Basting a Quilt.

This can be done many ways, by tacking the layers together, pinning it, if it is going to be machine quilted, or spray basting it, with temporary spray adhesive.  Longarm quilters can also baste the quilts for you, if you do not want them to quilt the quilts.  This is one job one have to do, some like it, others do not.

This is how I do it:

Step 1.   Make sure the surface I am working on is squeaky clean.  Especially after all the work one put in in creating a masterpiece!

Step 2.  Gather all the supplies and tools you will need to do this.  A pair of scissors, packing tape and pins.

Step 3.  Lay the quilt backing down, with the right side of the fabric facing towards the surface you will be taping the backing to.

Step 4.  The backing is taped in a + order.  Not the four corners first!

Step 5.  The backing is not ironed beforehand. As one tape it to the surface,  it is slowly stretched at the same time.  One tape the backing straight across from the last piece of taping one did.  Do not over stretch it when taping it down, otherwise it will distort the backing resulting in those dreaded bubbles on the back.

 

 

 

 Step 6.  Tape the corners last.  Tape opposite corners of the X.

 The backing is now ready for the next layer.

Step 7.  You are now ready to lay the batting/wadding on top.  A few days before the batting is to be used, fluff it  to get all creases out by throwing it over a spare bed.

Step 8. When placing the batting down on the wrong side of the backing, do not pull the batting, instead lift it, until it is in position.  Any leftover bubbles can be removed by gently patting the batting with your hand towards the edge of the batting.  This works really well and the batting lies flat.

Step 9.  Next layer the quilt top on top of the batting, making sure it is place in the centre.  Smooth out any creases, until it is flush to the batting.

 

Step 10.  Pin from the center in a +.  Pin one hand width apart, continue until the whole top is pinned.  Making sure to pin through all three layers.  If you used Temporary Spray Basting, you do not need to pin the quilt. Alternately you could baste the quilt from the centre with thread and a needle, using a running stitch.

Step 11.  Remove all the tape and discard.  The Quilt is now ready for quilting.

Step 12.  Quilt.

Step 13.  Stitch the binding on to the quilt.

Step 14.  Stitch a label on to the back of the quilt.  It is now done, ready to be  washed and to be enjoyed.

Spray Basting:

Tape backing to surface, exactly the same as for pinning or hand basting with needle and thread.

Step 1:   Spray the backing with Perfect Baste. Once this is done, gently lay the batting down on top, making sure there are no puckers or folds in the batting.

Step 2.  Spray the batting with the spray baste.  Now layer the quilt top, on top of the batting.  Smoothing the top down on top of the batting.

Step 3.  Remove the tape, holding the backing in place.  The Quilt is now ready for quilting.

                                                                     Enjoy!

Starting a new quilt.

It all starts with a pattern.  It is what grabs our attention and wants us to create a masterpiece.
It does not have to be fancy, it must just tickle our creative muse, to want to do it.  It could be a simple or complicated quilt.

The one above is my friends top, it is her first quilt top!  One's first quilt, will always hold a special place in our hearts.  It is the one that give us, I have done it!

 Every once in a while, we had someone who would do a talk, a trunk show or come to our frienship group to visit as a special guest speaker.  Sometimes we know who the person is, in this case the other laies all got excited about Kathy K. Wylie.  I had no idea who she was, but that soon changed.  She was an inspirational Quilter and her patterns are as unique, as she is. Her Faith is a strong influence on her quilts!

At the end of her visit, quite a few of us went home with one of her patterns.

 It did not take long to go through my stash, then Sew for It,  had their skinny bolt sale.

The centre design was traced on the back of the fabric.

 The centre design is reversed applique, have not done that in a while. 

This is the progress so far.

This is what the completed quilt looks like, having seen it up close and real life, it is truly a work of art!

As for how many works in progress?  It is a journey, some will get finished and some will be just that, a project!

How to quilt a Quilt?

 Quilts can be quilted by hand, by machine.  Embroidery machines can also be used to quilt a Quilt. After blocking the quilt, by stitching in the ditch, along all the blocks, one can use quilting designs on a Embroidery Machine to help, to add detail to a quilt.


Here is how:

Step 1. Use some dress makers chalk, mark a line next to the last design, this helps when positioning the fabric, to create a continuous line of quilting, when stitching out the quilting design.

 This line is very important when aligning the quilt in the hoop.

Step 2.  Place bottom hoop on a large bubble wrap envelope, same as one use for shipping parcels.          Next layer the quilt on top.

 Once in place, snap the top hoop in place.

 Step 3.  Attach hoop to Embroidery Machine, making sure design is aligned with the chalk line.

Step 4. Stitch the design.

To stitch a design in the centre of a block, draw an X from corner to corner, to find the central point to match with the embroidery design,  hoop quilt and stitch.

For pieced blocks, a design with a flower works really well, especially where points of blocks meet with lots of fabric bulk is present.   

Corners are far easier, as one can position the design easier, by just adjusting the hoop, until the correct position is achieved.

The stitched out design on the corner.

The back of the quilt.

 The Back of the quilt, before adding stipple quilting to fill larger areas with quilting.

Stipple quilting added.

 

The completed quilt.

The binding sewn on to the quilt.

This quilt is a Queen size quilt, the thread used for the quilting, both on top and in the bobbin, is Marathon 40 weight Rayon thread.  It stays soft even after countless washing and is strong thread.  It is my go to thread for machine quilting.  It was one of those accidental discoveries, trying different threads for quilting, doing freemotion machine embroidery, introduced me to this thread.  It works really well for applique.

Oh, Canada!

 

Canada day is the 1st of July!

A few nuggets I discovered this morning, at The Sewing Cafe.

Row by Row has started.

 This one comes with laser cut bicycles, in the kit.  It also ties into the Halton Hills Bike Challenge, to raise money for charity.

 Do you belong to the BOM bag Club?

Emmaline Bag Patterns and Hardware for the bags, are now available at the Sewing  Cafe!

Also got to see new quilts, love the purple on the black and white quilt.

 The Red and Black Bargello top is finished.  It is ready for quilting.

 A parcel which has been on its own adventure, arrived this morning.

It took the scenic route, cannot wait to see the treasures inside this parcel!