Permission to or quilting"laws"......

The last quilt that my daughter (aged 13) machine quilted, she used the Greek Stitch!! Does that count?? :)

"Thou shalt not machine quilt with other than a straight stitch!"

Hugs!! Connie :)

I press seams open and I sew over pins (yes, I know it can be dangerous, but I used to hand quilt while watching football with DH and that turned out to be even more dangerous - every time he'd holler at the TV, it'd startle me and I'd stick myself with the needle!).

Hey Mauvice

So is thread embellishing, McTavishing, cross hatching and stitch in the ditch against the law??????? (giggle)

Kate T. South Mississippi

Alot of quilting patterns are "cross over" the line patterns. I always sew my binding on before I trim the batting/backing (I know for sure then that all parts are caught in the seam). I often use poly thread to machine quilt (although I NEVER use poly to piece).

There are no quilting "laws" that justify calling the quilting police. If there were, I'd be locked up for life!!!!!

Laurie G. in CA

Sometimes I quilt "upside down", i.e., with the backing on top.

And I now always bind by machine! (It's faster).

-- Anita --

If it were the case lots of people would be in quilt Jail !!!!! Another one that prompted lots of comment, was using the other side of the cutting mat!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH ....."Can you cut on the side without the lines?" YIKES ....soo many new and old quitlers, take guidelines and suggestions as the law!!!!!!!!!! I have bee known to bring the backing up over the top as a binding!!!! the blasphemy!!! of course not on fine finished item, but on a utility quilt....Mauvice in central WI

Makes it tough to do a cable pattern if the lines can't cross, and forget about grid work :-) Actually, that "rule" I think applies to meandering and someone once said you can't cross and have it be a meander but if you do it's just something else I suppose.

I don't do bias binding unless I want to because say I'm using a plaid and like the look of bias better. None of my quilt have fallen apart, the binding haven't "split" down the middle nor any of the dire things some people insist will happen.

marcella

I'm getting a kick out of this thread! As for using the "wrong" side of the cutting mat, I do it all the time. I have a couple of inexpensive, smallish (12" x 18") mats I bought at JoAnn's. They're blue on one side (with lines) and grey on the reverse. Now, I just love blue, as many of you know, but that blue is simply too dark for many of the fabrics I use; I can't see well enough to cut accurately. I almost always use the "wrong/grey" side -- especially since I really don't care about using the lines on a mat anyway.

Another thing -- I frequently *don't* put "pedal to the metal" when machine quilting, as so many of us are taught to do. Going slowly works better for me. Go ahead, Quilt Police, catch me if you can! ;)

I have run into this sort of mentality in a lot of groups that I have belonged to. In bicycling, Civil War reenacting, and I don't remember what all groups. I think that explains why this group is one of the few that I participate in, and I don't partisipate in them any longer. I hate being told "You shouldn't do that". Stuff it, do what ever you want. If you are entering work in juried shows then maybe you have to play by their rules, but if it is for yourself, or gifts to others, then that is the way "You" do it. If they don't like it, then they shouldn't accept the quilt as a gift and you will know not to include that person or persons in any of your future projects.

Climbing down from my soap box; Yeh, I know I shouldnt' stand on the furniture,

John

Reliable RCTQ sources of unfounded rumor has it there are no Quilt Police so quilt whatcha like and how it makes ya happy. If in the event you approached by what appears to be officially sanctioned Quilt Police, they are easily identifiable........

The *REAL* Quilt Police can shamelessly be bribed with chocolate to look the other way. They can also be bribed with liquor to walk away. Liquor filled chocolate is extremely effective in having them walk away and while looking the other way.

Val

P.S. There are *NO* Quilt Cross-over Stitching Guards......these imposters are easily identified by their tightly puckered sphincters.

If you made it, you're allowed stand on it ;-)

Lizzy

True Confessions: Sometimes I finish binding by SM. Sometimes I mix white and cream in one project. I am not really picky about thread. I just know to avoid the junky polyester thread. I do the FM quilting any which way I want ... yes, sometimes I cross lines!!

TANQP in my part of Virginia, PAT

Mauvice > Last month I was showing an elderly friend how to machine quilt, Just

LG: I think Mauvice was talking about Quilt Police Stippling Statute #204.98 which states: "STIPPLING with Sewing Machine: NEVER cross the lines." Here in VIrginias we have already abolished that law. We free motion quite freely, regardless of any alleged QP! Good thing, or I'd be in jail too. Grins, PAT

Laurie G. wrote:

Of course I made it. Dovetailed and mortise and tennon construction throughout. Hand rubbed Varnish finish, and narry a run in it. Only recently renovated to remove the footprints on the top.

John

Uh.... I do almost all my bindings by machine (shhhh!).

Mickie, who does hand-sewn bindings for show quilts

When I try to be naughty and machine bind, there is always retribution in the form of wobbles and unpicking. So its quicker by hand!!

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

Mickie Swall wrote:

I get in trouble with a lesser known branch of the quilt police.....the pressing posse. I press blocks and seams on the right side of the fabric. I have tried and tried and I just can't get a good, crisp, non-tucked seam if I press from the back. (I also don't use steam.) lol