Newbie is preparing 1st quilt to go to the quilters....PROBLEMS
 

My first quilt I did was QAG and I said never again. This one is from a block a month that my quilt club did. Of course my first 12 in. squares were not square....they improved as I finished 30 of them. I put them together with sashing....here is one of my earlier pics[ATTACH=CONFIG]283700[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]283703[/ATTACH]

I guess what I did wrong was add my borders along the running material instead of actually measuring the lengths and making the same. So my quilt is not square now. The 2 sides are only about 1/4 in. different but the length in the middle I think is about 2 inches off! I am making the backing 6 in. longer all around, as someone told me to do that. Then my other problem is I am using 44 in. wide fabric so I'm piecing the back (3 pieces....King size bed), which I was told that I could do. I ordered the calico from JoAnn's but quess what! I ordered 10 yds. but the bolt only came with 8 yds. so they sent it in 2 pieces so of course I would have to piece one length. I called them and they even offered to let me send back the 2 yd. piece at their expense and would have sent me the 3rd uncut piece but I have my spot reserved with the quilting lady and I'm hoping for it for Thanksgiving as I'm having company. Fortunately I realized that I had an extra piece that I am planning on making prairie points with for the finishing and it will work perfectly. It is a different lot although I don't really see the difference from the other piece so I was thinking of putting it in the middle, but then I would have to cut down the two outside lengths. I guess it will be okay to 2 pieces sewn together and then add the third length which will have to be cut down. It is a small gingham check print. Oh me....what a learning process this has all been!!!

Love your quilt, great points you have, waiting to see finished with quilting

your quilt is beautiful! you may know this, but in case you don't, for LAQ, you should piece your backing side to side, not top to bottom... rolls more evenly for the quilter.

You did a good job. Believe me, every single quilt you do is a learning experience, but such fun. Now on to your next quilt

LAQ? Long Arm Quilter? No, I did not no that. It wasn't my plan to do from top to bottom. I had to do it the other way as I didn't have enough fabric to do it the other way, having ordered my fabric like I did. I hope my quilter is okay with it.

I think it is really nice!! Never attempted a QAG...

Callie, I'm confused, wondering if I'm still okay. I have no idea how a LAQ operates. Since this is king size quilt, it is wider than it is long. Because of my problem with the fabric, my pieces run from top to bottom, can't she just turn it? She would be working the longer length and the pieces would be from side to side?

I think it is very nice. Good work!!

I think the best person to ask these questions of is your own LAQ - she can answer your query about the size difference and whether backing pieced the way you have it is fine (which I think it will be).

Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Being fairly new to this board, I really wish that you would try to either not use so many abreviations or at least explain what they are. I have no clue what most of these mean, even tho I have been quilting since 1988. I am pretty much on my own now and have never seen these used before. Thank you all.
Judy

I know what you mean Judy....being new my self. LAQ....I figured out Long Arm Quilt...as in machine. QAG is Quilt as you Go. LQS....I figured out is Local Quilt Store.....that's about all that I know!!!

I think your quilt is lovely. My first quilt ended up in the wastebasket..... it was that bad. I'm sure your quilter will be able to finish your quilt no matter which way the backing is stitched. And I wouldn't worry that one side is 1/4" longer than the other..... You aren't entering it in a quilt show and when it's on the bed, no one will know.

Great Job on your first quilt...... Upward and onward!!

I think you will be okay with the way you have sewn your backing. The long arm quilters prefer it the other way, but my sister has done several sewn top to bottom, and it did work. It just makes for more stress on that seam and a bit of bulk in that spot as it is "rolled" on the long arm sewing machine. But do ask, your quilter will know what she is comfortable with.

I didn't know that! Thanks

First of all - welcome to the QB from a fellow Missourian - I am from Lebanon - don't know where Grant City is??? Love your quilt - great color selection.

Six inchs all around is excessive seems very wasteful.

Nikki, Grant City is in Worth Co. on the Missouri Iowa line. I can see Iowa from my yard!

I took my quilt to my quilt lady. She said she doesn't have a preference about which way the backing goes. She thought it looked fine.

Thanks everyone for the compliments everyone. Hope to get it back so I will have it for Thanksgiving company...still have to put the prairie points on too!

Well, even though you have had some problems it is going to be a beautiful quilt & you will be so proud of it when it is displayed on your bed for the holidays, only you will see all those problems you mentioned. And your next quilt will be better.

Debs

Your quilt is gorgeous and I commend you for making a king sized one! Hope to see photos when you get it back. Great job! :-)

I agree with you. I have been quilting off and on for the past 10 years but some of these abreviations are over my head. I do understand some of them, but what's a QAG?

I found a little help in the "Tips". If you scroll to near the bottom of the page you will see a list of abbreviations. I printed a list to keep at my fingertips until I become more familiar with the jargon.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/blogs/%...%3C-b3335.html