Narrow-minded for material selection for quilt making
 

I know a couple that works with a church group that make quilts - they made 99 of them last winter.

I've seen some of the quilts 'in person' and photos of the last ones.

They are lovely - they are well made, the fabric selections are pleasing. They are tied.
The husband and wife make up kits to distribute to the other members of the group. He does the cutting - He stated his accuracy is to within 1/64th of an inch - and it makes the pieces go together ever so much better.

They use just about anything that is washable and not slippery.

So after seeing what they use - and it turns out lovely - I've started to think that I am very narrow-minded in what I think is "acceptable"

You have to be true to yourself. If you are going to be forever critical of the quality of fabric you used in your quilt, perhaps you need to continue using what makes you happy. That being said, make a simple, small project using less expensive fabric. Put it to the test of frequent washings then make your determinations.

Maybe you are fussy about fabric for the quilts you make because you want the fabric to look good, wear well, and make a statement about your craftsmanship. I know I wouldn't want to take a chance on some 'not slippery' fabric shrinking up or fading after a wash or going to pieces in the dryer, or gathering lint, or pilling ....

It sure is a lesson, though, isn't it? The value of their quilts is in the careful labor and design choices.

Good thought for a Sunday!

I am not narrow minded in my fabric selection. I shop at Joann's and love my local store and that's mostly because I love the employees there. But also because I am on a budget and can not afford to use name brand fabrics all the time. I have a creepy obsession with charm packs. Lol and I love moda fabric so I have to be very selective in what I but name brand to make my money go further.

I made my niece a flannel quilt using all joann flannels and it's been a year and it is holding up great even if the binding looks like poo. I used Walmart fabrics for a tie quilt and pillow for my niece as well and it's holding up well also.

I just pick and choose fabric as I go and whether I buy it from Joann's, an online shop or eBay even Joe Schmoe down the block as long as I am happy with it and it's not falling apart as I sew and cut then I am happy. The only thing I steer clear from now is broadcloth because I didn't know it wasn't all cotton and melted some while pressing seams. Lesson learned and thankfully a cheap on at that.

The only thing sewing wise I am snobby about is my machine. I will never ever buy a big store machine again because after having two break down in less that 8 mths I will stick with my very awesome janome dealer. Nothing like having the kind of customer service that makes you feel important.

When I first started quilting I was not picky but I have had several experiences where material I bought on sale was flawed and did not hold up. I also bought some cheap material that stretched and was hard to work with so I am a little more picky than I use to be. I am sewing by hand so I want my material to be easy to sew on. I have stupidly bought material that was too heavy and hard to work with. I guess everyone has to decide for them selves but I want my things I make to be usable and hold up to washings and they do if I use good quality matrial.

When I first started quilting, I thought I needed to use fabric from one line when I made a quilt. I think it was because I was a "color idiot" LOL! It took a long time, but I no longer feel the need to use one line, one manufacturer, or "better" fabrics all the time. I use what catches my eye, plain and simple. As long as it holds up to the prewash, I'll use it :) All in all, I think my problem was color-coordinating. I found that using one of those "peepholes" for doors really helped me there. Looking at the fabric far away can really make the wrong fabrics stand out!

If you're going to put in the time, love and effort to make a quilt, I would think it's better to use materials that make you happy.

I think I didn't make what I was trying to say very clear -

They are just more innovative and creative n what will work than I am/was.

They use cotton interlock and single knits - for example - for backings - (Probably no more bizarre than using t-shirts in a top?)

They will use used blankets (that are not wonky) as fillings/battings.

She mentioned several times how varied textures can be appealing.

I had a chunk of a weird green of interlock - and another cotton with a rough finish - she put the two pieces together and it was BEAUTIFUL!

They are very particular about what looks good - and is NOT sleazy.

So after being with them for a while - my horizons of what might work have been broadened.

Thank you G and R.

PS - Their group makes "love quilts" - not "charity quilts"

I like the term love quilt much more than charity quilt.

Give it a try to see if it works for you. I know our church made "50" for 50 years and they turned out lovely also. At least some did, some made me shudder. I know true scrappys of the past used anything and everything, maybe you like the look. There is alot of commercialism in todays quilting, patterns that require their rulers, expensive machines, ect. You may open a door to new creative possibilities.

It sounds like they are doing good work. I've used blankets and sheets as batting--mine had been well-washed (read old! :) ), so I knew they wouldn't go wonky, plus that way I put them to good use, even if they weren't "pretty" anymore. I knew a lady who used nothing but double knit in quilts--hand pieced and handquilted. She saw it as a wonder fabric--lasts forever, washes well, very warm, etc. Growing up and during most of her adulthood, all she had was worn clothing and muslin to use--double knit, to her, was magic! We need to recognize sometimes that our comfort zones-our "right" way to do things, can be limiting. I don't plan to make a double knit quilt, but I can now admire hers. :)

Bearisgray, any time we can have our horizons broadened is a good time. I agree with Toverly, there is a lot of commercialism in quilting today. Thank you for the reminder to think outside the box a little.

I would love to be able to be narrow minded in my fabric selection, but the moths keep flying out of my wallet. So I just have to go with what I can afford.

that's one reason scrappy quilts turn out so much better than we think they ever would. They just go for it and it works.

My son goes to a different church than we do and brought home a request for fabrics to make pillowcase dresses for children of Africa - or actual pillowcases. I went through my stash and sent some girly colored fabrics that I considered not suitable for quilts thinking that they could make the pillowcase dresses for the girls. When my son gave the bags of fabrics to the "ladies of the church" that were collecting the fabrics, they told him that they would be making quilts from my fabric instead of dresses. So, you never know who will be using what and what for???

Whether a quilt is tied or quilted, to me, is still a quilt. It's made of 3 layers, regardless. I've made lots of donation quilts and they've always been loved, the people don't give a hoot, whether it's tied or quilted, they're just thrilled to death that someone gave them something that they made with their own 2 hands. I've also made lots of tied quilts out of double knit and poly knit fabrics to a men's homeless shelter. They're heavy, warm and will wear like iron. I've used blankets, mattress pads that the elastic has worn out on, a friend of mine, used and cut apart sweat shirts, for the middle. I also have used sheets for batting and have even cut some up for blocks.

I have always been a 'Textile addict' ! :) I love textiles- I seldom limit myself to only one *type* of fabrics- I make sure the fabrics I am going to use will 'play well together' but beyond that I use what pleases me at the moment- for the current project- have sold some fabulous quilts that contained wools, silks, velvets, cottons, flannel, corduroy, denim * yup- in the same quilt* it is kind of a shame - you miss out on so much when you have it in your head you can only use 100% cotton for a quilt- there are fabulous, beautiful fabrics from all over the world to play with, experiment with and enjoy. :)

It is not narrow minded to do what you like. It is also okay to try something and decide it is not your cup of tea. Remember " nothing ventured, nothing gained". You never know if you like, or dis- like something until you try. It sounds to me like you are wanting to jump into something new. Have fun.
peace

To me, your comments demonstrate you do have an open mind to other fabrics, especially after seeing what they have been able to do with non-traditional choices. I think it is great and we all could learn from people who are so imaginative and beautifully creative at the same time. It's a wonderful discover, don't you think? I like the term "love quilts" too. Good for them and how much they have accomplished! Maybe you could show us some pics of the quilts.

What about the people who made quilts 100 years ago they did not have a quilt store to go to and I have seen alot of these quilts still together Do ya think maybe we are just being a little spoiled.The innovations in this craft is a huge contrast to what these ladies had to make due with except for the wealthy few who could buy quality fabric from abroad. Im just saying to love quilting for me is to recognize and remember where and how it originated and make due with what you can the best you can.

I certainly think it depends on what you want your end result to be. Certainly a donation quilt designed just to cover someone for warmth or for a kid to drag around wouldn't need the the artistic integrity of a blue ribbon winner. But just try to picture one of Sharon Shaumber's exquisite quilts with a hunk of polyester double knit here and there. Then again, I can't picture one of her quilts actually scrunched up on a bed. Get my point?

You do what you have to do. I cannot shop at the prices of the LQS very often either. I have made some beautiful quilts (IMHO) out of Wal Mart fabric and find that they do have some great quality at the less expensive stores.

My favorite quilt of all time was an antique double wedding ring top given to my father in exchange for legal work sometime in the 1920s or 30s. Most of the fabric in the slices was very light weight, what we would consider batiste or voile today and say was too thin to be suitable for quilting. We had it quilted in the early 60s and it was used regularly into the late 90s when it finally became too threadbare to continue washing. And it was mostly the muslin and the binding (a regular solid cotton fabric from the 60s) that were wearing out, not the "too thin" fabrics.

I had a very dear aunt who made 'love' quilts such as you are talking about. She made so very many and not only did she bless people of her community with them but she also blessed her nieces and nephews with them. I have a tied quilt from her full of double-knits and clashing colors. Not my taste in quilts at all but I CHERISH it with all my heart! She had a very hard life as a farm woman who continued to run her dairy farm after her husband left her (he had PTSD issues stemming from WW2). She passed away about 10 years ago...the last of my late mother's siblings...miss her.

After reading your post, I would not call you narrow minded. I would call you open to other possibilities.

I'm now rethinking what I use to quilt.
I was always told that you need to use 100% cotton fabric and thread.
After reading this, I'm going to try making a crazy quilt with other fabrics and threads.
Thank you for opening my eyes to other possibilities.

Look at Gees Bend quilts, magnificent works created from various fabrics. Seems like free-thinking instead of over-thinking can lead to some great things.

If a quilt is really going to be used and laundered a lot, I suppose a lot of the "more substantial" fabrics such as the polys make sense, but if one is a purest, it has to be cotton. However, that is a much more expensive choice and with the price of cotton, not always available. So that said, one has to match the use with the fabric......I honestly doubt that the people in need, care if it's cotton or whatever....:) A quilt made and given with love is what counts!!!

My mother used to make quilts from what ever she was able to afford and her quilts were some of the most beautiful and are still being used after many years. I think it is how you make them a lot of times.

I always wondered why I could make technically good quilts... but just seemed to miss the mark on something I could never put my finger on... Finally it dawned on me after going to a large International show... it was the number of colors, prints, and textures used in the quilts I found most appealing. So If you like it ... go for it... its incredible what happens when we ignore some of our own self imposed "guidelines". Its not like you will fall of the edge of the earth, if you go out on the edge!

I think you summarized it well. Quilting companies and fabric companies want us to believe that THEIRS IS BETTER. Using anything else, or doing without will make your quilt inferior. ;0

I know that is what they say, but why?

I've seen beautiful quilts on the internet and some use a combination of cotton and linen even! It/they are beautiful.

Also poly thread works great---I know that some say it is too strong, it will "cut through the fabric"...which I think is really just nonsense. I'm not sure where that came from. I'm sure that the thickness of the thread would determine whether it would cut through the fabric or not, much more than the actual fiber content.

Some of the prettiest quilts I've seen are crazy quilts from the Victorian era. I don't believe that the fabrics in them were 100% cotton. They used what was available to them - upholstery fabrics, velvets, satins, sateens, silks, shirtings, etc. any left over remnants from dressmaking. I try not to mix fabrics in one quilt (unless I am making a crazy quilt), but I have made poly/cotton blend quilts and they have stood up quite well. JMHO...

Anita

I prewash all of my fabric just to see what is going to happen in the washer. I them press it to see if the wrinkles come out and if the fabric can take the heat. If it doesn't pass both tests, I do not use the fabric in a quilt.

This is a very wonderful story, showing selflessness in giving, as well as teaching we can use what we have without dipping into that "rainy day" jar. Quilting started out as a necessity to give one warmth, and a little comfort to the eye. Somehow, this art has become so competitive in sizes, stitches, colors etc., the true meaning of this art form is lost by some. This story of the couple in the church group, I think they were trying to bring back the meaning of what quilting is really all about....without spending a lot of money.

I think your creativity increases by leaps and bounds when you throw away those misconceptions. I use all kinds of fabrics, big store, LQS, thrift. I also make a lot of different type of quilts: scrap, modern, art, innovative. Different fabrics speak to different moods.

I've enjoyed this discussion and I will certainly be more open to the possibilities of other fabrics. In the past I have used a cotton/poly blend fabric to get a certain color combination. But I haven't been quilting long enough to know how well they'll hold up over time.

Unless you are an idiot that gets too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon for a photo op! - I just bought a book called "Death in the Grand Canyon" - which documents what led up to some of the deaths there.

But I digressed!

Perfect...just perfect...I love the term "love quilts". I have always detested the term "charity".