Stitch and bitch thread #9. I have pressing concerns

[NutellaEllaElla]

Welcome welcome!

I've not made anything for ages after I screwed up the same thing twice. I'm gonna have another blimmin crack at it though! I've reconnected with another hobby and work is seriously getting in the way of everything I want to do, darn it.

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& it looks better than the ones used in the advertising - you need to sell it to the pattern company!

I ordered some prints from CLC the other day and was surprised at the cost, I hadn't actually noticed that the prices had gone up and free delivery removed, that explains it!

Ooh that Salto pattern looks right up my street. Thanks for the mention.

(Lovely example as well)

A tiny bit of scrap busting has gone on. A LN forte top which I’ve made sleeveless and a pair of waves and wild wonder undies out of what was left.

Looking at them together I’m considering using them as summer nightwear 🤣

Even worse, as well as being more expensive, my CLC printing hasn't come as quickly as it used to! Hoping it's a one off.

Mine was slow as well @Chewbecca. So slow that the moment had passed. I’m looking at alternatives now

I've used Savvy Sewist, they weren't the cheapest but were pretty damn fast. I think I've used netprinter as well, they don't stick in my mind, so that's probably a goodish thing.

Due to costs I've given up on big printing, I'm back to making jigsaws and taping.

I've just been away for a long weekend on my own and I got a quilt top almost finished. I had cut most of it before I went but I did all the sewing there. I have one seam left, a bit of trimming and borders to add and then I'm done. It's amazing how much you can achieve without various family members taking it in turns to wander in and ask stupid questions.

That’s gorgeous @BlackAmericanoNoSugar !

that's lovely @BlackAmericanoNoSugar - did you do "quilt as you go" or are you going to quilt it with a longarm or something?

I'm slowly building up to making a quilt but i am much too much (still) of a "sew by the seat of your pants" to be precise enough for good patchwork. (although i religiously follow Donna Jordan's YouTube and she always says a few little mistakes are fine)

I've never done quilt as you go, I keep meaning to try it but haven't so far. Some of my quilts I quilt myself using a walking foot, free motion is not my thing at all. Some of my quilts I send out to a wonderful woman who does free motion quilting in a very artistic way. So far I haven't had it long-armed with an automated all over pattern, in the way that Donna Jordan does, simply because my free motion lady is only a bit more expensive and, IMO, a better result.

I love Donna Jordan's videos, she so calm and she gives great tips for improving precision and handling fabric so that it doesn't get distorted. Missouri Star videos are good for beginners IMO. Jenny Dean is a bit slap-dash but that can be a good thing for beginners, you don't won't to be so concerned with getting it 'right' that you end up not progressing. The rule of thumb is that if you can't see the mistake from the back of a horse galloping by, then it's fine.

The one recommendation that I would make for a beginner is to get your scant quarter inch seam bang on. That will make every step after the initial sewing so much easier. There are a million different ways to achieve it as a quick Google will show, but for me the best method is using one of these https://www.thequiltshop.co.uk/perfect-piecing-seam-guide You drop the needle (carefully by hand) through the little hole, straighten the ruler, drop the foot to hold it steady and line up three or four layers of painter's tape along the right hand edge of the ruler. When you sew you can butt your fabric up along the tape to keep it in the right place. If you have a quarter inch foot, don't trust it, use the seam guide to check whether it's correct or not. If you can move the needle then keep trying different positions until your quarter inch foot is a proper scant quarter inch and then take a photo of the position or write it down somewhere.

For a really simple first quilt I would recommend this one by On Williams Street (they have a load of easy videos) s The advantage of this pattern is that when you've made the strip sets you measure the width and cut along the length to make squares, so if your quarter inch seam is a bit off it really doesn't matter just that all your seams are consistent. I'm making this one next for an easy, no brainer using the jelly roll and background in my photo.

Also, be careful talking to me about quilting. I never shut up once I get started.

Actually, I've just remembered that I have done a type of quilt as you go. I used Daisy and Grace templates to make this.

I love the idea of quilting more than the actual doing. Bit I thought I might make patchwork quilt covers.
I practiser on my office sofa by making cushion covers.

There is a woman who does longarm stuff near by thought so you never know... Anyone know how much it costs?

Also glad to find fellow Donna Jordan enthusiasts. I like the Missouri Star channel too. Anyone else watch Just Get It Done Quilts' channel? She just finished an English paper piecing quilt she took 6 years to finish. It is spectacular.

I love your cushions. I have to say that I very much like the doing of quilts as much as the planning of them, I find it soothing. So, as a result, I have more quilts than I could ever use. Making clothing is more stressful IME, so I only do that if I really want a particular style and can't buy it.

I'm not sure about a patchwork duvet cover, that's a lot of seams being challenged every time it goes through the washing machine. It would probably be best to back the patchwork side with plain fabric and secure it with some more stitching, by which time you might as well have made a quilt.

You can do very simple quilting with a walking foot that doesn't take ages, Jacquie Gering has a couple of books that are excellent and there are loads of YouTube videos. I'm not sure how much a long armer would charge, those long arm machines cost loads, so even though the automated ones don't take a huge amount of the owner's time they would still need to charge enough to pay their capital costs, so I reckon at least £100-£150 for a throw/single bed size.

I like Just Get I Done Quilts for the sheer amount of technical information she has on her channel. I don't always agree with her methods though, but it's better to know five different ways of doing one thing and pick the one that works best for me than to only know one way and perhaps struggle with it. So I still watch every new video when it comes out, but then usually use a Donna Jordan method.

I'm not sure about a patchwork duvet cover, that's a lot of seams being challenged every time it goes through the washing machine. It would probably be best to back the patchwork side with plain fabric and secure it with some more stitching, by which time you might as well have made a quilt.

i did that with the cushions, it's ok. I CBA with all the batting and paying for a longarm etc. I'd just anchor it in a few places and it will be fine, i think.

i couldn't make a quilt on my domestic machine, there isn't room. I may investigate QAYG - but for now I'm happy watching Donna Jordan and her lovely fingernails.

i like the short clips with Matt too, all that cutting and folding.

I quilt on my domestic machine without a walking foot, very novice still but no issues so far, although I haven't done more than a lap quilt. I am working on a double size one currently and will see how that goes, I found the lap ones made it through no problem as long as I took time to tightly roll the sides up between each line

but how do you get the bulk of the actual quilt through the space of the machine? I'm ok with a walking foot etc, it's just the bulk of the quilt i can't handle.

My current machine has an 11" throat so quilting is easy, but in the early days before there were long-armers (I'm feeling so old making that statement) I quilted a king size quilt on my standard sized machine. It wasn't fun and it was straight lines only, but possible. I rolled the bit that needed to go through the throat fairly tightly and used bicycle clips to hold it. I supported the rolled bit on my right shoulder, which was heavy and I had a table to my left and my sewing cabinet had a flip up table top at the back so that the rest of the quilt was supported because if it was hanging over the edge it would have pulled it out of true as it went under the needle. The hardest bit was the centre of the quilt as half of the quilt had to be rolled, as I got out towards the edges I put the smaller bit of quilt through the throat.

I quilted this king size one on a domestic machine. Straight lines only and I did it in quilt as you go sections, but quite large sections. The centre is one piece.

yeah - that's too much effort for me. You have my admiration.

that's lovely. If i can work out how to do a QAYG with no sashing i may try it. One day...

My machine only has a 6.5inch throat size so I don't think i'd manage a king but its pretty easy to manage baby and throw size blankets with some tight rolling. @SewingBees I love that idea of quilt as you go but in large sections to make a bigger piece, may have to give it a go.

I finished the quilt top that I worked on at the weekend. The colours aren't very accurate in the photo because the light was fading when I took it, but the design shows well.

Wow! I'm as jealous that you have a nice big blank wall as anything else 😂

I've taken a break from my self imposed mumsnet exile to see what everyone is up to. Not disappointed. 😍

I have been busy with a new to me sewing machine (yes I got one of those lovely janome's, preloved but pristine) and I'm wanting to make all the things. In between all the dressmaking I'm gathering fabrics and cutting out pieces for a small quilt. It is soothing. I loved making my fancy fox cushions so I'm going to keep it up as a palette cleanser. Of course, rather than solids, I'm going for an ombre effect. I'm not intending to make it too easy for myself. New machine has a 10.5' harp space with plenty of height to it and an enormous extension table. It sews like a dream and I am totally smitten.

I know about the wall, considering that houses are constructed of walls it's surprisingly difficult to find a nice clear stretch. There's always a window or a radiator or necessary furniture.

Ooh, I love an ombre. I have some Jennifer Sampou fabric that I'm waiting for exactly the right pattern to come along and claim it.