Quilting with a Friend
 

Has anyone else tried to make a quilt with a friend? I tried once to make a quilt for a retiring colleague with one of the other teachers who quilts. We decided on a pattern and bought the fabric together. We Did get the quilt made and quilted by a local longarm quilter, but it was a nightmare.

These were my mistakes:
1. Fabric choices weren't easy. She loves modern fabrics, I love more traditional ones. She loves large patterns and puts patterns and patterns and patterns together with no quiet space or tone-on-tone to rest the eye; I love tone-on-tone and use larger patterns to showcase them. Neither is wrong, but trying to choose fabric together was difficult.

2. I have and use a special quarter inch foot. I sew carefully and quickly, but really watch my seams. She Thought she used a quarter inch foot. We could not get the blocks we made to be the same size. I went over to her house and finally figured out what the problem was. She was eyeballing the quarter inch and did not have a special foot. I left one of my blocks with her and her blocks came out closer to mine after that.

3. We tried this again a couple of years later. She said she didn't realize she had a quarter inch foot that came with her machine, so I agreed to do the quilt together, But No! Still eyeballing the seam or using her machine foot as a guide. (Not the quarter inch one! Which she didn't have after all.) Again, the same problems as above, but at least I did all the cutting at her house so the fabric was all cut the same.

It did go a little better that time, but that is the last time I try to sew with someone who sews so much differently from me. She can make her quilts; I will make mine, but quilting together on the same quilt is not going to happen again.

I was a very new quilter when I volunteered to help make a quilt to be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation for them to auction. I fully expected that the effort would be spearheaded by more experienced quilters, and I volunteered only because I thought it would be a good learning experience, and it sure was. The more experienced quilters picked out the pattern and selected the fabric. After that it seemed that I was on my own to enlarge the pattern to queen size, cut the fabric, make up packets with instructions and enough fabric for several blocks, distribute the packets to the few ladies who volunteered to make them, and put the blocks together. How did they expect a new quilter to do all that? Why did I take it on? My biggest surprise was when blocks started coming back, and they were all different sizes. Some were so poorly sewn that the seams were coming apart, and seams were pressed every which way. These came from one of the most experienced quilters in the group, but she was getting older and less steady and probably couldn't see very well. (She asked me if her blocks were okay, and I assured her that they were.) I took many blocks apart and sewed them back together, made more blocks (thank goodness we had extra fabric) and finally had a queen-size top. Someone else volunteered to do the quilting. From what we heard, Make A Wish was delighted, and I don't think that guild made another group quilt.

I know some quilters that I would gladly share a project with, but I really don't want to participate in a group quilt again.

The only time I ever did this was hand quilting. My parents were about to celebrate their 50th anniversary and my quilt group and I got together to finish it. We had so much fun!!!
But sewing- no.

Sounds like an experience that could either end a friendship or cement it for life.

Recently was showing my sister how to use the long arm. I could not believe how many things went wrong while we were quilting the first quilt she brought! We even wound up with a hole in the backing...but it was at the bottom of the quilt top, so that turned out ok. And she learned what not to do And what to do for those mistakes.

Second quilt was going much better until we reached the last row. Then a nasty 'flute' showed up. There was no way to fix that on the long arm, so the quilt came off the frame. Luckily (?), I was able to show her two of my quilts that had been taken off the frame for the exact same reason. They haven't made it back on the frame yet.

And we are still talking.

I only sew by myself.

I consider the swaps that are done on Quilting Board as quilting with a friend, although virtual. I've done several of them. I've been very pleased with the Boom swap blocks-- they were all sewn well and the same size. I did swaps where all in the group made the same pattern for the blocks, then we swapped. I understand that everyone's taste in fabric is not going to all be the same and that kind of swap would produce more of a scrappy look for the quilt, and I was fine with that.

I did one round robin where a top was missing in the mail for a long time, and that was not fun, but it wasn't because of the girls in the group. I thought it was very fun to sew together with quilters here on the Board. Each brings their own flavor to the project that when melded together create a unique and special shared endeavor.

I did a round robin with friends in my local quilting group, and that was a ton of fun and produced one of my all time favorite quilts.

I did an individual block swap with a friend, where we agreed on the pattern together, then agreed to use plaids. The blocks were great, and the friendship was richer because of the shared project.

The friend I sew with most often is my sister. We chose fabric together and have used modern, traditional, or novelty prints. We mostly choose fabric that is on sale actually, and agree about the price. lol When we get together, she cuts and irons. I sew. Then we lay out blocks together in a pleasing manner, she hands them to me, I sew, and she irons. It all works out great. We chat, have tea and a lunch, and get a lot done in one day every time we do it.

I think the key to being happy sewing together is to be kind. Accept construction flaws. Accept colors, patterns, or fabric you don't particularly like. Accept that what you make together isn't what you make alone-- and be generous in your mind, in order to enjoy the process and like the result.

I've learned that I play better "beside" rather than "with" when it comes to group projects.

Give me "my" pile/stack - and you can have "your" pile/stack - and we can show off our results when we are done.

My daughter and I have made several quilts. We do everything at my house. I do most of the sewing since I am more familiar with my sewing machine. She irons and lays the blocks out for the pattern. Then we sew them together. She typically does the long arming.

One recently, we started together and then she finished the sewing. It was a more modern quilt that we were making similar to a pattern she had seen, Ricky Tims Bargello Convergence. We couldn't find a pattern, so we worked it out without any real instructions. A lot of counting to find out how many fabrics. A lot of strip piecing. We used 20 fabrics in each strata of which there is two. We did have to rip several seams, but overall, it turned out good.

The first quilt in the upper left corner was the one we were trying to make. The picture is by @Hugfisch
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/5280...30979/?lp=true
This is our version.

Edited to add: Now if I could figure out how to make these pictures come out the way they look on my laptop. The stripes run vertical on the bed. It was made for a full size bed with enough width that it could be used for a queen.

And now looking at the pinterest page I see that the pattern is offered by Quiltwoman. https://www.quiltwoman.com/patterns/...attern-pc-197/ It probably has nothing to do with Ricky Tims.

oh yes! On several occasions I have, but not really by choice!

I absolutely hate working on anyone else's work, so I don't think I would ever attempt to make one together. Even if you two had the same fabric loves, and both used quarter inch foot, each machine is a little bit different, even though it shouldn't be, it's for this same reason that the ruler/mats manufacturers, say that if you start with a certain ruler, to continue to use it for the whole quilt, and NOT to use the lines on the mats as lines to cut by.

I made a baby quilt where I did most of the sewing but my neighbor hand sewed part for me and then she quilted it. It looked wonderful and we both enjoyed being a part of it.

I don't play well with others as far as quilting goes (and a lot of other things, too). I don't even do round robins because I don't usually like what others do. So doing a quilt with someone else will probably never happen.

A quilting friend and I made an artistic QOV. While she does a lot of research, I'm more in the moment. She drew an overall design, we decided what would go in each area & who would construct that area. She put the pieces together, I quilted and she bound & labeled.

It w.as hard to work together. We agreed to use our strengths and not critize. We're still friends

Another was a panel quilt with 7 people + quilter. We amazed ourselves. Design was great, technique not so much. I think we're all still friends

Yeah one time my aunt helped me on my quilt, never again, ripped out all her seams, way off. I am just too analysis so don't do swaps either for same reason

I quilt with a friend..but..each on our own quilt. Even in quilt shows we do not stay together because we are drawn to different things...then we have lunch together and tell each other what we saw and liked...

The only time I made a quilt 'with' a friend - we agreed on the pattern choice; agreed with general fabric choices. I purchased the fabrics and did all the cutting/sewing. She did all the hand quilting. It was to be raffled by an organization that we were both members. That is probably as close as I would get to quilting 'with' someone else.

Only once and it turned out fine. We each made 90 string blocks and then sent each other half - we picked our own setting triangles and backing and each quilted our own. It was enjoyable. Another friend has been asking me to do make a complicated quilt. Actually it would be two quilts. She would do all the hand appliqué. I keep saying no. It is more than I want to commit to. I like doing it all myself - even the quilting.

I have quilted with my sister. We have similar taste in fabric. Trying to find a pattern that is forgiving and easily squared without compromising the block is key. We are both on pretty much the same level with out abilities so all works well. I am not sure if I would work well with some others as I would want to redo anything that is less than I would want in my quilts

I have done several swaps here on the QB and have enjoyed them a lot, and love the finished quilts, so I think that counts as sewing with friends. As for actually getting together with someone and working in the same room on the same quilt, I have never had that opportunity.

I had a similar experience putting together blocks from a 'bingo' assignment. I had to take apart over half of the blocks and resew them before I could get the quilt top together. I was amazed or should I say dismayed at the seasoned quilters who did not follow directions.

I made a quilt with a friend who doesn't sew :)
She did the beading. During the course of the project I taught her precision patchwork and a few days ago she sent a note showing her Texas Star project.

Funny thing is she joined a church and then destroyed the quilt as sinful. No biggie, always more fabric to make more quilts

My sister and I decided we would make a quilt for our brother together. learned the hard way no two people sew alike. Our blocks did not match and things started going down hill from the beginning. So lesson learned. Never sewed with anyone else on the same quilt again.

Our quilting group at church consists of three regulars and some drop-ins. Two of us do the sewing, one presses and does anything else needed. The other sewist and I do not have the same quarter inch. Because I do the cutting, she does more of the sewing. How do I get around the different seams? By having two quilts going at once. It works for us.

When my cousin comes down for her week long visits at least twice a year, I put my sewing aside and we concentrate on a project she wants to make. We switch off and on for choosing fabric, cutting, sewing (as in I'm the FG star and she, HSTs), pressing (whoever is not sewing).

So we enjoy out time! Last visit she brought down 5 projects!! We decided to choose just one and barely finished the top! But what a fun time we have! Sometimes her Featherweight accompanies her so we can sew blocks together. We are our own guild!

I've done group quilts twice, and both eere baby quilts for coworkers. One came out great, as far as I can remember, but the pther one had some issues. I must have been the one who assembled that one, too, because I remember some of the squares were warped by the bunka punched designs, and I have a memory of one done on completely flimsy fabric. Oy! I do remember that she really loved it thpugh. Whoever she was, lol, I can't remember that! Geez, it was only 30 years ago!

the biggest problem with group quilts is the currently popular philosophy that "finished is better than perfect."
true enough that "perfect" is an unrealistic standard or expectation.
but - and i won't apologize for believing this - finished slop is not better than getting as close to excellent as humanly possible.

unless every person working on the quilt has the same standards and actually cares whether or not those standards are met the result with almost certainly be a hot mess. the only questions are (1) how many will realize that and (2) how many others won't care about that.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]595043[/ATTACH]Thankfully I have not had to work directly with another quilter on a project. I have to admit I’m a little OCD. I would probably get more quilts done if I wasn’t such a perfectionist. :(

I am involved with a modern quilt guild where we are working on traveling quilts but the blocks or additions are your own design and no specific measurement. We each started out with a theme to our quilt and a journal that gets passed along that tells a little about your favorite colors and quilting style. It has been fun to see the talent and creativity of the group.

I could never sew with my late sister...we made two very different types of quilts. She loved making rag quilts and I prefer the more traditional blocks. She wasn't knowledgeable enough to sew in my word and I didn't want to make rag quilts. Loved her...

In my world this is call parallel play(doing the same thing side by side) vs. associative play (working at the same task together). I may have retired but I just can't leave my child development world behind. Tee-Hee :D

I would rather play beside my quilting friend and keep the friendship. Working with a friend can test the strength of a friendship.

I have made two baby quilts with a friend who is a garment maker with excellent skills. It took the first quilt to help her begin to understand the principles of measuring, color, layout and how changing the size of any block or cut impacts the whole project.

So for quilt #2, I suggested a wonky star quilt because it would allow her to play with color, and why some don't work well together. This pattern also was gracious with errors in cutting and squaring up. They would disappear in the "wonkiness" of each block.

I needed stitches in my tongue on quilt one, but kept reminding myself of the value of our friendship and to look at this as a teaching moment. Quilt #2 was much more fun. Yes, for her a hard pattern to wrap her head around but she loved the end result and now, feels more understanding of the process and skills needed to construct a quilt from choosing fabric to adding a label and binding. ....By the way, we are still friends! <3:sew::o

I participated in a swap at a LQS - most blocks were well done and the correct size. However there were several that were way off - had to redo them. Learned quickly that every quilter’s standards are different. I prefer to “parallel play” - and work on my own projects.

I don’t think I want to work with others on a quilt, I like my seams sewed with a scant 1/4” seam and pressed good. Not everyone does this.

I love to sew with friends, but not on the same quilt I am working on. I enjoy teaching and do this for free to my friends that always wanted to learn to quilt. I've had up to 3 students at a time here and we have a blast. How about picking out fabric that the recipient would want? That pretty much takes the personal taste out of the equation. So nice of you to do for others.

I learned "a lot" the one time I participated in "group quilt making" - the project seemed simple enough - cut 1.5 inch wide strips, sew four strips together, and cut that unit into 4.5 squares.

It starts out with small variations with the cutting, continues with small variations with the the seam width, small variations with pressing techniques - and so on.

We ended up cutting the four-strip units into four inch squares!

I play best alone. Enjoy going to guild, participate in church quilt ministry, but quilting with someone on a project together? No. Did it once as a "rescue" for someone. Never again. The person asked if I wanted to her with another project. Didn't even need to think that one through!

I have made quilts with groups. It is easiest to work on paper pieced blocks. Stitch lengths will vary, but the blocks will be the same size as long as the patterns were printed on the same printer or copier.

I am too picky to sew with others. I can't help it, it is who I am. I am also slow by many quilter's standards, but that is okay with me too. I guess no quilting police with quilting style either. I do not judge anybody else and hope for the same. I do enjoy everything about the process though so I will keep on doing my thing.

I'm better at parallel play in most projects. In school, I hated group projects because of the slackers while I was conscientious. I have also realized that one of my flaws is that I want all my creative ideas to be used. I don't do well with other creatives working on the same thing, and I think it's because my older sister is creative and was always forcing me to do things her way. She and I made a quilt for my mom's graduation from nursing school about 25 years ago, but I think it succeeded because I did all the cutting, she did the piecing, I did the applique, she did the binding, etc.

Zozee,

I am finishing up two school team projects and I can relate it to quilting too. With Uni projects I try on the first team meeting to discuss the teams strengths and weaknesses. It is surprising how resistant people are to this important first step.

When my guild does charity quilts or other group projects, I love to help with layout, ironing, making HST, trimming said HST, but not the sewing of the pieces to make the quilt. I am not a perfectionist, but I appreciate a quilt where the quilter has paid incredible attention to detail. I have been asked to take a top home to correct a mistake after it was pieced and I was happy to do that. We have people in our guild whose seaming is impeccable, it is best that they take care of that.

My quilt guild did a 'block of the month' and we all made blocks and a winner was picked at the end of the month. That is when I learned that a 1/4" seam is not the same in everyone's mind. Even cutting out squares of the same size isn't the same. I always thought, for example, that a 6" is square is 6 inches on all sides. Not so, for everyone. You might get 6 inch square that is only 5 3/4" on one side and 6" on the other 3 sides.

I learned the best way to sew with others is if you are doing a community quilt, for instance, that you use a very forgiving pattern where you don't have to have exact measurements. Otherwise, if you are doing a quilt for yourself you do all the quilting for yourself and even if your square isn't a square or your 1/4" seam isn't a true quarter inch, at least you will keep it consistant and most likely your quilt will come out okay. Mixing different sizes from other people's work just doesn't mix.

A recent experience of mine happened at a quilting retreat I just came back from. I was tired and didn't want to sew anymore (it was 9pm and I had been sewing all day) so I decided to help a friend take the papers off of her foundation blocks. The block was very simple, just strips that went diagonal on a 10" block. This lady is a prolific quilter and is always turning out a different quilt each month. With all of her experience quilting, I expected that she would have perfect scant 1/4" seams. Not the case here, in some places her seams were barely 3 threads in and the fabrics seams didn't match up at all. The top fabric and the bottom fabric were worlds apart. You could see that with just a little bit of use, the quilt seams would just disintegrate and shred in no time. I was very surprised that her sewing was so slipshod. As I said earlier, we all sew so differently.