| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 4:26:00 PM
I went to a quilt shop today that I have not been in in years. It had actually been destroyed by the tornadoes that came through back in April. They just rebuilt and opened back up last week. I went to see of they give knitting lessons and they do. And I am signed up for next week!!!! But, while I am there this girl is there and she is leaving but says she is all pinned up and ready to finish her little quilt. She showed it to me and I was just amazed. She had it all pinned together with the back and middle and all she had to do was sew it up and then it's all quilted. Just like that. I was just amazed. So she showed me all the new-fangled fabric squares and jelly rolls and pound cakes and all kinds of the coolest things I have ever seen. I mean squares and rectangles already cut up for you. What happened to cutting your own squares and all that time consuming fun? When did this happen? I have made plenty of quilts in my time, but apparently have been in a time warp lately. That is just too darn easy. But I am going to have to get some now. The jelly roll thing was only $35.00. Does anyone else make quilts this way? or do you still do it the old fashioed way like me?
But I am SO excited to finally be going to learn how to knit again. I learned some several years ago but have totally forgotten. Can crochet up a storm but have been wanting to knit really bad.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 22 2011 : 08:20:35 AM
I suppose it is a good thing, these pre cut squares and such. Like Tina said, people with arthritis or other debilitating desease would be better able to keep making quilts. I may one day have to go that route too. So I guess it's a good thing. And also for people with so little time. And people like Marly!
I think when my friend's kids get back in school, we will start working on those quilts. Lots of cutting for sure.
I am so excited about this knitting class tomorrow! I have just one size 8 needle. So I guess I'll have to buy another set. Wish me luck.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 22 2011 : 06:55:08 AM
Kris,
I think it is awesome that you want to make the small quilts for your friend's kids and husband.
What a wonderful thing to do! And oh the memories you will have of doing that.
:)
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
|
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Aug 22 2011 : 06:54:56 AM
Moda Bake Shop has a wonderful website for instructions on how to use all of those pre-cut fabrics..PLUS free quilt patterns. If you go to their "bakery" page, it describes all of the different cuts and what you would do with them.
Here is their website.
http://www.modabakeshop.com/
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Aug 21 2011 : 9:08:42 PM
Kris:
Maybe I CAN make a quilt this way with my ten thumbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Making a quilt is something I've always wanted to do. However, I cannot sew a straight line. There is hope for me. I will check around my area to see if there is pre-cut squares and such. What a great idea. Of course, that will not help me sewing them together. LOL
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Aug 19 2011 : 12:57:17 PM
I fell in love with all these, make it easier on my hands gadgets, (I have R.A.), and yes made many the old fashioned way, measureing and hand cutting with scissors. When my hands were getting to the point that it hurt way too mauch to hand cut, I thought I would have to give up quilts and several other crafts I love, so coming out with new fangled inventions, is sometimes a really good thing...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Aug 18 2011 : 1:56:51 PM
I saw all the quilting stuff at Walmart today. Can't say I like all the precut squares or the Make-It-In-A-Weekend quilt kit, but I think it's a great idea and if it keeps the quilting craft alive then I think it's a good thing.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 18 2011 : 07:15:52 AM
I would love to see a picture of your quilt when it's done, LaceMistress. It sounds really pretty. I need to start making some for my grandkids soon. And some rag rugs.
Loralie, I bet that quilt will be with that girl forever. That's good you did that.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 9:25:59 PM
LaceMistress, I don't know where you live in NY, but my Inlaws live in Queens, only 4 blocks from LI-right on the other side of Elmont. Any way, I've been lookin on Craig's list in the area, and LI is full of very good priced old Kenmore (sears I believe) machines, I've heard a lot of good about them. You may want to check Craig's List out!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| lwm |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 9:03:40 PM
Quite a few years ago I made a lap-sized quilt (about 50 x 60 inches) for a young woman whose husband had died. She wanted it for her preschool-aged daughter to have something of her father when she got older. I made it from some of his shirts. 4-patch pattern. |
| LaceMistress |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 11:23:16 AM
I have a couple of quilts in progress, but what I did was I got brown and green single fabric quarters and then got bolts of brown and green fabric on sale (five dollars for five yards.....can't beat that even though it was at Walmart of all places!) and am in the process of sewing them up. I have to do it by hand since the sewing machine we have likes to tangle every ten minutes, and I started them when I was living on campus, but otherwise they're coming along very nicely. I have a light green flower print I am using for the green quarters to frame them, and the backing will be a green calico with white and red flowers. For the brown, I still need to get brown fabric by the yard as the other brown material I had went for shawls. :) I haven't been working on them much this summer because it's been so blasted hot to have things draped on my legs (cats are bad enough!), but they're nice fall and winter projects.
Too much thread, so little time! |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Aug 17 2011 : 07:13:42 AM
In my beginner class, Kris, we learned the basic stitches and I started on a scarf. Then I made another one for my husband--he wanted one of those really long mufflers, the type that school boys at Eaton in England wear? Anyway, you can wrap it around about a hundred times and he chose the tinies wool...ever. It took me almost 2 months to make this scarf, knitting through lunch and evenings (obviously before Violet) and I've never made another scarf! I love to knit hats and other lace weight things--I've made scarves in lace weight and it's really satisfying. Good luck and enjoy it!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 9:24:49 PM
Penny, I'll have to drive about 35 miles to egt to my class. We used to live over there a few miles from the store. But now everywhere is far from here. I hope you can find someone to teach you. It does look like fun. I also taught myself how to quilt. I love making them. I need a new quilt frame though. Mine is quite old.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Acelady02 |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 9:13:04 PM
Hello,
I just found this thread and love reading all the post. I would love to be able to take a quilting and knitting class but we live so far away from a city that has classes it isn't possible. I do know the basics of quilting, kind of taught myself. Not the best at it but it gets done. lol. My Mom taught me to crochet but I can only do simple things, but really would love to learn to knit. It looks so relaxing and I love how knit scarfs look.
(((((Hugs All)))))Penny
Farmgirl Sister #3343
God gives Miracles to those who Believe, Courage to those with Faith, Hope to those who Dream, Love to those who Accept, & Forgiveness to those who Ask... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 8:20:45 PM
I also have a rotary cutter and the mat. That is a time saver. And fun too. I just got them a few years ago. My best friend died in May and her youngest daughter wants to make some small quilts with her clothes. Has anyone ever done this? We thought just maybe some afgan size quilts to make for each of her kids and then for some of her really good friends. And of course her husband too. It's really going to be hard to do it and it's taking some time for her to even get the clothes together. But I think once we get started it will help us both to remember her and think of all the good times we had together. I am looking forward to making them. So these will definetely have a story and be pieced together using what we have.
Tammy, I would love to see the quilt you're making. I bet it's going to be beautiful.
Marcy, it's about time to start pulling out those shawls! I love mine. It's so warm.
I really don't know what I will be knitting first. This is a basic beginner class. I still have my beautiful soft yarn I had gotten from Diana in Oregon from her alpacas. I have been saving it for something special and it just wants to be knitted. I can hardly wait.
kris
Happiness is simple. |
| lwm |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 8:01:13 PM
I prefer to pick my own fabrics-I'm trying to use up some of my stash before I buy more (hahahahaha....). I also hand quilt. I must say, though, that rotary cutters are wonderful! I used to trace cardboard patterns onto fabric with a pencil & then cut each individually, so I am tickled pink to be able to zip, zip cut layers into pieces. |
| tammyknit |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 7:01:33 PM
I love to quilt and have never used a precut pack of fabrics. I am actually hand piecing a grandmother's flower garden quilt (all little hexagons hand sewn together) that I am cutting out myself....I love picking out fabrics, i think it is my favorite part of quilting!
Tammy |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 2:26:37 PM
I'm helping my friend learn how to sew. I was telling her about when I was a little girl we never paid full price for fabric, but would instead always find something on the remnant table at the 5 and Dime Store which were marked down smaller cuts of fabric that were the end of the bolts, or discontinued fabrics. Nowadays remnants are cut up into fat quarters and sold at a premium price. My how things have changed!!
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
A Beehive is the ultimate Home Sweet Home
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 11:11:31 AM
I love to knit, Kris--one of my favorite past times, when I have 2 seconds to put together, which is unlikely right now. But, I love to create things to give to other people, and love knitting and working with fibers. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| Marcy |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 10:49:11 AM
Kris,
Best of luck with learning how to knit. I wish you lived closer, I would love to teach you. It's easy once you get the basic stitches. I'm working on some comfort shawls (like the one that I sent you) I just sent one out to a farmgirl and I am getting another one done to send out to another farmgirl. I so wish that I could knit in my sleep, lol! As far as the quilting, I would much rather cut the material myself as well as piecing and quilting the quilt myself- by hand. I have made quilts on the machine before, but there is just something about a completely hand sewn quilt that so gets to me. I always feel a connection to the many women out there over the years who, with just some scraps of material, some thread and a needle, are able to create something beautiful that will be passed down through the ages. Keep us updated on how the knitting is going! Can't wait to see what you knit first.
hugs
Marcy
Farmgirl #170
Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give...Eleanor Roosevelt
http://marcysworldofcreativity.blogspot.com/
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| Lieberkim |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 09:38:45 AM
I'm not a quilter but have quilters in the family. I'd say each to their own. If this way is something that you enjoy go for it. I personally like the whole idea of choosing your fabrics and then making the entire thing. Kind of the whole heirloom idea. And if you have the joy of working with other ladies the cutting, sewing, quilting and yakking is the funnest part!
Excuse the mess & the noise, my children are making happy memories |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 07:23:33 AM
I have only used the pre-cut stuff once. I was in a hurry to get a quilt made for friends who were moving away and I didn't have a lot of time. To me it seems to take the creativity of me away though. I would rather give my family the ones made out of my own color choosing just for them then to have someone else decide the fabric choices. Call me old fashioned but that's just me.
farmgirl sister#43
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
|
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Aug 16 2011 : 05:20:35 AM
I'm still kinda old-fashioned . . . and I still like the idea of using my own creative mind to mix and match and use my hands to cut, piece and craft the quilts or other sewn items. I can see where all the pre=cut/prepared things would be fun, but . . .
I'm that way with my papercrafts as well . . .
And I see the advantage of a bread machine, but I still derive a lot of pleasure out of kneading my bread with my own hands . . .
Yup, old-fashioned!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 10:35:50 PM
With jelly rolls you still get to pick our a color scheme, and you still do the "quilting" as it's just cut up squares (fabric is only cut not quilted) what pattern you use them in will dictate what it will look like so no it would be very unlikely two people would choose the exact color scheme and exact same pattern, exact same backing, exact same quilting (stitching) they do on it.
I don't "quilt" but have a friend that does, she said she avoided such for a long time, but recently gave in and bought some jelly rolls, she said she liked it cause really there was some fabrics in there on the bolt she probably wouldn't of bought but liked it put with the other fabrics they matched up for them, and she said really she hadn't gotten to quilt in about 5 years or more due to time limits, and all the work of getting out all the tools and making the mess (all the trimming/loose threads, etc etc) of cutting out the squares. And of course going to the store and picking out every single fabric. She's also chronically ill with emphazema (sp) she never smoked but worked in a office with poor ventilation that did hair perms and what not. Cutting out really takes a lot of effort and energy for her with her health. So this has helped her get back to the fun parts of it. Sounded reasonable to me.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Merry |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 9:26:53 PM
Moda manufacturers the a5 inch charm squares, 10 inch layer cakes, and half square turnovers and 2 1/2 inch jelly rolls, and they are each a fabric from a collection from a designer, i.e. Black Bird Designs, Fig Tree Quilts etc. You get at least 40-45 per collection, with only a few duplicates in case the fabric collection had less than 40 fabric designs. If you buy some yardage or fat quarters from that particular collection, you can create a cohesive quilt. Its just a different way to select fabrics for quilting, some of the collections coming out from these designers are stunning, and I would not be able to afford put even a quarter of the fabrics I liked into a quilt, with charms squares and layer cakes, I can enjoy the fabrics I love in one quilt. Quilting is progressing, one reason why we still have quilt shops.
Merry
Farmgirl #536
http://afarminmyheart.blogspot.com/
Your life is an occasion, rise to it. Mr. Magorium |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 15 2011 : 6:42:29 PM
I know. And won't they just all look alike too? I want my own fabric and colors and want to cut it all out and sew it all together. AND I actually hand quilt the top too. That's what it's all about to me anyway. They are pretty but really.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
