I have a question for all of you today, and I hope you will take a minute to leave me a comment with your thoughts. I am curious to know what techniques in quilting you would like to know more about. We all know that quilting books usually have hefty chapters on the basics of quilting, but what is missing from those chapters you often wish was explained more? Or what from those chapters do you always like to see? Personally, I always like to read up on their binding techniques. I like to see how things are done differently, and if there is a more efficient way of doing things. I also like to read about how other’s square their quilt tops, but no one ever seems to talk about this. So that is something I would want to see more about. Since I am now to the stage of finalizing the “basics” chapter, I’d love your input on what you would say more about if you were writing it, or what you like to see or wish there was more of. I want to be sure we don’t talk about what’s been talked about to death, but at the same time I don’t want to miss anything either. I posed this question on Instagram earlier today and had such a great response that I knew I had to bring it to the blog as well. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say!
I have a hard time with backings - which way to sew/ how many pieces, how to add elements of the quilt front to the backing. Just a thought - thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm always, ALWAYS, on the lookout for quilting ideas. "Quilt as desired" really isn't helpful to me. I mean, I can quilt, yes, but I love to find new techniques and patterns, both FMQ and straight-line.
ReplyDeleteI agree with quilting designs. I need more basic ideas that I can use for multiple quilts. Also, fabric selection...I struggle with pairing fabrics from multiple lines and designers.
ReplyDeleteSquare up quilts...you've told me how and I just don't get it! :-) Also, which I don't know if you can speak to, but how to get your quilt back on perfectly straight when basting.
ReplyDeleteI can never decide how I want to quilt things and only recently have broken out of the straight line rut, so I totally echo felicity, there.''
ReplyDeleteI've also heard a lot about Quilting as You Go but have yet to see anything decent in print on the subject...
And finally, how to fix mistakes like seams mismatching or blocks too small without redoing everything from scratch. You know, the lemons to lemonade kind of stuff.
Good luck with the book!
This is a wonderful question. Personally, I do not read quilting books at all. I learned the very very basics, like how to work a sewing machine, from my Aunt. Besides that I just learn from doing or from other blogs. So many of the 'basics' I don't even know. For example, I had trouble making a log cabin outline for my square today because I didn't know the best technique for connecting the "log cabin" strips where they meet. So, I'm interested in seeing what you have to say about things I'm missing out on that I probably have never even noticed before!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com
I agree with squaring up a quilt and some discussion of quilting designs. I think choosing (and executing) a quilting design is one of the most stressful parts of quilting for me. Thanks for asking us! :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree with the binding. I hate binding, connecting those two pieces always has me fuming at the end...I hate it. If there's any way to shed some light on that part, that's what I'd be looking for.
ReplyDeleteQuilting designs would be great too, I think that's been mentioned. Truth be told I don't usually "read" quilting books, but use them to look things up in when I've hit a problem. I love pictures, and if the pictures are great, I'm more likely to read things.
Sooooo kind of you to ask us! I hope you'll be able to find some good ideas here!
I wish people talked more about how to baste a quilt top if you live in an apartment and don't have an abundance of space. I have very plush carpeting and do not have access to an area where I could baste on hard floors, so I'd love some tips specifically directed at people like me.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the camp that wants to know about squaring up quilts and also I would love all the basic to do with FMQ on a domestic machine. There are probably other places that have that information but so far I haven't found anyone that speaks to me. I already can do FM embroidery but my stitch length is a lot to be desired, that's where I'd like more troubleshooting tips. Is it my machine or is it me? I've got the binding thing nailed now so that's not something I need to read more about. If I could get the FMQ working then I would love some design ideas.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can find enough info online about binding, but agree about squaring up quilt tops. And I love seeing ideas for pieced quilt backs and the yardage required. I really like Elizabeth hartmans book
ReplyDeleteQuilting ideas and definitely squaring up. You're right; no one mentions it but it makes all the difference between a homemade and a handmade look.
ReplyDeleteSquaring up is a really good one. I have no idea how you're meant to do that. Also, it seems like an obvious one, but sashing, it used to baffle me. Nowadays I sew small strips to the bottom of each block to build up columns, then long strips to join each column. I've no idea if that is "right" though, lol.
ReplyDeleteA really good bit of info is what to do when the tension is off. I'm always scrabbling around for my manual and then not finding what I need. Something that says "if you have big loops on the bottom, do this... If you have big loops on the top, do this..."
Sorry for the essay!
I never read those sections.... not what you wanted to hear right?:) squaring up would be good. and maybe a
ReplyDeleteI agree with Barb about making the backs of quilts. I love to incorporate the fabric that I used in the quilt top into my backing, but get lost in how to do it with out wasting fabric. I don't know if this could be a topic, but I'm always wondering "what would be the BEST pattern for this fabric selection". Sometimes I worry that I'm not choosing the right pattern to display a nice selection of fabrics. I never see any where on how to sew circles. I want to do the retro flower quilt that a lot of bloggers are doing, but am at a loss as to how to quilt it. I have seen that I can buy a foot for my machine that will make it easier...but is that really necessary? Thank you for asking us!!
ReplyDeletei loved the basics section in 'sunday morning quilts'. i love knowing how individuals go about doing things to see if i would to the same or maybe it's some little tip that would help. pressing seams (starch or not), cutting large pieces of fabric (with a small-ish mat), making sure the quilt is square, tips for a design wall, two different ways of making binding, stitch length for piecing vs. FMQ, straight line quilting or the binding. i always want tips on straight line quilting without puckers, b/c i can't seem to get that one!
ReplyDeleteI would like to know more about quilting technique in general. I have a friend that just did a raw edge applique and it frayed. a suggestion was made to echo quilt it so the stress was not as great on the edges. I didn't know this - any other tips?
ReplyDeleteI am always interested in how to square up your quilt. Mine are never really square!
ReplyDeleteAgree about squaring up, also how to get a pieced backing to square with the front. How to baste a smooth finish in tight spaces and on carpet.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to all of the above, it's always interesting/helpful to know how others handle their quilts as the quilt them with their home sewing machines (ie. rolling them up, how to best hold them etc....)
ReplyDeleteLet's see... looking BACK at things I learned that weren't in a book, I'd have to say to cover "squaring up" the fabric to begin with (I fold the selvage edges together and "shift" them until they hang straight before I cut... makes a huge difference, the cutting and sewing were pretty straight forward, although you could write a whole different book about color and print choices... I learned this basting technique at a class, PRICELESS! http://becky-beckysblabber.blogspot.com/2010/11/spare-your-knees-alternative-way-to.html And YES! to the FMQ-ing ideas and/or how to quilt a quilt. I could still use more ideas on that!
ReplyDeleteOooohh this is a good question, i would have to agree with more about 'squaring up' as i really dont get this haha. Also about seams, which way to iron them when piecing the quilt top, so the seams arent bulky.
ReplyDeleteRachael :)
I would like to see an entire section committed to fixing errors and mistakes - for instance I have a quilt using 19.5 inch squares, some whole and some pieced, and on a dozen of the squares, the center piece is only 19.0 so I will have to cut down all of the squares to match. Is there an easy way of doing this?
ReplyDeleteLooks like squaring up is the winner! A guild friend (art quilter) recently explained to me how she does it with a laser light level shining along the table across the sides of her quilts (but she's always working with wall-hanging size).
ReplyDeleteYes, squaring up!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hate, hate, hate pin basting and don't want to use chemical spray (asthma, etc.). I can pin baste a small quilt decently but a larger one... ugh!
Yes, squaring up!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hate, hate, hate pin basting and don't want to use chemical spray (asthma, etc.). I can pin baste a small quilt decently but a larger one... ugh!
I agree with the post on quilting ideas. If I pay for a pattern usually the quilting has been professional done. While I don't blame anyone for doing this, I want to make the entire quilt myself. I would appreciate an idea or two on the pattern on how to quilt it at home without a long-arm machine. Also, information on thread. I took a beginner's class and she said to always use 100% cotton thread and 100% cotton quilting fabric for the best results. However, sometimes thread colors don't cooperate. I see other thread types on blogs and just don't know the ins and outs of branching outside of 100% cotton. Thanks for asking!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear about how to fix common mistakes. Since I'm pretty new to, well, everything to do with sewing, I make a lot of mistakes. Most tutorials I've come across have been extremely helpful, but sometimes I just mess something up and have no idea why it turned out that way or how to fix it. I improvise a lot.
ReplyDeleteAlso. I'm having this problem today. I'm cutting up a thrift store sheet for a quilt top, and I can't get that sucker to a manageable size to save my life. I can't EVER cut yardage properly. My lines end up wonky. I know it's to do with how I'm folding it, but I cannot for the life of me get straight cuts.
ReplyDeleteUsually there is a picture of the quilt made by the book's author or someone who made it specifically for the book. What no one ever tells or posts pics of other types, prints or colors that could be used for that specific pattern
ReplyDeletetanvel@yahoo.com
I would like to know more about chain piecing please. Ideas on how to organize your materials to keep track of all of your blocks while you chain piece.
ReplyDeleteI am so inspired by all of the improv pieced quilts that I have been seeing on Flickr and in blogland. I would love to know more about improv piecing. Also, I am always looking for new straight line quilting patterns.
ReplyDeleteAnything about how to make things work when they aren't perfect. Things like putting the piece that is a bit longer on the bottom as it eases in better that way. Flying geese that aren't quite square. Squaring up a quilt for binding, etc.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY what you said. BINDING - I own over 50 crafting/sewing/quilting books not to mention hundred of quilt magazines and binding is never explained. I get how to so sew it on (never really sure if its the front or the back where you sew it first) but it what you do AFTER you flip it, how do the corners work? How do you match the ends? Can you machine bind the entire thing?
ReplyDeleteAlso, squaring up - I read and reread, and I just do not get it - I believe it is because the writer is assuming that I know something that I don't (and maybe should, or am just not realizing that it is helpful to this particular task). Perhaps it is some knowledge about the ruler itself.
Sashing - does it have to be one long strip, can you join pieces and if so is it on the bias or can it be straight across. I often to not have enough yardage from a single fabric to make one long cut.
I am looking forward to what you do with all this information.
Thanks,
Natalie Huffman
I'm a bit late in commenting but I would love for someone to tell me how best to square up a top and back for larger quilts. It seems insufficient to simply have 90 degree angles at each corner. I'm doing something wrong and I'd love to know how others do it so it works out better!!
ReplyDeleteI'm always intrigued about the actual quilting of the quilt, most books get to that step and just say "now quilt it" and the pictures don't always show the design of the quilting. I'm not suggesting I need detailed instructions that I can copy but I would love to know the thought process of either the author or their longarmer in deciding what design to quilt. We get a great insight of your quilt design process from you instagram pics of your drawings or your blog posts about your cool pen collection. I would love to see these aspects in your book!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see continuis bias binding. I just screwed up a whole half yard of voile fabric trying to do it and I don't have anymore left!!! : (
ReplyDeleteI always like to see how people do applique. I also would like to know more about how to use templates.
ReplyDeleteI would also love to know more about stopping and starting while longarming but I don't think that's something you're including.
Finally, the biggest issue I have overall is accuracy in piecing. Cutting, seam allowance, pressing, etc that all go into that accuracy combine to make for lots of areas to mess up!
I'd like to hear more about what good stitches look like. SO for example if I am free motion quilting, how should that stitch look? I don't mean the design of the quilting, I mean the way the machine makes a stitch. should the top thread be a little loose, should the bottom thread be kind of snug, do the threads have to be the same, what kind of thread is best, why choose different colors, could I use different machine stitches for quilting? Gosh, I guess you get what I mean!LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh and one more-like was posted above. You always get told to cut wof, but just how are you supposed to do that if you don't have a giant cutting table like a pro? Is there a trick to folding the fabric? What about if you are cutting scraps or repurposed fabric and don't know which way is the wof? Sorry for the dual post but when I read some of the aboves I had to chime in too!
ReplyDeleteThis is a ramble and hope that it will make sense.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a few patterns (blocks) can be done different ways with minimal changes, but no one explains how one can modify the block to make it in other ways. ie. "Swoon" block is really carpenter's wheel (broken star, dutch rose, etc) and can be made from hst, paper piercing, and 45* diamonds (w/changes for the rest) or with templates (for the insane lol).
I made a pennant quilt (flags) that I made from a pattern in a book that had me make templates then cut out fabric (diamond shaped), sew the diamonds together into a large triangle. Yeh... first quilt and was fun and annoying. I didn't know about starch also now I know I could have just stip pierced then cut on an angle to get stips of diamonds; less fabric stress and less headaches from trying to match corners AND would be faster.
So maybe a chapter on how to "look" at blocks as a problem solving exercise. In other words how to make something easier or simple, or more difficult (involving more skills: Y-seams?) or just how to modify (minimally) to match your skills.
I'm making a hexagon quilt, machine sewing, and am having no trouble with the seams. Why? because I figured out - make template for finished size, mark fabric, and sew to the marks for perfect corners. It works for me, not sure if I saw this somewhere or figured it out. I am enjoying sewing which is the important thing.
Hope this made sense.
~Ann
I like to hear all the details. For instance, i can read about hand quilting, but if the specifics on needle and threads are left out, my outcome could be totally different. So don't leave any assumed info out, if possible. Also, I break out in a sweat every time I need to square up fabric. I am a perfectionist (shocking!) and I can spend ages pulling threads, etc. there's got to be a better way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for asking us this! I need to know how to cut the fabric properly! Some books/tutes/classes say use the fold, then others say square it off and then cut. I'm really confused. This is just basic stuff to some but I tend to overcomplicate things and need step by step instruction!
ReplyDeleteI'd love tips for lining up blocks when using sashing in between, as well as tips for how to make cutting really long pieces (like for quilt borders) a bit easier! I find that so tricky!
ReplyDeleteI would very much like to know how to do something that is a very little step in intricacy away from quilting in lines. Most books expect you to have amazing control and do patterns, but I can't.
ReplyDeleteI think hearing about whether one should get the fabric on grain prior to cutting may be something to touch on. me i personally don't do it but i know folks who swear by it to get a perfect quilt. Do you need to? or can you still have a good quilt without it?
ReplyDeleteWow, I just found your blog and I'm going to tell you what I want to learn in your book!! I want to have the definitive how to miter corners and do no fail binding. I would also like to know how to apply piping as an edge to quited projects. I find the notion of quiting an entire quilt on my Bernina daunting. I have only made one full sized quilt and I ended up having it quilted. Sooo, is thre a way to quilt the pieces as they are squares before they are joined? Also, is there a source for good organic wool and cotton batting? What are your go to sources for needles, hoops, etc.? Why do my knots never want to catch when I am hand sewing???? REally, that is huge. Tell me that and I will buy your book :>)!
ReplyDeleteApplique and machine quilting at home with a regular machine, challenges and tips
ReplyDeleteI like to see the finished quilt. How it is quilted. I always need inspiration at that end point! I have a few tops laying around a don't know what to do with them. And I would really like to try hand quilting. A whole tut on that from start to finish would be great!!
ReplyDeletei am such a novice. i want to learn how to miter corners well. i have yet to find a good explanation of how to do that in good, sensible terms.
ReplyDeleteAnother one who wants quilting instruction, particularly with a walking foot. Also I love little tips. Those ones that people post and you think, duh, why didn't I think of that.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see a chart that says how big you need to cut a square to end up with a two triangled pieced square and then a four triangled pieced square. Oh and how large a circle needs to be cut in order to piece it into another circle etc.
ReplyDeleteBasically, a cutting chart. It would be so useful to have around.