First King size Quilt

Patience is not something I have acquired with age. Maybe I'll learn with this quilt, what do you think?

You could try the divide and conquer method. Dont put the entire top together-break it up in workable parts and quilt each part separate leaving a large enough edge to turn under on the back to hand sew when you put it together. I dont know if I am making myself real clear on that maybe someone else could explain it better. That is what I will be doing from now on on the larger quilts--my queen size is a pain in the &*^$ to quilt! I have not actually tried this method yet but have my Chaos Harmony quilt in 2 pieces and will do it that way once I but the batting.

I'll have to think this out carefully. The pattern is easy to divide. I just have to work out the seams when I put it together. Thanks!

I've made lots of queen size quilts and am quilting my first (and last) king size at the moment. The thing is a bear to handle. Even basting it was the same thing except more so. I didn't just have to borrow tables at the fabric store like I always do. I had to move more of them around and work harder.

Words of wisdom: rubber gloves. They really do make moving the whole easier even when you're not doing fine work. Just hoisting the whole thing around the table is better with gloves.

Also: tables to the back AND left of the sewing machine. You need something to support all that weight.

Consider: professional long arm quilting. I'm not going that route because (I keep telling myself) I LIKE quilting, and I like doing it all myself, but on the other hand, because this thing is so huge, I'm not doing fancy quilting anyway so why not pay a professional to do the easy long lines for me?

I think there's a mathamatical problem with king sizes. A queen size is about

80" x 80". A king size is about 100" x 100". Now we all know that means the quilt is 8,400" bigger in area (and therefore weight and need to quilt all that extra space), but somehow we think of it as only 20" bigger in effort. I know that doesn't make sense, but I think that's the mistake I made when making the monstrosity I'm working on now. It only felt like I was making the top a little bigger when I put on such generous borders.

--Lia

B>

Maybe I'll suggest that they purchase a queen size bed ;-)

I've made several of them and have another one almost done. Don't mind the cuttin', don't mind the piecin', don't mind the quiltin' (all have been MQ, or sent out for MQ), but boy, do I hate bastin' those suckers! Lots and lots of pins. Helps to invite all your friends over for tea! Then hand them a cup of pins!

Enjoy it - they are fun to make. Make sure you stretch every now and then. Your back and arms are going to feel the difference.

Now for the WIP's: 1. Another Signature quilt of friends and family 2. Drunkards Path (for roomie) 3. Cathedral Windows (my on the move quilt) 4. Folded Stars 5. Stack-n-Whack

needless to say I have enough current quilts to keep me busy for a long time. The only thing is that I just want to do more and more. juliasb

I spray basted my king size quilt, did it myself and had no problems. I did however, pin around the parameter just to make sure it all stayed together from all the handling. The quilting went much better than I would have expected. I'm in the process of putting on the binding now and that wasn't too bad either.

What a great idea! I hope you did it outside, the fumes have to be terrible from a king sized quilt!

If it doesn't teach you patience, it will teach you how to live with UFOs. :-)

I am 3/4 the way done quilting an 84" square quilt, my biggest one yet, and it hasn't been bad at all. In fact, I had to stop myself from finishing it because I had other things to do. Like feed kids and do laundry. For some reason, everybody seems to want to eat and wear clean clothes... ;-)

May have to try the basting spray. That will definitely help.

Well, my summer is free and my work won't start until mid- September. So, I have a chance to get a good start at least.

I'm working (taking a break from - going on a mini-vacation) on the picnic quilt, which has said it's name is No Ants Allowed. I just kept thinking of the Sesame Street segment with a kid trying to keep pests away from his cake, and ended up sharing with everyone. :-)

Spike can feed herself just fine, provided I leave the pantry unlocked. She will happily munch on cereal or poptarts any time of day - which is why I keep it locked! Giles is content to graze off bits of cookie, etc. from under the table. It's the in-between ones - can't cook yet, but insist on eating.

Am new to this group - hail from Tennessee by way of Michigan. Have been quilting for about l4 years and in that time have machine pieced and hand quilted everything from minies to king size in a 30" hoop. Have now had to go to machine quilting due to carpal tunnel. King size required the help of DH's help to keep it off the floor when moving the hoop. Oh for enough room to have a floor standing quilting stand. Good Luck on your new endeavor Quilting Granny Pat

snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net (Please no spam my heart won't tank much more than I get already - Thanks)

Isnt that always the way, those ungrateful family members just dont understand being in the thrall of the Muse. Teach those young'uns to wash their own clothes and fix a peanut butter and jelly sandwich early. :-) Thats my technique anyway. As soon as they can see well over the stove they are able to fix wiggle noodle soup. More time for Mom. In theory at least. Which quilt were you working on, Wendy? Diana

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"frood" wrote

Welcome to the group Quiltin' Granny Pat, nice to meet you! Hey, everyone.. skootch over at the frame a wee bit to make room. Diana

Hi, Pat, I've scootched over so welcome to the newsgroup!

Welcome to the group Quiltin' Granny Pat, nice to meet you! Hey, everyone.. skootch over at the frame a wee bit to make room. Diana

No. I did it in my living room. Moved all the furniture into the dining area so I had enough room to fit 100" x 120" plus. I used 505 and there really wasn't very much overspray at all. I am mildly asthmatic, and it didn't bother me at all.

The only king size quilt I've made I did quilt-as-you-go. That way I was handling the entire huge quilt until the very end.