newnana

Thank you ! By the way I love the pattern on the quilt as your avatar!
Im going to buy a sewing machine this afternoon , I had one yrs ago
but Im going to just get a new one, If I understand correctly the only thing
I need to make sure it has is auto drop bobbin and a free arm for quilting, is that it? Any advice on this , Im sure would save me a few headaches
if I get some suggestions before late this afternoon :-) Thank YOU !

mary quite contrary

Buying a sewing machine is such an individual thing.

Try out whatever you are buying. Go in and sit down at the machine.

Service. Do you have someone who will stand behind the machine when something happens?

How much money do you have to spend? I love my Bernina but I sure didn't start with one. I sewed a lot of miles on my old Sears machine.

If you plan to do your own machine quilting you need to be able to drop the feed dogs. I doubt you can buy a new machine now that doesn't do that though.

Have fun!!!

Thanks for your kind comments about my avatar.

Bevanger

welcome from washington :D

newnana

Thank you Beverly for the nice welcome to the message board!! :-)

Janstar

Welcome from Washington state. Sounds like you are getting great advice already. Keep asking.

Izy

Hello from Sunny Spain, I have enjoyed reading thru and sharing your adventure to quilting land :D If you can post pictures so we can all see the baby clothes turning into a beautiful keepsake :D

newnana

Ok , You asked for it ! lol :) This are my squares made of my sons little
baby clothes , that I have into 5" they are just pinned as of now.....
I am hoping to find a material for the border and back using all colors in an infant appropriate design using some girlish hues mixed in ( Its a Girl!)
Ovviously I dressed my son in alot of blues and greens..

newnana

[b]


Just wanted to make a comment , I checked with the local Joann's
in my town ( looking for a machine) and noticed they gave quilting
classes, so naturally I was interested as I am entering this challenge
with my heart not head :) Quilting is the only class that they can
find NO ONE to be the instructor! You wonderful quilters ( who I definitely
want to become ONE OF) are a rare sought after group of individuals!
Thank Goodness I found this website to help me ! Thank You All!
Pamela ( NewNana)

newnana

Hi again Ladies ( & gentlemen?) I purchased my machine ! I decided on a new Singer Simple. It is easy to use but also has 14 different stitches , auto threader and bobbin. I like it :)
I have sewn my 40 squares together , 5x8 in rows. It looks quite good
actually. and so soft. I am now ready to purchase fabric for a border and
then also for the back of the quilt ( & of course batting)
How much fabric do I need to get for each of these steps?
NewNana

k3n

Hello Pamela!

Your quilt is looking beautiful, what a nice idea to use your son's baby clothes;

If you've done 5 x 8 squares and they've come up 41/2inches finished then your top should measure 22 1/2 inches by 36 inches - I would measure it to be sure though. So basically you need 4 border strips of whatever width you decide (plus 1/2 inch seam allowance). On border width, i like to chose a size that somehow relates to the block size, I think it always looks better that way but that's just personal preference, so for your block of 4 1/2", you could do the border the same width, or half the width or 1 & 1/2 the width, depending on what size you want to end up with. THEN you have to decide if you want a lapped border, mitred or corner blocks. I'd go for lapped on a first try, it's the easiest! You need two lengths the width you want (don't forget seam allowance!) times the length of your quilt. Sew these on each side. Then two more pieces the width of your quilt PLUS the borders you just added. If your quilt is 36" long, you can certainly cut the borders across the width of the fabric (it's usually 44" wide), if you go for 4 1/2" wide borders, then your quilt should measure 31 1/2" wide (plus those seam allowances!) So you can still cut across the width. Therefore you need to buy 20" of fabric (I'd just get a yard - leftovers are never a problem once you get the bug! :wink:

I hope I've been helpful, I'm not very good at explaining :oops: I'm sure someone else here will do a far better job!

K x

PS You also need to think about binding it when its batted, backed and quilted and if you want to use the same fabric as the border for this, you'll need the circumference of your finished quilt plus a bit extra for joining seams x 2 1/2" if you want to double bind, which I would strongly recommend - it's easier to apply and harder wearing! If you don't know the method - just ask when you're ready to go! :D