Craft & Quilt Fair - Brisbane

.....following on from previous post...
The real point of this exercise (Dinosaur Quilt) is to make some important points about sizing the backing to suit a quilt top.
Here's how to calculate the size of a backing:
1. Measure the Length and Width of the quilt top and jot those measurements down.
2. Add 6 - 8 inches both the length and width and jot those new measurements down too.
Note: if you are quilting your own quilt ie by domestic machine or hand quilting you probably won't need so much extra but, if you are sending your quilt off to a commercial quilter they will (as I will) need at least 3" extra on all four sides.

So having added the extra 6-8 inches you now have the correct size of the backing to fit your quilt top.

If you plan a seamless backing for your quilt and if your quilt is a small cot size, an ordinary width patchwork fabric will be wide enough. So you will only need to purchase the length of the backing.

If, however, the quilt is larger than cot size you will need more than one length, perhaps 1 + 1/2 lengths, 2 lengths, 2 1/2 lengths or even 3 lengths for a king size quilt. Although you might consider a wide backing fabric for the larger sized quilts.
I talk about seaming lengths together on my website go to  http://thequiltconnection.com.au/quilt-preparation/ and print out the PDF titled Quilt Backings...

Okay so getting back to the point of this exercise....

Now that you have calculated the size of the backing required, you can now set about planning a pieced backing to fit, and you can be as creative as you like.
Just a couple of things to remember though, before you start.

1. Plan the piecing so that (as much as possible) the grains go in the same direction. ie lengthwise grain running vertical recommended. For more information about Fabric Grains go to http://thequiltconnection.com.au/quilt-preparation/.
2. Position any seams in the backing that run parallel to the edges of the backing a distance away from where the edge of the quilt top will be. See photos to follow:

This photo shows my little dinosaur quilt laid out on top of its pieced backing.



Notice that the edge of the quilt top is 1 1/2" away from the seam that joins the ricrac fabric to the sides, the top and the bottom of the backing.
This is the important point!








This photo shows by the outline I've marked, (marked only for demonstration purpose only) where the edge of the quilt top will fall. I should say that it doesn't matter if a seam crosses the edge of the quilt top.

I wonder if you have worked out why I am taking the time to explain all this???


Sooooo....

If a seam is positioned too close to the edge there is a risk that after quilting that seam will end up aligned with the edge of the quilt top and will therefore have to be included in the binding and that would not be a good thing.

Cheers til next time.

Craft & Quilt Fair - Brisbane

This week I am having fun at the Fair!
I'm a guest of Imaaje C29 (one of my favourite online fabric shops) and giving free workshops at 11.30am every morning in Workshop 2 introducing new quilt-makers, and taking the more experienced back, to the Basics. It is my hope that the information I share will help patchworkers to achieve better results and therefore more enjoyment from this much loved craft.
The workshop is titled 'The Quilting B's" because I am talking about Backings, Borders, piecing Blocks, and a bit of all things in between...... well, I only have 20mins so everything? not possible.



Dinosaurs Quilt

Anyway thought I would share a couple of photos of one of the little samples I created to demonstrate the difference made when you 'press as you go', tidy threads as you go and Butting seams where they interlock. Oh and also ... how when Borders are calculated correctly, they sit flat and even around the quilt.


wrong side of quilt top showing seams etc

Pieced Backing using leftover strips

Quilts 1700 - 1945

Quilts 1700 - 1945

I had a most enjoyable day last Friday when a friend and I visited the Queensland Art Gallery to view the Quilts 1700-1945 exhibition. As you would expect, the quilts are truly remarkable and the exhibition itself is superb.

As I read the information which described the story of each quilt and its maker, I felt transported back in time. Reading about the history of quiltmaking and seeing photos of antique quilts is nothing compared to actually having the quilts right in front of you. This was an experience I will delight about for a very long time.

My thanks to the creator, Sue Prichard, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and QAGOMA for making this experience possible.

Ruth Stonely - A Stitch In Time

I also had the pleasure of viewing a stunning exhibition of innovative work by the late Ruth Stonely. This was a trip down memory lane for me. I think I am right to say that Ruth was a pioneer of patchwork and quilting in Queensland, certainly she was a highly respected quilt artist in her own right. Her quilting was most innovative and remains so today.

To read more about this current exhibition visit http://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/ruth_stoneley_a_stitch_in_time

Memory of A Queen

I was even more delighted to find the quilt 'Memory of a Queen' hanging in the gallery. I had the pleasure of quilting this quilt which was made in 2009 by Coorparoo Quilters to celebrate Queensland's sesquicentenary. The design was inspired by certain architectural aspects of a heritage building in Coorparoo now called 'Queen Alexandra Home'.

http://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/ruth_stoneley_a_stitch_in_time

To Be Resourceful...

Having set myself the challenge not to purchase anymore fabric (yeah right, you say.) I have taken a leaf out of Mary Ellen Hopkin's book when she says to pick the scraps up off the floor and put them on the back. Well they weren't on the floor but I did use the fabric leftover after piecing, to widen the backing.
I have made two simple lap size quilts from two charm square packs, two jelly rolls along with a couple of metre lengths from the Ticklish range of fabric. For the first I used the pink, purple and aqua pieces holding over the yellow, green and orange pieces for the second.

Its all about the Pink in Quilt No 1.....

I couldn't keep my commitment for the pinks (favourite colour), I found some of the Ticklish range available in flannel and so I did make a purchase for the backing on Quilt No 1. However I stuck to my guns with Quilt No 2.

I had just enough length of one piece of fabric but the width was narrow. So joined all the scraps from the jelly rolls together to make three long strips. I interspersed a couple of other leftovers and then inserted the pieced section at the 1/3 mark across the width.

Why did I split the piece at the 1/3 mark? I didn't want any seams to fall anywhere near the edge of the quilt top because I want to avoid unseemly extra bulk in the binding. Even if I carefully plan the placement of the seams sometimes the quilting will shrink the quilt and plans can go astray and it is better to be safe than sorry.

Sorry about the yellow piece of paper there, it is a note to self indicating the top edge and how far down to position the top of the quilt so that I also miss the horizontal seams in the strips.

Oh and by the way, contrary to the suggestion I make on my website Pieced Backings I do not have all the fabric grains travelling in the same direction. The Crosswise grain of the jelly roll strips is travelling in a vertical direction  and the crosswise grain of the main piece of fabric is travelling in a horizontal direction. It's okay though because I took care when piecing and cutting, strips are straight and even, the whole backing is laying flat and I'm sure it will work well.

So next time you are thinking what to 'put on the back', try using up the scraps.... it's fun and it works!

The finished quilt.