 |
 Little Baby Girl Pink Theme Buttons Embelishments Craft $1.68 Time Remaining: 28d 10h 4m Buy It Now for only: $1.68 |
 Winter Quilt Sewing Pattern By Little Brown House Patterns $1.99 Time Remaining: 8h 33m |
 Baby Bibs 3 pattern LQC153 Little Quilt Company $9.00 Time Remaining: 23d 6h 10m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 |
 Lovelabels Made with Love for a Little Man BL 2570 $1.99 Time Remaining: 21d 20h 18m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 Novelty Button Embellishment Quilt Scrapbooking Little Princess Fairy Wand 276 $5.25 Time Remaining: 17d 14h 24m Buy It Now for only: $5.25 |
 Vtg Little Ben Bear Machine Applique Quilt Pattern Crib 44x60 $5.00 Time Remaining: 23d 7h 9m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 MADE FOR A LITTLE PRINCESS IRON ON WOVEN LABELS LOVELABELS QUILT CLOTHING $2.00 Time Remaining: 18d 6h 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 |
 NEW Vtg Little Vogue Noahs Ark Baby Crib Twin Quilt Pattern $9.99 Time Remaining: 20d 12h 8m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Farm Placemats pattern LCQ152 Little Quilt Company $9.50 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 7m Buy It Now for only: $9.50 |
 Sweet Little Blossoms Quilt Pattern by The Pattern Basket $7.99 Time Remaining: 26d 8h 23m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 MADE W LOVE FOR A LITTLE MAN IRON ON WOVEN LABELS LOVELABELS QUILT CLOTHING $2.00 Time Remaining: 23d 15h 33m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 |
 PAT129 A LITTLE HOUSE Quilt Pattern by Kathy Schmitz $6.95 Time Remaining: 29d 11h 40m Buy It Now for only: $6.95 |
 Pattern for DARLING LITTLE QUILTER DOLL Miniature QUILT Sewing PATTERN $8.50 Time Remaining: 25d 11h 46m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 |
 Ladybears Little Quilt Homespun Primitive App Pillow Wallhanging Quilt Pattern $1.95 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 50m Buy It Now for only: $2.95 |
 Lovelabels Made for a Little Princess BL 2572 $1.99 Time Remaining: 21d 20h 18m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 FRIENDS A VINTAGE APPLIQUE LITTLE QUILT COLLECTION FOR DOLLS UNCUT PATTERN $3.69 Time Remaining: 8d 10h 27m Buy It Now for only: $3.69 |
 Pattern Quilt Craft Littles Twisted Lollipop NEW UNOPENED $6.25 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 46m Buy It Now for only: $6.25 |
 LITTLE VOGUE 1475 Personalized applique BABY crib quilt pillow sham PATTERN UNCT $14.99 Time Remaining: 10d 17h 13m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 Little Jellies bag pattern FTQ856 Fig Tree Quilts $6.41 Time Remaining: 11d 1h 29m Buy It Now for only: $6.41 |
 McCalls 2 little girl 2 3 4 play patterns serger tips shorts tops leggings + 1 $6.00 Time Remaining: 10d 12h 26m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 Ankas Treasures Little Charmers II Table Runner Kit $35.99 Time Remaining: 8d 2h Buy It Now for only: $35.99 |
 Novelty Buttons Little Girl Pretty In Pink Quilting Sew Craft Buttons 255 $5.25 Time Remaining: 10d 1h 47m Buy It Now for only: $5.25 |
 Pattern Quilt Craft Littles Confetti NEW UNOPENED $6.25 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 46m Buy It Now for only: $6.25 |
 LITTLE COUNTRY QUILTS NOAHS ARK QUILTS 19 X 22 8 X 19 PATTERN $3.99 Time Remaining: 3d 16h 37m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 Vintage Little Vogue Sewing Pattern 1475 Quilt Sham Baby Clothesline Applique $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 49m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Little Appliques 1 Fabricraft Quilts Sweatshirt Cow Lamb Apple Pattern 1988 $5.99 Time Remaining: 19d 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 1 DOZ PRETTY LITTLE VENISE LACE FLORAL APPLIQUES ivory awesome for crazy quilts $3.89 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 19m |
 Little Bear Umbrella Animal Embroidered Iron On Patch Sewing Craft Quilt PA121 $2.25 Time Remaining: 6d 19h Buy It Now for only: $2.25 |
 Nip Little Pineapples Quilt Pattern 40 blocks small sz $5.99 Time Remaining: 28d 9h 41m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 Pattern Quilt Craft Littles Beach Ball NEW UNOPENED $6.25 Time Remaining: 5d 3h 46m Buy It Now for only: $6.25 |
 Little Kitties Pattern Quilt Sew Wall Hanging $8.95 Time Remaining: 4d 6h 25m Buy It Now for only: $8.95 |
 Flags Little Quilts Pieced Applique patriotic Pattern $3.99 Time Remaining: 17d 6h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 APPLIQUED FALL TOWELS PATTERN BY LITTLE COUNTRY QUILTS 6 DIFFERENT DESIGNS $9.95 Time Remaining: 27d 10h 12m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 The Little Quilt Collection Toys Quilt Pattern varies up to 30 x 35 $5.00 Time Remaining: 23d 7h 7m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 LITTLE QUILT COMPANY Fall Themed Wall Quilt Placemat $6.76 Time Remaining: 13d 11h 36m Buy It Now for only: $6.76 |
 Little Kid Embroidered Iron On Patch Sewing Craft Quilt PA71 $2.55 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 7m Buy It Now for only: $2.55 |
 Little Amish Girl Doll on Quilt Sewing Pattern 12 $5.00 Time Remaining: 13d 15h 20m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 Little Brown House Noel 2 Little No Sew Applique Quilts and 3 Stuffed Trees $2.99 Time Remaining: 3d 14h 56m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 Darling Little Farm Boy Hen 7x10 Cotton Quilt Block FrEE ShiPPinG WoRld WiDE $12.50 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 58m Buy It Now for only: $12.50 |
 36 pc PRETTY LITTLE VENISE LACE FLORAL APPLIQUES ivory awesome for crazy quilts $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 24m |
 CABINS BY THE LITTLE QUILT COLLECTION ADORABLE QUILTS $8.00 Time Remaining: 8h 56m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 SEW LITTLE BABY PINWHEELS QUILT PATTERN $17.01 Time Remaining: 19d 16h 8m Buy It Now for only: $17.01 |
 Dont Look Now Quilt Pattern Little Monsters $19.39 Time Remaining: 7d 20h 44m Buy It Now for only: $19.39 |
 Little Brook Collection The Childrens Comforter Quilt Pattern 4 Square $14.99 Time Remaining: 3d 3h 21m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 Veggie Towels pattern by Little Country Quilts New $8.00 Time Remaining: 11h 24m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 Holiday Towels pattern by Little Country Quilts New $8.00 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 34m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 |
 CATHY MILLER Music Songwriter SINGER Quilting Songs on CDs $16.00 Time Remaining: 10d 10h 31m Buy It Now for only: $16.00 |
 pattern LITTLE DARLINGS mccalls 8262 dress slip quilt $22.99 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 3m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 |
 Little Jolly Halloween Witch Quilt Block Multi Sz $2.49 Time Remaining: 14d 7h 3m Buy It Now for only: $2.49 |
 STUFFED QUILTED HEARTS PATTERNS 6 DESIGNS LITTLE COUNTRY QUILTS 126 $3.99 Time Remaining: 21d 15h 52m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 Alma Lynnes Works Of Heart Little Liberty 15 Doll Quilt 1990 $5.99 Time Remaining: 18d 13h 53m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 Friends Little Quilt Collection Patterns Doll Bear $9.95 Time Remaining: 10d 14h 59m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Little Country Quilts Holiday Towels 416 Pattern $4.25 Time Remaining: 4d 11h 20m |
 Little by Little Quilts in Miniature by Mary Hickey $4.00 Time Remaining: 3d 7h 13m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 PATTERN LITTLE SPROUTS WARDROBE QUILT SZ 6MOS 4T $14.50 Time Remaining: 29d 17h 39m Buy It Now for only: $14.50 |
 Little Quilts For Big Occasions Leisure Arts LA 5433 $14.48 Time Remaining: 24d 3h 32m Buy It Now for only: $14.48 |
 CABINS THE LITTLE QUILT COLLECTION LITTLE QUILTS 1986 NO LQC1 $9.95 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 4m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Fiber Mosaics mini quilt pattern Scarecrow Little Hanna $9.75 Time Remaining: 16d 8h 35m Buy It Now for only: $9.75 |
 Debbie Mumms Cuddle Quilts For Little G Leisure Arts LA 4541 $20.15 Time Remaining: 24d 5h 26m Buy It Now for only: $20.15 |
 CHRISTMAS THE LITTLE QUILT COLLECTION LITTLE QUILTS 1986 $9.95 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 5m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Quilt A Gift For Little Ones David Charles Books DC 38667 $22.68 Time Remaining: 9d 6h 38m Buy It Now for only: $22.68 |
 Leisure Arts Debbie Mumms Cuddle Quilts For Little G $19.74 Time Remaining: 6d 19h 44m Buy It Now for only: $19.74 |
 SEW LITTLE STUFFIE PLAY MELANIE HURLSTON QUILT PATTERN $17.45 Time Remaining: 7d 15h 34m Buy It Now for only: $17.45 |
 Dolly Quilt Pattern by Sarah Fielke Little Charlotte $15.55 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 10m Buy It Now for only: $15.55 |
Quilting Little
Color makes a difference in your quilting
I recently received a call from my daughter asking for help in assembling a quilt. My interest was picked. My daughter is not a quilter. Her mother-in-law had cross stitched blocks as a gift. She wanted Brigette, (my daughter)to assemble the blocks. Not knowing how to put a quilt together, Brigette called Mom.
Some weeks later, we got together to examine the blocks. The blocks were of an Iris pattern. The flower of each Iris was stitched in a deep, rich, purple with bright green foliage. Even though, I am not a lover of cross stitched blocks, the blocks were particularly beautiful. The color contrast in the blocks was striking and being involved in piecing this quilt was going to be fun and exciting. Little did I know the challenges the next few weeks would bring.
Being the owner of an online quilt fabric business, I had lots of fabric to use in the auditioning process. The blocks were 18 inches square on a stark white background. With the size of the block in mind, I chose a strong deep purple, weighing on the purple in the Iris. I had 3 fabrics in mind and the auditioning began. Hmm, well those did not work. Some 14 purple fabrics later, I decided to try a yellow. Why yellow? The fall in the Iris had a hint of yellow in it and sometimes the hint color is a perfect color to use in the border.
Ok, the yellow did not work. All of the fabrics used thus far, either were lost in the quilt, made the quilt look flat, or appear, lifeless. This was turning out to be way more complicated than I had originally thought. So far, all of my color options had been solids or at least tone on tone fabrics. Maybe I needed to introduce a pattern.
I feared using a pattern because I did not want the border to compete with the floral blocks. Pulling out my 1930's purple small print fabrics, the audition process began again. Realizing, that the border width could also make a difference, each fabric was auditioned by width comparison. What width would work: ½ inch, 1 inch, 1 ½ inch, or so on?
After reviewing over 30 fabrics, I still did not have the right color combination. Off to the fabric shops I went. Four fabric shops and an innumerable number of fabrics later the result was still the same: no winner. What am I going to do? My daughter is counting on me and the mother-in-law is calling "often" to find out if the quilt is done. The pressure was on.
When all else fails, take a break. Get your mind off the problem. Concentrate on another project. This is exactly what I did. I began piecing a Kumiko Sudo block. If you want a distraction, the Kumiko Sudo block collection should live up to your expectations. It turned out to be the right project to open my eyes to the color opportunities available for my daughter's quilt. What about green? Why had I not thought of using green?
So the process began again. Each fabric was auditioned by pattern, color, and width. Still I did not have a winner. Then, I remembered a green fabric I had purchased some 5 years back. I liked the fabric so much, that I purchased 5 yards of it. The fabric already had been used in 5 previous quilts which resulted in my stash having a balance of 3 yards, enough for this project.
The stash green fabric had hints of yellow, white, and lime green in a circular pattern on a lime green background. As soon as the fabric was placed against the Iris block, bingo, I had a winner. Next step was to decide the width of the block border. I chose the 1 ½ inch border for each block and began cutting the strips immediately. With the strips cut, it was time to lay out the quilt. The color was perfect and the quilt was alive.
Laying out the quilt also took a little thought. With 16 blocks to work with, I chose to put 4 blocks each in the top and bottom row. The 2 center rows each had 2 blocks. This left a big gap on each side. Wanting to keep the focus on the Iris pattern in the blocks, I decided to put a large white piece on each side. The piece would be 2 rows high and 1 block wide. To accent the Iris in the quilt blocks, I would ask the machine quilter to design a floral motif in these large plain sections. With the layout complete, the quilt was ready to piece together. As the rows came together, I realized how beautiful the final quilt would be.
The quilt still needed an inner and an outer border. Again, I went to my stash and found a striped purple- lime green fabric for the inner border. This fabric had not worked for the border on the blocks but now, as the inner border, it provided the perfect inner frame. I strip pieced this striped fabric, a white and the lime green block border fabric together. From this strip piece, I cut a 6 inch outer border. The icing was now on the cake.
Color really does make a difference in a quilt.
The process had been a challenge but the rewards were spectacular. The day I delivered this to my daughter, I watched to see if she saw what I saw in the quilt. As the quilt unfolded, her eyes began to sparkle and the smile of appreciation covered her face. The best result was seeing the look on her husband's face. He has an artistic background and I at once that he approved.
Just in case you are interested... the mother-in-law loved the final product. It is so nice to keep the family happy.
About the Author
Darlene Pratte is the owner of an internet quilt fabric business. She loves expressing her creative talents through quilting.
Visit our website (http://www.foxyquilts.com )
My first Quilt-----Need a little help 
?
There are a few questions, thanks for any help!
1. What size of quilters ruler would be best to invest in?
2. If the pattern says 1/4" seams, does that mean I measure a 1/4" on each patter and sew them together at that point?
3. Do I make it long enough to fold over so I can sew it together and stuff it, or can I sew the pattern to a plain white blanket?
4. Any websites you can recommend for a beginner?
Thanks
Check at your local library for some basic quilt books, One I especially like for beginners is Carol Doaks' Your First Quilt Book ... Or It Should Be! http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/36942539&referer=brief_results
1. My favorite quilt ruler size is 6x18".
2. "1/4" seams" actually means that "this block is intended to be sewn with whatever size seam it takes to get the block to the proper finished size, otherwise known as a "scant quarter inch"". For me, that's about 1 mm less than 1/4". For other people, or with heavier or lighter fabrics than cotton broadcloth, it could be more than that. Quick test: cut 3 2" square pieces of fabric and sew them together and press them. The finished strip of 3 should be 5" wide after pressing. (See also:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmFP_lAy.5abQU0lWH7KJ1Dty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091224094422AAVg6ry&show=7#profile-info-Ig1hWNnDaa )
3. You can, but it would be more usual to use plain fabric for the back of the quilt. Quilts are typically made of three layers of fabric: the fancy front of the quilt, a plain back, and in the middle, there's a thin batting for warmth.
Here's a fairly typical quilt front and back: http://wombat.san-francisco.ca.us/cachien/quilts/images/around_frontBack.jpg
Here's one where the back was pieced: http://lacubanitacose.blogspot.com/2009/05/baby-quilt.html
4. Good websites for beginners:
http://quilting.about.com/od/beginningquilters/Quilting_for_Beginners.htm
http://planetpatchwork.com/beginners.htm
http://quilt.com/FAQS/BeginnersProjectsFAQ.html
A couple of good beginning projects for beginners (because points don't have to match to make the quilt top look good:):
http://www.straw.com/equilters/library/quickquilts/railfence/railfence-links.html and
http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ChineseCoinsBlock.html
and one that's only a bit harder: http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/irish_chain_3.htm
What's the pattern that you've chosen? Some of us with a bit more experience may be able to tell you if it's a good one for a beginner, or if you might want to make a different quilt (or hot pad or table runner) first.
Little Quilt Live Auction