TECHNIQUE CHOSEN:
Primarily hand-turn applique
Either machine or hand quilting
KEY QUESTION:
Will hand-turn applique be durable enough for a baby quilt? (assuming I do it right)
BACKGROUND INFO:
I've made a personal commitment to myself to create an applique baby quilt (crib size 45X60) for my first grandchild. DUE DATE of quilt: Baby Shower, March 2. My oldest son created the design (his baby gift to his younger brother, who is the new Dad). Because of this, switching to a printed dog fabric and simply quilting around it isn't on my current list of options at this time. My contribution will be the finished quilt.
I'm new -- new at quilting, new at sewing, and new to the forum. A bit scared and, unfortunately, a perfectionist, but I've committed to get over this, at least for this first quilt, because meeting the deadline is essential.
The design:
A bulldog (cartoon-like) dreaming of bones (cloud #1 = 1 bone, cloud #2 = 2 bones, cloud #3 = 3 bones, etc. through 5 bones) while he's sitting in a dog house. I've tried to simplify the design:
- large blue background (sky)
- large green bottom (grass)
- 5 clouds
- 15 bones
- 1 bulldog (HOPEFULLY CUTE) with spiked collar, although that's optional
- 1 dog house (found some wood-looking fabric but am willing to piece together some solid-colored boards) and some great colorful fabric that looks like tiles
- 1 moon and about 8 stars
- 3 to 5 inch border
- binding (same fabric as the "tiles" on the dog house)
My first quilting class is tomorrow evening. I attempted to take this class prior to Christmas. The first two weeks I didn't have a machine. Then I bought a used Viking Husquavarna Designer 1, which needed repair and was in the shop for two weeks, so I missed the last classes. Hopefully this will be better!
WHY I'M THINKING HAND-TURNED VS. FUSED: Many forums (and Martha Stewart) have recommended not using fused if the item will be washed repeatedly. I'd like to shoot for a traditional look, although the design I've chosen is far from this.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANY REPLIES!
I've been working a lot so sorry for the late response. Noone's quilts are ever perfect they just look that way because we know how to hide mistakes we made lol.
I always use fusible and my quilts are washable. Mostly baby quits. Yours should be fine.