My First Quilt

Hi,

I've been lurking here a bit and have been inspired and intimidated by the amazing quilts many here have made.

I just made my first quilt and thought I would share the experience. It was a great learning experience, though it would have been easier and better if I had come into it with more experience. I put pictures up at

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I thought I had volunteered to donate some fabric and help a bit on a class quilt for a school auction, but didn't hear back, so I thought I was off the hook.

One day, I suddenly received a phone call that started "Hi, how's the quilt coming along?" Oops, I had been assigned to make a quilt for a small class that had no parents able to do it. Somehow there had been a communication gap and now I needed to make a quilt in a hurry.

The class theme was Angels, the students needed to contribute artistically. Since this was my first real quilt, I needed something simple. I had some fabrics that would be meaningful for the school to use and wanted to put angels on triangles so I googled for free triangle quilt patterns and found

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Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks. The auction book had to be printed before I made the quilt, so I just passed on the 52" x 60" measurements listed, never thinking about the fact that 3x4 9" blocks would never come close to 52"x60". This became a big issue at the end and forced me to put way more effort into borders than planned.

I drew simple 3 part flying angel pattens and stabilizer patterns so I could fold over the edges. After cutting and sewing the blocks, I cut out lots and lots of angels using quilting scraps from a thrift shop.

After sewing the blocks, I took the angel parts and blocks to the school and set up a line for the children to choose a block, then a body (from about 50) then a wing and a head. Then each block and angel went in a large zip-loc bag with the child's name on it.

I used the directions at

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to machine applique them. This was time consuming and after making a practice angel, I found I had to line the heads for them to look nice. After sewing the blocks together, I suddenly realized I needed to add

12" of border all the way around. Thankfully, I had someone over to watch my younger kids as I rushed off to the thrift shop where I found the orange and red fabrics and Joannes where I found the green.

On the day of the auction, I got up very early in the morning to do the quilting. Luckily, the spray basting I got at Joannes worked and I didn't have to pin. I adjusted my pressure foot tension until it was extremely gentle and rushed, just stitching in the ditch except for going around the angels.

I didn't have the time and experience to deal with binding at this point, so I just trimmed the batting and back 1" in from the top, ironed over the top 1/4 inch, then folded it over the back and top stitched, trimming and hand mitering the corners.

Sadly, I had to wash the quilt because a couple of the squares had become damp and the angels had shriveled. Since there was no time for it to dry before the auction, I had to throw it in the dryer. When it came out, I spread it on a bedspread on the floor, took a few pictures and rushed it straight to the auction, 20 minutes before the doors opened. It had been a busy 3 weeks.

I love my Singer 301a which I used for most of it and my Elna Special which I used for the applique. Even though I don't have a fancy new machine or fancy feet, I had a great time.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy
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Hi Betsy Never be intimidated by quilts you see - just aspire (if you want to!) or remember that everyone likes to make different kinds of quilts. I love the story of this quilt, and admire the fact that you weren't put off by the rush. It's a sweet quilt and I really like the way the angels were chosen by the children. They are a great shape. Good for you. It was a bit of bad luck about the measurements; but that won't happen with your next one! Next time you can make sure of things before your first cut.

Thanks for letting us see your first quilt - always so special. . In message , Betsy writes

Reply to
Pat S

Beautiful! What an adventure for a first quilt!

Julia > Hi,

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Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

Reply to
Julia in MN

Thank you, it is probably a good thing I had a deadline, or it could have taken forever.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

Love the colors and love the little angels. If this is your first attempt I can't wait to see your creations a year from now, this one is gorgeous.

-Irene

Reply to
IMS

Betsy -- it turned out just GREAT! I love the angels! I'm sure the kids had fun selecting the fabric for their own angel!

Job Well Done!

I've been lurking here a bit and have been inspired and intimidated by the amazing quilts many here have made.

I just made my first quilt and thought I would share the experience. It was a great learning experience, though it would have been easier and better if I had come into it with more experience. I put pictures up at

formatting link
I thought I had volunteered to donate some fabric and help a bit on a class quilt for a school auction, but didn't hear back, so I thought I was off the hook.

One day, I suddenly received a phone call that started "Hi, how's the quilt coming along?" Oops, I had been assigned to make a quilt for a small class that had no parents able to do it. Somehow there had been a communication gap and now I needed to make a quilt in a hurry.

The class theme was Angels, the students needed to contribute artistically. Since this was my first real quilt, I needed something simple. I had some fabrics that would be meaningful for the school to use and wanted to put angels on triangles so I googled for free triangle quilt patterns and found

formatting link
Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks. The auction book had to be printed before I made the quilt, so I just passed on the 52" x 60" measurements listed, never thinking about the fact that 3x4 9" blocks would never come close to 52"x60". This became a big issue at the end and forced me to put way more effort into borders than planned.

I drew simple 3 part flying angel pattens and stabilizer patterns so I could fold over the edges. After cutting and sewing the blocks, I cut out lots and lots of angels using quilting scraps from a thrift shop.

After sewing the blocks, I took the angel parts and blocks to the school and set up a line for the children to choose a block, then a body (from about 50) then a wing and a head. Then each block and angel went in a large zip-loc bag with the child's name on it.

I used the directions at

formatting link
tomachine applique them. This was time consuming and after making apractice angel, I found I had to line the heads for them to look nice. After sewing the blocks together, I suddenly realized I needed to add

12" of border all the way around. Thankfully, I had someone over to watch my younger kids as I rushed off to the thrift shop where I found the orange and red fabrics and Joannes where I found the green.

On the day of the auction, I got up very early in the morning to do the quilting. Luckily, the spray basting I got at Joannes worked and I didn't have to pin. I adjusted my pressure foot tension until it was extremely gentle and rushed, just stitching in the ditch except for going around the angels.

I didn't have the time and experience to deal with binding at this point, so I just trimmed the batting and back 1" in from the top, ironed over the top 1/4 inch, then folded it over the back and top stitched, trimming and hand mitering the corners.

Sadly, I had to wash the quilt because a couple of the squares had become damp and the angels had shriveled. Since there was no time for it to dry before the auction, I had to throw it in the dryer. When it came out, I spread it on a bedspread on the floor, took a few pictures and rushed it straight to the auction, 20 minutes before the doors opened. It had been a busy 3 weeks.

I love my Singer 301a which I used for most of it and my Elna Special which I used for the applique. Even though I don't have a fancy new machine or fancy feet, I had a great time.

--Betsy

Reply to
Kate in MI

Thank you, I have all sorts of ideas and have been thinking about a design for a different quilt to use the leftover angel parts.

Realistically though, my children range from 3 to 13 and the little time I have for sewing is mostly spent on repairs. I hope that at some point I will catch up on everything I dropped while working on the quilt and be able to start on another.

I had so much fun with the quilting part, that I am thinking of starting by making a simple baby comforter to quilt in a more adventurous way.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

Thanks, my younger children are a bit jealous of the class and can't wait until I make another quilt so they can build their own angels.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

I aspire, but I'm not sure that I really would stick to working on a quilt over a long enough period of time to create a masterpiece.

I

I think I live my life in a rush and most of my sewing is done in a rush for some reason or other.

I can't believe I was so silly as to not even think to do the math. I read the online reviews and no one mentioned it.

Although I like math, one of the reasons I chose to use a pattern instead of making my own was to save time. Instead, I had to do math for the border. If I usually did quilts, I'd probably be quicker at quilt math. It took me a while to go through the geometry to calculate how big to cut the triangles for the border.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

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> Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

Reply to
larchie

Reply to
Roberta

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Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

What a super first quilt, much more impressive than mine. The borders work really, really well. I love the story behind it and you deserve a round of applause for coming to the rescue of a class that needed your skills.

I always toss my quilts in the washer and dryer before they go to their recipient, that way any shrinking & wrinkling has already happened and I can say hand-on-heart that the quilt is easy care.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

Thanks, it helps that I've done plenty of non-quilt sewing. I'm starting to dream about quilts.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

Maybe insane would be a better adjective.

I

It sold for $1000. It helps to have an audience with strong charitable motivations. I had a hard time giving it up after working so hard making it, but I would have only spent a fraction of that to buy it.

I guess all my worries that it might sell for less than the materials required to make it were unfounded.

You have great color

I do, but I also worry that I would never finish one without pressure.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

Thanks, it was quite a shock when I realized I would need to do something about borders.

I calculated the size, cut, and sewed the triangles before shopping for the rest of the fabric for the borders. I took the quilt top and a couple triangles with me when I shopped. The lady at the fabric store, who is a real quilter, looked at them and told me not to use them, because they would detract from the angels. It was hard to go against her advise, but it seemed that 12" of plain borders would be too much.

I'm glad to hear that someone else does this. The person in charge of organizing quilts for the auction told me afterwards that no one ever washes their quilts before the auction.

The lavender fabric has a very mild wide seersucker texture. This showed more after the trip through the dryer. It didn't look bad, but it was different from the other quilts.

It would have been easier if some of the water soluble stabilizer hadn't gotten a little damp and shriveled requiring complete washing out.

Since it sold well, I guess I don't need to worry about it. I never have to wonder if it would survive washing and drying.

--Betsy

Reply to
Betsy

Thank you for sharing the story, the pictures, and the experience. Well done, you!

Karen, Queen of Squishies

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> Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

Reply to
Karen, Queen of Squishies

That is gorgeous Betsy! Well done on the whole achievement.

Leigh Harris Perth, Western Australia

"Betsy"

Hi,

I've been lurking here a bit and have been inspired and intimidated by the amazing quilts many here have made.

I just made my first quilt and thought I would share the experience. It was a great learning experience, though it would have been easier and better if I had come into it with more experience. I put pictures up at

formatting link
(the rest is snipped)

Reply to
Leigh Harris

Your first quilt is absolutely fabulous ~ and under pressure no less! Way to go! I am amazed.

Michelle > Hi,

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Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

Reply to
Michelle1963

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> Its size looked perfect since I needed 12 blocks.>

Reply to
EstelleUK

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