My group is learning to foundation piece. Each of us made this project. We have named it Quilting Sue. It was a real challenge but we are proud of our final efforts. Here's mine.

I've a question. I've had it on the wall about 4 days now and the sides are beginning to wave and stand away from the wall. I put a metal bar on the bottom to hold it down, but the sides are still wavy. What can I do to make it lie flat against the wall?


Connie

I'm not sure what to do to make it lie flat but want to let you know I think it looks great. I haven't gotten the nerve to do foundation piecing yet. Someday I'll try it. It looks great keep up the good work

Connie (Ceannastahr)

Alot of my wallhangings have done that.....in fact both of the last two did... I don't know what causes it or how to fix it either....but I agree...yours looks great!!!

i wonder if a super-lightweight frame of some kind, in a fabric sleeve, would work. just an upside down U woud be enough, i think. i've never tried that, so i'm really just thinking out loud.

there just aren't words to say how impressed i am with that quilt. it would take pages to list all the reasons why, but, really anybody who stops by to look at it will already know each and every one of them.

:P

I just love it, you've had some excellent teachers.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/quilt/msg1113334616787.html?29
here are a group of peoples suggestions on this topic

The wavy sides have to do with fabric stretch. Quilt all the way to the edges, and run a line of stitches all the way around the piece after you finish, then add the binding to help minimize the stretch, but you will still get some. Even paper does that. You can add a thin strip on fuseable interfacing along the edge under the binding to help stableize it, too

Thank you for the compliments ladies.

I'll try quilting to the edge to make the edges firmer.

Do you mean to mount the quilt on a frame and then hang it on the wall?
That would certainly stabilize the sides, but wouldn't it make the quilt heavy?

I had thought of sewing flat dowels down the sides in the back to make it lie flat. Has anyone ever tried it?

How do you keep the binding fabric from stretching? My binding is always made on the bias, the most stretchable direction of the fabric. My next one won't use the bias, but will I still have the same problem?
Connie

Not so much stretch if you cut with the grain. Usually, if you cut witht he grain and along the length of the fabric, that is the least stretch

Connie, I love your quilt. I've been thinking about what I could make for my mom, and that pattern would be perfect. Thanks for sharing.

Tricia

Many professionals, block their work before entering shows. This would mean dampening the quilt and pinning it flat to dry. You may find more information on doing this on the web.

The wall hanging is darling! I applaud your group's efforts to not only learn a new technique, but to also create such a lovely project. Keep up the great work!

Your wall hanging is gorgeous!!! Great work!
Sharon

I love it! It is great, too too cute. VEry ncie work. Thanks for sharing.

I'm blushing under your complements. Thank you everyone.

I sewed the flat dowels to the sides and rehung the quilt. The sides are now flat.

Thanks for all the advice.

Connie

That is soo. cute!

connie this is simply beautiful, i just love it . thanks for sharing

What a terrific tribute to all of us who work in this art form!

Connie, you are in Beirut, Lebanon? Is it difficult to get fabric there? If it is, maybe some of us could send some your way. How is the mail service there?

You do very nice work. I don't think I would have the calm nerves to do that nice a job in your part of the world!

Connie;
I think your wall hanging is really cute! Sorry I'm not experienced enough to offer suggestions on your wavy sides. I like the pattern a lot. Where can I find it?
Virginia

I love it! Fantastic work! We, of course, knew Sue was one of us! :lol:

Wow, that quilt is stunning. Great work. Pam :-)

Hi everyone,

Sorry for not answering you earlier. We are in the middle of ordering our school library books for next year and all my time lately has been online looking for and ordering library books for the 6 libraries of the school. I am the acting head librarian for all six, so the task has fallen to me to make sure the orders are completed and out on time. It has been a gargantuan task.

Thank all of you for the compliments to my quilting efforts. I really do try hard to do a good job and are very pleased when others appreciate it.


Quiltmaker,
Yes it is difficult getting materials in Beirut, even though I live in the capital city of the country. There is no fabric industry here, so everything is imported from outside and they do not go for 100% cotton much. I get my fabrics the same way as our ancestors - pick it up where you can and reuse worn-out clothes. When I go home to the States, I return with one suitcase full of fabrics, books and notions which I share with my quilting buddies here. They do the same when they travel as well. We are also cultivating some fabric shops and trying to convince them to bring in more cotton fabrics, but so far with little success. It is really a shame that Walmart is cutting back on their fabric departments. I was hoping to pick up material there when I got home.

Now the weather is simply too hot to do any quilting comfortably. We simply melt without airconditioning over here. Hope it is cooler for all of you wherever you are.

Virginia,
The pattern that we used came from the book Needles and Notions: Paper Pieced patterns with a Sewing Room Theme by Jeanette Huff. One of our quilting ladies found it when she was traveling to the US and brought it back for us to try. I do not have the book myself, but you may be able to find it through Amazon.com

Connie

I LOVE it. How creative and cute and so appropriate for the walls of any quilter's sewing room. Really nice. Thanks for sharing.

Feathers

Connie~ I absolutely love your quilt! How creative!
Good luck with those library books.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful work. :D

Connie,
I think your quilt is adorable. Also, sewing flat dowels to the sides seems to be a great idea. Glad it worked for you.

Connie, love that. Congrats on foundation work. I have only tried it once or twice and did'nt like what I did but love yours. Maybe I will give it another try.

Wow, it's beautiful and I see you included my new best friend the seam ripper. :thumbup:

An awesome tribute and such a wonderful job on the quilt. I so envy your talent! :D

That's some really good work Connie! I love this quilt. If you're this good with the fabrics you can gather, I'd love to see what you could do with a huge stash! :) That rotary cutter almost looks real enough to cut you! Really, such good work.

I'm glad you figured out what to do about the wavy edges. I've found that if I use a thinner batting, and use a single binding on smaller wall hangings, they tend to lay against the wall better and not be so wiggly. :)

It really is wonderful!! The sewing machine reminds me of the one my mother used for years and years.

How fun!!! Nice work!

Great job! I love the idea of "Quilting Sue."

I would like to know how to find this pattern to purchase. I tried "Needles & Notions" but it didn't give me any info. Thanks for your help.

twoboysgrammy, here is a search that I did and there are a few listings for the book with this pattern, hope this helps!!!

http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=msgr-buddy&ei=UTF-8&p=%20Sewing%20Room%20Theme%20%20Jaynette%20Huf f

I'm new to this board so I don't know any of you. But someone posted very good information on getting the pattern for the Quilting Sue. As it turns out, I already have the book! Now I have an idea for something for my quilting room. Many thanks to the kind poster.

you are very welcome, that is what is so great about joining here, help is all around :D

That is so cute...clever idea. Love it.

That is so cute...clever idea. Love it.

Hi, Connie
I have bought the smallest dowels, and inserted them into the binding on one of my wall hangings that had a tendency to do this. With the mitered binding, I could just slip them in and out as needed.
Debra

Thank you for the complements, everyone. The foundation piecing was a challenge because the blocks were small (6 inches), but I was pleased with the results.

I've just returned from the US where I celebrated by younger son's graduation (Master in Psychology) and my elder son's wedding. Now I am thinking of my next foundation pieced project.

Happy quilting all. 8)

Connie

Connie,
I had seen this post before and thought oh wow, that is beautiful and I could have sworn that I posted but I guess I didn't. I love this. You did a wonderful job! I haven't tried foundation piecing yet, you make it look so easy! :D