Unquilting
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,570
Unquilting
Asking the experts here...
I have a dear friend - and my quilting mentor - who is no longer able to quilt. I am helping her finish up a couple of UFO's. Just finished hand quilting and binding her youngest grandson's quilt.
Next project on the list is to finish hand quilting a flannel quilt that she started several years ago for her DH. Front and back both LQS quality flannel with Quilters Dream 100% cotton batting. Her stitches are very tiny and very precise. This is actually just a hunting scene panel (I think) with some other blocks surrounding it. It is a large lap size.
She started - very ambitiously - quilting the outlines of every shape and image and then, by her admission, just got lost in that process and put it aside. She said I was welcome to rip out her stitching and do whatever I liked - or continue her process. Honestly, it's almost impossible to tell where she has stitched.
I'm more inclined to rip out what she has done and start over but I'm fearful that trying to 'unquilt' the flannel will destroy the fabric. But I also think that I won't be able to continue with her plan and have it the way she intended or do it justice. And I'd like to get it done in something under 2-3 years, lol!
So folks, thoughts; hints; clues? Any input will be greatly appreciated.
I have a dear friend - and my quilting mentor - who is no longer able to quilt. I am helping her finish up a couple of UFO's. Just finished hand quilting and binding her youngest grandson's quilt.
Next project on the list is to finish hand quilting a flannel quilt that she started several years ago for her DH. Front and back both LQS quality flannel with Quilters Dream 100% cotton batting. Her stitches are very tiny and very precise. This is actually just a hunting scene panel (I think) with some other blocks surrounding it. It is a large lap size.
She started - very ambitiously - quilting the outlines of every shape and image and then, by her admission, just got lost in that process and put it aside. She said I was welcome to rip out her stitching and do whatever I liked - or continue her process. Honestly, it's almost impossible to tell where she has stitched.
I'm more inclined to rip out what she has done and start over but I'm fearful that trying to 'unquilt' the flannel will destroy the fabric. But I also think that I won't be able to continue with her plan and have it the way she intended or do it justice. And I'd like to get it done in something under 2-3 years, lol!
So folks, thoughts; hints; clues? Any input will be greatly appreciated.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,391
But maybe try to come up with something that complements what she has already done?
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
I am not sure what the quilting looks like - perhaps it would be fine to leave in. Or perhaps it needs to come out. I have taken a seam ripper and ripped out quilting (my own when I hated how it looked).
That was a slow process - done while watch the tube.
Not sure how much you would have to rip out - - but what I pulled out did not damage the fabric.
That was a slow process - done while watch the tube.
Not sure how much you would have to rip out - - but what I pulled out did not damage the fabric.
#7
#9
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,570
Thanks, ladies, for your thoughts and suggestions. I guess I'll leave in her stitching and see if there is a reasonable place to stop her process and continue on with my own.
I haven't examined the quilt extremely closely yet. I know she has a reasonable amount of the center portion of the panel quilted. I might have to follow her process for a bit to get to a place in the quilt where I can transition to a different style. And, yes, it will be hand quilted as I really don't know how to machine quilt, lol.
Hopefully I'll be able to get it done relatively quickly.
I haven't examined the quilt extremely closely yet. I know she has a reasonable amount of the center portion of the panel quilted. I might have to follow her process for a bit to get to a place in the quilt where I can transition to a different style. And, yes, it will be hand quilted as I really don't know how to machine quilt, lol.
Hopefully I'll be able to get it done relatively quickly.
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