least favorite part of quilting

You are not alone, Taria! I am the same way about quilts that are waiting for border completion - I did complete the borders first when I worked on the Navan church quilt because they were made up of the signature and dates in history squares. The centre stained glass nativity applique was the last section that I worked on with its' own set of borders but it was easier to make those borders fit the quilting motifs that I had designed because the four of them were different widths. I wonder if the backdoor approach might be the way to go for future projects? jennellh

But, but . . . do you realize that you can take a ho-hum quilt (or painting, for that matter) and turn it into something really wonderful with a great border / frame? Think of it as frosting on a cake or jewelry on a woman. Some of us need all the help we can get - and that includes quilts. If you're just bordering a panel of Peter Rabbit, I suppose it doesn't matter much although carrots would be great. The next time you get to a quilt show, take a moment to consider the borders. IMHO. Polly

I don't think you want to do the borders first. Been there -- done that! (Twice even!!!)

On my Kimono Quilt (you can see it in my webshots albums) -- I did this really cool drunkards path block border which I LOVE -- but didn't know how it would come out sizewise. So I did the borders... then calculated what the inside of the quilt needed to be.

I ended up needing to add different top/bottom side borders to flush out the center... Was really tough getting all that math down... especially since my borders were 100% bias!!

I love the quilt. I'm glad I did the border I did... but boy was it tough!

The other quilt that was a "border challenge" was Rob's quilt. The center was from the Fons & Porter beginning quilting book. But it only made a lap sized quilt and my 6'5" son wanted it bed sized. So I took the block pattern and reworked it to do the pinwheels around the center. Each pin wheel has more than 20 pieces in it. After I did the pinwheel border -- I calculated the dimensions for the "bridge" piece between the center and the pinwheel border... then added the green border.

Again -- sometimes worth the effort -- but boy -- I need to find a better way to do that! LOL

Just revisited your webshots pages. Man, I love that kimono quilt! And your son's quilt is so cool! I'm glad I was reminded about them again. Love, love, love your kimono one!!!

Kate-

When I have to work backwards starting with a border like that I find it's much easier to draw it out on graph paper. One square per inch if it's a small quilt and go as much as one square for 6 in. for a big quilt. It's easy to count the squares and multiply then add the 1/2 in. for seam allowances. (You don't have to draw the detail for the blocks- just draw a proper sized outline for each block and label the spaces '6 in. red/blue log cabin' or whatever.) Then you must be careful to square up your blocks every step of the way to be sure it will all go together. It's never failed me--- as long as I don't forget what the ratio of squares to inches is. I usually write it across the top of the page in fat tipped red marker, so I can't forget. Sometimes I forget the ratio anyway... cuz I forgot to label it. :-/

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I use Excel to work out my measurements since it does all the additions for me. Then I print it out for my quilting journal. I am anal about not having pieced outer borders so I cut those first. In order to know how much fabric I need, I have to work all the measurements out first. I hope that makes sense, it's been a long day.

My least favorite part of quilting though is making the binding. I love hand sewing the binding, but I hate making all the strips.

AliceW - Royal Cybrarian

my least favorite part is the actual quilting. I love the piecing and borders are OK. Binding is fine too but I wish I could send all of them out for quilting.

I like doing borders. It means the top is almost finished and I can plan quilting and thinking about my next project.

If you don't like adding borders, plan your quilts without them. There is nothing wrong with binding at the edge of the blocks. There are lots of antique/vintage quilts that didn't have borders attached. Remember when quilts were made with scraps and reused parts of clothing there often wasn't money for large quantities of fabric just for borders.

Pati, > After reading Lorraine's msg on borders and my spending the week

I'm there with you! I've got ideas for a border for a wedding quilt for my nephew but just haven't had the mental energy to start.......meanwhile, several UFO's with the pieced part done......no borders.......and, I have two or three border books.....sigh...

Borderless,

Lenore

I'm with you Mary! Now if it just wasn't so expensive! :-( Anything decent kinda puts that service out of my range so it's the sore shoulder shuffle around here!

Lorraine in WA

I have bitten the bullet and compromised (and don't feel bad in the slightest!). I have had two lap quilt tops made up for ages. I heard about a not-too-far-from-me lady who does professional quilting BUT also does the basting! So I sent them to her to be basted >g< Yessss..... Now, when I get a couple of days clear, I'll be able to quilt them. And, it is loads cheaper than the quilting itself, of course. . In message , maryd writes

Borders are not my issue. It is basting the three layers together! How does everyone else do that? I HATE basting, I think I would rather scrub toilets.

Really, how do you baste? In a frame, on the floor or have someone else do it? OK, that would be nice, someone else doing the basting. :-)

Piece,

Marsha in nw, Ohio

I spray baste small quilts, especially in summer when I can do it outside on the patio. Otherwise I use a basting gun or safety pins and baste on my dining room table. Many long arm quilters will baste for you for a reasonable fee. If I ever hand quilt another quilt, I think I will have it basted for me. I'm not sure how well it would work if you wanted to quilt it on your regular machine; thread basting sometimes gets causes problems then because the threads can get caught on your presser foot or if you happen to stitch through a basting thread, it can be hard to remove.

Julia in MN

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threads wrote:

My least favorite part is fixing mistakes. Those are the mistakes that DO show up from a passing pony, the sort where I realize that the quilt isn't going to hold together very well in the places where I pinned so badly that there isn't even an eighth inch seam allowance, much less a quarter inch one.

I never mind the math on borders or otherwise, but I do get bogged down on clearing a space on the floor, spreading out a large quilt, smoothing it just so, and getting the measurements for borders. On the other hand, getting to that point means I'm moving along towards completion, and that's always fun.

The other part of making a quilt that I don't care for is machine quilting the stablizing lines on a large quilt. I enjoy free motion machine quilting on a small space. I hate trying to get even stitches while moving the whole weight of the quilt through the machine over large areas.

--Lia

I do whatever it takes to borrow tables at the right height for basting. I've had good luck asking to use the tables in the back room of the biggish fabric store some distance from my house. This is the room they use for classes. I've heard of people using tables in libraries and office conference rooms.

I pin baste with safety pins. I use a Kwik Klip to close the pins.

Even with the table at the right height, it's a little hard on my back reaching over to pin in the middle. But I never have to redo it because I missed a pleat! At least with the quilt all spread out, I can take a break and stretch. When basting in the fabric store, employees would walk by and comment on the quilt. I'd suggest that they might like to put in a few pins while they were chatting. I've never tried it, but that might work in the public library. Tell folks that you're glad to answer their questions, but while you're there chatting, they should put in a dozen pins.

Whatever I do, I do NOT try basting on the floor again. Many years ago, I tried basting a rather small quilt on the floor. My back ached for days. And that was when I was younger and in far better shape. I wouldn't consider it now.

--Lia

I usually plan the borders when i plan the whole quilt. so i have enough fabric for them. i also include yardage for the binding fabric, as usually my binding is the same fabric as the last border color.

Basting for me is also on the DR table. sometimes i "preview" the layers right on a bed. Baby/Lap sizes on the table tho, and i use long quilters pins in each connected corner of the pattern/block. i do get stuck once in a while, but not bad. i tried the gizmo for safety pins, but i couldnt get the hang of it.

my least favorite part is being interrupted while i'm sewing!! =)

amy in CNY

I have never been able to get use to pin basting. I guess thread basting is all I know and yes, I baste on the floor and my son gets drafted to help.........it is easy to draft if you are waving money at them. LOL Advil helps too.

I'll have to try the table method, sounds like it could be helpful.

Piece,

Marsha in nw, OH