Date: 11/18/09 9:53 AM

My daughter and I are starting our first quilt and I have a few questions. I have looked over the postings for the last year in this quilting thread - and am so glad I did - but it also generated a few additional questions.

Basic info - we are using Kitty Corners pattern (http://www.pineypatch.com/products/Kitty-Corners-Cover.gif) that we purchased from Piney Patch (http://pineypatch.com/home.htm) My daughter chose other colors than portrayed - all in a cool type pallette, more blues, grays and some pink, though the bright white will be pretty much the same I think. It will be a twin sized quilt.

Questions:
1. What are the basic "must-have" tools. We got a 35"x23" self healing mat, a 45mm rotary cutter, and a 6"x24" clear ruler. (I should have asked first, but didn't even realize there was a quilting board until after purchases.)

2. I washed and pressed all the fabrics for the cover - but have not yet bought the backing - and "guts". I did see the thread that seems to be overwhelmingly for cotton batting. I tend to repurpose things a lot - would an old 100% wool blanket (that has been washed multiple times and shrunk down from full to twin-ish size) be a suitable batting? Dd plans to take this with her to college - and she will be leaving FL for a state that has snow - so she warmth is good in this case.

3. We should only use cotton thread, I think I read here?

Blessings,
Patti
(starting out with some trepidation...)
-- Edited on 11/18/09 9:55 AM --

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Blessings,
Patti
http://poured-out.blogspot.com/

Date: 11/18/09 10:31 AM

That is a sweet pattern! What a wonderful thing to go off to college with! You are on the right track with your tools.

There are three stages to making a quilt - piecing the top, securing the three layers (pieced top, batting, backing) with quilting or tying, and binding.

I prefer using a 1/4" foot on my machine while piecing the top. I tested mine by using the hand wheel to tap an acrylic ruler with the needle, making sure it hit at the 1/4" mark when lined up with the black fabric guide on the foot.

I like to have several square rulers for measuring each block as they are made - if the blocks are to be six inch square finished (attached on all sides to the sashing, which your pattern has), then have a 6.5 inch ruler on hand to measure the raw block. If all the blocks are the correct size, it makes piecing them all together with the sashing much easier!

When piecing, I like to hit the two pieces being joined with a hot dry iron - this helps the cotton stick together when you are feeding it through the machine. You can also use silk pins, which are fine and won't poke big holes in your fabric.

One great trick for matching up seams is to take two strips that make up your block - match up where the seams must meet - then do a few little stitches at the joined area only at the 1/4" allowance. Snip your materials free from the machine and open up your two strips - if the seams match there, simply feed it through again, hitting the few little stitches you just made. Easier than pinning, and I find it almost fail safe in getting nice blocks.

I have only ever used the conventional low loft cotton batting sold by the quilt store, so I'm not sure if your wool blanket would work. My biggest concern is that you would find it difficult to quilt if it has a high loft.

Cotton thread is suggested, and that's what I use, although I am sure many quilts have been made with blends.

Date: 11/19/09 12:28 PM

What a cute pattern! Easy and quick yet a lot of personality.

In my grandmother's day they used whatever they had laying
around for batting, including old blankets and worn-out quilts. A couple of questions: What color is the wool blanket? If it's not white, the color might show through the white in the quilt top, making it look grayish. Does the blanket have any thin spots? These might seem lumpy in the final quilt.

If you want wool for the warmth but have doubts about the blanket you can always use a wool quilt batt. Quilters Dream and Hobbs are two manufacturers I know of that have wool. I've never used wool myself, but I've read it makes wonderfully warm quilts.

Personally I don't like 100% cotton batting for bed quilts, but I may be the odd one around here. I like the drape and softness of a cotton/poly blend. Personal preference.

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Tess
Bernina 150QE (2, actually), Brother PQ1500S, Elna 945 serger, Janome CP1000
Vintage Singers: 221 Featherweight (2), 15-91, 201-2, 503

Reply to sewmia
Date: 11/19/09 10:33 PM

Hi Sewmia - Thank you for the great tips. I don't quite understand them all - but as we walk through the process,I think it will become clear.
Blessings,
Patti

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Blessings,
Patti
http://poured-out.blogspot.com/

Reply to TessKwiltz
Date: 11/19/09 10:42 PM

Ahhh, Tess - I hadn't thought of that. The blanket I have will show through. I will have to keep looking. The main concern for us is expense. The pattern and top fabrics have already cost quite a bit- and we have yet to get the backing fabric. The batting I have seen is a bit expensive. I will see what presents itself when we get to that step.

For me, I would have just done a patchwork quilt of scraps on hand - but I want my daughter to enjoy making this - and cat lover that she is - this was the only quilt for her!
Patti

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Blessings,
Patti
http://poured-out.blogspot.com/

Reply to fourkid
Date: 11/19/09 11:44 PM

Do you have an old white cotton sheet you can use under the quilt top so the blanket does not show through? One of my grandmother's used to use old blankets in her quilts. I had a neighbour who used to buy raw wool fleece and make her own batting.

You can also use a cotton sheet for the back, but I would make sure it was new.

What is your budget for the batting and backing? With an idea of how much you have to spend, you may get some great ideas of how to stretch you funds.

I have bought quilt fabric via e-bay and saved quite a bit of money, so that may be an option for you.

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Proud parent of a Dwight International School Honour Roll Student

Reply to Michelle T
Date: 11/20/09 9:27 AM

LOL - my budget for the rest of the quilt is technically - $0. But I will get what I need to make it work for my daughter. Good ideas on the sheets (I may still get to use that blanket after all) - I do have a couple weeks before that stage - I love you all's creative ideas!!!

I have used e-bay a few times for fabrics - and have had a good deal come along on the PR "for sale" section. Truthfully we haven't even discussed backing colors. We wanted to see how the front shapes up first.

Thank you for all these great ideas!!!
Blessings,
Patti

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Blessings,
Patti
http://poured-out.blogspot.com/

Reply to fourkid
Date: 11/21/09 8:22 PM

I like cotton batting for a beginner quilter. The reason is because your cotton fabric tends to cling to the batting so it doesn't move so much when quilting. Warm and Natural also make a nice polyester batting that isn't too pricey. I like this one too. IMO, they are both too thick for handquilting but great for machine quilting.

Reply to fourkid
Date: 11/23/09 12:52 PM

Quote: fourkid

Hi Sewmia - Thank you for the great tips. I don't quite understand them all - but as we walk through the process,I think it will become clear. Blessings, Patti

You are welcome - hopefully they become clear, or if you come up north, stop by and I'll show you! :)

I like the idea of using a sheet to back the top so that the blanket doesn't show through. I would be sure to baste all the layers together quite well before trying to quilt/tie it. My first quilting teacher said we should only use the best quality quilting cotton for making our quilt tops, but if that's not in the budget, go ahead and use the other stuff - no one should stretch themselves like that for quilting!