I had started to make this quilted throw pillow which I ended giving up on because my mind was exausted from cutting out all the pieces for it (324 squares to be exact). Now I want to get back to working on it, but I'm sort of stuck.

1. I can't tell which side of the fabric is the right side of the fabric (I forgot to mark the wrong sides). Not to mention I'm not sure what kind of fabric it is (I want to say flannel, but, to me, it seems too stiff to be flannel). How can I tell which is the right side of the fabric?

2. I want to make the quilted part removeable from the actual pillow (so I guess I'd be making a pillow case rather than a pillow). I know for a quilt you don't have to do anything about the raw edges because they're never exposed, but in this case should I do something to keep the raw edges from fraying?

3. Does anyone know how to make a pillow case for a throw pillow?

Either pick the side you like the best or scatter blocks from both sides throughout the section(s) for that fabric. It'll add some dimension and interest.

do you want the pillow case to close with a zipper? buttons? velcro?

do you have any pillow shams? if you look at one of those, yet another solution will reveal itself.

That's exactly the type of pillow cover I wanted! Thanks!

If you are worried about fraying, just zigzag the seams or serge them if you have a machine.

IT'S THE NINTENDO MUSHROOM! LOL!! That's cute.
THe right way of the fabric is the way you like it best!
Will you post a pic of the finished pillow? I'd love to see it when you get it finished. THat's going to be so cute!!!

This article refers to linen but it may help
http://members.aol.com/hblossomxs/rightwrong.html

Someone told me once, that we pay for both sides of fabric, so we can use any side we please. :lol:

I told some pre-teens recently that I was a kid when the first Nintendo came out. They were sitting there with their Nintendo (is it) DS? They just looked at me like I had 3 heads or something! It was kind of funny, but I did feel old!

Anybody remember Pong, first game for Atari. Two paddles and a ball, that was it. We played that back in the stone age. Ha Ha.

We bought Pong for the kids. It was $75 back in the mid 70's. Lots of money then. Our neice thought we were rich because we had one. That game was so state of the art, and now so primitive.

Yup!!! I get the "3 Headed" look from my kids when I tell them about the "Good Ol' Atari Days"!!! This is of course followed by the "Man Mom, You're OLD!!! & then I've lost their attention to the PSP, Xbox 360, DS, Game Cube, or whatever the flavor of the day is at that particular moment. (My #2 Daughter is on a first name basis with the owner of the local EB Games store... It's HER money... Mine goes into what else?? More fabric!!) :lol:

$75?! Some of the newer games (espessily for PS3 and some for the XBox 360) are running for $60...I thought THAT was bad.

Kids nowadays...can't appreciate the classic games.

Your #2 daughter and I have something in common. Okay, the employees at the GameStop store I go to don't know me on a first name basis, but I've gone there so many times with my boyfriend that I'm surprised they don't know our names. Although, I know most of the people who work in the electronics department at our Wal-Mart.

:lol: :lol: :lol: They probably do know your names, they're just respecting your anonymity!!! By your avatar, I wondered if you are a gamer (or at least love one dearly).

The games I play now are... Why didn't Block A fit correctly with Block B, & the "challenge level" is Do I REALLY HAVE to rip it out, or will it "quilt out"? :lol: (Pure Laziness... Iknow!!) :roll:

Carla, did you do that quilt in your avatar? I love those, but I get so sleepy doing only one color, so I have to take a break, well, actually, a lot of breaks.

Guilty. Yes, Ma'am, I did it. I love doing heirloom quilting, but you are right, same on same does require MANY breaks to keep your eyes from crossing permanently. That one is white on white satin... can you say BLINDING???? The center stipple is so micro I kept getting dizzy trying to keep up with where it was going. But, when it comes down to it, I'd still rather quilt the sandwich than piece the top.

Maybe one day I'll hit the lottery & I can quit my day job to become a professional machine quilter. (Dear Hubby reminds me I would have to actually buy a ticket to even have a chance first.) :lol:

I hand quilt, and I, too, enjoy the quilting more than the piecing. It soothes me to see how the pieces interact. I am stressed by trying to decide if they look good together. I want someone else to do that. :shock: This is me, stressed.

Welllll, far be it from me to sound like a know it all, but appliquing is a lot more exciting than piecing. Then what you usually need to assemble are big blocks 10 or 12" ones. Much much better. Highly recommended. Even doing the pansies each little petal is better than piecing! Long Live Applique :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

Vicki, I am with you!! Love applique also. Just made my BOM for March and that s the first piecing I have done in over 30 years!

If I ever figure out how to get BOM on you will see that I really don't have it right yet. Have to get the seams to match. LOL :oops:

Also was doing some hand quilting but on pillow covers. Have to take it easy with that since having carpel tunnel done, but love to do it.

Am sticking with the BOMs tho till I get it right!!

Imak

The applique junkies just gave me the wildest idea! I posted some Blazing Arrows templates somewhere around here. (you won't have to look. i'll post them again, here.) Maybe you could use them to make an applique version of the block. I for one would love to see what you came up with.

Just out of curiosity, how old are you?

You're right when you say there is not a strategy guide, but only to a certain point. We have numerous books, magazines, websites, & of course, forums now available to us that previously were not. In the past, most of this information was passed down through family members and at "bees". Now, we've gone "Hi-Tech"! No, we still can't get on "Cheat Planet" for a code to get us out of a sure disaster situation, but we can "yell" for help on the forum and all of the quilters come running, needles & scissors in hand. Another advantage to the new age of quilting is all of the technological intelligence now being brought onto the scene by a new generation of quilters. Personally speaking, my daughters see my fabrics and patterns totally different than I do. They have a new, fresh, untrained perspective on the entire process. If I ever feel like I'm in a rut or backed in a corner, I ask their opinion on the subject. I'm always impressed with their suggestions!! If I can't find the answer I'm looking for anywhere else, Patrice can create a whole new solution in EQ6!!! :lol:

HA HA HA Well, I guess you're right. We are committed to having options and sticking to our own traditions. Plus, there are so many variables to consider, it would be impossible to define one black & white set of rules. So, looking at it like that, you are correct. But, isn't it more fun to have options?? :lol: Yes, I know many times it only adds to the confusion :shock: but... :wink:

You keep at it. Being both a gamer and quilter will develop and perfect many skills you'll find quite beneficial in both hobbies. So, will you email my girls & let them know their Mom really doesn't have 3 heads??? :lol: :lol: :lol: