Katybird questions about your quilt

**Kindred-Spirit** · 03-05-2003, 06:46 PM

Can you share about the quilt you just made. Also is it kinda sad that its almost done? How long have you worked on it, have a class etc.. Please tell all.

**Katybird** · 03-05-2003, 07:52 PM

Thanks for asking about it. I have been working on it for about (blushing as I admit this) about a year. I love the pattern and it is so easy, I love working with sqaures. I found the pattern in a book that a friend gave me and the colors that they used were the inspiration for the colors that I used, when they used a blue pattern I found a blue pattern, blue solid for them blue solid for me ect..it made it easier when I was following the instructions too. I took the pattern grid and blew it up and pasted it on my wall beside my sewing machine so that I could see where I was at as I sewed my rows together. I also pasted a sqaure of each fabric under the grid with the color that it represented so that when I needed green pattern I could look and know that was the fabric that represented green pattern. I also wrote out exactly the order that they were sewed in on a piece of paper, 1 row on each piece of paper and then I was able to follow on paper too. I cut all my squares and stacked them on a table on the other side of my machine. I was a little overboard on keeping them organized, LOL. My poor family was afraid to even come near it

. Once I started it really went fast. I was going gangbusters until I started quilting it and that is where I made my BIG mistake. I read a book about machine quilting and though "wow, now that sounds easy I can do that" boy was I wrong. I did not check on each row as I was quilting so when I was about 1/4 of the way through it and I took it off the machine and unrolled it I was shattered to find that I had wrinkles in my quilting where I had gotten extra material in the stitch. I am having to rip out the quilting to get the wrinkles out, but like they say, "you learn the most from your mistakes" so I am definately learning a lesson from the ripping. I love my seam ripper, LOL.

I started quilting a few years ago when I found Frugal Moms. I read all the post about it there and got motivated to learn and so I bought books and checked out books from the library and read all I could about it and I watch Simply Quilting as much as I can. I have learned quite a bit from there.

Sorry I got so longwinded. I love talking about quilting

. I don't have any friends or family where I live who quilt so I don't often get a chance to talk about it.

Blessings,
Kathy

**homesteadmamma** · 03-05-2003, 07:59 PM

Katybird - thanks for sharing that.

I have a question for you. When you were machine quilting it, did you pin it before you quilted it. Machine quilting is nice to do, but if you don't pin about every 5 inches, you'll find you have lots of puckers in the back. I hate when that happens.

I've taken to hand quilting now, even though it takes longer to do, you don't get the puckers!!!

Its a wonderful quilt you made and will be something you'll have for a lifetime.

**Missy** · 03-05-2003, 08:03 PM

I could listen (read) about your quilting all day long! Everyone here does such great jobs, I am inspired everyday to do more on what I have begun, and do more on my "finished ones". Thanks for being enthusiastic!

**Katybird** · 03-05-2003, 10:19 PM

CJ,

I basted with a basting gun (I think that might be another of my "learning experiences", I really didn't like that it left such big holes in my fabric. I basted about every 4 inchs but the gun did not seem to give a tight baste, the little tags are about 1/2 long and it felt like it might have too much give to them. You hit the nail on the head when you said "puckers" I was trying to think about what to call them and wrinkles did not sound quite right but they were puckers

. I sure wish you lived in my neck of the woods but having you here is the next best thing

. You are such a blessing to me

.

Blessings,
Kathy

**homesteadmamma** · 03-05-2003, 10:41 PM

Awe Kathy, thanks. Wouldn't it be neat if we did live close. We could quilt up a storm.

I haven't heard good news about the "basting gun" yet. I know that pinning is an absolute pain you know where, but its an absolute must if your going to machine quilt, or for that matter hand quilt, unless you use a basting gun or spray.

Have you tried the "basting spray". I've heard pretty good reports on that but haven't used it yet. It just seems it would really add to the cost of the quilt.

I just tend to like the old fashioned way you know. Pin and then quilt by hand. I find the hand quilting so relaxing.

I just know though, that no matter which way you end up finishing it, its still going to be one dazzling quilt!!!

**homesteadmamma** · 03-05-2003, 11:05 PM

Kathy, here is an article on basting spray:

http://www.quiltersbee.com/basting.htm

Here is a great article on basting:

http://ttsw.com/QuestionOfTheWeek/1997/0519.html

Heres an article on the basting gun:

http://www.quiltersreview.com/articl...t/010129_a.asp

Here are a number of articles on different types of basting products:

http://www.quiltersreview.com/newsletter/010528_a.asp

**Katybird** · 03-05-2003, 11:13 PM

Thanks CJ. That is so sweet of you to post these for me. I will read them. I am learning so much from you. I love the tutorials. Thank you for everything.

Blessings,
Kathy

**Kindred-Spirit** · 03-08-2003, 11:30 PM

Kathy,

I really have enjoyed reading about your quilt, heck i would love to read several more posts on the subject. REALLY.
I think doing that quilt in a year would be a miracle for me, so I am proud.

Are you happy with the colors you picked, the pattern etc? My problem with my couple of UFO's that I have are the colors and pattern. THat is why I asked the question.

I had picked peaches and blue for the one. I know hate those colors together, but they were popular when I started it. LOL
The other one is a fan pattern with off colors too.

I happen to think the pattern and colors you choose are so pretty. I think if I had started yours, I may have finsihed it by now. lol

**Katybird** · 03-11-2003, 08:02 PM

Kindred,

I am pleased with my colors, I really like the ones that were used in the picture with the pattern and I just used them as a basic guide. I am not sure enough of my judgement in choosing colors to do it without some kind of guide. I am going to post pictures some of my other projects, I am the queen of unfinished projects, lol.

Thanks for your interest in my quilting, I really appreciate it.