Quilting questions?

I am keen to start trying to do some, and have just brought another sewing machine, as my 20 year old Bernina was going to cost $257 for a walking foot and about $95 for a foot with the 1/4 inch on it, so brought a Janome 5027 LE manual machine for $599 which came with the two above feet, and also think that I will have a go at night classes that start on 20th October, so will have to see how I go. I did recover my kitchen chairs last week using the Bernina, as we had a quote to do them, and it was over $425 for the two, and the stool with a material top was going to cost $85, we went to spotlight and brought material for $90, included thread, and the sponge from another place which was $30 for the lot, and one day of pulling to bits, unpicking, and cutting marking the stitch lines, and sewing, we now have 50 year old chairs looking like brand new again. I had thought about using my mothers top of the range (over 60 years ago) singer machine, in its sewing table, and we got it up from the small shed it had been stored in, cleaned it up, plugged it into the power and the fuse blew, plus it was a bit seized, so loaded it in to the car and took it to the recycle place at the dump, with all its feet, and bits and pieces, and explained about it and that it may suit someone for parts. The thing is that I felt that the feet would not fit another type of sewing machine, as they make sure that they are not interchangable.

I gave my quiltes to someone else to quilt for me... is that cheating?

No I dont think so, its just that I would like to have a go, as that is one thing that I have not done, and as I knitted 4 adults jackets during the winter, dont want to do any more knitting for a while, (mind you hubby is muttering about a jacket for him as well) and I dont really like sitting watching TV every night.

Hi RaeM....does your local library have any quilting books? Our local library in Balclutha is chocka with them as there are some very keen, avid and beautiful quilters in our area. Do you have a local quilters or creative textile group in your area. I believe that is one way how most of these women have learned. Myself...I haven't tried quilting but as a child my grandmother hand quilted ours and use to arrange quilting bees. A group of ladies would get together around this huge quilting frame. They would chat and do the most exquisite stitching. I still have the quilt my grandmother made for me before I was born. Embroidered nursery ryhme charachters with this beautiful quilt stitching. That reminds me...must pull it out and see how it is doing. Good luck with your new endeavours.
Cheers!
Di from Kai

Well I started quilting about 2 years ago so I am no expert, but might be able to answer some of your questions, except you didn't actually seem to ask any.

Maybe I just missed them.

Anyway it is not difficult, but can be time consuming. There are also lots of things you can do, and sometimes more than one way to do it.

We live close to the Apple Basket, and they do kits to get you started. You can get a block of the month quilt that they will send you the pattern and all the fabrics for the block each month, at the end of the year you have all the blocks, borders and bindings, and all you need to get is the backing and filling. I found these a good thing if you don't have a lot of resources to get you started.

There is bound to be somewhere around you that will do a class if you need one, try some of the machine stores as they often do different classes.

I like the idea of making practical things while learning a new skill/hobby.

Oh you lucky thing, RaeM - you're in Hamilton, so you'll have access to Grandmother's Garden in Gordonton, I expect. I get most of my quilting gear from them via mailorder. They're great.

Good on you for giving this wonderful hobby a try. I put it off in favour of cross-stitch and hardanger for ages, but when I did start about 16 years ago, I was hooked from the word go, and now have a huge fabric stash that will take me 2 lifetimes to work through.

I'm sure you'll have a group somewhere close that you can join up with and bounce ideas off other people. I think the absolutely critical thing with quilting is to make sure you cut and piece absolutely accurately. Good quilting rulers, a sharp rotary cutter and decent sized cutting mat and you'll be off to a great start.

Would love to hear how things progress for you. I'm sure once you and your loved ones snuggle under a home made quilt, you'll want to make more and more. If you would like some older quilt magazines, I have some double-ups that I would be happy to send you to start your collection off (you can never have too much fabric or too many quilting books/mags, LOL). PM me if you'd like them.
Cheers, Mich.

Oh, and one more thing RaeM - have you joined Kiwiquilters, the online Yahoo group for NZ quilters? There are gazillions of online quilt groups, but this one and Southern Cross Quilters (for Australian and NZ quilters) are two good ones to start with.

Lots of swaps, pics of other quilters work, friendly chat, advice, and a place to ask quilting questions etc etc.

Cheers, Mich.

Will PM your Mich, no have not joined any groups yet, my problem is that because we actually do farmstays, cannot commit myself to anything much, but I have enrolled for 8 weeks night classes at Melville highschool starting on 20th October, and as its a tuesday night should be fairly safe from too many guests, as most folks seem to come sat or wed nights. As for joining the local library, becsue we are 1 1/2 klm out of the city boundry would have to go to Te awamutu 30 minuites away as we are in Waipa, and to go to hamilton it will cost me $120 a year, and I can buy a lot of books for that money. I do have a cutting mat, a cutter and a fabric ruler thingii that I got from the craft show the other week in HN. Thanks for the encouragement. The replies that I have got so far have really helped, and you never know! there may be some more obvious questions later on.

I've just recently started.. I completely hated the piecing part of the process - I went to a course and ended up making 25 different squares with several different techniques which then needed to be framed and then joined together with sashing and THEN a final border.. but now I'm hand quilting it and completely loving it... am on my second to last square and just need a pattern to stitch the wide border.. does anyone have links to any decent websites providing this kind of stuff??? I can only find the ones that give you instructions to do the piecing.. maybe most people don't quilt their tops themselves -????

I would certainly recommend not starting on a huge queen size quilt, not doing too many different designs and not leaving it too long to get it finished so you don't get sick of it... (all my mistakes... ) but I love the quilting bit so you have that to look forward to .. and I'm ALMOST thinking I might enjoy doing another one... almost.. not quite there.. just nearly... !!!

Hi NancyF - am totally impressed that you're handquilting your quilt - well done. I enjoy it but don't have the patience. I much prefer piecing and sending my big quilts out to be professionally quilted (I'm happy to do miniature and small quilts on my machine), but I'm in awe of those that do it by hand.

Re quilting designs, the world is your oyster - you could try searching online for computer graphics and enlarging them, kids quilts can be enhanced by using pictures in colouring in books etc. Why not trying drawing something yourself and make your quilt a complete original?

If you're after something traditional, PM me with the sort of design you've got in mind and I'll see what I can find in my library.
Cheers, Mich.

Hi RaeM - I put your magazines on the courier yesterday. Book yourself some "me time" and enjoy.
Cheers, Mich.

Mich you will be pleased to know I've just quilted Milly's b.day quilt! I stipple (free motion) the outer borders and echo (free motion again) some hearts first time using free motion its not all that great but not bad for a first time try.

If your not busy on Saturday come over for Millys 1st Birthday its open house from 12pm I'm even making matching bunting!

Jen - you star!!! Another heirloom, then????

I would love to have been able to zip over the hill on Saturday and meet Milly, but darn it, I'm committed. I still have Fridays off, so maybe I could tee something up with you over the next few weeks. Would love to catch up - been absolutely yonks All I seem to have done for forever is trundle between home, work, the supermarket, home, work, the supermarket, home......

Cheers babe.
Mich.

Books all arrived in todays mail, plus the exciting material, many thanks Mich. I will let you all know how I get on after my first night class on the 20th Oct.

Just up the road from you RaeM - www.donnasquiltstudio.co.nz/