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Question to the quilting Goddesses (Moderated by Sharon1952)
Posted on: 10/17/07 8:15 AM ET
Ok, so I bought the beginner's project book and I am making a single 9-patch block hot pot holder. Something quick and easy.
The squares have been cut and laid out to make sure they all line up, and I am ready to sew... except...
Do I need to worry about which way the grain runs when sewing two blocks together? Should they have parallel grain? Should they be crossgrain to each other?
I know I am probably overthinking this, but an inquiring mind wants to know.
Thanks in advance.
Alex
The squares have been cut and laid out to make sure they all line up, and I am ready to sew... except...
Do I need to worry about which way the grain runs when sewing two blocks together? Should they have parallel grain? Should they be crossgrain to each other?
I know I am probably overthinking this, but an inquiring mind wants to know.
Thanks in advance.
Alex
Posted on: 10/17/07 11:55 AM ET
In reply to xander
Quote: xander
Ok, so I bought the beginner's project book and I am making a single 9-patch block hot pot holder. Something quick and easy.
The squares have been cut and laid out to make sure they all line up, and I am ready to sew... except...
Do I need to worry about which way the grain runs when sewing two blocks together? Should they have parallel grain? Should they be cross grain to each other?
I know I am probably overthinking this, but an inquiring mind wants to know.
Thanks in advance.
Alex
Ok, so I bought the beginner's project book and I am making a single 9-patch block hot pot holder. Something quick and easy.
The squares have been cut and laid out to make sure they all line up, and I am ready to sew... except...
Do I need to worry about which way the grain runs when sewing two blocks together? Should they have parallel grain? Should they be cross grain to each other?
I know I am probably overthinking this, but an inquiring mind wants to know.
Thanks in advance.
Alex
It should not matter for a small item such as a pot holder.
For a larger project, I would cut & piece the blocks going with the grain, where there is less bias, or in the same direction if the fabric has a one way design.
You have to be careful is when you cut triangles. The angles will be on the bias and will stretch if not handled with care.
-- Edited on 10/17/07 12:02 PM --
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 10/17/07 6:23 PM ET
You're overthinking it.
Many of the quilt fabrics are designed so that you can sew them in any direction. It only really matters if you have a design with a direction, such as a stripe. And even if you mess up, it'll just give your quilt more of an authentic, handmade character.
Many of the quilt fabrics are designed so that you can sew them in any direction. It only really matters if you have a design with a direction, such as a stripe. And even if you mess up, it'll just give your quilt more of an authentic, handmade character.
Posted on: 10/17/07 8:42 PM ET
Contrast makes a beautiful quilt.
In answer to your question, it does not matter as long as it's straight of grain vertical or horizontal.
The first quilt I made was a nine patch. I did the top with sewing machine and handquilted it. After I was all done with the handquilting, I realized that not all of my squares matched up (they were off by as much as 1/4 "). Still, I think the quilt is beautiful and anyone in my family would probably love to have it.
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In answer to your question, it does not matter as long as it's straight of grain vertical or horizontal.
The first quilt I made was a nine patch. I did the top with sewing machine and handquilted it. After I was all done with the handquilting, I realized that not all of my squares matched up (they were off by as much as 1/4 "). Still, I think the quilt is beautiful and anyone in my family would probably love to have it.
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Charlene
Posted on: 10/18/07 10:55 AM ET
Thanks for the advice. I started sewing the project last night, and so far it looks like things are coming together. I am about 1/8th of an inch off on the individual 3 square units - but I think that is a result of not being completely familiar with this new sewing machine.
Thanks again.
Alex
Thanks again.
Alex
Posted on: 10/20/07 1:03 PM ET
I think you are going to love quilting. The colors and designs are so endless that you could make the same design over and over with diferent colors and not have the same look to it.
Try pressing the seams in opposing directions to help them set together snug and have a sharp straight seam. All that means is, you press the middle one in one direction and the two sides ones going the other direction. ( towards the top of the block/ towards the bottom of the block). Then when you go to pin them together, they snug up to each other. That makes sewing them with the lines matching easier and it causes the block to square up better.
I am not a teacher, so that was hard to explain. LoL! But, you can go to your local quilt store and take a begining class. It really would give you a good foundation start, and the support there is awesome!
But, like another poster said, with a small project, it should not matter about the grain of the fabric.
-- Edited on 10/20/07 1:07 PM --
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Try pressing the seams in opposing directions to help them set together snug and have a sharp straight seam. All that means is, you press the middle one in one direction and the two sides ones going the other direction. ( towards the top of the block/ towards the bottom of the block). Then when you go to pin them together, they snug up to each other. That makes sewing them with the lines matching easier and it causes the block to square up better.
I am not a teacher, so that was hard to explain. LoL! But, you can go to your local quilt store and take a begining class. It really would give you a good foundation start, and the support there is awesome!
But, like another poster said, with a small project, it should not matter about the grain of the fabric.
-- Edited on 10/20/07 1:07 PM --
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RedGarnet222
Posted on: 10/20/07 3:57 PM ET
I think you will feel better and more confident after you finish your first project! Then, you will probably be willing to tackle just about anything.
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