Quiltmaking

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Carey — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:53:34 GMT

I have heard of blocking. I square them up and put on binding myself. I think blocking is like for the ones who can't square up easily. Which I have never done or run across that I cant fix another way.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Jennifer Wingard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:54:07 GMT

Oh, thank goodness that the general consensus is that quilty things do not need blocking. I do not need the extra headache. I already have knit projects all over the place being blocked all the time.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Barbara — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:12:31 GMT

Donna, glad it worked out for you ,Are you gonna show us a picture so we can ohh and Ahh over it LOL barbara

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Donna B — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:10:45 GMT

Marge P:
Donna and all - NO, I don't block my quilts -

Well, guess I should have just called Marge first, or at least posted this question before I did block this quilt. Clearly the conscensus is to NOT block quilts - unless they are a small wallhanging for showing. I would now definitely agree.

However, the quilt I blocked yesterday is now dry and is as straight and square as you could ever want. It looks great! But, I doubt I will ever do it again on a full sized quilt!

Thank you all for your feedback...

p.s. It'sall a learning experience...LOL

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Kris — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:03:15 GMT

I haven't block a whole quilt but I've done it with individual blocks that wouldn't co-operate or are a bit smaller than needed. Don't think I'll do it with a whole quilt.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

gini — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:19:33 GMT

i have never blocked a quilt, but i haven't shown one either. i might be inclined to block a quilt, if i was interested in a ribbon.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Marge P — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:04:59 GMT

Patti:
Marge P's quilts, by the way, do hang very nice. No wavy edges on hers, and she has had a lot winning grand champions at the county fair. I always love her quilts. I think she had one for the year 2000 that had 2000 different fabrics in it.

Thanks, Patti - you are making me blush! I didn't make a 2000 quilt with the different fabrics but did make the Diary Quilt for 2001. It has 384 blocks in it, and I actually started it on December 31, 2000 as our first calf for 2001 was born early so being as I planned to have the whole calving season recorded on the quilt, I started it one day early. Then there was a block for 2001, January and every day in January - went through the whole year adding a block for the 1st day of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter - had 3 blocks for 9/11 as there was so much to say.

The blocks are like 4" x 6" in a waving flag style and are all hand pieced which I thoroughly enjoyed. I used pigma pens and hand wrote on each block what had happened that day. Someone asked me if it was X rated and I laughed and told them no, it was very family oriented. The editor of the local newspaper where I worked at that time made the comment that it gave a whole new meaning of "reading in bed".

Friends and relatives delighted in picking out a date where we had had lunch or visited and I had put that info on that particular day. It is a queen sized and it has been used quite a bit but has not been used for at least 6 years now. I am afraid to wash it cause what if all that info disappeared, I would be really upset.

I made a comment to DH that I really needed to make 2 more of the quilts for different years (I have 3 children) and his comment was "Well, I have two children and I am an integral part of that quilt." My comment to him was "Screw that idea - I am not gonna do 4 more" and that is where it stands. LOL

That is my story and I am sticking to it! :-)

MargeP

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Marge P — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:50:24 GMT

Donna B:
I know Marge P blocks her quilts, so let's see what she says.

Donna and all - NO, I don't block my quilts - I do have my US Floral Map quilt that is my Avatar - and it should be washed and blocked as the sides do not hang straight on it where it is displayed in my entry way. Having said that, I am sure I made that quilt before I changed my method of making borders. I ALWAYS make borders from straight of grain lengthwise of fabric. I really think it helps in not stretching when you are sewing the borders on, thus getting a nicer hang to them. I may have to piece a border if I don't have enough length but I always do the lengthwise straight instead of the crosswise cuts.

I also make my bindings the same way. I am also one of those who pre-wash fabrics if at all possible. If I am using a pre-cut kit, I will try and stay with unwashed fabrics to go with the kit but when I do wash the finished quilt I use the Color Catcher sheets which I swear by. I always use the color catchers with any fabric.

I don't have the room to lay that quilt out if I washed it and then blocked it. Also, perhaps it is too late to block it being as it has hung in its spot since about 2008. I made the quilt in 2003 and it was folded up for years before we moved and I had a special quilt hanger made for it so I could display it.

I remember blocking sweaters when I first knitted or crocheted them and of course doilies but have never done a quilt.

Interesting question, Donna - guess I won't feel too bad if I don't ever block my USA Floral Map quilt. I bet your quilt will really look wonderful after all the work and you are right, I am not a floor person! LOL

Marge P

Re: Do you block your quilts?

mars92 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:34:20 GMT

Donna

I have never ever blocked a quilt, I remember blocking something I crocheted once. Boy that's seems Like tons of work and where would i put it after its blocked? No pun intended. I mean a King size quilt is huge. Where do you put it to dry when space is limited? I am sure this is a great idea from her but I can't see myself doing it either.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Spudgrandma — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:14:03 GMT

I'm lucky to get them quilted and bound, no way am I blocking!

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Barbara — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:13:56 GMT

I have heard of blocking quilts but like the rest of you I just try to square them up the best I can and go with it, I'm to darn lazy to do all that blocking ,LOL Barbara

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Joy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:35:17 GMT

Ok...I've never heard of blocking a quilt before so I looked up how to do it and I must say Blocking is something I will never attempt! It looks like way too much work! Usually by the time I'm done quilting a quilt, I'm ready to be done with that quilt and on to the next! LOL!

Re: Do you block your quilts?

greenmonstr — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:29:20 GMT

It never even occurred to me to block a quilt; in fact, this is the first I have heard of anyone doing it. I've occasionally blocked a crocheted item (VERY occasionally) but never a quilt. I can also guarantee that I never will! It's a big enough pain to pin the sandwich together to quilt it. There's no way I am blocking it.

Re: Do you block your quilts?

MaxNTopeka — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:53:33 GMT

I'm with Arzella on this one. I've never even heard of blocking a quilt. I wonder if it is done more for wallhangings and competition quilts?

I'll be watching for more informed quilters to share how and when a quilt should be blocked.

Max

Re: Do you block your quilts?

Patti — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:46:43 GMT

Marge P's quilts, by the way, do hang very nice. No wavy edges on hers, and she has had a lot winning grand champions at the county fair. I always love her quilts. I think she had one for the year 2000 that had 2000 different fabrics in it.