Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Rag quilt problem >
  • Rag quilt problem

  • Rag quilt problem

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 04-30-2009, 02:03 AM
      #1  
    Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Apr 2009
    Posts: 8
    Default

    I use strips of flannel to making rag quilts. My problem is that when i sew the strips together they shift so much that it's impossible to really have a quilt left over. I was wondering if there is a possibility of sewing or cutting the fabric so that it doesn't shift so much.
    Hycino is offline  
    Old 04-30-2009, 04:36 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Maride's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2008
    Location: New York, NY
    Posts: 2,735
    Default

    I am not sure I understand what you mean, but this is a thought: I would use a walking foot, specialy if you have batting between the layers. Pins are not enough to hold it in place. What I also do is a big X in the middle of each block before I put the strips together. That also done with a walking foot. You can do any other quilt design. I find that just a big X gets done faster and if the flannel is printed, nothing else you do will show, so an X is easier.

    That being said, even with the best walking foot you will have a little shifting. How big are your squares? With large square (7 - 9 inches) even if there is a little shifting it is not noticeable at the end. You will have the seam allowance exposed and cut to fray and those ends will curl when they fray. No one will notice that they shifted. To tell you the truth, not even you. The fraying and curling will also hide if the corners don't match.

    About 3 years agoI had a group of co-workers at my house, all medical technologists, none ever sewed in their life, but the lab manager's son had cancer and we wanted to make him a quick quilt to take to his bone marrow transplant. It ws amazing to see all these girls cutting (one cutting fabric, one cutting batting), sandwiching the layers, sewing the X and asembling the strips. Very few corners matched, but I kept saying that the quilt is very forgiving. At the end, while DH cooked dinner we sat around the table and clipped the edges. While we had dinner the quilt was washed and dried and by the end of the day we had the most amazing quilt for the boy, now a junior in college, doing great. As a result of this day I now have two quilting buddies. They went the next day and got their own sewing machines, joined the guild and take classes all the time. It is the greatest quilt to make.

    Maria
    Maride is offline  
    Old 04-30-2009, 06:46 AM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    I too have no idea what you are saying. Usually rag quilts are made from fabric squares, sewn one at a time to each other. Could you post a picture of the problem? Are you sewing using a seam allowance of at least 1 1/2 inch?
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Old 04-30-2009, 06:50 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    I found a beautiful rag quilt posted in pictures. Is this the type you are making? http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/19549.page
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Old 04-30-2009, 07:30 AM
      #5  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2008
    Location: Western Wisconsin
    Posts: 12,930
    Default

    I like to starch flannel heavily before piecing it. My method is to mix Sta-Flo liquid starch 1:1 with water, then use a large wall painting brush to saturate the fabric with starch. I throw the fabric in the dryer, then iron with steam. Flannel comes out quite stiff this way and no longer stretches. Makes for accurate piecing.

    If you are making a rag quilt, a 1:2 mixture of Sta-Flo and water would probably be enough.

    Also, when sewing flannel, I always use a 1/2-inch seam instead of 1/4-inch.
    Prism99 is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    fxtrtr
    Main
    13
    10-25-2015 09:55 AM
    seaside quilter
    Main
    9
    09-30-2014 02:53 AM
    Latrinka
    Pictures
    23
    09-28-2014 05:26 PM
    sunnyhope
    Main
    18
    09-14-2009 07:48 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter