Learning How to Make Quilt Blocks
08-01-2020, 05:03 PM
#71
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Join Date: May 2020
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Barb, Thanks, you're very kind. I guess there had to be a point where my ability to translate a block diagram was going to end up in defeat.
But it has pointed me toward my next quilt, and it will be one of the relatively simple star block quilts, a "Trailing Star". It will be a bunch of variations in the colour scheme.
I've decided it will go on my bed, which is a twin XL. That means the dimensions will be roughly 8 by 9 feet. This includes 3 inch sashing and border. With 12 inch blocks, I needed something between all of them. Though for the border I am debating on possibly using the rest of my trimmings to create a very long multi colour one. With all the problems with my making flying geese blocks, I've accumulated a lot of incorrect sized material I can use for this purpose.
This should take forty-two 12 inch blocks. And I will be using anything that can cut into 4 inch square blocks, which all the needed blocks are. All these will either be full blocks, or half square triangle blocks. So it will be pretty easy to put together.
As I do not see colour differences well, and have always had problems matching compatible colours, that is going to make this interesting with my using all the various this and that I have available.
Anyway, the adventure begins on quilt #2. Should be a lot of fun.
But it has pointed me toward my next quilt, and it will be one of the relatively simple star block quilts, a "Trailing Star". It will be a bunch of variations in the colour scheme.
I've decided it will go on my bed, which is a twin XL. That means the dimensions will be roughly 8 by 9 feet. This includes 3 inch sashing and border. With 12 inch blocks, I needed something between all of them. Though for the border I am debating on possibly using the rest of my trimmings to create a very long multi colour one. With all the problems with my making flying geese blocks, I've accumulated a lot of incorrect sized material I can use for this purpose.
This should take forty-two 12 inch blocks. And I will be using anything that can cut into 4 inch square blocks, which all the needed blocks are. All these will either be full blocks, or half square triangle blocks. So it will be pretty easy to put together.
As I do not see colour differences well, and have always had problems matching compatible colours, that is going to make this interesting with my using all the various this and that I have available.
Anyway, the adventure begins on quilt #2. Should be a lot of fun.
08-01-2020, 05:34 PM
#72
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
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8 x 9 feet is 96 x 108 inches
A twin mattress is approximately 38 x 80 inches
Assuming that the 8 foot measurement will go crosswise - that gives you 29inch overhang on each side.
I do not know your preference for how you cover - or don't cover - your pillows.
If you only have the quilt go to the top of the mattress (not over pillows) - then you will have a 28 inch overhang at the foot of the bed.
Is your bed very tall/high? Some beds are so high, one almost needs a ladder to get to the top of the bed.
It might be more manageable if you went with a bed skirt and have the quilt only go a couple of inches over that.
Remember that quilting "shrinks" the quilt - the denser the quilting, the more "shrinkage".
A twin mattress is approximately 38 x 80 inches
Assuming that the 8 foot measurement will go crosswise - that gives you 29inch overhang on each side.
I do not know your preference for how you cover - or don't cover - your pillows.
If you only have the quilt go to the top of the mattress (not over pillows) - then you will have a 28 inch overhang at the foot of the bed.
Is your bed very tall/high? Some beds are so high, one almost needs a ladder to get to the top of the bed.
It might be more manageable if you went with a bed skirt and have the quilt only go a couple of inches over that.
Remember that quilting "shrinks" the quilt - the denser the quilting, the more "shrinkage".
08-01-2020, 06:13 PM
#73
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
You're right. I only did very quick calculations. I can probably drop one block in width and one in length. That would give me a dimension of 78x93, with a total of 35 blocks.
The bed from floor to top of mattress is 25 inches, and I purchased the thinner mattress. I'm over 6 foot tall, so I don't have a problem climbing in and out of the bed. The quilt should just come just below the bed platform. And I like to cover my pillows with the bed spreads, or in this case, the quilt
I am wondering just how anyone can maneuver a king sized quilt through a machine. I would imagine that lots of the finishing stitching would have to be done by hand.
The bed from floor to top of mattress is 25 inches, and I purchased the thinner mattress. I'm over 6 foot tall, so I don't have a problem climbing in and out of the bed. The quilt should just come just below the bed platform. And I like to cover my pillows with the bed spreads, or in this case, the quilt
I am wondering just how anyone can maneuver a king sized quilt through a machine. I would imagine that lots of the finishing stitching would have to be done by hand.
08-02-2020, 05:54 AM
#74
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This link may help you decide how big to make your next quilt.
https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-t...determine-size
https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-t...determine-size
08-02-2020, 08:07 AM
#76
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Join Date: May 2020
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isewman, I started quilting about two months ago. I did my first quilt (lap) about a month into this adventure.
Since then, I've made somewhere between 10 and fifteen different blocks to get some practise with ever increasing difficulty. I got stumped on my last star block, which is the last I posted on this thread, and decided to take one of the star blocks, and do a lot of colour variations.
So, I am in the process of cutting out about 560 four inch squares. I'm trying to match colours as I cut, and pile the cut squares for each block together in preparation for putting all of it together.
Since then, I've made somewhere between 10 and fifteen different blocks to get some practise with ever increasing difficulty. I got stumped on my last star block, which is the last I posted on this thread, and decided to take one of the star blocks, and do a lot of colour variations.
So, I am in the process of cutting out about 560 four inch squares. I'm trying to match colours as I cut, and pile the cut squares for each block together in preparation for putting all of it together.
08-18-2020, 08:54 AM
#77
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Join Date: May 2020
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Hello All, I've been busy creating thirty five 12 inch Trailing Star blocks. The picture shows my crazy set of blocks in various colour schemes. The reason for such a variety of colours and combinations is due to my limited fabric supply.
While making these, my sewing machine continued to act strangely, locking up about every bobbin of thread. I would cleaning things up and oil that area, and kept changing the needle, but still had the same problem. The last time it happened I looked at things with a magnifying glass. I saw that the spool thread coming down to the needle showed that thread wrapped around the needle. I waited for this to happen again, and like clockwork I found the thread wrapped around the needle. So it wasn't a dirty or machine,or lack of oil, or a dull needle. It's just that the thread somehow gets wrapped once around the needle. This is frustrating, but easily fixed, now that I know what is happening.
Not sure this is something I can fix. It seems that the thread, when just starting on a piece of material bunches up about an inch or so, then things work fine. But occasionally that thread somehow wraps around the needle. I am wondering if it is a tension problem. My stitches are just fine after that initial bunching of the thread at the start of sewing a new piece of fabric.
Regardless, the experience has been enjoyable. I love creating things, even if what I create does not always match traditional color schemes.
While making these, my sewing machine continued to act strangely, locking up about every bobbin of thread. I would cleaning things up and oil that area, and kept changing the needle, but still had the same problem. The last time it happened I looked at things with a magnifying glass. I saw that the spool thread coming down to the needle showed that thread wrapped around the needle. I waited for this to happen again, and like clockwork I found the thread wrapped around the needle. So it wasn't a dirty or machine,or lack of oil, or a dull needle. It's just that the thread somehow gets wrapped once around the needle. This is frustrating, but easily fixed, now that I know what is happening.
Not sure this is something I can fix. It seems that the thread, when just starting on a piece of material bunches up about an inch or so, then things work fine. But occasionally that thread somehow wraps around the needle. I am wondering if it is a tension problem. My stitches are just fine after that initial bunching of the thread at the start of sewing a new piece of fabric.
Regardless, the experience has been enjoyable. I love creating things, even if what I create does not always match traditional color schemes.
08-18-2020, 09:02 AM
#78
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
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Your blocks are pretty.
Do you hold the thread ends towards the back of the machine when you start sewing? That has really helped me to keep the threads from tangling or getting pulled down into the feed dogs.
My "newest" machine is from the mid 1980s - so don't know if holding the threads is necessary or not with the new machines. But it really helps with my machines.
I've learned that if I cut the threads too short - then my needle unthreads.
Do you hold the thread ends towards the back of the machine when you start sewing? That has really helped me to keep the threads from tangling or getting pulled down into the feed dogs.
My "newest" machine is from the mid 1980s - so don't know if holding the threads is necessary or not with the new machines. But it really helps with my machines.
I've learned that if I cut the threads too short - then my needle unthreads.
Last edited by bearisgray; 08-18-2020 at 09:04 AM.
08-18-2020, 09:19 AM
#79
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I have a Siinger Quantum Stylist 9960. It's a computerized machine, and supposedly adjusts thread tension automatically.
It also has a thread cutter. All I have to do is push a button, and the thread cuts, and is held in position for the next fabric to be sewn. In order for me to hold the thread when starting, I would have to dig it out of the slot just ahead of the feed dog.
I think the problem just might be an idiosyncrasy of the Quantum Stylist 9960. Now that I know what to look for when the needle gets stuck, I know just to rethread the needle.
It also has a thread cutter. All I have to do is push a button, and the thread cuts, and is held in position for the next fabric to be sewn. In order for me to hold the thread when starting, I would have to dig it out of the slot just ahead of the feed dog.
I think the problem just might be an idiosyncrasy of the Quantum Stylist 9960. Now that I know what to look for when the needle gets stuck, I know just to rethread the needle.
08-19-2020, 05:19 AM
#80
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,038
Look at you go!
Many of us use "leaders" or I like the term "spider" to start our stitching, some people have squares they put together and make a top out of, I reuse a spider, otherwise the way my brain works is I would still need a leader for the leader... (the little ends of threads hanging off the bit of fabric look like a spider).
I love the thread cutter on my modern Bernina, but I'm used to my old vintage machine. I've seen discussions of other machines with the cut leaving too much of a tail or cutting too short and stitches coming out, but as far as I'm concerned it is just right.
What I don't like, and one of the reasons on why I use a leader/spider is that it automatically starts with a few close stitches, and for me that causes more problems than it solves.
Double check your tensions and your threading, I'm finding that when the thread loops around the needle something isn't quite right, one of my machines does like to work it's way out of the clamp just above the needle and while I'm sewing it is ok, but then it gets looped when I stop/start.
Many of us use "leaders" or I like the term "spider" to start our stitching, some people have squares they put together and make a top out of, I reuse a spider, otherwise the way my brain works is I would still need a leader for the leader... (the little ends of threads hanging off the bit of fabric look like a spider).
I love the thread cutter on my modern Bernina, but I'm used to my old vintage machine. I've seen discussions of other machines with the cut leaving too much of a tail or cutting too short and stitches coming out, but as far as I'm concerned it is just right.
What I don't like, and one of the reasons on why I use a leader/spider is that it automatically starts with a few close stitches, and for me that causes more problems than it solves.
Double check your tensions and your threading, I'm finding that when the thread loops around the needle something isn't quite right, one of my machines does like to work it's way out of the clamp just above the needle and while I'm sewing it is ok, but then it gets looped when I stop/start.
