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Quilting Help Needed!

Img_8070My Sister, Vanessa, is getting married on the 20th and we are having a family shower for her this weekend. Megan (my other sister) and I were just talking about how great it would be to have all the family tie a quilt for her at the shower. Only problem. I’ve never tied a quilt. Okay. Once, like 16 years ago.  I know there are lots of experienced quilters out there. Any idea’s or techniques that you can share? I need something that 15 people could work on at once….

Speaking of quilts, have you seen the over-the-top-adorable woodland quilt from Red Envelope? I saw it last week in their magazine and it’s just a shame there’s not a bigger pic on their website. The upclose pic’s in the mag were so, so adorable.

Anyway, I’m going to open my comments back up for this post (thanks to all you concerned readers who e-mailed and thought my blog was broken. I decided to turn the comments off last June for the summer.)

I’m counting on you guys!

xoxo

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17 responses to “Quilting Help Needed!”

  1. Kimberly Avatar
    Kimberly

    Oh my gosh, tell Vanessa I LOVE that photo! Classy but unique…exactly what I would expect from her.
    Ummm…tied a quilt in YW years and years ago…I barely remember it. Sorry. Let us know how it goes!

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  2. abbey Avatar
    abbey

    I tied a quilt a few months ago and it turned out pretty nice, but I think if you could scare up a quilting frame, it would be much easier than the way I did it. I laid the whole thing out on the floor and did the tying on my knees, starting at one end and working my way down the quilt. I rolled up the quilt as I was done tying a section so I could easily access the next row. If you do it this way, I would recommend making sure that you lay the quilt top on batting and quilt backing that is quite a bit bigger than the quilt top. That way if stuff shifts or whatever as you are rolling it along you won’t come up short in the end. Anyway, that’s how I did it but I’m not at ALL sure that is the correct or easiest way to do it. Hopefully one of your other crafty readers will have better advice! Good luck and take pictures!

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  3. Thimbleanna Avatar
    Thimbleanna

    Hi Morgan,
    Years ago a lady in our ward had a bridal shower for me and they tied a quilt. It was SO fun and I still have that quilt. They picked a very pretty patterned sheet, set it up on a quilt frame (with another sheet for the back and batting of course) and everyone sat along the edges and just sewed in rows. I think they marked dots on the sheet ahead of time (like every 4 inches or something.) Then, everyone was given a needle and some yarn (or pearl cotton would work really well) and when they would get their edges far enough along, they would roll the edges in. It was great fun, and as I remember it only took about an hour or so — many hands make light work. Good luck — if you have any questions about it, feel free to e-mail me! XOXO,Anna

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  4. michal Avatar
    michal

    I like to tie quilts using several strands of embroidery floss instead of yarn. It just gives it a more sophisticated look. However, it really depends on the kind of fabric you pick–if you are going for country and homey, yarn is probably the way to go.
    I highly recommend using a quilting frame instead of lap quilting. You just need to stretch the quilt REALLY well when you put it on the frames. Surely your mother has done this before? I would recommend having an experienced quilter be there for the stretching and framing part. The tying part is a breeze.

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  5. pam Avatar
    pam

    Interesting idea. I don’t tie quilts often, but I use two strands of perle cotton and tie a square knot. Are you piecing something together or just tying two single pieces of fabric together. Whatmight be fun is to have everyone sign precut squares of fabric and then put them into a quilt. Cut your squares with a rotary cutter then use sqaures of freezer paper ironed waxy side down (Renolds Wrap is the best, yup, from the grocers) to stabilize the fabric and help you write on it. Use Micron Pigma pens and have a blast. Just make sure everyone leaves enough room around the edge for seam allowance. You could buy some of the Moda charm squares and use them as alternate blocks and sew them together. Cut your squares 5 inches if you plan on that. Sounds fun.

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  6. Mom Avatar
    Mom

    Michal is right, your Muvver has done this. Would you like me to ask around for a quilt frame? I am sure there is one close at hand. Thanks, Michal; tell your Mom “hi” and she’d be surprised how often I think of her. Morgs, can’t wait to have you “home”!!

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  7. Vivian Love Avatar
    Vivian Love

    …Just found your blog through Holly Holderman. Here’s an idea if you like Lakehouse Dry Goods fabrics. I created this quilt for my daughter’s wedding with Holly’s hydrangea fabric, which I machine quilted with my longarm. But I think it would be beautiful tied too. I’d use embroidery floss and definintely try to borrow someone’s frame. I have used “Q-Snap” in the past, which makes tying quilts really easy. http://www.qsnap.com/
    A picture of the hydrangea quilt is at this link to my blog. http://quiltswithlove.blogspot.com/2007/07/wedding-quilt.html
    Hope this helps! –Vivian Love

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  8. Nancy J. Avatar
    Nancy J.

    If you don’t have a quilt frame, an option is to use quilting quality safety pins. They are rounded with sharp ends, put the quilt together as best you can with these, then do your tying and remove the pins at the end. It’s not as great as a frame, but totally works.

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  9. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    We tied a couple of quilts a few month ago for nieces that were getting married. My sister-in-law put them together, She finished off the edge’s before we tied it. We stretched it on some frames, tied it and the best part was that it was all done and ready to give to the bride when the shower was over. If you want to see a picture of the finished quilt I could send you a picture. Just let me know.

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  10. Kristal Avatar
    Kristal

    Definitely finish the edges ahead of time. The easiest way is to sew around three sides like a pillowcase, turn and finish the fourth side. You want to sew the batting in at the same time. The batting should be the bottom layer; don’t worry, it won’t get caught in the feed dogs, it does get caught in the foot if you put it on top. You can top-stitch all the way around to make it look more finished. I like to sew a large welt cord in when I want a nicer edge. Just do it the same way you would a pillow.

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  11. matt Avatar
    matt

    simple solution: buy one. that’s the easiest. 🙂
    i’m totally kidding. sort. of.

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  12. Wendy Avatar
    Wendy

    Check out this tutorial. I just used this technique to tie a quilt for my son. I used cotton crochet thread to tie it.
    http://happythings.typepad.com/happythings/2006/10/tutorial_chenil_3.html

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  13. RaNae Avatar
    RaNae

    AHA, I knew your mom was up on this. I do love the idea of finishing the edges before you put the quilt on the frames. If you use the cotton batting that would be easy. By the way, Steve would say the same thing Matt said. Buy one. But where’s the love in that???

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  14. caroline in canada Avatar
    caroline in canada

    just wanted to let you know that i think your floppy bag in demin is very cute and sending me a minnie mouse vibe with all the red and white polka dots!! that combo would make adorable aprons for little girls…
    caro

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  15. beki Avatar
    beki

    I was going to suggest Amy’s tutorial (happythings), but I see someone already linked it. Good luck!

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  16. shelley Avatar
    shelley

    just wanted to comment on the denim bag below – i have the same one from B&BW… use it for Kennedy’s on the go bag – her books, her “guys”, her snacks – everything gets tossed in there.. and now my Vera Bradley isn’t getting torn up by a toddler!
    Love you take on the denim bag. I saw an Amy Butler bag in S. Carolina at a quilt shop that had a huge bow and fell in love – but I like yours even better! i’ve never attempted a bag – don’t think i’d have the patience!

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  17. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    I’ve not commented before…maybe once on your ruffled apron (which I used your pattern, and it turned out awesome). Anyway, I don’t know anything about tying a quilt, but in reference to your post about the denim back from bath and body…I got the same bag during their clearance (for $1.50). I bought 5 of them for Christmas gifts. I love what you did with yours. I am embroidering on the pocket…I put a butterfly and flower on mine. Anyway, I love your stuff!

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