Its been ages since I made a quilt - I made a few years ago, useing a hand piecing technique with paper templates inside each block. I enjoyed doing it this way, but it took about a year to finish one. Machine patchwork is a whole new world - 2.5 weeks to get to this point and I'm pretty excited about the result!
I've not really taken any progress photos, because there are excellent photos on the instructions I used, HERE
And yes, I even used the exact same fabrics. This wasn';t just lack of imagination, honest - this quilt has the specific purpose of being a hot weather alternative to a duvet for my hubby and I, so I searched high and low for a colour and pattrn combination which was not too feminine but which I loved. Once he'd approved it, I wasn't gonna change a thing!
I've not really taken any progress photos, because there are excellent photos on the instructions I used, HERE
And yes, I even used the exact same fabrics. This wasn';t just lack of imagination, honest - this quilt has the specific purpose of being a hot weather alternative to a duvet for my hubby and I, so I searched high and low for a colour and pattrn combination which was not too feminine but which I loved. Once he'd approved it, I wasn't gonna change a thing!
Next steps are a little unclear right now - I'm so in love with the patchwork top, I don't want to take any risks with the next steps, but I don't really know enough about quilting to make the right choices!
The first problem is with the backing fabric. I bought some navy blue sheeting at fabric land which I thought would be perfect, but the dye runs like crazy - and I really mean that! First wash, it dyed the dark red T-towel I left in the washer purple. Second wash, I put in a snippet of the cream, and it ended blue (thats it on the left).
Last night, I soaked it for about 3 hours in a bucket of cold water with half a bottle of white vinegar and half a packet of salt. The test wash after this resulted in a formrely cream snippet which was, if anything, even bluer than the one on the left.
Conclusion: don't buy dark colored sheeting from fabricland if you want to be able to wash it! This piece is now Toile fabric!
So, I need to find some new backing fabric.
I also need wadding - we want something as light and cool as possible - John is in favour of just two layers of fabric, but I think I want something in between! Any suggestion?
The question I have is whether I should pre wash the top, before I quilt. I used a jellyroll, so prewashing the fabric wasn't really an option, but I guess at this stage I could chuck it in the machine?
I think I have a lot of googling and forum posts to do!
The first problem is with the backing fabric. I bought some navy blue sheeting at fabric land which I thought would be perfect, but the dye runs like crazy - and I really mean that! First wash, it dyed the dark red T-towel I left in the washer purple. Second wash, I put in a snippet of the cream, and it ended blue (thats it on the left).
Last night, I soaked it for about 3 hours in a bucket of cold water with half a bottle of white vinegar and half a packet of salt. The test wash after this resulted in a formrely cream snippet which was, if anything, even bluer than the one on the left.
Conclusion: don't buy dark colored sheeting from fabricland if you want to be able to wash it! This piece is now Toile fabric!
So, I need to find some new backing fabric.
I also need wadding - we want something as light and cool as possible - John is in favour of just two layers of fabric, but I think I want something in between! Any suggestion?
The question I have is whether I should pre wash the top, before I quilt. I used a jellyroll, so prewashing the fabric wasn't really an option, but I guess at this stage I could chuck it in the machine?
I think I have a lot of googling and forum posts to do!
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