My new challenge!
 

Spent yesterday late afternoon/evening at a friend's house..did not want to face carloads of trick or treaters..anyway....several years ago she made a cathedral window quilt-about twin size......I never tried that process but decided I wanted to learn....so she showed me....I think I'm hooked! Every year I like to try to give myself a challenge/goal...and this may be this year's......it took her almost two yrs to finish, doing it nightly after coming home from her job......I don't know how far I will get...maybe only a pillow cover, but it is going to be a challenge....hexies will have to " move aside" for awhile.

Who here has done cathedral windows?
If I were to do a full bed size( ha,ha) how much background fab would I need...about a bolt?...........and also at least two lifetimes!

Have found a few good hints on YouTube, of course too, even my friend liked a few of the hints........

We have 2 great tutorials on this board:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...d-t145154.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...al-t35742.html

I have attempted to make the cathedral window quilt many times, using new ways and the old ways. I have never finished anything but a small project using them. I love making hexies so I don't know why I can't continue with the cathedral window.

Paper princess...yes I have hard copy of the tute on machine from here.....looked at the hand one also, but too much hand work. I found a tute on YouTube that does the beginning step, not by folding over fab, but butting and zigzag stitching, then when joining the squares..do machine straight stitch on that fold...and I took a bit of machine tute from here....sewing those pesky four points with a lock stitch......so mine will be a combo of a few techniques...I better write them down so I don't forget!

I made one by machine -- I loved it. You will have to decide what size you are making to figure out how much background fabric -- I can't remember how big a square I started with but it does take a lot of fabric!

Now I have been practicing on the cathedral window and couple other patterns. They're going into my sampler crazy quilt maybe!

My grandmother made one many years ago by hand. I have it - twin size. It is quite heavy. Every time that I wash it - I have to spend hours "mending" it where the stitches have broken. So, I have put it away and won't use it anymore. I might take it apart and make a couple of pillow covers out of it - but that would require washing them also. Don't know about the machine pieced one though - might hold up better.

There is a book out that teaches the machine version of the cathedral window. My LQS taught a class using the book. It was fun to make, but I only made a small wall hanging. It takes a LOT of fabric, but it is finished. You don't have to add batting, backing and quilt it when you're done. They are beautiful.

I made a pillow once and my daughter's dog chewed it up. Never attempted it again but i remember enjoying doing it. I'll put that on my to do list for 2015 then maybe I'll get to it after I finish the to do list I made for 2012.

How by machine...do you mean sewing those little scalloped frames down with straight stitch? I did that on a sample, after I handsewed two down, and honestly I am tempted to do all by machine...I have my hexies as hand work....

I also saw a book on how to machine sew cathedrals by Shelley Swanland...am tempted to buy....anyone have it..is it good?

I am also thinking if I use good grade bleached muslin instead of kona, for instance, the bulk and weight might be reduced....just mulling over possibilities.......have a boatload of squares for the windows..that's no prob!

Do you remember the book used in the class? Or name of LQS so I ban contact for info. As mentioned here, I may be tempted to sew down those frames by machine, just so it is more secure......just another thought on this matter, although I really don't want to overthink this thing!!!!!

Missouri Star Quilt Co has a tutorial .....watch Jenny's magic.

I have made two CW,s and helped finish another when my friend had a stroke.
They are truly a labor of love.
One was full size for my hubby and took 3years to finish. The other was for my daughter and was queen size.
That took all of four years to complete. I used fabric from her dresses and other folks clothes for the "windows".
So the quilt felt like part of her childhood.
I took a square when I traveled in my job or was going off for a week-end.
Go for it and just keep on going. It is a beautiful quilt when finished.
I do not see another CW in my future BUT who knows :):)

I am working on one now. I started with 8" squares and my "window frames" end up about 2-1/2", so I would think you need about 4 times the regular amount of background for whatever size you decide to make. I used the tutorial on here to make the pockets and to sew them together, but am sewing the windows by hand.

I have loved Cathedral Windows since stumbling on a blog "Hyena in Petticoats"
http://hyena-in-petticoats.blogspot....-tutorial.html

I ended up buying a book "Through the window and beyond:New designs for cathedral windows " which gives instructions for machine and hand construction of cathedral windows. I am in the middle of other projects at the moment but have wrestled with the knowledge that these thing become very heavy so I am unsure what to make but will surely complete a cathedral window project some day.

Love the block but think it is one I will enjoy from afar.

Gram2five----beautiful!
I hope someday to have one completed!
I'm starting with 9"- ending with 4 1/2" to fit my ton of 21/2"squares for the windows.........am going to start this journey Wednesday, as tomorrow am going to be an election judge---- loooonnngg day- so I will bring my hexies !

Don't forget to vote!

I love CW's and will make one eventually, but for now, I'll stick with my EPP with 60 degree diamonds and hexagons. I already have 3 of those projects in the works. If I ever tire of them, I'll switch to a CW and have it as my take along project.

I have a friend who started one and got half way through it and quit. I have only done a few blocks. They are pretty

Thank You for the link. her tutorial makes it look so easy I want to try it.

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/04/...w-pillows.html

Check this link out for a CW tutorial. I love these pillows!

It will take 23 yards of background fabric to make a full size. I have been working on one off and on for the past 10yrs, using scraps. It's half way finished.

I have done some cathedral window work, only the hand sewing variety. Your video was excellent but the only difference is that when I sew the coloured pieces on I sew through all thicknesses to the back. This means that it is 'quilted' at the same time.
I love it because it is so portable - always had a few squares in a small bag which I could do when waiting for train or in the doctors surgery.

I have made 4 Christmas tree ornaments that are Cathedral Window.

Watched this the other day--thought it was really neat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66_n...=TLxpZF7oCGK54

I have always wanted to do a CW - I think this will go on my to do list for the coming year. I may even have this as the project to start on New Years eve.

Yes, I've done one..... for my daughter and her DH for their 25th anniversary. It took me a couple of years but I broke my arm in the middle of the project and couldn't sew for about 4-5 months. It's heavy and it took a lot of background fabric. I bought a bolt of muslin from my LQS. The stuff that JoAnns had was way too flimsy looking to me. I think it was around 40 yards but I have tons of it left over. I'll use it for other projects. And I machine stitched the sides to make the squares and hand stitched the squares together and hand stitched the color squares. I'm glad it's done..... it's a queen sized one. Here's a picture.