyone interested in either of these projects will give them a try!
Enjoy
Kat

This is what I use gingham for. At our County Fair last year we had a couple of entries that used Chicken-Scratch Blocks. They were all beautiful and one won a Blue Ribbon.

I would use it for quilt backing and you can use smaller pieces to make your own bias tape. If you prewash so nothing is going to shrink with further use then go ahead and use it in the quilt. Mixing cotton and blends is OK, shrinkage is the only issue. Or use the gingham for totes, aprons, place mats, curtains, mug rugs, doll clothes, reusable grocery bags, embroidered pillows, or any other small project you can think of. I really like the look of a bit of gingham in 30's look quilts and projects. Just prewash and you are fine.

Wow, I went back and looked at the "Chicken Scratch" red gingham quilt and it was like Dejavu!! The very first quilt I ever made was a red and white gingham with chicken scratch hearts in the center of each block. I was for my first granddaughter and she is now 27 and still has the quilt. It has been "well loved" but still hanging in there.

Just finished reading this and it was fascinating! Highly recommend it! Thanks, mem, for posting it!

Thank you for giving us Bonnie Hunter's blog, it was really interesting. I love gingham, even put it in one of my first quilts 17 years ago. But now that I use 100% cotton, I was concerned. Guess all of you assured me that I can make a quilt out of it. I have so many colors, it will be a very colorful quilt.

I have made a few quilts with gingham, one of them was a baby quilt with a large border.

I have made baby quilts with gingham back in the 80's and 90's...If you sew the seam well, you shouldn't have any issues...or maybe make it a bit larger seam allowance. My niece still has her quilt that was made in '82 or '83...it hasn't frayed. The only issue was with an applique that frayed.

I have a twin size gingham top made using small checks of different colors. I plan on hand quilting it next after I get my frog quilt finished and off the frames. It will be a beautiful cool looking summer quilt for this Summer. I will use it like a comforter.

When you said gingham the first thing that came to mind was the link from a couple days ago that showed a french braid quilt made out of plaids. That would be cute to make from gingham. Or the "coin" quilt.

The most durable quilts I have made--held their color and haven't frayed, are made of blends, 65 % cotton, 35% polyester. I made quilts from gingham for babies and the babies are now in their 40's and their quilts are going still going strong. froggyintexas

My Mother made my daughter one with all gingham checks with the Parasol Girl Pattern. My daughter just started using it again (she is now 40) and I had her check it over and there isn't a thing wrong with it. So yes you can! Make a beautiful colorful quilt.

You don't have to make quilts out of 100% cotton. Other fabrics are just not as forgiving. I think a gingham quilt would be really cute.