Ninnie,

I did forget a needle grabber... I use a hemostat or Fiskars thing that looks like a small pliers. One always piles on too many stitches to pull through...

Wholecloths are so lovely. I have seen full-sized quilts that were done in the late 1700s or early 1800s and they are still stunning over 200 years later. As for a wallquilt, these are perfect. You can hang them, take them down and shake them, and hang them back up. When they get dirty you can wash them carefully in the bathroom sink.

Quilter 1234, tell us about your progress. Your successes are also ours. We are all in this together.

Anita in Northfield

Yes I have it. It took me more then four years to finish. I would put it down for months at a time.

I just use the little one that looks like a miniature jar opener, thin rubber and cheap and they work great! I have a quilting stencil for a whole cloth, hope to start it this winter and do it in panels. :D The stencil is beautiful!

quilter 1234, please keep us posted, want to see pictures when you get to it!

Ninnie

yes, quilter 1234, we want pics.

Anita in Northfield

Our LQS has what we call a "cheater" quilt but not one of the Benartex ones. You can ask them at

www.thecalicohorse.com

judee

Hi Judee,

A wholecloth quilt is one that is generally white on white or natural on natural. It isn't a cheater quilt. There is not cheating in the literally thousands of stitches that goes into it. And there is no pattern. It is just a vast expanse of white fabric with a design sewn by hand to it.

Anita in Northfield

all judee and i meant is that the kits are already marked with the design and you follow along the pattern.

some quilt shops call these preprinted quilting markings "cheater" because you do not have to mark an entire cloth with your quilting pattern.

this is why i suggested to the original poster that she might like to start with a preprinted panel as her first step into the "whole cloth" quilting arena.

this was not meant to be an insult to other people who are very skilled in this area of quilting nor was it meant to be view as a super easy project - it was meant in the tone that it was given - merely a nice jumping off point into this style of work.

You are absolutely right, Klue!

I also have heard them called "cheater" for that reason, that they are already pre printed and it does make it a lot easier to hand quilt them. It's just a term it doesn't mean they are easy! :wink:

They are beautiful and The Stencil Company sells them quilt tops, table cloths, and even Christmas tree skirts. They are anything but easy. And it is not an insult to call them cheaters, just a term! :D

Ninnie

Thanks, Klue and Ninnie. I am not the "quilt police". You stated it well.

judee

Please forgive me, ladies. I had never heard of preprinted quilts like the ones Benartex makes as cheaters. To me a cheater quilt is one that is preprinted with color and all you do is quilt on lines to make it look like you sewed all those little pieces together and then quilted it.

I certainly am not the quilt police. I am, though, truly passionate about the subject. I have been quilting for close to 30 years and will continue until I can't see any longer to sew. There is, IMHO, too much bastardazation already. Quilts started as utilitarian. They were made using fabrics from old shirts, jackets, and dresses. The backings were large sheets and the batting was usually some cotton wadding or a blanket. They were held together with either hundreds of hand stitches or tied with yarn.

Today, everybody and their aunt want to use a long arm to get the quilting done in a hurry. There is not a lot of thought into what the quilting should be. Should we echo, should we stitch in the ditch, or should we tie it because it is going on the bed and will be washed probably a hundred times before it starts to fall apart. (I have a quilt like that. It is 27 years old and was washed almost monthly for each of those years. A few dogs and numerous cats slept on it. Cats tore the weakening fabric with their back claws. I will never part with it!) That used to be the dilemma of every quillter... what type of quilting pattern should be used on the finished top?

I truly believe, and I know that I am not alone in this, is that a quilt is something that is sewn and then quilted by hand. It takes months to complete it, but you have something that is truly worthy to be passed on to progeny. Art quilts are another story and use whatever methods one can think of to hold the layers together. They are art, and are usually treated as such. And comforters are tied quilt tops. They are layered and then tied. They can be bound or not. And there usually is one or two rows of machine stitching on the borders, mostly for stability.

Okay, I am climbing down off my soapbox. I am in the process of doing a down and dirty comforter for my bed. It is called the Lover's Knot and is by Eleanor Burns. I sewed 56 blocks yesterday and am on the last round on the final 42. Tomorrow I will put it together. I pray the quilt shop is open... I need her tables!!! It is also the quilt pattern of the quilt that I spoke of earlier. Eleanor would be proud... I have a book that was copyrighted in 1985. I will make more from it. I love the pattern, and I love how it goes together.

Have a lovely evening, ladies. I am.

Anita in Northfield