quilting with fashion fabric?
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pratt Kansas
Posts: 1,222
Over the years, I have made several quilts with non-cottons/garment scraps. Sometimes it surprises you which ones wear better and which shred to pieces after 20-30 years.
Suggest you don't go for a "precision" block, i.e., stick to squares & rectangles rather than triangles. Poly blends do not press a crease really well.
I did one quilt using two different widths of blocks, maybe 6" & 8", each width had 3 sizes of rectangles plus it's own square. Garment makings from the early, mid 80s, so it was autumn, golds/oranges/rusts/greens/blues.
6"x 2", 4", 6", 8" and the same thing on the 8" width.
I did alternating columns the length of the quilt, laying out the blocks on a work space, so they never shared a seam. Used a very thick batting, tied along the columns seams. Did a japanese style wrap around backing to front to form an 8" mitered binding. I just googled that style of border, and don't find anything. My mom had a book...
Suggest you don't go for a "precision" block, i.e., stick to squares & rectangles rather than triangles. Poly blends do not press a crease really well.
I did one quilt using two different widths of blocks, maybe 6" & 8", each width had 3 sizes of rectangles plus it's own square. Garment makings from the early, mid 80s, so it was autumn, golds/oranges/rusts/greens/blues.
6"x 2", 4", 6", 8" and the same thing on the 8" width.
I did alternating columns the length of the quilt, laying out the blocks on a work space, so they never shared a seam. Used a very thick batting, tied along the columns seams. Did a japanese style wrap around backing to front to form an 8" mitered binding. I just googled that style of border, and don't find anything. My mom had a book...
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
Yep! You just might need a different needle for your machine & as others have suggested, some fabrics need to be reinforced. I stand by my belief that a quilt made all with the same fabric will wear more evenly, but not all quilts are destined to be heirlooms. I'm sure your quilt will be quite lovely. Can't wait to see a picture! Some of my most favorite quilts are using non-traditional fabrics & materials in their constructions.
#14
When I met my husband, 37 years ago, he had a quilt that his grandmother made him
Remember those double knits from that time? We still have that thing and the front is in perfect condition. The back needs to be replaced because it looks like she used a sheet.
Remember those double knits from that time? We still have that thing and the front is in perfect condition. The back needs to be replaced because it looks like she used a sheet.
#15
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
The best lasting, still looked brand new, baby quilt my kids had was a polyester double knit, done as a crazy quilt, that was quilted/joined using decorative stitches to join the "raw" edges. It was done in pinks and quilted with yellow. That silly thing is still being used in our family. My first baby was born 39 1/2 years ago and the little quilt is still fresh as new. It was two layers of double knit with no batting.
Last edited by madamekelly; 11-12-2015 at 09:27 AM.
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,487
You can also make scrappy look pillows for your beds and/or sofas. I took scraps, cut into strips sewed together and made the yoke for a jacket from it. Took leftovers of that for the lapel of the pocket and cuffs on the sleeves. Others have suggested making a victorian type crazy quilt which looks dynamite with all sort of added laces, buttons,etc. Pretty much these days you can do whatever you want with whatever fabrics you want it seems. The crazier the better as it turns out as a "one of a kind".
#19
I appreciate the insight and responses! I don't have one for fashion fabrics in the plans right now, but it gives me a way to use those bits and pieces left over that are too small for other projects, but I can't bear to toss any out that could be used "somehow". Pet beds for the local shelter are an awesome idea. (I also have plans to make fabric "nests" for local wildlife rescue organizations this winter. They always have an influx of orphan baby animals in the spring and it would be a great way to use leftover quilting materials)
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
think about some of the crazy quilts with their bits of velvet and lace and whatever was around. I think the only thing you would need to be worried about would be if certain pieces would shrink (prewash everything), if certain pieces would bleed (again, check by prewashing), if it stretches (stabilize it) and will it be difficult to quilt through (test it). Other than that - go for it! Quilting is supposed to be fun and there are no quilt police!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Snooze2978
Main
13
02-21-2015 05:29 PM