All the fiber arts belongs to us

[volcaniclastic]

Re: Sewing

[quote author=Deseret link=topic=177.msg4260#msg4260 date=1287414726]
Cute!

How hard is it to learn how to quilt? There are a lot of ladies out here who still do, and I'm starting to be interested in it from a frugality perspective.
[/quote]

I've been busy, and missed this - I can quilt too, though I haven't in ages. Get a quilting foot. They make things a billion times easier.

[thalassa]

Re: Sewing

[quote author=Maythe link=topic=177.msg4660#msg4660 date=1287469168]
Lovely stuff Thalassa. So what exactly defines a quilt?

I thought it was patchwork with squishy stuff in the middle all sewn together. but then I'm probably not a purist :P
[/quote]

thanks!!

*technically* quilting makes the quilt. As in, the stitching that binds the backing, batting and front piece.

So, quilting snobs wouldn't consider a tie quilt to really be quilted...because there is no continuous stitching. Some quilters wouldn't consider using fusible interfacing to be quilting. Heck, some hand quilters look down on machine quilters. (I have a friend that quilts seriously, and she has stories)

Why are there always 'purists' in any group? I get wanting to do something 'to the max' as it were, fully authentically, but to then want to define everyone outside of the group who isn't as hardcore as you? Maybe it's a basic human instinct...

lol, I agree...I see it a lot in Civil War reenacting. Particularly in the realm of hand stitching vs machine. The argument is generally that sewing machines were not widely used, and if they were it was more likely in a professional setting or by a wealthy individual.

IMO, BS. I own a mint condition 1847 Elias Howe treadle sewing machine that has been passed on thru my average middle class farmer family since its purchase by my great-great-great-great-aunt (plus or minus a great) who saved for over a year so that she could "spend less time pricking herself with a needle" (lol). When they moved from Tennessee to Illinois, it was such a *big deal* that the machine got packed in the extra blankets and everyone else was cold at night!! This thing has had such good care taken of it, that it still has the original directions, the original spare parts and is still operational...and one of these days I will figure out learn how to drive the darn thing (its like going from an automatic to a stick shift)!

But seriously, most people lack the sewing skill to emulate the skill of these women (and men)...the idea of a hand sewn outfit might be historically accurate, but the skill level of most people today is not. Children learned how to sew at my childrens age (ZOMG! Giving Collin a needle!!! Bad idea.). Their skill was better than mine by the age of 5 or 6. If you look at quilts from the 1800s, particularly those made for fundraising during the war (usually done by some of the best quilters in an area), often the stitches are SO good, they are closer together, smaller, and more evenly spaced than even a machine of today can do.

[Storm]

Re: Sewing

VERY nice, corvus! What kind of machine did the hubby order for you?

[corvus_corvidae]

Re: Sewing

*blushes* Thanks

[DanieMarie]

Re: Sewing

[quote author=corvus_corvidae link=topic=177.msg4736#msg4736 date=1287491106]
I knew it! If I set out to meet other pagans online I'd find other crafty people too! This is great! Where has this place been?!(j/k) Haha Sorry, I'm just excited.

Now, I think I shall trawl thru here and look at everyones awesome sewing. The husband just ordered me a new sewing machine, so hopefully I'll have some nice clothing up for everyone to see in the near future. Right now it's hats, hair clips, shoes clips, recovered bags, etc. If anyone here is interested I can make things custom for sale or trade. Thinking of making ceremonial feather fans for the witchily inclined. Oh dear Lady I have said a lot.
Here is my link btw: http://www.etsy.com/shop/themadhaberdashery

*goes off to peek at everyones stuff*
[/quote]

I LOVE your stuff! One day when I have money I'll be buying one of your fascinators!

[corvus_corvidae]

Re: Sewing

I knew it! If I set out to meet other pagans online I'd find other crafty people too! This is great! Where has this place been?!(j/k) Haha Sorry, I'm just excited.

Now, I think I shall trawl thru here and look at everyones awesome sewing. The husband just ordered me a new sewing machine, so hopefully I'll have some nice clothing up for everyone to see in the near future. Right now it's hats, hair clips, shoes clips, recovered bags, etc. If anyone here is interested I can make things custom for sale or trade. Thinking of making ceremonial feather fans for the witchily inclined. Oh dear Lady I have said a lot.
Here is my link btw: http://www.etsy.com/shop/themadhaberdashery

*goes off to peek at everyones stuff*

[Storm]

Re: Sewing

According to Wikipedia: A quilt is a type of bedding composed of several layers generally combined using the technique of quilting.
And quilting is: a sewing method done to join two or more layers of material together to make a thicker padded material.

Therefore, regardless of whether we have had any instruction or formal training, we are quilters, Thalassa!

[Maythe]

Re: Sewing

Lovely stuff Thalassa. So what exactly defines a quilt?

I thought it was patchwork with squishy stuff in the middle all sewn together. but then I'm probably not a purist :P

Why are there always 'purists' in any group? I get wanting to do something 'to the max' as it were, fully authentically, but to then want to define everyone outside of the group who isn't as hardcore as you? Maybe it's a basic human instinct...

[Dez]

Re: Sewing

Wow, nice. Ok, I really do need to get some basics figured out. The rectangular patterns, in particular, seem much more doable then some of the fancy stuff older ladies around here do. I've been feeling rather overwhelmed at the prospect of starting.

[Storm]

Re: Sewing

I couldn't begin to tell you why I started with triangles instead of squares. I have a tendancy to do things the hard way. Obviously I didn't know what I was doing because I forgot to put a border around the outside.


Thalassa, those are so nice! They look all snuggly!

[DanieMarie]

Re: Sewing

I do small crazy quilt projects, like stockings and stuff. I should actually get going on making those this year, because I was going to make those and fill them with handmade chocolate truffles and things this year for gifts.

[thalassa]

Re: Sewing

some of my quilt stuff thus far

[Maythe]

Re: Sewing

Nice quilt storm I'm impressed your first try has triangles in it. I've done a little one but it's all rectangles - dead easy!

[thalassa]

Re: Sewing

[quote author=Storm link=topic=177.msg4347#msg4347 date=1287426564]
Well, technically I never really learned. I figured it was just sewing a bunch of blocks together and it couldn't be too hard. I just googled to find out what tools I'd need and started cutting. I used an old blanket as batting between the quilt blocks and the backing fabric. I cut the backing fabric to be 4 inches larger on each side so I could just fold it over to finish the edges. I use scraps of fabric from other sewing projects as well as fabric from old clothes. I also buy a lot of cheap remnants to use.

What you need to start is a self-healing mat, a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler. I now have a variety of different sizes of square and triangular templates, but they aren't necessary and they're pricey for being nothing more than hard plastic shapes. They just make the cutting of blocks a bit more precise.
[/quote]

This!!

I actually do almost all scrap quilts...from old clothes, the remnant bin at the craft store, corners of stuff I've sewn, etc.

I'm gonna grab some of my ongoing/completed projects and I'll take pics for you to see.

[Storm]

Re: Sewing

[quote author=Deseret link=topic=177.msg4260#msg4260 date=1287414726]
How hard is it to learn how to quilt? There are a lot of ladies out here who still do, and I'm starting to be interested in it from a frugality perspective. [/quote]
Well, technically I never really learned. I figured it was just sewing a bunch of blocks together and it couldn't be too hard. I just googled to find out what tools I'd need and started cutting. I used an old blanket as batting between the quilt blocks and the backing fabric. I cut the backing fabric to be 4 inches larger on each side so I could just fold it over to finish the edges. I use scraps of fabric from other sewing projects as well as fabric from old clothes. I also buy a lot of cheap remnants to use.

What you need to start is a self-healing mat, a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler. I now have a variety of different sizes of square and triangular templates, but they aren't necessary and they're pricey for being nothing more than hard plastic shapes. They just make the cutting of blocks a bit more precise.