New 'projects'.

[Nana]

It is Plant. Making it 150cms x 200cms. The individual squares are 4" (in old money). I tried taking the backing off some of them yesterday & it's not too bad. No steam needed. Wouldn't have been possible with the seams still joined tho.

I bought a quilt ruler too to help get the squares more exact when it comes to making it. I keep picturing it finished. My DD2 will be thrilled with it. At least she'd better be .... or else.😠😂😉

[Plantaholic]

Not easy using different weight fabrics. I haven't had time to get any more done on my table runner, been too busy.

[Nana]

No rush Plant. You're always a busy bee.😊

[Plantaholic]

Nana, we had a talk at Embroidery Group last evening and she mentioned using flexible violene, would that useful for your fabric pieces.

[Nana]

Thank you Plant but I've already bought the lightweight interfacing now. The other, heavier medium weight was too thick. Not having done it before I used the wrong one. I learn by my mistakes. Thanks for thinking about me.x

[Nana]

Quilt progress.... or not!

(Plant I've just looked up vilene & it looks as tho it's the same thing as interfacing. Thanks anyway.)

•Well, the unpicked, uneven squares are now all even. I've used a 4" square template to cut 266 squares with a rotary cutter. So far so good.

•Next thing is to cut 266 4" squares from the interfacing. First thing to do though is to straighten off the interffacing end the girl cut in the shop.

• Can I do it? Can I heck! Grrr, I'm so frustrated.😠 I bought a 24" quilt ruler weeks ago as I thought it would help to check if the squares lined up once they'd been put together. I used that & used blue dressmaker's chalk to draw a straight line so that I could cut it straight. Result ... not straight. Tried again.... not straight. Used a right angled triangle template with red chalk & this didn't work.

• Got OH to try levelling it off & now there's another chalk line that's not straight. What the heck's going on? Neither of us can work it out. I even used a little masking tape to stop it from sliding on the table. HHHELLLLPPPP!

If there's anyone out there that's not passed out with boredom reading this & has an answer to my problem I'd love to hear from you. I do wonder if this quilt is meant to be made.😲

[Daisy]

Nana - how frustrating. I think I'd have had a bonfire by now!

I have absolutely zero skills in making anything with fabric, let alone something as complex as this, but I am wondering if you can stick it all together with double sided tape and then check if it's straight? I don't know if you could then machine through this like people do with tissue paper.

Please keep us posted on progress though.

[Nana]

Right ... after all that, I folded the interfacing in half so the straight sides aligned. Pinned it smooth. Used a gridded cutting board, ruler & rotary cutter. Off to bed now I've solved the problem. If you can't sleep at night read my post before this. 😪

(Thanks for your reply Daisy. Love the 'bonfire' bit. Tempted.🤣)

[Daisy]

Nana - well done for your perseverance and solving your problem. It is satisfying when you get something that's irritating you sorted out, isn't it. I hope you slept well.

[Gemini]

It gives me a headache just reading it Nana!!!!!

[Plantaholic]

Bingo Nana, I hope you slept well after all that.

[Daisy]

Nana - any progress today? (I'm not nagging - just interested )

[Lizzie48]

Nana, how on earth do you do it? I would have given up!!!!!

[Nana]

Update.

IT'S FINISHED❣

In the end I had to face the truth, (after the fourth time unpicking) & admit to it being out of my skill range as a beginner. I think it was because there were a mixture of fabrics. Wool included & denim. Maybe a project for a more experienced quilt maker?

I bought a lovely little quilted throw that was patterned on one side & plain pink on the other. I changed some of the squares into hexagons & hand sewed them into a heart shape. Then I made letter templates to cut out her name. I'm really pleased with the result.

In America, (where quilting plays a big part in their traditions) they add their own labels, to make it more personal. I printed a picture of me cuddling her as a baby, onto special printing paper, (normally used for t-shirt printing) stitched my message beneath, then stitched that onto the reverse.

I also saw where they make a card or whatever to tell the story of their quilt so I did that too.

I'll try to put some pics on my media if I can. I'll also tell you when she gets it. Although the quilt will be given to my GD as part of her 3rd birthday gift I know she's too little to think much about it ... just pretty pink. I'm hoping it might be something she keeps or her mummy. I'll nip off now to try to put some pictures on.

[Gemini]

That sounds lovely Nana, and all the more special for being home made.

My mum made DD3 a quilt for her bed when she was a very little girl. Her name is cut out of different fabrics for each letter on plain square s, the other squares being patterned. DD still has it, although she has no single bed to put it on these days