new to quilting have a question
joenlori
Aloha! I'm new to quilting and I have a question of how to quilt a
queen/king size quilt?? I'm doing the top of 3 1/2" finished squares and I
just want to quilt the interior of the squares, but I am wondering what type
of frame or hoop should I use? I don't have the room for a full size frame,
like the rest of my family back east all have, I'm the uncrafty sheep in my
family and I'm giving this a try. My mom says I should use a hoop and
stand, but I wonder if there are other ways, or do I need a hoop or frame at
all?? Sorry if this is elementary sort of stuff, but I'm at a bit of a loss
here, thanks for all and any help or suggestions you have. email or post
here, I hope I'm not a lost cause =o)
thanks.....Laurie
joen...@lava.net
Rhoda E. Wicker
Dear Laurie,
When I first started out quilting I put the layers together on the
living room floor and safety pinned and basted the whole thing. Then I
took a fairly large quilting hoop and worked it under this big quilt
and afixed the top of the hoop and dragged the whole thing into my easy
chair and sat there and quilted and watch TV or listened to the radio.
I took the same approach as I take when reading a book, curled up in my
favorite chair.
Now I just think about those uncomplicated day with the hoop in my
easy chair and feel sad. As I have advanced in quilting, I have also
advanced in method and have a EZ Grace large frame where I roll up the
three layers and no longer have to baste the quilt or even spread it
out on the living room floor. It really isn't as much fun, but
practical because I have grow twenty years older and need all the help
I can get from equipment.
Your mother may be right about the hoop with the floor stand, but
just between you and me, I'd start out with the one for your lap and
save the bigger investment like the floor stand for next year or at
least the next two quilts.
Best Wishes,
Rhoda
rwi...@pol.org
rewi...@att.net
KatQuilts
Dear Laurie:
My preference is to hand quilt with a hoop on a stand. This allows me to use
both hands, and I don't have to worry about balancing a hoop on my lap, table
end, or whatever. A hoop also gives me the proper tension I need to make nice,
consistant stitches.
I know some people are able to quilt well without the use of a hoop or a frame.
I am not one of them...LOL. I would suggest you try different methods to see
which one will give you the results you desire. There are no hard and fast
rules....to each his own, but it does take a bit of experimenting to see what
works for you.
Good luck!
Kathy
Ellison
Howdy, Laurie!
I use a 14" round hoop for all my quilting; I quilt by hand, only.
I pin-baste the whole project, then start in the middle of the quilt,
and work out in a kind of spiral, removing pins as I "hoop" around
them. I mark my quilting pattern, when I use one, w/ a washable
(washes out) blue fabric marker; for dark fabric, I use a permanent-ink
fabric
marker. Otherwise, I just follow the line of the quilt design/pattern,
and quilt 1/4 inch from the seams.
Glad you found us. We love to give our opinions, and help
when we can. Let us hear more from you.
Aloha, y'all, too. <g>
--
Ragmop
http://home.att.net/~Ellison-Texas
joenlori <joen...@lava.net> wrote in article
<6njrun$4...@mochi.lava.net>...
Marudico
welcome laurie! you have a big quilt! when i quilt by hand (not as often
these days) i don't use a hoop or frame, i just baste like crazy and plop the
whole thing in my lap. i start in the middle and work my way out to the sides,
sort of in a spiral, sometimes straight out if that seems right. when you say
you want to quilt just the interior of the squares, do you mean that you won't
have any lines crossing? then a hoop might be just the thing. if you use a
hoop, make it not too tight, or you won't have any wiggle room for the needle.
and you can always make a practice piece to see what works for you.
oh yeah, i once saw a frame that was made of 2X4 boards and C-clamps, it rested
on the back of some chairs. if you want a big frame, that might work. i'd try
a few things first. now write back and tell us about this quilt. babalu!
rowena___.
acme dance company
maru...@aol.com
Scott & Rose
There are frames that you can buy that look live PVC pipe and have a
"clamp" that holds the fabric to the pipes. They are available in different
sizes& are square and rectangular shaped. I found mine in Ben Franklins.
You don't need a hoop if you don't want too, but just keep the fabric tight
so it doesn't "pucker". I hope this helps you.
Have you tried any of the Hawaiian quilts? There are free classes available
at the Bishop Museum. The kit costs about $40.00, but you get hands on help
from a master quilter there at the museum. I took the class and learned
alot. I was intimidated at first, but got the hang of it very quickly.
Good luck in your stitching.
Roseann
Marissa
I have to second Ellison here once again. I also quilt everything by hand on a
14" hoop.... I love it when I get done with the machine piecing and I can sit
with the quilt in process around me, watching TV or whatever while I stitch
away... I mark the design with pencil before I add backing and batting or as I
go with chalkpencil, unless I am just going to follow seams.
Ellison wrote:
>
> Howdy, Laurie!
> I use a 14" round hoop for all my quilting; I quilt by hand, only.
> I pin-baste the whole project, then start in the middle of the quilt,
> and work out in a kind of spiral, removing pins as I "hoop" around
> them. I mark my quilting pattern, when I use one, w/ a washable
> (washes out) blue fabric marker; for dark fabric, I use a permanent-ink
> fabric
> marker. Otherwise, I just follow the line of the quilt design/pattern,
> and quilt 1/4 inch from the seams.
> Glad you found us. We love to give our opinions, and help
> when we can. Let us hear more from you.
> Aloha, y'all, too. <g>
********************************************************
Marissa Vignali
URL: http://www.bmb.psu.edu/597a/stdnts96/Vignali
To reply, remove the obvious from the reply to address
********************************************************
Ruth Evans
Arghh! Marissa mentioned that she used pencil to mark a design. I'm
wanting to do some real quilting (as opposed to merely outline quilting) on
my Scottie dog quilt. I tried pencil on a scrap, washed it as I normally do
quilts (cold water and my normal laundry soap) and the pencil marks faded
but didn't disappear. What am I doing wrong! I used both a regular #2
pencil and a fancy "quilters" mechanical pencil that I bought for the
purpose.
--
Ruth
"I have been deceived, distraught and devastated by friends, but I have
never been deserted by my dog." - Robert E. Winslow
**Princess - Cutest Wiggle Tail Ever!
**Anne McCaffrey - Master Word Crafter
Marissa wrote in message <35A15482...@psu.edu>...
EAmstutz
I have used the "quilter's" mechanical pencil you mention, actually any
mechanical pencil that will take a hard, fine lead will do. I use a light touch
when marking - "sometimes" my quilting will cover the marks and then there are
times when my marks get rubbed off before I get to them and I have to remark
which isn't easy with batting and all!!
The # 2 pencils would be too soft in my opinion.
The following are from posts I have saved regarding marking quilts.
>>QUILTERS RATE MARKERS
by: aard...@mainelink.net
OTHER PENCILS:
Graphite: The Ultimate Marking Pencil was the graphite pencil most
frequently mentioned. Many respondents noted that they had difficulty
washing it out. One respondent pointed out that pencil marks should
eventually disappear after repeated washing and that some fine antique
quilts show evidence of pencil marks. Many quilters cited The Ultimate
Marking Pencil as washing out poorly; the Schwan Aquarellable graphite
got high marks. One respondent reported that the Schwan Aquarellable
black stained quilting threads and generally resisted washing out.
That she marked heavily figures into it, but it's a marker I'd avoid.
Of those quilters who noted use of Berol color pencils, most were
satisfied; quilters were generally pleased with Prismacolor pencils
and with other watercolor pencils.>>
I did not note who posted the following and I have not tried the formula.
>>REMOVING PENCIL MARKS:
Pencil is very hard to get out of quilts. Here is a recipe for a cleaning
solution you might try, but PLEASE try it on a scrap of fabric just like the
fabric in your quilt first, then try it on a very small portion of your quilt.
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1/4 cup tap water
3 drops Palmolive dish soap
Let this solution sit on the quilt for awhile, then rinse thoroughly.
Just remember, test first!>>
Keep us posted,
Ellen in Sandusky, OH
In article <35a191bb.0@tmpserver>, "Ruth Evans" <ev...@cyberhighway.net>
writes: