So I have been trying to find a quilt pattern to make my sister that I love and have had a hard time, I first wanted a striped tie quilt- but cant seem to figure out that one because I want to make it not look like a twin I want it to look like the stripes flow across the quilt with no seperation-- and by the suggestions Ive gotten it doesn't sound like I an just do the quilt all as one- doing the entire rows each aross the width of the quilt and then piece the rows together- everyone tells me I need to divide it into 4 or 3 sections..I am not sure why but Im sure they are right because this is my first quilt- so they are much more knowledgable.. This is that quilt.
http://purlbee.squarespace.com/sunny-tied-quilt/

So I finally found and bout an e pattern that I liked and ordered it, its got very clear instructions, doesnt look like a beginner quilt but she told me many beginners have done it, the instructions are great but a little overwhelming this one will take me longer to do but is a very pretty quilt. Heres that one- its in a queen the bottom quilt pictured except diff fabric and sashing will be white
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=34059047

And then I came across this one which I like- and seems much more simple but it has raw edges for the blocks, I am scared the it will look messy and not look like I worked hard on it- which I want something that looks like how hard I worked on- this may- I like it but Ive never seen a quilt with raw edges- does it look nice or messy its hard to tell- the fabric Im using no matter which one is the medicino by heather ross- so beachy and I think would go with all 3, and with the raw edged- seems kinda beachy?? here is that one- would be white backround with mendicino fabrics still
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=26727664

Please share your honest advice on what you think- Im sure you all an imagine what a raw edged quilt looks like, its hard to tell in the picture- but she says its intended to by raw to give it a chic look.. which one should I do?

I like the striped one because of the bright colors. Then the second picture second. I like that last one the least. Good luck!

So I have been trying to find a quilt pattern to make my sister that I love and have had a hard time, I first wanted a striped tie quilt- but cant seem to figure out that one because I want to make it not look like a twin I want it to look like the stripes flow across the quilt with no seperation-- and by the suggestions Ive gotten it doesn't sound like I an just do the quilt all as one- doing the entire rows each aross the width of the quilt and then piece the rows together- everyone tells me I need to divide it into 4 or 3 sections..I am not sure why but Im sure they are right because this is my first quilt- so they are much more knowledgable.. This is that quilt.

You can make the quilt however you prefer - entire rows across if that is what you want. No quilting nazis here.

I think I like the second one best. That's pretty and I like the pattern.

So I can make it all the way across following the same measurments she gives for cutting pieces and it will come out right?

Why don't you do a true beginner pattern if you've never made a quilt before? That'll help solve a lot of your problems. Rail Fence is a classic beginner pattern. One with just a little more pattern to it but also super easy is Warm Wishes.

You should be able to search and find patterns for both.

I really hate to see somebody pick too complicated a pattern for their first quilt and then give up.

Ooooooo thats a hard one as I like them all. :oops: So I'll just say Good luck on the one you pick

That pattern has you cut strips across the width of the fabric, which makes each strip about 42" long. That is not long enough to go across the bed. That is why the original pattern has you sew these strips together to make 2 panels that are 42" wide, then sew the panels together down the middle to make a top about 84" wide. It is that seam down the middle that makes it look like two twin quilts sewn together.

My suggestion was to make the two panels as described in the pattern, then cut one of them in half. Put the wide panel in the middle, and use the two halves as side panels. The cutting measurements for that pattern will work if you do it this way. You will lose just a little in the width by making two seams instead of one, but that shouldn't matter in the finished quilt.

If you want continuous strips going across the quilt, you need to cut your strips on the lengthwise grain of the fabric. In that case, ideally you want each piece of fabric to be at least 2-1/3 yards long (so each strip is about 84" long instead of 42" long).

I should add that if this is your first quilt, you may not be able to finish it by Christmas; it may take you longer to make than you expect, especially if you have to learn each step as you go.

what size are you looking to make??? a twin? lap? queen? king??
this could also help with which quilt you want to make.

I made my sister a Sister's Choice last year for Christmas.

A short story behind it: My sister doesn't quilt or sew and two years ago for Christmas she bought our grandmother 18 half yards of fabric for quilting. She went to JoAnn's and bought a light and dark of nine colors. Not knowing anything about material, some of it was really cheap and some of it wasn't too bad. Our grandmother died before she was able to even take the material out of the box. I asked our mother for the material and made the Sister's Choice quilt.

The material was my sister's choice, the pattern was her sister's choice and the fabric belonged to our grandmother. I loved it!

Sometimes it isn't just about the fabric and the block. It is the love and thought that goes into the project. Whatever you choose, I am sure she will treasure!

The first one says it's 91 x 81. I'll assume that 81 is the width.
Buy enough fabric to cut your strips in one piece.
Get 2 1/2 yards of EACH color fabric and cut your strips not salvage to salvage but cut them cut side to cut side (the length of the fabric). Sew them together and the top is done. Fine for a beginner. Just remember to sew one row right to left and the next left to right and you will avoid a bow.
you'll have some fabric left for your stash or could use some to make matching pillows.

Quilt #1 appears to be the easiest to me. As the others have said, you just need to pick you colors and cut the strips to the width of the bed. You will have to change the measurements given in the pattern but that shouldn't be so hard.

If you have trouble with it, try this. Keep taping freezer paper together until it is the size you want the quilt to be. Draw lines on it to represent the different colors you want to use. You can then use this pattern you have just drawn to measure how big each strip needs to be. Be sure to add for the seam allowance.

A queen

Miss Lizzie, you have very high ambitions! Queens take a lot of squaring, and a lot of space to work in. Have you tried smaller items to get the hang of quilting?

I like the middle one the best. I think it looks like it has more character. Of course, you can use any colors you prefer. When I was looking at it, I was picturing greens, purples, yellow/golds :)

When I looked at the striped quilt that you initially liked I could see your concern. It does look like two twins sewed together.

How about you do 4 panels. HAve the first one on top go horizontal and the second top panel go vertical.
Then on the bottom reverse it. Left panel is vertical and the second is horizontal. ( see my pitiful diagram at the bottom of this post)

Make your panels 42 X42 and when they are sewn together they make a quilt 84X84 (approx). A good size and you do an modern stripe quilt without the problem you see in the first one.

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Even though I will be piecing different fabrics together to make each strip - meaning a it woudnt be one stripe of the same color going the width of the quilt, I planned to have different fabrics to make each row and peice them together so it wouldnt be just all stripes the same size - like in the picture, I like the different widths and I will need to make the pattern a little larger its for a queen and the size she has done is for a full it wouldnt have any overhang- so I will add a few extra strips.

So how do I do it to look the same with the variated sizes and widths and stripes be of different fabrics, all in one piece, how would you reccomend I do this the cheapest way- with cutting the fabric length wise I will have to buy so much more fabric- how many different fabrics do you suggest? Anyone want to make a pattern and I will buy it, lol! Thank you all so much for the suggestions please keep them coming, I am going to have a beautiful quilt for my soo special sister done by Christmas thanks you all you wonderful quilters, keep the thoughts coming please!!!

okay with the bow- not sure what that means- so I would sew one strip starting from the left and then when I attach the next I will sew row of stripes I will sew them starting from the right- you are reffering to sewing the strips together not the stripes in an idividual row?

Lol, nope I am going in head first, lol. Ive done alot of rag quilting but this is so different, so no one seems to like the raw edged one- the lady that sells this says it is very simple...I dunno

The first one by far and raw edges can unravel if its washed enough times even if you stitch around it so my vote if your putting the time go for the finished look its stronger in the end and looks prettier.

Have you looked at these quilts ??? it looks like what you are taking about. and Yes it is easy. I think this is a great first quilt.
I like the first one better.
the second one i added is pretty much the same as the first except that they used shorter strips. a good way to use up some of the leftovers. or you could put them (leftovers) on the back of the quilt also.
please keep us in the loop of which one you choose and include pictures,please. also know that nomatter what it looks like in the end the person who gets it will love it.!! It is made with a lot of love!


1) http://www.quiltville.com/simplystrippy.shtml
2) http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...33860431avuYIA

3) http://lynbrown.com/?p=109

That's right row after row to avoid a bow.
Get out a piece of paper and draw a picture of what you want.
Looking at the picture some strips might be 2" and on up to 12".
Using you paper draw the lines and mark the color changing the width of the rows.
To avoid the look of two quilts put together you will need to vary the length of your fabrics in each strip.
Start with a 4" x 15" fabric, then add an 4x8" piece then, maybe 4x12" etc until the strip is as long as you want it.
Change all the measurements in the next strip, maybe 8" by 20, then 8" by 14 etc. so you don't end up with the seam in the middle. Keep going until it's as long as you want it to be.
I don't have EQ so I can't draw it out for you.
You really have to draw it out in miniature so you can figure out how much fabric to buy.




I don't like the faw edge quilt at all.

If I am thinking correctly a "bow" is where the fabric, once ironed,
does not lay "straight" it looks like it has a curve to it.
I have not had a problem with this but others seem to have.
you could also sew two strips, then put two more together sew, put tow more together , then cut your thread and then put the those strips together and so on. clear as mud now? hehe

A bow is when the fabric pulls slightly out of shape from the action of the feed dogs. It happens on longer strips and especially long narrow strips. You avoid this by sewing each strip onto the next strip in the opposite direction. That prevents the same piece of fabric from pulling against the feed dogs in the same direction twice and bowing.

oh yea !!that makes sense also.hehe
I guess i don't sew that long of strips together. I have been working on miniatures. like the size of about 6"-12" and them some that are not much bigger than 24" square. But I do need to get back at making my large ones. thanks for the information.I'll keep it in mind!!

Okay this is making sence to me, thank goodness, Im just no good with math - with this I can cut the fabric by the width (across) not the length? She calls for a total of 6.5 yards total - I need to make mine a little larger- so I will add a yard or two- and that should give me enough for the quilt, correct?

Yes I do but are there instructions for them, I like the first but do not like the frame look box (burgandy material) in the quilt.

The second quilt pattern is a easy beginners pattern, if it has clear instructions, I have no doubt that you can piece the top easily.
My only concern is that your first quilting attempt is on such a large quilt. That is a lot of quilt to wrestle on your machine...however if you are up to a challenge and baste/pin well, and stay with a stitch in the ditch or grid design you CAN do it!!!

are you going to quilt it your self?? or have it quilted?

I agree with Scissor Queen and Moonpi. You should start with a true beginner quilt. Four patch or nine patch would be easy, and make lovely quilts.
If you do blocks with raw edges you can just use fusible web, and just iron them on. Then you zigzag the edges and you are fine.

Oh myself, definatley!

so now its between number one and number two :?

The last picture was gone :(

I like the first one. I am not big on raw edges.
Marie

Ohmisslizzie: I second the motion on the Warm Wishes quilt. I just made a baby quilt using that pattern and am getting ready to do a BIG quilt from the same pattern. It is so simple and the finished product looks like a difficult quilt pattern. Is it simply the rail fence (3 fabric strips sewn together and then a square blocks. Everything makes into six-inch blocks. Your fabric choices are important but you do not need that many different kinds of fabric. You can go on the Internet and access the pattern by typing in "Warm Wishes Quilt Pattern." If you send me your e-mail address, I can send you a picture of the baby quilt I made so you can see what it looks like or as mentioned before, just type in "Warm Wishes Quilt Pattern" and you can see their beautiful display quilt. Your sister is blessed to have you as a sister. Sue ([email protected])

Hi,
My opinion only - but if you want it to look more difficult than what it actually is, I'd go with the second one. The first one looks like it's just strips sewn together and the third one, with the frayed edges, could give someone an idea that it was not "finished", not too "difficult" and not very "detailed". The second one, on the other hand, take thought to figure out how it was pieced and it has more of a "professional, quilt pattern" feel to it. My 2 cents worth! Good luck!

Stripes all the way across are doable and will not look like 2 twins if you sew your pieces together on the bias. That way your seam allowance will be less noticeable. It will be more time consuming than just sewing 2 panels together but if that is the look you want (continous strips) then go for it. Post pics too. We all love to see pictures of everyone's work. :)

I just completed (last night) a raw edged appliqued heart quilt. It wasn't all that easy since I didn't have a pattern just a memory of one I saw at a quilt show. I washed it and dried it in the dryer. It looks nice--one of the few I ever completed and liked all the way to the end! So if raw edge is something you are thinking about, go for it. It is your choice since you are doing the work. But whatever you decide, your sister will love it because it came from you!

First, a couple questions. Is this quilt going to be used on a bed or as a throw and eventually laundered? If it is, I'd say to eliminate the last pattern with the raw edges. I'd be afraid of raveling in the future. The first one with the stripes going across, will be very easy and fast to put together. The second one is still made from strips but more time needed because of how the blocks are sewn together. The second one will also give more of a checkerboard appearance, I think. It's up to you. You are quite ambitious to tackle a queen size quilt for your first quilt to make! :wink: Good Luck!

if you're a 1st time quilter, i think you should stay away from sashing. if the blocks don't line up your sister will will still love it, but why not work up to that gradually? when the blocks aren't lined up they look very crooked, so my advice would be don't go there yet. the first one is very pretty and will make a lovely quilt. that will encourage you to keep going. the next one might be blocks with no sashing and then one with sashing. don't be in a hurry. you'll get there.

Hi, ... I think I like the middle one best, but also like the last one. These are soooooo easy to make, you shouldn't have to buy the patterns!

Have you been to http://www.quiltville.com/ ? You will find so so many FREE quilt patterns there. Bonnie Hunter loves to use scraps but you can make the quilts with any fabrics of your choice.

You can also go to this website for free patterns and directions for the newby quilter...look around here http://www.quilterscache.com/

have a great time.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA