getcrafty :: popular topics :: quilting :: quilter

View entire thread: quilters in downtown Toronto?

Posted by hodge on 2005-09-11 09:01:33      Post Subject:



i'm not sure about existing quilting clubs in downtown t.o., but you could get in touch with the textile museum of canada (http://www.textilemuseum.ca) and ask if they know of any (they have lots of volunteers who are quilters i think). there is also a quilt shop on mt. pleasant near davisville that you could contact (not downtown downtown, but i think this is the closest quiltshop to downtown downtown): Quilter's Quarters (595 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-487-1047)

another option is starting one up yourself. i am also a beginner quilter (very into modern quilts like Denyse Schmidt and quilted accessories) and really eager to learn more. i would love to do something like a quilt-along - choosing a project with a group and coming together to check out each other's progress, swap tips, etc. i just finished a big project and need to hibernate for a bit, but would be into something like this eventually. PM me if you would like to talk about this idea some more.

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View entire thread: Tattoo quilt

Posted by goddesshanna on 2007-08-09 02:08:56      Post Subject:

I am looking at the article right now, but it doesn't say anything about how the images were created. I think it is a combination of appliques.

As a less skilled quilter/sewer, I would also consider using iron-on transfers. Usually you can find t-shirt transfer paper at places like staples or office depot. They come in two types - white and dark (as in the color of the shirt you are fusing it to). The only difference is that the dark paper will fuse entirely to the shirt so there is a white background. Also, you must mirror any text when printing onto a the white style.
You can also buy printable fabric (http://avery.com/us/Main?action=product.HierarchyList&node=10211418&catalogcode=WEB01) which is fairly similar to the dark t-shirt transfers.

If you're not very good with the computer part of it, I would suggest taking the image you want and your transfer paper to a copy shop like kinko's or something. They have scanner and will assist you. I believe you can print on your own paper for a smaller fee, but you'd have to check with your local place. Sometimes you can just get them to scan an image for you to print at home.

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View entire thread: New to the Forum. FELT question.

Posted by Hiernst on 2007-08-05 18:52:40      Post Subject: Thanks

It's really funny that you suggested City Quilter. Right after I posted the topic, I went there to look for fabric. And I found that they carried felt as well. I didn't find good 100% wool felt, but they did have these great bundles of reasonably priced sheets of felt (70% / 30%). Pretty good quality for a mixed felt.

Thanks so much. :)

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View entire thread: Selling Quilts - etsy - other?

Posted by craftfetish on 2006-11-16 11:00:41      Post Subject:

I am not a quilter, so this is just speculation, but...

I don't think that I would spend hundreds of dollars on a quilt without seeing it in real life, touching the fabric, seeing the construction, etc.

I would think etsy would be a better venue for smaller pieces like baby quilts, handbags, or art blocks than full size quilts.

But I also think that etsy would be great for people that may have seen your work in person at a craft fair and wanted to think about the decision before buying.

And I think if you did large pieces because they moved you, the $0.40 or whatever to list them would certainly pay off in terms of calling attention and attracting customers to your smaller items.

And who knows, maybe someone less cheap than me would be purchase through the site.

(The quilt you made for your sister is stunning by the way - you absolutely should make more quilts and price them accordingly)

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View entire thread: Any Crafters in NW Houston (Cypress Area)

Posted by LaTanya on 2007-11-11 19:07:10      Post Subject:

I''m a quilter/art quilter who is new to the group. I live on Fry Rd right off 529. I have been searching for other crafters in the area who are fun and love new things.

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View entire thread: Quilting Inquiry....

Posted by Diana on 2006-08-14 19:27:55      Post Subject:

Dear soon-to-be a quilter,
Welcome to the wonderful world of quilting. I've been quilting for about 15 years and love that there is always something new to learn. My advice is to go to your local library and check out lots of books, both the basic how-to guides and some of the pretty pattern books to inspire you. Just do lots of practice on scrap fabric. Put the word out to friends and family that you want to quilt and you'll be stunned at how much fabric and old clothing comes your way. Try to start with 100% cotton if possible as it tends to be a bit easier to work with. I'll get back to you in the next couple of days with some book titles. You are going to have a blast!!

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View entire thread: questions for the quilters out there

Posted by Nancy Flynn on 2006-03-10 12:42:52      Post Subject: questions for the quilters out there

I am a very impatient quilter, and also not at all good at math (when I design things, even after measuring them and scrutinizing the numbers, they always come out smaller than I meant). So basically I want to make a quilt of not-tiny but not huge squares (I've done 7x9 rectangles, but I want squares, and a bit smaller), that comes out to a nice throw-blanket size.

I know this is the lazy way of doing it, but quilters out there, what size blocks would you recommend, and how many across and down for what I'm thinking?

There are two fabrics that I want to be my "main" theme, with perhaps 2-3 other accent fabrics to set them off, so what would you recommend in terms of yardage for the main fabrics? I'm ordering online so I want to be sure to get enough...

Thanks in advance for answering my questions. I kind of feel like I am cheating by asking for so much help with basic design!

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View entire thread: New Domesticy Gallery Show in the works

Posted by gladygirl on 2005-10-31 16:09:37      Post Subject:

I live in Columbus too...what school do you attend?

Check out turtlemoon.com
Susan Shie is an amazing art quilter who really embodies some of the themes you are talking about. I took a class with her last year and was so inspired, I ended up having enough stuff to have my first solo show this month.

Good luck!

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View entire thread: For NYC crafters

Posted by pteryla on 2007-02-21 21:48:51      Post Subject:

1. What types of crafts fo you enjoy?
knitting, quilting, wheel-throwing

2. Where do you usually find the materials for these crafts?
various web sites, from eBay to knitpicks.com and purlsoho.com. occasionally city quilter in chelsea.

3. What materials do you have the most difficulty finding?
unusual, high-quality fabric—i.e., not just moda fabric w/ civil-war-era designs. i have an embarrassingly large stash of old feedsacks, but i want more beautiful solid-color, new cottons, but with a more luxurious feel than basic quilting cotton.

4. Are you a member of any craft groups - if so, where does it usually meet?
no

5. If you aren't a member of a group, would you like to join one in the future?
maybe

6. Have you taken any crafting classes in the city, if so, where?
yes, through makeworkshop.com

7. What borough do you live in? Would you travel out of borough to buy materials, or participate in a class or crafting group?
jersey city. i buy materials in the city, and would go into some parts of brooklyn, but not often.

8. Do you have children? Is crafting something you do together?
no

9. Do you find it difficult to do the projects you'd like to because your apartment is too small?
yes!

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View entire thread: The Queen of Indiana in Texas!

Posted by PamTheQueen on 2004-12-24 10:01:32      Post Subject:

I'm on dial-up because there is no such thing as broadband or DSL way out on this ranch in Hill Country. Ugh! I appreciate all the tips y'all have given me. Here is what I have done so far:

Sunday - arrived and went in to Austin to walk around Zilcher (sp?) Park for the lights. AWESOME!

Monday - Did South Congress including: vintage fabric at Uncommon Objects, completing my Sublime Stitching patterns collection (I think I have them all now!), A bracelet from Naughty Secretary Club, two vinyl pouches from Jenifer Nakatsu Arnston....

...Regret not buying: a Sparkle Craft guitar strap, one of those furry hats (from Chia), a record purse from Queen Bee and a Supermaggie scarf.

Note: It was so cool to see (and buy!) stuff i've been looking at forever online. Amazing how many of my favorite designers are from Austin. The one person's goods I didn't see and wanted to check out actually posted in this thread!!! Textile Fetish!!! I was reminded last night that I had missed your stuff because we went to Ruta Maya and when I saw the bags of beans I thought AH HA! Those coffee bean bag purses you make use these bags!

We also visited Toy Joy on Guadalupe by UT. Spent way too much money there! I also spent some money on some sweet yarn and fibers at a place on South Congress (name escapes me).

We did San Antonio on Tuesday. Nothing really crafty here. On the way out of town (late), I saw some interesting shops on Broadway headed north out of downtown. If we have time, we'll check out that street before we go.

Wednesday and Thursday didn't bring much crafty goodness. I checked out Paper Bear, but it was sooo busy I couldn't really look around (had my mom with, too).

No fabric stores yet, except a store called the Gifted Quilter in San Marcos. (okay if you are a country-style quilter)

Hopefully, we'll have time to do more before we go home. I am really not keen about going home so soon since Indiana is in a deep freeze and covered with snow! Blah!

**** - They have yerba mate at the Wildflower coffee house in Wimberley! I've read about it, but that was the first time I had ever seen it. Didn't try it though.

Oh, and no Blue Genie. We arrived in Austin at 2 PM and needed to get to my mom's south of Wimberley so we could turn around and drive back to Austin for Zilcher Park. :(



(Sorry for the poor formatting.)

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View entire thread: Looking for NYC Quilters/Home Sewers for possible projects

Posted by LuluB on 2006-05-31 12:01:17      Post Subject:

i don't quilt (i do applique work using wool felt, mostly) so i'm not of much use to you but i was wondering if you've talked to ayone at the city quilter? i'm in there all the time and they tend to have a very varied clientel and teaching staff. you might find just the people/person you're looking for there.

erika

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View entire thread: visiting NYC Oct 20-23rd! Where to go?

Posted by senojzilfg on 2006-10-17 16:52:48      Post Subject: thrift stores

Try Housing Works, which operates a number in the city, including one on E 23rd. Also on E 23rd are a Sally Army and a Goodwill. Downtown Brooklyn has a great Goodwill on Bond and Livingston and a Sally Army on Atlantic. Many of the hospitals and churches have thrift stores too, so figure out what n'hood you will be in, then check the phone book.

I second City Quilter and Purl in Soho. Other fabric shops can be found in what's left of the garment district (maybe 8th Ave and 38/40th St), and around Orchard Street (try Joe's Fabric Warehouse)

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View entire thread: visiting NYC Oct 20-23rd! Where to go?

Posted by LuluB on 2006-10-13 12:10:15      Post Subject:

if you're willing to head to williamsburg you could head to artists & fleas which is a weekly diy and craft market. the burg also has some lovely music shops, boutiques, and restaurants (pies-n-thighs being one of my faves!).

another great flea market is the garage market on 26th and 6th ave. it's indoors (in a parking garage, nach') and really great. there's also a shuttle service that will take you back and forth from the garage market to the hell's kitchen market on 11th that was mentioned before. while you're on 26th you might want to check out the city quilter, they have a lovely selection of cotton print fabrics.


www.artistsandfleas.com
www.piesandthighs.com
www.cityquilter.com

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View entire thread: Looking for NYC Quilters/Home Sewers for possible projects

Posted by lacurie on 2006-05-31 12:11:08      Post Subject:

ii do applique work using wool felt, mostly)

Actually, that counts. The friend that I am working on this project with is primarily a knitter and we want to include at least one "crossover craft" project on every show. We plan on doing stuff with felting sweaters and piecing into blankets.

I have been doing some hand applique recently because I needed to be able to take projects with me when I travel in the car.

I love City Quilter and hope to get their input, but since I don't have anything official nailed down, I don't feel comfortable going to them about this project just yet. However I am hoping to take some classes there this summer and do a little networking.

Thanks for responding! Do you have a URL with any of your work posted?

- Carrie

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View entire thread: Crafting and tendonitis?

Posted by karikazo on 2004-06-15 09:21:43      Post Subject:

hey, Bionic--

I have to admit that I'm not a knitter myself, but I read somewhere that using circular needles can help, because then the weight of your knitted product is not out on the end of one needle, pulling on one hand, but instead is clumped up in your lap, and will be less strain....OK, that explanation was really crummy. Maybe a real knitter can step in and give you better advice!

I'm a quilter with a history of hand/arm problems. They're really set off by working on the computer too much, so I follow a strict regimen of goofing off at work :). Well, at least I try to take a lot of breaks. I do a lot of my handwork in little bits and pieces, just a few minutes at a time, rather than sitting down and sewing for an hour or more, and I think that helps, too. So you *can* work around the injuries, but be careful.

good luck!

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View entire thread: Quilting?

Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-02-07 13:22:48      Post Subject:

Yeah, you can make a wishlist on E-quilter! That's dangerous.

If you've got the scratch ($$), check out http://www.reprodepot.com

And show us that quilt when you finish it!

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View entire thread: Madison Goings-On?

Posted by brdgt on 2004-06-15 11:00:58      Post Subject:

Sweet! I'm moving to Madison this August. I'm a knitter, soap-maker, candle-maker, cross stitcher, quilter, etc.

I'll be starting a PhD program there and I found a great place in the Jenifer street area :)

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View entire thread: painting tshirts with bleachers

Posted by GnomKnut on 2006-04-14 14:18:55      Post Subject:

wow that looks pretty awesome!
my mom is a quilter, so maybe I could dye her some fabric that way for her birthday :)

oh yeah, I tried out the painting thing today, turned out great, i made a stencil out of a picture and sponged the bleach over it. I'll post a pic tomorrow cause i can't find my camera right now :)

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View entire thread: advice/online resources for 1st time quilter?

Posted by karikazo on 2004-08-04 07:36:23      Post Subject:

I also like these guys' designs:

http://www.funquilts.com/

click on "quilt gallery" to look at the images.

I'll have to go take a look at my book collection and see what was most helpful to me at first, but I'd suggest just sitting down either at the bookstore or library and looking at several books--they are all a little different, and individual tastes will vary. There's one called "The Quilter's Visual Guide" (I think) which is helpful for having lots of photos.

Quilting is VERY addictive, but it's loads of fun. I have a quilt-in-progress in my office and work on it every day during my lunch hour. So even though I work mostly by hand (and very slowly), it still gets done if I do a little on a regular basis.

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View entire thread: Quilts of Gee's Bend

Posted by bessiemae on 2005-07-07 06:50:42      Post Subject:

Yay!!!!! I'm a quilter! Alone in world of knitters!

Selah- I saw the Gee's Bend quilts in Cleve, over the winter, and it's been written up in "Piecework"( the World's BEST handwork mag!). Magnificent!

My mom taught me to quilt, hook rugs, do all sorts of other needlework and crafty things. Her latest passion is rug hooking(NOT latch-hook) and she buys Thrift store wools to felt and strip(cut into 1/4" strips for rugs). I still haunt Thrifts/yard sales for lux clothes/fabrics to make crazy quilts.

One of my bestest friends started a custom hand quilt business to fund her Int'l travel. She charges roughly $400 for custom designed twin-sized quilts in amazing lux fabrics. Made enough last year selling her quilts to fund trips to Cambodia and Egypt. And she's a SAHM with a toddler and preschooler.

But! One thing that kinda concerns me is the rise of the Professional Quilter, as it sorta decreases appreciation the inherent naive qualities that make Gee's Bend quilts so amazing: points on corners may not be "pointy", binding may not not be perfect, not "square", use of "found" fabrics, etc. Those are precisely the qualities I look for in handwork.

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View entire thread: in dire need of sewing-machine help

Posted by pteryla on 2005-09-02 07:23:26      Post Subject: in dire need of sewing-machine help

i am a beginning quilter. i have tons of great fabric, some great quilting books, and a great new machine: a simple, sturdy workhorse called the Janome MC3000. trouble is, i haven't used a machine in years, and when i sat down yesterday to thread it and start getting the feel of things, it was a disaster. i thought, of course, that i'd followed instructions. but the needle immediately unthreads, and either nothing much happens except needle holes in my fabric, or the bobbin and upper threads knit into a scary braid. can anyone help? if no one has ideas for what i'm doing wrong, does anyone know about a class i could take?

thanks!

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View entire thread: calling seamstresses- storing fabric?

Posted by karikazo on 2004-06-15 09:15:58      Post Subject:

I have mostly smaller pieces of fabric (fat quarters, half yards), so I store a lot in those shoe storage thingys you get at Target or wherever. Because the compartments are smallish, I don't have to disturb too many other fabrics to get to one on the bottom of a stack. I also have a bookcase with fabric stacked up on its shelves, but the shelves (and stacks) are a little too tall, so I'm phasing them out in favor of the shoe things.

I have to confess I don't fret about the sun fading the edges that are exposed to light. But sometimes I'll drape a gauzy scarf over the front of the shelf if I feel like protecting it.

One art quilter has shelves on one wall of her studio that are actually drawers--cabinets full of wire drawers (wire coated with white plastic or enamel, like those little bathroom carts & shelves), and she has everything tossed in there organized by color and value running across the whole wall, so she can pull out all the drawers for green at once, from palest to darkest, and look at the collection....I'm very jealous of this system.

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by karikazo on 2005-09-13 11:10:14      Post Subject:

ohhh, I'm so glad to see quilting mentioned when I happened to pop in here for the first time in ages.

I'm slowly moving from traditional-style to artsy-style quilts. I adore it. I am a member of my local quilt guild and while some of the members and workshops are very un-hip and not to my taste, we also have more artistic members and some workshops about exciting new techniques. It's possible to make very hip or artistic quilts, but they have very little presence in the media, compared to hip knitting or other crafts.

Here's some things I like to look at. Sorry I am too lazy to make pretty links.
http://www.angelamoll.com/secretdiary.html Love these "secret diary" art quilts.

http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/ Wee Wonderfuls often has links to great quilt things, or her own nice quilts

http://www.angrychicken.typepad.com/ ditto Angry Chicken--she features a quilt-related thing every Monday, and she sells "small quilts" in her online shop.

http://www.lisacall.com/index.html Lisa Call makes really beautiful art quilts and she also has a blog: http://blog.lisacall.com/

http://www.ruthbmcdowell.com/ Ruth McDowell's art quilts are fantastic, as are her daughter's--I think her daughter used to post on this site or supernaturale, can't remember which one.

http://www.janesassaman.com/ Another fav art quilter, Jane Sassaman, who has so much energy in her work.

http://www.pamrubert.com/ Here's one more art quilter, who makes cartoony-style quilts that are very charming. She also has a nice blog: http://www.pamdora.com/

I don't have a link but I recall someone on craftster once had made a Super Mario Brothers quilt that was very cool.

ETA: I almost forgot Fun Quilts, one of my favorite sources of inspiration--http://www.funquilts.com/ They have a great new book out called The Modern Quilt that has very hip designs.


I don't have much advice about putting on the binding (if that's what you were talking about)--I'm not very good at that yet myself. Each book or website has slightly different instructions; I found that the instructions in The Modern Quilt (the book I just mentioned above) helped me a lot. It gets better with practice!

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by stuartpomona on 2005-02-11 12:23:19      Post Subject: Quilters under 25

I hate to ask ages, but is there anyone else out there who, like me, is a quilter under 25? I'd like to perhaps start a group for us. I often feel odd being a 20 year-old quilter. Breaking stereotypes is fun, but I'm sick of being alone in this. ha.


Angela H.
stuartpomona@gmail.com

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View entire thread: Where do you buy your fabric?

Posted by sewing stars on 2004-06-03 07:40:46      Post Subject:

My obession with fabric is ridiculous. I just moved and the amounts that I have accumulated in fabrics is a little scary.

Every summer my friend and I drive from RI to ME. I have this book, The Quilter's Companion. We go to as many quilting fabric stores as possible. The book is a great resource, if you are looking for quilting fabrics (cotton/cotton blends with prints).

When I go online to order fabric I go to equilter.com.

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by deborahthecraft on 2005-02-11 13:29:25      Post Subject:

I'm 24 and I am a quilter.

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View entire thread: cheating on crafts?

Posted by xuli on 2004-10-01 19:09:00      Post Subject:

Thanks for your thoughts, Craftistas! These are all good points being brought up, and I especially like this analogy from Athos:

i think it's the same as finding a dress pattern and fabric you like, and paying a seamstress to make it for you. nothing wrong with it, but you didn't make the dress yourself.

I totally understand people who are dedicated to a craft, but don't necessarily have the ability to finish all aspects of the craft. And I understand people who have crafty businesses -- especially people who sell quilts -- because it's just so much more efficient time-wise to have someone else doing the "grunt" work when what you're marketing are your own crafty designs and ideas. (And Shawneemonkey's example of the Amish women doing it is really good, too, because my understanding of quilting businesses that have Amish ladies do the quilting and pay them fairly for it is that they are investing in a really high-quality product, because Amish women have been passing down this knowledge for such a long long long time and have lots of knowledge and experience that your average hobby quilter just wouldn't have.)

But -- for hand-made things made for personal use ... I dunno. My friend's mom as example: I'd always admired my friend's quilts, and she always told me with such pride that her mom makes them. Then as I started getting really interested in quilts and really looking at the work on them, my friend was like, "Well .... actually .... she didn't do that part. She designed and pieced it though." It just seemed weird, even though my friend's mom wasn't the one claiming to do it herself.

And I guess another thing is that I get *such* a feeling of satisfaction out of a knitted garment after I've done all the blocking and seaming and tedious finishing stuff. I'm just not sure if I'd get that really satisfied feeling if I didn't do it all myself. I mean, yarn can be so expensive, and a knitted garment (even when made with relatively inexpensive yarn) is such an investment of my personal money, energy, time and work. But it's worth it in the end to me because I feel like I've really put myself into it. And I love being able to say, "I made that." It just seems like it would change the relationship between me and the things I make if I were to say, "I sorta made that."

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View entire thread: cheating on crafts?

Posted by karikazo on 2004-10-06 11:48:07      Post Subject:

ooh, this is such an interesting question. I think about it a lot because of the quilting angle--it's certainly common, even among dedicated quilters, to pay someone else to do the quilting (a step which is VERY time-consuming if you do it by hand, and may require specialized equipment if you do it by machine).

Even a quilt artist like Nancy Crow--http://www.nancycrow.com/--usually pays someone else to quilt her tops, though she chooses the quilting design, so all the design decisions have been made by her. She's the grande dame of art quilters, and like other art quilters, when her quilts are exhibited, credit is given to the woman who did the quilting. Though it's still a "nancy crow" quilt.

I have mixed feelings about the practice.

I agree it's totally great for people to do *any* kind of crafting, and if paying someone to do the part you find tedious, or don't know how to do, will allow you to craft stuff that you wouldn't have otherwise, then yay for that. As long as any work that is sold or exhibited gives proper credit to those who contributed.

On the other hand, I think I would feel like I was "cheating" if I did it. Especially because quilting a full-size quilt is a very significant process. It's not just "oh, here's these last couple of technical steps to finish it off." The quilting designs, and the skill with which they're executed, have a significant impact on the aesthetic impact of the quilt. I make quilts partly because I love the process (including the months of hand-quilting) and partly because I want to exercise creative control over something, to make my own creative decisions.

Also, I'm still learning my craft. My hand-quilting has improved tremendously from practice, but is still nowhere near as great as those Amish ladies' quilting (sigh...). I wouldn't feel like I really "own" my craft, and my quilts, if I shirked that learning process. Having a creative vision and getting joy from the process are both very important in my quilting, but those things must be supported by technical excellence, no matter how damn long (*gritting teeth*) it takes me to learn it!

And, frankly, I also feel a tiny bit of jealously of those who can pay someone else to baste, mark, quilt, and bind their quilts. Because I could get a lot more done if I could afford to do that. I have dozens of quilts rolling around in my head that I can't start yet because I have so many other projects underway. But I can't afford to pay a nice Amish lady to quilt for me, so instead I grumble privately about how paying someone to quilt your tops is "cheating".....when really it's just another way of approaching the craft, and one that's been practiced for a long time.

oh dear god I wrote a book. Basically I think that people making stuff should be the end goal, and there's not one perfect way to do that and be a "good" crafter or quilter. Personally, I wouldn't pay someone to finish my quilts even if I could afford it, and I plan to feel proud that I do them myself. But I'm also glad that Nancy Crow is free to spend more of her time designing fantastic quilt tops, since they are a source of inspiration to me.

blah blah blah blah blah

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by Iowa-art-teacher on 2005-02-12 19:16:14      Post Subject:

I'm a quilter and will be 25 until April!

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View entire thread: Quilts of Gee's Bend

Posted by Athos on 2005-07-04 15:41:25      Post Subject:

oh my gosh, that's beautiful! what an incredibly moving poem.

selah - make sure to take pictures of whatever you work on to share it with us! i've never made a quilt before, but my grandmother was a great quilter, and there's one my mother did. with pieces of her old, worn out cloth napkins, the leftover fabric from the curtains, old jackets. i hope someday to be half the woman that these quilters were/are.

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View entire thread: .a new reason not to shop Wal-Mart

Posted by brdgt on 2007-02-22 09:16:00      Post Subject:

hopefully this will HURT wal mart enough that other retailers will be able to return to the areas they once served so well!

Great point!

I don't mean to challenge folks, but really wonder about the claim that there aren't any other fabric stores in the area - I've lived in both rural and urban areas and there was always at least a quilter's supply store. Here are some fabric store directories I found:
http://www.fabdir.com/
http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/directory.php?brandID=FABRIC_STORES

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View entire thread: becoming an aunt! need ideas/patterns for baby quilts

Posted by mrs_stroozi on 2005-11-10 19:49:29      Post Subject:

Thank you for that link to repodepot, BTW! I had it at one time, but somehow managed to blow out all my bookmarks. My husband collects mid-century furniture, and I want to make pillows that would work for it and our 30s CA bungalow.

As for baby quilts.... a friend of mine made a glorious quilt for my daughter, but just with regular cotton weave. It was too heavy to put on her as a baby, so I hung it on her wall, then put it on her bed as an accent when she graduated out of the crib.

My MIL knitted a blanket then quilted a piece of flannel onto it. It was so heavy I used it underneath her for cold night batting.

My mother took yards of Polartec, doubled them and then sewed a blanket binding on all edges. These were ideal - warm and light. She also found some really wonderful flannel somewhere and did the same thing. I used them all the time.

My stepmom had a quilt made for me by a local TN quilter (we're in So CA). It was blocks of the backside of a little boy wearing a hat, with a handkerchief sticking out of one pocket. (This was for my son.) Adorable, but I didn't use it in the crib - too hard. I hung it over the rocking chair back instead.

When you're a baby's mom, you soon discover that although pretty is nice, practical/usable/machine washable beats pretty and useless hands down. Make one of each!!!!! I still have ALL the handmade blankets from all the grandmas, and I will NEVER let them go.

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by pteryla on 2005-09-02 20:47:14      Post Subject:

two excellent beginners quilting books are: Start Quilting with Alex Anderson: Six Projects for First Time Quilters; and Quilter's Complete Guide, by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter.

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by Lauren on 2005-02-16 11:52:55      Post Subject:

im 20 and a quilter ! .] well not really... ive started a bunch but havent finished any as of yet.. but i swear i will once school lets out!

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by Beki_lorraine on 2005-02-25 16:33:14      Post Subject:

Hey there im a newbie on this site! and while i was looking around i found your post! im a quilter and im only 17... does that make me the youngest?

Beki Lorraine

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View entire thread: Quilting

Posted by Athos on 2004-05-05 12:24:34      Post Subject:

red_rosary, that is beautiful!

i am such a dork - i was reading this page bottom up, and clicked on the link before i read your intro. and i figured out who the quilter was, and i was like whoa, i wonder if she knows! and then i saw your user name and figured that part out too.

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by piggy on 2005-09-17 16:51:05      Post Subject: Quilting

I am a quilter. I quilt by hand and by machine. I found a good place to check out about quilting. Got to about.com. The n punch in on search quilting. They have a quting email I get and they show where you can go to get patterns also. Hope this helps some.
Rosemary

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by tigrrrl on 2005-02-11 17:52:03      Post Subject:

I'm 31 and a quilter (what's six years to most quilters?) I'm thrilled that it's being revived or at least rejuvenated. I've seen enough taupe-on-taupe quilts with blocks of printed grandchildren pictures, though I do have a lot of respect for many of the traditional blocks.

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by Morgan on 2005-02-13 10:34:02      Post Subject:

I'm 24 & a quilter! I've never had anyone say it's weird that I'm so young, but I think most people are surprised when they see something I've sewn. Not that my quilts are so incredibly wonderful, but that I sewed it. Maybe I don't seem very crafty to them... hmm...

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View entire thread: Quilting

Posted by Athos on 2004-05-03 12:20:08      Post Subject:

yes!

i am extremely interested in quilting. my grandmother was a great quilter, and my mother's trying to find out what happened to all of her fabric when she passed away, in the hopes of getting it for me.

i love ds's quilts. i keep a file of tear sheets of quilts that i'm interested in for when i do get moving with a project. it seems kind of daunting!

oh, and the spring issue of marie claire ideés has a quilt pattern in it. it's a basic, romantic toile, but i like it a lot.

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View entire thread: Quilters under 25

Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-02-11 12:58:41      Post Subject:

I was a quilter under 25, but now I'm 32. Sorry...

Many of us know how you feel though. I still get the "I thought knitting was only for grandmas" crap when I knit at work or on the train.

I hope some of the fine ladies of Getcrafty will join you in your endeavor!

Have you seen the Tsunami Quilt project?

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View entire thread: anyone have a husqvarna viking machine?

Posted by gladygirl on 2005-10-13 15:21:59      Post Subject:

I would just love to throw in my love for my Viking! I bought it used from a co-worker who was upgrading hers...it retailed for @$500 new, doesn't have any computerized functions, but I LOVE it! I dream of getting a Bernina Quilter's Edition when I either do enough quilts to warrant it or win the lottery, but this is a great machine.

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by Schmatta on 2005-09-06 15:19:26      Post Subject:

I'm a quilter. Non-trad. Artsy. Mostly straight line piecing on the machine rather than curves by hand. Prefer hand quilting stitches, although I'm far from expert. Yes, Mary Ellen Hopkins' books are good. Yoshiko's work is beyond belief. Lovely but not very useful to those of us in our first/second/third reincarnations as quilters. I mean, she's from some other galaxy far far away.
I'll be glad to answer any ?? from beginners, and if I were smart enough, I'd post photos of my work so you could see if you even wanted to ask me anything.

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by kdaum on 2005-09-01 22:41:33      Post Subject:

So, I uploaded a couple of photos of my quilts or pieces of quilts (that I just haven't finished yet).

Here is a list of some of my favorite quilting books that are in my collection:

The It's Okay If You Sit On My Quilt Book - Mary Ellen Hopkins
-This is an oldie; but if you can find it, it is an excellent choice

Get Creative - M'Liss Rae Hawley

Design Essentials -Lorraine Torrence

Quilter's Playtime - Dianne S. Hire

There are so many others that I like; but don't have in my collection.

I completely agree that there is a lack of cool quilting sites, maybe I'll just have to start one in my free time :)

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View entire thread: who quilts?

Posted by shawneemonkey on 2005-09-14 10:53:35      Post Subject:

i'm a quilter! i've posted a couple of my quilts in my blog here:
http://getcrafty.com/blogs.php?user=shawneemonkey&entry=4971
http://getcrafty.com/blogs.php?user=shawneemonkey&entry=3678

shows like Quilt Visions (http://www.quiltvisions.org/) and Quilt National (http://www.quiltnational.com/) always have some interesting pieces AND they put out books with images of the quilts as well, in case you can't get to the shows. i've been to one of the Quilt Visions shows and it's just INCREDIBLE to see the quilts up close. very inspiring.

i also like Nancy Crow's work (http://www.nancycrow.com/) and the quilts of Gee's Bend (http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quilts/) and of course, Denyse Schmidt. oh, and there are loads and loads of other quilters, too many to mention!

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View entire thread: sewing machine????

Posted by deshep on 2008-02-07 22:53:36      Post Subject: Brother machine for quilting

hi
i use a brother pq1500 for quilting with a grace frame. it is wonderful . i am a brother-phille (new term made for junkies like me) i have 3 brother machines, the ps which is a mid arm machine . an nx600 my work horse, and a nx1000 (innov-is) for embroidery. ( i take sewing seriously).
the nx also does fine for free motion quilting. the 1500 is a strait stitch pin fed machine, sews up 10 1500 spm, but i thend to go a little slower. i only use it on the fraame, as i have the others for sewing and piecing. i have used it with a pc quilter for small jobs i find the pc thing is a bit slow for me. (more set up time than quilting time)
i find the brother machines to be trouble free and easy to maintain. i have in the past owned kenmore, singer and europro machines, all were fine machines, but no like brothers, i actualy gave them away
hope this helps
donna

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View entire thread: what's your favorite craft?

Posted by xuli on 2004-10-01 10:41:16      Post Subject:

quilting is amazing, one of the crafts i really admire.

Now I feel dishonest, like maybe I should clarify that I'm not a "real" quilter because I only have the guts to do tied quilts for now. But yeah -- it is an amazing craft. Last week I was in this small-town history museum (I love those!) admiring these amazing Little Red Riding Hood-themed quilts made in the 1900's and felt humbled to think that anything I could make could even belong in the same crafting family as these works of art.

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View entire thread: spring cleaning?

Posted by rubyfan on 2006-05-01 19:28:47      Post Subject: some suggestions to getting thru that craft pile

... I keep reading these postings to keep me motivated to clean out. Clothes and shoes are easy to part with, it's the boxes and boxes and more boxes for craft and needlework supplies that I know I will never use in this life time. I know it would be better if they went to a home where they would actually be used, but it's so hard to evaluate what I will REALLY use and what I won't. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for a crafting packrat?

Diana - wow! You can get through the clothing and shoes fairly easily. That seems to be a big step (no pun intended). So count that as a blessing. (Think of all the freed area for craft supplies!).

Now - motivating to clean out craft supplies. I find it hard also. I have to look at it from 4 points:

1 - find someone else who appreciates your donations and can use them
not Goodwill - I found a local high school, a non profit youth org, and a fixed income quilter...two of three are donations and all are nice to do! I find it less painful to pack up fabric to donate if I know it goes to someone who appreciates it.

2 - get a visual of what your work area will look like when its more open and how much more creative you will feel without piles in every corner
A friend loaned me a book Where Women Create - wow would I like to be creating in those rooms! Check out your library - there are several books out on planning craft/sewing areas. Start visuallizing what it would be like and what you want at your finger tips. And BUY something PRETTY for the room. I found this great mini cigar box with 4 drawers that I want to put my ceramic button collection into....and its not HUGE but very decorative (has a great map with an old feel on the top...). So now I have to have a free surface to display it!

3 - Get yourself to USE WHAT YOU HAVE.
Its hard. I found a group that has been doing that for the month of April. The ones that stuck to it have completed some pretty awesome projects. Just think of the treasures you have been MEANING to get to and DO NOT BUY anthing for a month (and try to work on a project every day). That alone helps! They did some mail swaps...for things missing. And did allow a person to prep before the month started - stock up on some missing items for projects.

4 - FIND A BUDDY.
Yep this is what really works for me. I have a fellow silk ribboner friend whom I have been going to classes with for years. We live hundreds of miles apart but have both had enough with our messes to want to fix it. You do have to find someone at your level of clutter I think so you can confess it all. We email several times a week and when one of us flags the other is energetic so we keep each other moving! Oh and we send "CONFETTI" in a word document. (No clutter there!!! but still a celabration from one who understands).

Kathy


So - does that give you any tidbit that might work? Let me know!

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View entire thread: how did you all get started?

Posted by sun bear on 2005-04-13 09:42:02      Post Subject:

my mom is a super crafter, she is an artist, a quilter, a woodworker, a knitter, a seamstress, etc. she was an interior designer when she worked and she also designed a line of pillows that never got manufactured, but still has them, i always thought people had funky stuff like that around. She built most of the furniture that's wood in our house. she also has a comost heap and a garden. She has always encouraged me with arts and crafts and i'm often more gung ho than she is, i.e. she taught me to knit, but i'm taking it steps farther with spinning and learning how to process raw wool. I never understood why everyone else didn't love arts and crafts, but I guess it's just b/c not everyone's mom had nurtured it in them since childhood. I never thought of my sister as crafty when I was young, but now I go to her house and she'll show me all this great stuff that she made :)

I'm so lucky to have discovered this community of crafters b/c i've made quite a few friends from it and it's just natural for us to get together and craft, those occasions were rare before get crafty, i had one crafty friend and we were friends all throughout middle school but then we kind of drifted in hs and i have no idea what happened to her

jt

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View entire thread: what craft intimidates you?

Posted by tiggycat on 2006-04-03 14:19:31      Post Subject:

It's funny that I would say quilting because I am a quilter-- I've made 2 so far. I love it, but I'm actually afraid for anyone who know what she's doing to see my quilts in progress. I'm sure they're all wrong but such fun!
Knitting- nuf said
Scrapbooking- where do you put all the stuff? And how do you keep it from looking as lame as the magazines depict?

Conquered fears:
Cooking meat
Using the sewing machine
Drawing
Using watercolors

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View entire thread: craft stores in brooklyn

Posted by pteryla on 2005-09-04 18:52:48      Post Subject:

i love the city quilter on 25th between 6th/7th, closer to 7th, north side of street. obviously it's quilting-specific, but there's great fabric, mettler thread, quality scissors, rotary cutters, rulers, mats, tons of books (i walked out with "stupid sock creatures" the other night, and love it already). thimbles, embroidery thread, etc. i also like lee's, and i love pearl paint. then there's a little place that bills itself as an art store on 7th betw. 29th/30th, east side of avenue. but it has a ton of yarn and various craft supplies too. there used to be a hipster yarn/knitting store on bedford ave. around s. 4th or so, but i don't know if it's still there.

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View entire thread: New Swap --Recycle My Clothes

Posted by Utilitygirl on 2005-01-19 15:12:46      Post Subject: Re: Sign Me Up!

..... But one question....does the item have to be returned as a clothing piece still, or can it be transformed into anything?
Jewelie in PA

Hi,
I am also curious about that too. I usually lurk from work. But being a quilter, I am definitely interested in this project, having reworked similar items for friends and family. Count me in!

Saja

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View entire thread: Your ANTI Craft

Posted by sallysunshine on 2004-11-15 10:07:37      Post Subject:

As a kid, I made scrapbooks of big events: I have a Bat Mitzvah scrapbook and a scrapbook for a play I was in when I was 9. But I never really thought of them as crafts. They were a way to preserve stuff, and the emphasis was on the stuff rather than the layouts. They were kind of like photo albums with things other than photos. I'm a little baffled by the "scrapbooking" phenomenon, although I could sort of see myself getting into it if I had any aptitude for it. I went to Japan recently, and I think it would be kind of cool to use washi paper and other Japanese textiles for backgrounds, rather than just slapping my pictures in an album.

I am in awe of quilters, but I don't have the patience or organizational skills. My mom is a quilter, and this is evidence that I don't get my ADD from her.

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View entire thread: feminism and domesticity

Posted by sallysunshine on 2004-12-15 16:29:00      Post Subject:

Do you mean that women have a sense of solidarity, despite their different ideology, in crafting?


Not really.

To me, feminism is not just a set of beliefs: it's a movement, and the idea is to change things. And in order to change things, we're going to have to enlist the help of people who don't currently consider themselves feminists. Some of them already are feminists according to my understanding of feminism, but they may shy away from the term, in part because there's been a pretty effective anti-feminist smear campaing. They think that being a feminist means hating men or forgoing makeup or not pursuing fun hobbies or whatever. They think that feminism is about limiting their choices, rather than expanding them.

I think that we might be able to use our shared interest in traditionally-feminine crafts to reach out to some of those women. I've seen that with my mother. I think my mom is a feminist, but she's always rejected the label, because she thought (wrongly, I think) that feminists would judge and reject her life choices. But she's a quilter, and through meeting feminist and womanist quilters, she's begun to change her ideas about feminism.


So it's clear to me that my crafty sensibility is a bit different from your average scrapbooker's, although it's not so different from my mom's. But I still wonder if we could find common ground with non-feminist crafters and maybe put a human face on feminism for women who haven't seen feminists as their allies. I'm thinking that instead of concentrating on how to convince people that we're not like those other crafty types, in fact we might concentrate on convincing crafty types that in some ways we are like them. And in other ways, maybe we can bring them to believe that they might want to be more like us.

Is that just totally naive?

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