I would like to try making a whole cloth quilt top,but don't really know that much about making one. all I know is they are really pretty.. LOL

I have done one quilt where I hand quilted it but it didn't turn out really that well. It was ok..had trouble with the stitches being the same size all over the quilt.

I also have done a lot of hand embroidery when I was growing up[many years ago]

when you make a whole cloth quilt is it the same as hand embroidery or quilting, or is it just small running stitches over the pattern? Do you change the stitches like in hand embroidery..... Thanks :-)

The whole cloth quilts I've seen are just millions of tiny quilting stitches. Very beautiful, but way beyond anything I'll ever do.

I love them too... but don't think I have the patience to make one.... sigh... so many pretties so little time...

There's no rule that it has to be king size.

You can start with a small wall hanging sized quilt. Great practice, and you can work on your stitches and rhythm.

I'm personally very drawn to Welsh quilts. I find the patterns on them much more interesting (and contemporary) than traditional ones.

And there's no reason you can draw or doodle your own design.
I've seen some Zentangles that scream to be made in to whole cloth quilts. To me anyway. ;-)

Pippa has a great blog and a fabulous collection of Welsh quilts.
http://welshquilts.blogspot.com/

Also, there was a really good book that came out a few years ago on Welsh quilts.
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Welsh-Q...7983530&sr=8-1

I am currently working on one that was pre-printed...but I added a scallop at the sides to make it bigger to fit our bed...and also added lines between the printed lines to give it more dense quilting.

The "kit" came with the pre-printed top and the binding. You can also buy kits that have the backing fabric in it. The backing fabric is always plain but I wanted a printed back...so I'm using a white fabric with black flowers and butterflies on it for the backing.

It is being quilted with regular "running stitch" quilting stitches...mine are about 8 stitches to the inch. They are not perfect stitches, but done is better than perfect! :)

Once the quilt is washed, you won't even see the stitches...the eye will be drawn to the design.

One bit of advice for the pre-printed whole cloth: Don't let any moisture get near it!!! I have mine in a hoop so it can travel with me, and somehow part of it got wet and that section of the design disappeared. Yikes. I'm trying to fill it back in with pencil. Luckily it was in the border and not very complicated, but still......

What's the difference between a Welsh quilt and a traditional one? Do Welsh quilts have specific designs?

I bought several small (about 15 inch square) online. Hand quilted them and then used the quilt as you go method to make it bigger.

(After doing the pre-printed pattern, I marked the top to a 12-inch square. Then I put right sides together and sewed along the line. Opened it up and trimmed my batting to the width, just so it layed flat. Then I trimmed the back fabric to withing a quarter inch of each other and used my excess fabric cut from the front to join the back. It has a lattice look in the back and I was able to make it a lap size quilt.)

I can't show pictures because I gave it away without taking a picture. Renee if your out there please post a picture. LOL I hope you can figure out what I'm talking about from these instructions.

But you can do any size. MTS is correct in this. I think my stiches ended up being 8 per inch. I also have a king size about half done. I'll post pictures of it.

Brilliant! And makes it a very portable project as well.

VB-I included 2 great links in my post upthread.
And the book in the Amazon link has the 'Look Inside' feature set up so you can take a peek.

But, yes, the motifs and layouts are different. Welsh quilts have their own look - and it's more.....I don't know what word to use here. I want to say more earthy, but I think that only makes sense to me in my head. :roll: Sorry.
You'll have to look and see for yourself. ;-)

In general a simple running stitch is used for hand quilting. But when you look back in quilting history you will also find examples of back stitching and chain stitching. When these are used the finished quilt is not reversible, the back looks different compared to the top. You see you don't have to change your stitches - but of course it is your quilt and you can do what you want!

I agree, it is a good idea to start with a preprinted wholecloth. They are available in different sizes and designs and as far as I know also in different colors of fabric! You can practice your quilting and you don't have to care for designing and choice of patterns - this is already done for you.