Quilt Making for beginner, tips?

ElleEm

I've decided to make a quilt.
I bought material, (well, I bought some horrible clothes in a charity shop that I like the colours/ patterns of).
I know what size I'm aiming for too, 60" x 60", and I'm gonna do 9 squares. Haven't got the wadding yet but am presuming Hickeys is the place to go?

Any more tips?

dwb

Hi,
I definitely wouldn't buy the wadding until the quilt top is made. Lot of quilts are started with the best of intentions........
Are you sure the material you bought in the charity shop is all cotton or are the fabrics a similar weight? I'm not sure you can mix 100% cotton and polyester mix fabrics.
If you intend getting the quilt quilted by a professional long arm quilter, they can supply the wadding and backing and it probably works out just as cheap.
You could also look up the Irish Patchwork Society website and they might have some advice .
good luck with your quilt!1

time42play

ElleEm wrote: »

I've decided to make a quilt.
I bought material, (well, I bought some horrible clothes in a charity shop that I like the colours/ patterns of).
I know what size I'm aiming for too, 60" x 60", and I'm gonna do 9 squares. Haven't got the wadding yet but am presuming Hickeys is the place to go?

Any more tips?

Hickeys should have it, or a quilt shop. If you only have nine squares in your entire quilt it shouldn't take long to put together, but they'd be 20" squares (assuming they're all the same size). Just remember to add seam allowances when you cut your squares! Traditionally quilts use 1/4" seams, so a 20" finished block is cut at 20.5" square.

Are you planning to quilt it, either by hand or machine, or tie it? Is your backing going to be pieced from your fabric too?

dwb wrote: »

Are you sure the material you bought in the charity shop is all cotton or are the fabrics a similar weight? I'm not sure you can mix 100% cotton and polyester mix fabrics.

You can, although the purists (aka "Quilt Police") would say no. The only real issue in my view is whether the cotton would shrink as the poly/blends don't tend to. Unless you're looking to create an heirloom that you want to see last for generations I wouldn't be too concerned.

If you google you'll find all sorts of helpful information and videos! There are also some very good books out there, which is how I learned. There's a website at www.quiltingboard.com with quilters from all over the world if you don't find the answers you need anywhere else!

ElleEm

Thanks for the replies. The materials are from different shirts, and I'll be using a duvet cover as backing, considering it's my first one!
I just wanna get started and when I make mistakes, it'll just mean that my second quilt will be better!

time42play

ElleEm wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. The materials are from different shirts, and I'll be using a duvet cover as backing, considering it's my first one!
I just wanna get started and when I make mistakes, it'll just mean that my second quilt will be better!

I still use bed sheets for backing sometimes, or even a fleece blanket so I can skip the batting too. If I can get a needle through it easily I consider it usable, and they hold up remarkably well.

You have the right attitude, just have fun and you'll learn along the way what works for you and what doesn't!

abovetherocks

That's so cool! I am just starting off to make my own clothes, but seeing your post makes me think bigger. I really enjoyed doing screen printing in uni, I would love to put my own designs on to a quilt! Go you! Quilt making is a fab idea!