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.

Here are a couple of pictures of my wholecloth quilt. It's about half done. I haven't worked on it for over 4 years. I hope to get back to it someday.

I checked the stitches and there are 5 per inch. Not great, but consistant.

Just thought of a few more things. I started my quilt from the center of the medallion. I had it on one of those pvc pipe frames from JoAnn's. Works great by the way. But in order to make sure that I had it centered and did not move in addition to pinning it, I started in the center. Also make sure that you buy enough matching thread at one time. Use hand quilting thread and make sure that the dye lots are the same. Ask me how I know. LOL I used alot of 'betweens' needles. They bend fairly easily. And I used a leather thimble. It's very relaxing and you see results fast.

I looked at the first link but not the 2nd. I'll do that now. I don't know the history of wholecloth quilts, that's why I was curious. Thanks for enlightening me!

I'm going to take a gander and guess that, like crazy quilting, it was a way for upper class ladies to show off their needlework skills. The quilts were still functional, but didn't look as utilitarian as a tied/pieced bed quilt.

And the differences between Welsh and traditional (American) patterns/motifs are cultural. But the actual stitching is the same.

Anyone else? Close? Way off base? :mrgreen:

As MTS already mentioned the design of Welsh wholecloths are very different to other quilts of this type. I would distinguish between the terms "Welsh" and "North Country". North Country wholecloths are also called "Durham". Both types are traditional. As the name indicates Welsh quilts were originally made in Wales, North Country or Durham quilts came from the Northern counties of England (Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria). Both quilt types have typical designs and arrangements of patterns:

Welsh wholecloths are more graphic. The quilt top is clearly devided in "sections" like the center circle, wide borders, corner fans etc. These sections are often surrounded by double lines of quilting. Typical patterns are the Bent Leaf, Spirals, Welsh Pear, Welsh Tulip and others. Welsh quilts bear a likeness to Amish Quilts!

The North Country wholecloths show a more floating intricate desgin with a big center medaillon, background quilting like crosshatching and a wide border. Feathers are the most famous patterns typically used in these quilts.

Well, I am quite sure there were upper class ladies who did that - but these quilts were also made in rural areas by women of the labouring classes. Sometimes these women in the North of England made a small living for their families with quilting when their husbands were injured at work in the coal mines. In Wales quilters travelled from farm to farm and stayed as long as they needed to finish enough quilts for the farmers family's beds. You can imagine that these quilts were quite simple and didn't show such intricate desgins like the ones made for special occasions. But when you look back in British quilting history it's full of examples for quilts in all classes of society.

I like this history lesson!

Ah, I was talking more about American traditional whole cloths. They look so "fine" and elegant with the wreaths and feathers, etc.

I don't see the Welsh quilts like that at all. And that's what I prefer about them, and the designs. Show me a whole quilt of spirals and I'm in heaven! ;-) Also, the fact that the cloths were made from these fabulous colors.

It's like the difference between the elaborately painted silk kimono in Japan from 100+ years ago and the hand woven kasuri kimono of the same era. I personally prefer the kasuri.

I think what I meant by earthy was more rustic, more of the common man, more utilitarian. Not so fancy.

I gotta pull out that book again and make something. ;-)

Me too!

Janet

This is really neat. I have always loved these types of desings, and it is really cool to hear some of the backstory on them.

Pippa has the patience of several saints! I did a small wallhanging wholecloth as a wedding gift several years. Been there, done that and I don't have to do it again. I do love looking at them and appreciate all that time and talent.

Pippa's blog is one of my favourites and I love her pictures and what she writes about the quilts. I really recommend to everybody who is interested about the history of British wholecloths.

I agree and "earthy" fits perfectly to that kind of quilts and their history. They are striking.

My first quilt was a whole cloth. I was so green that I didn't even know they were called that. I bought 2 white sheets and batting and combined 2 designs I had and kind of went with it. It took me 3 years to finish. Single parent, working, etc. I still love anything hand quilting. Your stitches will even out after a while so don't stress, just relax and enjoy it. :lol:

I always and still do think that wholecloth quilts are very beautiful and very beyond my skills. But I would dream of doing one.

My dad's cousin has done a number of whole quilt tops. I really wish I had bought one when I was there to see her. They are beautiful, and she used a variety of stitiches.

If you are interested in history of wholecloths, look at this article:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/wholecloth_quilts3.htm

Yes, there was a cottage industry in the North of England in the 1800's where quilt stampers would mark a cloth for other people to quilt.
I have a beautiful book by Maggi McCormick Gordon called "The Quilter's Resource Book" which is a pictoral history of quilting traditions from around the world, and it includes many pictures of quilts now in museums. There is a section on whole cloth quilts, including a review of the northcountry stampers and pictures of their work. I'm not sure if the book is still available, but it is worth looking at, even if only in your local library.

I also wanted to do a whole cloth. So, I did. It turned out great and I won a first place ribbon in our QuiltFest. But, it was a 18 x 18 inches. HA HA It also let me know I don't want to do a bedsize. Good luck , with whatever you decide.

I am trying to learn to hand quilt. Right now I'm just practicing my stitches on a quilt sandwhich. Still trying. Good luck.

My goal is to do a wholecloth quilt at some point. I'm trying to decide if I want to do a bed size or maybe just start with a crib size. Time will tell. Saw one at our quilt show done in varigated thread. Don't know if I like that or not.

For those of you who would like to try your hand at wholecloth quilting, try doing it on a preprinted panel. Sandwhich it and then stitch around all of the designs in the piece. By the time you are finished it will look like you did a magnificant job piecing and or appliquing and you will have mastered handquilting. I have made over a hundered of them over the years as wallhangings, tablerunners, bags, pillows etc. etc. It is a great way to practice. After a couple of those projects you will know if this is for you. I personally prefer quilting on wholecloth above all other methods. No seams or appliques to deal with just continious soothing stitching.

Thank you so much for the info. I want to quilt like her when I grow up. I would love to just sit and watch her quilt for a day.
Such beautiful work.
Robin in TX

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[/quote]

Joanie Zeier Poole has written some excellent books which can help with you design and make wholecloth quilts. I took a class from her and made the Ivy Wreath quilt. I took a picture of the design in a carpet and made the other quilt from that design. Both quilts are under 18" square. You draw the design with washout pen, stitch the designs, and then microstipple the background. I have about 13 hours in the Ivy Wreath quilt and 17 hours in the one I designed. These are machine stitched. I used Robert Kaufman fabric, Radiance, which is a silk/cotton blend and very yummy in 52 colors. I used YLI #100 silk thread.

Joanie Zeier Poole http://www.heirloomquiltingdesigns.com/

@Jane -
Those are gorgeous!! Thanks for posting the pics.

And you bring up an interesting point, as most of the conversation in this thread has been about hand quilted whole cloths, when beautiful work is being done by the machine quilters as well.

I think the first winner of the $100,000 quilt challenge was a wholecloth, iirc.

Found a pic (not a great one):
http://www.gammill.net/index.php?m=what_is_new&r=36

I hope I'm not pulling the thread off subject. Obviously as shown in the beautiful pictures there are some very talented and experienced hand quilters. Are there any hints you can give the beginner, things to avoid, etc. I have done a search and saw a warning to use polyester, is this true?

Emma S. It appears something is missing from your last sentence. What is the warning about polyester - thread or batting or fabric? There has been a lot of posts about hand quilting. You might want to start a new post with your question as it will probably get lost in this one.

I prefer poly batting as it is easier on the hands when handquilting and gives the quilting a lot of dimension plus it is lighter weight which puts less stress on hands and arms if you are working on a smaller piece in a handheld frame. The only more prefered batting is silk and that is definately out of my price range.

I used wool batting with the small wholecloth quilts posted above. I hear it is good for hand quilting, also. It has great trapunto effects without doing trapunto!

I use Mountain Mist Quilt Lite for all of my hand quilting. The needle just goes through so much easier. I've tried my hand on warm and natural and other cotton or cotton blends, and I can only go a few inches before my hand cramps up. Never does on MMQL.