A Fairytale in Process
Two weeks ago I bombarded you with pictures of my daughter's Fairytale Patchwork finished quilt top. If you think that the quilt finished by now, think again.
First off, I decided to try a bias-free finish for this laaaarge quilt (finished measurements are 76 x 89.5"). In I Heart Patchwork, Rashida Coleman-Hane finished a quilt by sewing right sides together with a 1/4" seam, turning and stitching closed. Because binding is not my friend and because I decided that the linen sashing was a fitting edge, I was game to try something new.
I taped down my batting, laid out my quilt bottom and top and basted the edges.
Don't the basting pins look sweet? They're like happy little soldiers fighting for a straight edge. I slip them all in at once and then close them with a size 3 knitting needle. Saves the fingers.
I am happy to report that this was a snap. Not only was it fast and easy - it looks great! I don't think a binding would have looked better in this case. Woohoo!
Now for the not as good. After consulting with my mom and co-designer, we settled on a quilting pattern that has turned out to be rather difficult, at least for me. I always admire the large diagonal grid quilting design used often by Ashley of Film in the Fridge. My mom suggested a double row (two lines 2" apart) diagonal grid spaced just right so that it frames each large 12" block. Essentially the design would mimic the piecing layout, but on point and with continuous lines. I especially loved that this design would create little diamonds at the intersection points in the sashing, one on each side of each block.
But how to achieve it? I've had bad luck with disappearing fabric ink markers, so I thought I could mark this quilt with the much-touted Clover Chaco marker. After a week I finally got to the fabric store to purchase the gadget. Yes, it's cool. I'm glad to have it! But, it so won't work for marking this quilt. Some trial proved that the white chalk too easily brushes away, leaving me without a clear guide.
Next my husband suggested using masking tape to mark my grid lines. Brilliant! I laboriously taped the pattern in one direction and set off to sew tonight.
Ugh! The tape won't stay on! I just bought it and it wasn't cheap stuff. It particularly won't stick to the Little Folks voile. So, I went back and moved pins that were causing problems, and even pined the tape on over each voile block. Back on the machine I had mild success with a few short lines at the edges. So.... I went for one of the longest lines in the middle to see what would happen. Ladies, it wasn't pretty. It seems I can't sew a straight line when juggling a large quilt, shifting tape and bias pin bombs.
I refuse to allow the quilting to ruin this quilt. At the moment I plan to rip out the quilting I've done so far and either A. settle on a MUCH easier quilting pattern or B. don't quilt at all. Because I used a cotton blanket for batting and because the edges are already lovely, stopping at this point is tempting. Or maybe I should tie it instead?
(Sigh) I just don't know.
First off, I decided to try a bias-free finish for this laaaarge quilt (finished measurements are 76 x 89.5"). In I Heart Patchwork, Rashida Coleman-Hane finished a quilt by sewing right sides together with a 1/4" seam, turning and stitching closed. Because binding is not my friend and because I decided that the linen sashing was a fitting edge, I was game to try something new.
I taped down my batting, laid out my quilt bottom and top and basted the edges.
Don't the basting pins look sweet? They're like happy little soldiers fighting for a straight edge. I slip them all in at once and then close them with a size 3 knitting needle. Saves the fingers.
I am happy to report that this was a snap. Not only was it fast and easy - it looks great! I don't think a binding would have looked better in this case. Woohoo!
Now for the not as good. After consulting with my mom and co-designer, we settled on a quilting pattern that has turned out to be rather difficult, at least for me. I always admire the large diagonal grid quilting design used often by Ashley of Film in the Fridge. My mom suggested a double row (two lines 2" apart) diagonal grid spaced just right so that it frames each large 12" block. Essentially the design would mimic the piecing layout, but on point and with continuous lines. I especially loved that this design would create little diamonds at the intersection points in the sashing, one on each side of each block.
But how to achieve it? I've had bad luck with disappearing fabric ink markers, so I thought I could mark this quilt with the much-touted Clover Chaco marker. After a week I finally got to the fabric store to purchase the gadget. Yes, it's cool. I'm glad to have it! But, it so won't work for marking this quilt. Some trial proved that the white chalk too easily brushes away, leaving me without a clear guide.
Next my husband suggested using masking tape to mark my grid lines. Brilliant! I laboriously taped the pattern in one direction and set off to sew tonight.
Ugh! The tape won't stay on! I just bought it and it wasn't cheap stuff. It particularly won't stick to the Little Folks voile. So, I went back and moved pins that were causing problems, and even pined the tape on over each voile block. Back on the machine I had mild success with a few short lines at the edges. So.... I went for one of the longest lines in the middle to see what would happen. Ladies, it wasn't pretty. It seems I can't sew a straight line when juggling a large quilt, shifting tape and bias pin bombs.
I refuse to allow the quilting to ruin this quilt. At the moment I plan to rip out the quilting I've done so far and either A. settle on a MUCH easier quilting pattern or B. don't quilt at all. Because I used a cotton blanket for batting and because the edges are already lovely, stopping at this point is tempting. Or maybe I should tie it instead?
(Sigh) I just don't know.