The Sewing Place

The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Topic started by: KayK on July 14, 2019, 20:22:16 PM

Title: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: KayK on July 14, 2019, 20:22:16 PM
Well I have fiddled and diddled with bits of patchwork and decided to 'go for it' and make a topper for the spare bed.  Several very good lessons were learned!
 1.  Buy enough fabric.  Dont buy nice bits from a quilt show that you will NEVER match again as you threw the receipt away and cant remember the seller!
2. Buy enough batting!  If you dont you will end up stitching odd bits together to make a big enough bit.  I used an old sheet for the backing as I wasnt sure just how the whole thing would turn out - and I didnt want to spend any more money.
3.  My own rotary cutting was not as good as I thought - I managed to blunt the blades quite quickly, despite having a proper mat.  Next time I might buy ready cut pieces.
4. I used 3 different machines for piecing to see how they managed.  The old Bernina was good, the newish Brother V5 was a pain (didnt have straight stitch plate and kept poking the fabric down the hole) but the Juki TL was brilliant. Its amazing how 1/4" seams can differ!  Free motion was the same - Bernina ok but not enough room in it's harp, The Brother fussy but the Juki  was the winner once again.
5.  I purchased some ready made binding, 2" wide and it was fab.  Would use that again.
6.  I got very fed up with it in the end, trying to make the odd and ends fit together as I was determined not to buy anymore fabric.
Still, it is at last finished, and I'd quite like to have a go at another one, not making the same mistakes!
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: fajita on July 14, 2019, 20:28:09 PM
You've done a nice job there, @KayK
Well done for sticking with it.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Ellabella on July 15, 2019, 00:29:33 AM
Glad you started with a small project  ;)

Lovely work BTW
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Manuela on July 15, 2019, 02:59:19 AM
This looks fabulous, I love the  striped sash  :loveit:
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Iminei on July 15, 2019, 07:04:40 AM
Well heaven forfend you start with anything easy!!!

You have done ... but actually achieved .... what every first time quilter does (and I include myself in this category, but my achievement was considerably much less of a success than yours ... but then again I didnt have the internet or a fabulous group of people like we have on here to help me, just an old fashioned book from the library)

Every first time quilter wants to make something of substance ie a double bed sized quilt ... most people fail as its just tooo big a project for a first timer ... But you and Leilamay ... are two that have had a spectacular success!

Maybe join in one of our swaps??? Something that wont test your patience and wallet ...
and I know that feeling ... when you just want the bloody thing to be over with and wince at every £££ more you have to spend on it!!!

Extreme Congratulations from me  ..... well done! Youre a Darksider now!  :devil:
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Sheilago on July 15, 2019, 08:37:05 AM
Well done, that’s amazing for your first quilt. You even seem to have done free motion quilting which is most impressive!
Like Imi, I started with a book and cut out all the pieces using cardboard templates to cut round, using scissors  :o
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: rubywishes on July 15, 2019, 08:55:25 AM
Oh very well done, looks beaut @KayK ! :toast: A fabulous accomplishment and now it is only onward and upward! And by the time you've done your umpteenth quilt you'll be still learning new things.....just like the rest of us!

And yes, aren't our Jukis just the best? I have a TL2010Q for quilting and a DX7 for piecing...love 'em to bits!
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: b15erk on July 15, 2019, 09:11:19 AM
Beautiful work @KayK , I love your zig zag quilt, and the colours are amazing!

Jessie
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Ploshkin on July 15, 2019, 09:27:16 AM
Love it @KayK what a fantastic achievement for your first quilt.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: KayK on July 15, 2019, 11:37:22 AM
Thank you all so much for your lovely replies!  I'd say the enjoyment level was at 80%, and it was only my stupid mistakes that kept the percentage down (and trying to make the 'wrong' machines do what they weren't good at!) I have spent hours and hours practicing playing with Free motion stitching, and can say I dont fear it anymore - the faster I go the more I enjoy it, and those Juki's are fast!

It was such a learning curve and I feel the dark side calling, now that I know that a whole quilt WILL go through the machine!

Now experts, what next? (I did find the cutting irritating tho........)
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: fajita on July 15, 2019, 14:31:43 PM
Well, @KayK , as you liked the stitching but not the cutting out, why not try a whole cloth quilt next. 

Go on, have a Google, you know you want to.  :devil:
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Lachica on July 15, 2019, 14:45:58 PM
Beautiful work @KayK.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: RJR_38 on July 15, 2019, 16:59:32 PM
That looks great congratulations on your first quilt!
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Lilian on July 15, 2019, 17:37:22 PM
That is fabulous @KayK such a large first quilt!  Youve done a wonderful job, I like the quilting too, don't know how you managed all that! Congratulations  :toast:  :vintage:
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: KayK on July 15, 2019, 17:41:55 PM
That is fabulous @KayK  I like the quilting too, don't know how you managed all that! Congratulations  :toast:  :vintage:
To me, the quilting is the easy bit!  Its the wretched rotary cutter that makes me panicky!
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Acorn on July 15, 2019, 17:51:09 PM
I have a die cutter - one of these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sizzix-Shot-Machine-Ellison-White/dp/B00R50G692/) - which cuts out perfect shapes for me.  You have to design your quilt according to the shapes and sizes you can get, but that's not too difficult - there are squares and triangles in various sizes as well as more complicated dies.

I use it mainly for English Paper Piecing where you have twice as much to cut out and the papers have to be exactly right, but I also used it for my goddaughter's quilt, which is made up of half square triangles.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Ploshkin on July 15, 2019, 21:11:19 PM
@KayK you may be tempted to use precuts and it can make fabric choices easy but in my experience I've found that you can end up with a lot of uninspiring or unsuitable fabrics and not enough of the better ones.   There tend to be a lot of middling tones.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: Iminei on July 16, 2019, 06:33:11 AM
KK .. is Rotary cutting a new thing for you??

If so I would stick with it , it does get better

Precuts ... mmmnnn

The trouble with PC's is, especially with Jellyrolls  (2 1/2" strips of WOF) is they start to fray the moment you open them.

Of course there are charm squares (5" sq) and layer cakes (10" sq) both of which are useful ....
and for the completely insane, Mini Charm Squares (2 1/2" sq)

Whatever problems you experienced (and we all have problems along the way with any quilt) you surmounted them with style and you must continue.
Title: Re: My first completed quilt - and what I learned along the way!
Post by: KayK on July 16, 2019, 12:34:10 PM
Ah! Rotary cutters!  The problem isn't so much the cutter, its my right thumb! It is a bit of an odd shape at the base joint, as the ligaments gave way some years ago (many years of typing, hitting the space bar and mouse using!) and has no strength in it whatsoever - to watch me use a rotary is akin to a cow with a crochet hook!  I can use it with my left hand quite well, but lack the very fine control.  I have a circle cutter and compass and am just as bad at using them.  I can manage scissors fine! The only thing I managed fine was actually cutting the whole quilt before binding it!

As I have been very badly bitten by the bug and you are such a lot of enablers I have decided to spend some money on a 'Gemini' die cutter with patchwork dies.  No handle to wind........

I did also have a play with some Charm, mini charms and a layer cake - all found in the bottom of bargain bins for not a lot of money!  I found the layer cakes great for practicing free motion quilting on, and attempting to cut with my rotary cutter.

So watch out folks, another large quilt will be on its way!