OK. I'm looking at the photo of the brown, beige and green strip/basket weave quilt. How many different fabrics are you using? If it's groups of 5 at 2.5" strips, you could also reduce the strips to 4 and use 8.5" strips. This would give you 8" squares instead of 10". I think you could continue following the directions from there. Yes this would create more cutting and left over fabric pieces, They could always be turned into a boarder.
Hi Margaret! Yes, it's the same pattern, and yes, it does call for 5 strips etc... So...thanks that's what I'll do, change things as you suggested. By the way, what do you think of the pattern for a bed quilt? I already figure you must think I'm nuts for tackling the project as a novice, but it's supposed to be for the "novice", believe it or not! It's going on my husband's bed (I sleep in a hospital-type bed 'cause of my back). His room is very dark, brown velour curtains, brown dressers, so I hoped this quilt as a bedspread would lighten the room up for him. For the border and backing, I'm planning on using a dark cream color as I don't want it to be the only light color in there. The next project will be cream colored throw pillows with a similar design from the quilt in the center of each. What do you think?
chicagosinger
I think it sounds awesome. Everybody has to start with a first quilt. This one doesn't look too difficult really. I have confidence that you'll suprise youreself at what you can do. Remember when sewing your strips together to sew each one in an opposite direction. I'm not sure what the magic of this is, but it will help to keep them straight and not "bending" in one direction. I'll be offline until Monday, but I'm sure if you have any other questions you've got plenty of support here. Remember to show progress of your quilt so we can see how you're doing. Good luck and have fun.
Margaret
Oh, Barbara - I like the fabrics you are using for your teapots!
Griffin, GA
Judy - all three of your quilts are great!!!!! You go girl --- a triple play!
Ummmm.... what do you mean "sew strips, each one in opposite direction"? Sorry, you must think I'm a real dingbat! Thanks for the confidence booster, though! Thanks especially for taking the time out to be there for me today. Hope you have a fantastic weekend! I will also definately post pictures as I progress.
Thanx again!
Oh poor Nana's sewing machine --- lost in a sea of quilt!!! Nice quilting Nana.
Sheila --- very nice haul there. We will be expecting to see some quilt tops now so get busy. :o)
Beth - I love you designs for the half yard challenge!
"Moomby" - very pretty French braid - at least I think that is what it's called. And cute little Sunbonnet Sue.
Thanks Marge ,that is form the fabric we did on the oriental fabric swap just a couple of weeks ago ,I love it for these teapots .Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
Well - I took the Scottie dog top to Jeanne today and she loved it. She knows just the gal to sell it to - runs a local Scottie rescue group and buys all things Scottie! I was able to finish up two tops for Jeanne today. One just needed the borders. The other I had to piece. I had thought about taking it home to finish but Jeanne mentioned that she wanted to display that one for the Shop Hop and make up kits like it, so I wanted to get it pieced for her today. I was the last one to leave but I finished. Or should I say almost finished. I ran out of bobbin thread ONE INCH from the end of my last seam. Jeanne said she would finish that up tonight during the Friday Night Mystery group. Next month, we will probably all be putting borders on for her. Right now they are knee deep in preparations for the Shop Hop next Thurs. through Sun. Then they have to get busy and quilt all these tops we have been churning out. She thinks they have over 100 to quilt. (Note to self - take binding tool to sew day next month!)
Margaret Thall: I'm not sure what the magic of this is, but it will help to keep them straight and not "bending" in one direction.
the presser foot side pulls the bottom fabric slightly more than the top side is pulled. if you sew every other side up the keeps the tension even on the piece. if you sew them all from the same end, you end up with a rainbow that is nigh impossible to fix. it did make a pretty good sky , though. i just cut it to size, left the arc in, and was pleased with the result. that was a fluke.
gini in north idaho
Hi Gini! OMG! You must've freaked out at first! Sounds like having a good sense of humor and having the ability to laugh at yourself are pre-requisites for quilting! Speaking of which, I was busing sewing my strips together (as suggested) and patting myself on the back 'cause it was coming out the way it was supposed to, when suddenly my machine just stopped. I realized that I'd forgotten to put the presser-foot down first. Duhhhhhh! Oh well! What are ya' gonna do, right?
Thanks for the explanation!
Nana, and everyone here is a picture of the fabric I got today in the mail ..the fabric that looks blue is really purple .this came for 3 different places .. all on sale .under 5.00 a yard .Barbara