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March 27, 2009

Comments

Peta-Jane

Great tips!!
Just one question, how do you get the pins in without leaving little stabbing marks in your floor. ( as I have done ) whenI am trying to be sure that I have all 3 layers on my pin ???
( and not lifting the the layers off the floor and stretching them too much ??)

thank you for this wonderful tutorial BTW..I have learnt so much !!

Patty

I haven’t been participating in the quilt along but I have really enjoyed reading along with it. You are so clear with explanations and the photos are so nice! I especially enjoyed the “flat seams” or “open seams” segment. I use both techniques depending on the type of block I am working with. You have a natural talent for teaching.

nanci

I again want to thank you for doing this tutorial. It's been so informative and as the above poster said, you certainly do have a knack for teaching. I think your photos have been so clear too which has helped so much. I have seen some tutorials where there is such light coloured fabric used that one can't dissern what is being done.

I have used spray glue for my lap quilts with much success. I know it's not the technique taught here, but on the small quilts, it certainly make it easy to get the quilt together. I have arthritis a bit in my hands and the spraying has helped me so much.
Again thank you for your taking the time to do this as it's been a labour of love of this craft on your part to put this together.
Thank you!

Amy

Is that really enough pinning? (I have been told that pins should be no more than a hand width apart... or what looks like at least 3 times the pins that you used...)

Caveat - I send out 99% of my quilts to be quilted by a professional. (More time for me to play with fabric - my favorite part of the process.) So I don't really have practical experience.

Esther

I just have to find an area with enough floor space! Thanks again for these tutorials - they are an inspiration! The colours you've chosen for both sets are, as always, beautiful. I'm a bit behind (I'm just finishing the blocks...) but it's been great to try new things, and to actually have the possibility of finishing a "large" project within reach! I still can't quite work out how you manage to get your seams that perfect though. I'm hoping practice will eventually make perfect!

Jane Weston

I've been really enjoying reading about your quilt process...and this post has given me a lightbulb moment. I never though of putting the quilt top on the wadding and then trimming it...I have always measured...which isn't a great method, 'cos I always end up short! I also love how you wrapped the top and wadding together...hmm 2 lightbulb moments in 1 post!! Thanks :o)

Elizabeth

Quick answers to a few questions . . .

1. I probably do leave marks on my floor, but I've never really noticed it. Using curved safety pins probably helps.

2. This is enough pinning for me. As I mention, if you haven't done a lot of machine quilting, you probably want to do more pinning than I do. (Placing additional pins at the intersections and the edges as I suggest would be roughly equivalent to "a hand's width" apart.)

Thanks!

Kristen

I will second the suggestion for basting spray! Especially for beginners, I think it makes it so much easier to avoid wrinkles and bumps while free motion quilting. I tried safety pins and thread basting, and always ended up with wrinkles in the back. With basting spray I have never had a problem. Maybe I am just a poor pinner/baster!

Liz Taylor

I will definitely have to try this method of sandwiching my fabric. It looks like a great way to do it. Thanks for all the practical advice during this quilt along.

Kama

Very helpful! I just made my first large quilt sandwich. It took forever!!! :)

Christa

I'm having so much fun reading your tutorials even though I'm not participating in this quilt along.

I have a question about the curved safety pins you use. Do they leave a hole in your fabric? I bought a huge package of curved safety pins before I realized that they are pretty big and they damage the fabric if I'm not careful. I've got my eye out for thinner curved safety pins, but I haven't found any yet. Any advice?

Thanks!

Elizabeth

As with everything, there's quite a range of quality among pins. I've found that the more pricey ones that are marketed specifically for quiltmaking are sharper and cause less damage than the cheaper store brand or the ones on the notions wall. If pins in general are causing you trouble, you can always baste instead.

I just prefer pins because they're fast and I can usually have my quilt sandwich together in less than an hour, whereas basting takes quite a bit longer.

Christa

I think I'll keep on looking for sharper and thinner pins rather than look into basting. Basting sounds like it takes forever!
Thanks!

heatherandrienne

I just found your blog! I love it. I can't wait to try some of your patterns. Great job!!

Lisa F

Thanks so much for the tutorial. I always had lumps in the back of my quilt. Now I am inspired to try this method! :)

JulieFrick

One thing I've found really helpful when it comes to the securing of those pins is taking a knitting needle along with me to push the pointy end up into the "trap." Helps keep my fingers from getting too sore. They sell a tool for this at Jo-Ann, but I've found the knitting needle's great for it!

Aimee

Great tips - thanks so much for putting so much effort into this!

Maria

I have a problem... I don't have enough floor space so I have to use my bed which is to soft and I get wrinkles in the back of the quilt...:(

Elizabeth

Maria,
I would suggest that you work on a table instead. Let the edges hang off and start pinning in the middle. It's not ideal, but I think you'll get much better results than using a bed.

Marie

Love the quilt sandwich. Great idea!

mathea

Floor space is an issue for me as well, but I always use my kitchen table when pinning and start from the middle and that works just fine. I appreciate your tips on laying out the top on the batting from one end and trimming it before adding it to the backing. And the trick of rolling it into a tube - thank you! I have always struggled with folding everything into quarters while layering, but I see that I can get this might work on my table too.

Michele

I LOVE YOU!!!!! i have learned more in the past 30 minutes since I foud your blog, than in the past 3 years of beginning quilting! I have been fairly successful in the quilts I've made, but your tips, hints, and shortcuts are DIVINE!

Tammy Seguin

Thank you for doing this tutorial...I was not able to follow-along but I "followed-along". I am using your method of making a quilt sandwich, and I am wondering when did you take the tape off of the backing? do you keep it in place until after you are finished pinning? ...or did I miss something? Thanks for your help and Thanks for the tutorial! I love your teal/black/white color combo!

Jeannine

thank you! thank you! thank you! I am a totally self taught quilter. Never taken a class or workshop, so I just learn as I go along or by reading what others have done or suggested. getting my back and top to line up has always been a problem for me. I just recently (yesterday)used your method on a quilt - you can see it on my blog if you like - and I am so impressed how well everything lined up. I can't thank you enough for saving me hours of time and frustration!!! Now I want to make another one!!

Judy

thank you! my floors are carpet so I go to my church and use their tables. I will try your method it seems so simple.

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