My niece wants to learn...

Oct 15, 2006 7 Replies
M

My 9 year old niece spent the night with us last night, and asked me what I was doing while I was sewing some squares together. I told her that I was learning how to make quilts and she immediately asked "Can you teach me how?" Well, of course I was happy to do that!



I wasn't sure if she'd like it or not, but after she sewed her first few squares together, she informed me that she will be spending more time with me so that we can learn together and make a quilt! I thought that was great, lol! I took photos of some of what we did if anyone wants to take a look and let us know how we are doing. The one that looks sort of like watercolor paints is my niece's handiwork, and the one with the hearts is mine. We've been taking a back stitch at the beginning and end of the sewing line and also one or two in the middle to help anchor the thread. Is that the correct thing to do?



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Not great stitches for either one of us, but hey, we're just learning! :) I was pretty impressed with Katybug's (ny nickname for her, lol!) first attempts. I think if she sticks with it, she'll do very well. I hope she does; it would be so wonderful if we could actually complete a quilt together. She seem really excited by the idea. I'm planning on it being just a smaller patchwork quilt; I don't want to overwhelm her to start off.


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K

What fun! Looks like you are off to a great start! I agree with your thinking

-- that a backstitch at the beginning, end... and every so often along the seam is a good thing.

Can't wait to see your finished projects!

Kate in MI

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C

You and your neice might like to try Manx quilting. The instructions are posted at -

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It used to be the task of the young girls in Manx households to make the blocks for quilts. This was how they learned to sew.

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R

Pretty fabrics, nice running stitches! I usually load about 3 little running stitches on the needle and pull the thread through, then start the next needle load with a backstitch.

You can skip the knot at the beginning and end by starting with a few running stitches going the opposite direction, pull the thread through until there's just a quarter inch of tail, that's enough to hold while you stitch back over it. Then finish by running a few stitches back. Roberta in D

"Mary Anna" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@40tude.net...

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M

Cherly, I am absolutely facinated with the manx quilts after looking at those pictures! They are beautiful! Now I am thinking that I will ask Katybug if she'd rather do one of those instead of a patchwork. I skimmed through the directions; it looks like it would actually be easier than a patchwork pattern. She's also having some trouble with knotting thread, so I think the continuous stitching line would appeal to her.

And along that same line, Roberta...thanks for the tip about using running stitches instead of knots. We will definately be trying that!

Mary Anna in NY

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S

How wonderful! The two of you learning together will be such fun. :) The backstitches are definitely necessary in hand piecing -- I usually take one every third, fourth, or fifth stitch, depending on my whim.

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B

WTG, Katybug :) Auntie, make sure it ends up being a 'usable' size. Every so often have her measure it up against herself that way she can decide when it is big enuf. Remember trying to teach the neighbor gal to crochet....she was doing good and then started wavering on one end. Told her it had to be redone--she was FINE with that until her Mom piped up. She yelled "YOU NEVER LIKE ANYTHING I DO" and threw it down and that was that. I explained to her Mom that it was all a process of learning and I STILL had to tear a few rows out now and then. She never did come back :( Tell her that frog-stitching must be learned correctly, too:)

We got us another one:)

Butterfly

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C

Nice! I think it's a grand idea, learning together. Hope you and your niece have lots of fun learning this new skill!

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