What am I doing wrong? Need help with a class
11-04-2017, 03:39 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,526
You have been given lots of good advice about the batting. My concern is the flannel. If you decide to use the poly batting, the flannel must be shrunk first and then squared up again. Poly does not shrink and flannel does--a lot!!!
Personally, I would cut 12 1/2 inch squares of a few different fabrics and teach the kids simple piecing, including matching seams and pressing, and then go on to very simple quilting or tying.
Personally, I would cut 12 1/2 inch squares of a few different fabrics and teach the kids simple piecing, including matching seams and pressing, and then go on to very simple quilting or tying.
11-04-2017, 06:22 AM
#12
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,834
These lapquilts have to be finished before Christmas vacation so they can be donated. We don't have time to learn piecing in addition to sewing machine and cutting, etc. before then.
A church in the area is arranging the donation. I'm guessing they will go to the Methodist home for the aged, given this is a Methodist church.
Thanks for all your help.
I will just switch the batting.
I did wash and dry the flannel. It's my first use of flannel, though you guys have already taught me about shrinkage.
I don't mind binding them. (I just won't hand sew them.)
Thanks again for the help.
bkay
11-04-2017, 09:10 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois/Wisconsin
Posts: 878
Well, I have some warm and natural, so can change it if need be. I also don't have that much invested in the polyester if that is the problem.
I really need this to be EASY for these kids. They need to succeed. They will get to know about Mr. Seam ripper anyway, even with everything simplified.
bkay
I really need this to be EASY for these kids. They need to succeed. They will get to know about Mr. Seam ripper anyway, even with everything simplified.
bkay
11-04-2017, 10:25 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Kenai, Alaska
Posts: 1,150
This is probably too late but if this just involves one piece of fabric for the top and one for the back and the batting I would have done the birthing technique that Eleanor Burns has shown. With the top fabric face down on top of the batting and the backing--that is face up and sewn all around leaving a hole to turn. Then turn and topstitch around the edge to close the opening and using a walking foot or even an open toed foot to stitch top to bottom and even side to side or --possibly even tying the quilt.
11-04-2017, 11:04 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Central Ia
Posts: 1,113
When I took the Learning to quilt basics classes we used 100% poly batting as the quilts were to be donated and poly was deemed; more economical to purchase for donation quilts. lighter, easier/cheaper to maintain(less time in the dryer) and more durable to wear and tear. With this being said, I am so glad I am in a position to never have to work with the stuff again.
11-04-2017, 02:58 PM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
I'm a fairly novice quiter. I've pieced 5 or 6 simple quilts, but had all quilting done by a longarmer.
I'm volunteering to teach quilting to 5th graders. It's a small class, just 6 or 7 kids. I did this last year, but the teacher (my sister) was persuaded to do something "that shows" by either her principal or her TAG supervisor.
So, this year, each is making a wheelchair lapquilt to donate, in addition to what we did last year. I simplified it, as we are not piecing the lapquilt. We're just cutting a top, bottom and batting, spray basting and quilting it with a walking foot. (Wonder who will end up binding all those lapquilts?)
We just had our first class last week and I was going to make a prototype. My plan was flannel backing and polyester batting. I'm not sure which is not working easily. I taped the flannel to the table, not stretching it but smoothing it carefully. I spray basted it and then put on the low loft polyester batting. I smoothed it out. Then I sprayed it and put the top on. I removed the blue tape and folded up the sandwich. It was all goofy this morning with the backing no longer smooth and the top was only a hair better. So, I ironed it from the center out and re-positioned both the top and the backing. It might make it through the sewing machine without puckers, but somehow, I doubt it. I left it laying flat.
What am I doing wrong? Would Warm and Natural solve some of this problem? If we don't use flannel for the backing, we have to put some kind of ties on it to keep it from sliding.
Any help would be appreciated. I really need to get most of the kinks worked out this weekend.
bkay
I'm volunteering to teach quilting to 5th graders. It's a small class, just 6 or 7 kids. I did this last year, but the teacher (my sister) was persuaded to do something "that shows" by either her principal or her TAG supervisor.
So, this year, each is making a wheelchair lapquilt to donate, in addition to what we did last year. I simplified it, as we are not piecing the lapquilt. We're just cutting a top, bottom and batting, spray basting and quilting it with a walking foot. (Wonder who will end up binding all those lapquilts?)
We just had our first class last week and I was going to make a prototype. My plan was flannel backing and polyester batting. I'm not sure which is not working easily. I taped the flannel to the table, not stretching it but smoothing it carefully. I spray basted it and then put on the low loft polyester batting. I smoothed it out. Then I sprayed it and put the top on. I removed the blue tape and folded up the sandwich. It was all goofy this morning with the backing no longer smooth and the top was only a hair better. So, I ironed it from the center out and re-positioned both the top and the backing. It might make it through the sewing machine without puckers, but somehow, I doubt it. I left it laying flat.
What am I doing wrong? Would Warm and Natural solve some of this problem? If we don't use flannel for the backing, we have to put some kind of ties on it to keep it from sliding.
Any help would be appreciated. I really need to get most of the kinks worked out this weekend.
bkay
11-05-2017, 07:02 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
For wheelchair lapquilts I would not use a batting. Either just have the flannel backing or, if you want a bit of extra thickness, use a flannel for batting and backing. It would be easier for the kids and quite a bit cheaper. Might I suggest you do a 'self-binding'? Keep the backing 1" bigger and double fold it over to the front and then topstitch (I like to use a decorative stitch) to hold the binding down. This would be easy for the kids and it eliminates the possibility of binding coming loose. As wheelchair quilts or nursing home quilts, they will get some hard use and lots of laundering.
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