Any more quilts?

[Scottishtourist]

Who was the lady on the site who posted photos of the beautiful patchwork quilts she made?
Just wondered if there were any more completed for us to see..they were exquisite.
I was always hopeless at sewing..but was taught to knit by my granny when I was young.
I used to knit all the kids baby jackets,school cardigans,Aran jumpers,etc.
Nowadays though,it's mainly baby shawls,the traditional 2/3 ply ones..and they're done more as a pastime.But a hand knitted shawl is still a very much appreciated gift,even in these days of mass-produced cheaper alternatives.
Photography seems to be a very popular hobby with members of the forum.
What other hobbies do people enjoy?
Are you more interested in those that involve new technology,etc..or do you favour those that are more traditional handcrafts?

[Horus]

It was Ruby Slippers who posted about her quilts, she will no doubt be along to comment shortly

[LovelyLadyLux]

Yesss it was Ruby Slippers who makes the gorgeous quilts and, as Horus says, lots of us on here are into photography.

I like growing houseplants, do some crocheting and knitting - hats, dishcloths, small projects. In the past I was up for knitting sweaters, jumpers, cardigans, scarves, hats, most anything. I also sew. Years ago it was out of necessity as I lived in such a remote area if you wanted something new you had to make it. Was even really good at sewing blue jeans that rival'd the best ones today. Sewed all my dresses, business suits, kids clothes, draperies - OMG I sewed everything.

I made macramé, pottery, gardened (still love my house plants), cross stitched pictures to frame and hang on the wall, crocheted FINE doilies (can't see to do that anymore), embroidered and all manner of arts and crafty things. Was quite handy with turning anything into something and even to this day find it hard to just sit with my hands still. Want to DO something.

[Kiya]

ST I'm like you, I used to knit all sorts when my children were little & to my 2 grandson's but all are growing so quick homemade jumpers etc are not so popular.

When you mentioned the 2/3ply shawls for babies.......it reminded me of my mam's best friend whom knitted a 2 ply shawl for my first baby & I used the same one for the next two & it was also used for my two grandson's.
I still have it although it has a couple of holes in it but would never part with it.

Ther's nothing more beautiful than taking a new born baby home wrapped in a shawl

[Ruby Slippers]

No more quilts at the moment. I've been making glove puppets for my grand-daughter's fifth birthday on Friday. We bought her a theatre but the puppets range from £8.99 - £25 each and they didn't have the Red Riding Hood ones - so I've made them! I finished the woodcutters axe and Red Riding Hood's shopping bag this afternoon!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Ohhhhhhhh the vagaries of language! When ST said 'shawl' I envisioned our definition of shawl which is a triangle shaped fabric/material usually crocheted or knit wrapped around an older person to keep the chill or OF a shawl is a lacey piece of fluff worn out for an upper crust date or on a cruise ship etc.

OK - NOW I got it.......It wasn't 'til I read Kiya's response that BABY BLANKET dawned on me - OR - Afghan (as they're known here).....and, ohhh goodness I've made a bizzillion in my day. I've mostly crocheted them but for years giving a shawl aka baby blanket was my standard baby present. Most mums I know keep them and babies definitely MUST have a new blanket for being brought home from the hospital.

On a slightly different topic - a hobby I've thought about is making Mats for photos. I've seen many a dull picture made to look fabulous based on the frame and the matting. Am not sure what all would be needed to make really terrific looking mats but it is something I've considered looking into - the whole notion of framing and matting photos.

[Horus]

On the framing and matting of photos did you see the ones that Kiya was having made up?

[Ruby Slippers]

[img][http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BQL/ ... er=asc/img]

[LovelyLadyLux]

Yessssssss - wonderful!

Over the years I've looked at the equipment needed and it doesn't seem to be that complicated. Just never got around to getting it but me thinks that precision is what needed (plus creativity). I just know that when one goes to a framing shop it costs and arm and a leg for them to matt your photos and pictures so have always thought about making my own.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Well - I'm almost set to launch into my first quilt. I've been collecting material for some time now, have watched a few UTube quilt shows and the entire 'how to make a quilt' is slowly de-mystifying for me. Seems some quilts are incredibly easy and others are incredibly hard. Finding a pattern I like and colours I like will be my first hurdle, cutting them out accurately the next, sewing not so much but what I'm thinking is going to be super difficult is the actual quilting. Unless one is prepared to hand stitch (NOT ME ) one needs a huge machine to make all the fancy dancy stitches. Am still looking around here to see if anybody has one. I saw a listing of quilting prices in the USA and it is NOT inexpensive! No wonder quilts are so expensive. The most I look into the art of quilting the more impressed I am.

Those little old ladies of yester year really put their heart and souls into making quilts. Must have taken them HOURS.

[Horus]

Months even

[Ruby Slippers]

Usually you choose the pattern before buying the fabric, LLL! You will also need a rotary cutter, a self-healing cutting board, (the bigger the better) and a quilters rule. A good steam iron that you can leave set up while you are sewing is a must too. Spray starch makes cutting and piecing easier, although it's not important; make sure your sewing machine is suitable for a quarter inch seam allowance. YouTube is an excellent source of information. Most quilters manage to quilt using free motion on a domestic machine. Look up Leah Day. Good luck!

[LovelyLadyLux]

I've got a rotary cutter/self healing board, steam iron but not a quilters rule. Hmmm - will have to look for one. My sewing machine does have the ability to sew quarter inch. Been watching some Utube videos and they're definitely great.

So - finding a pattern first is the way to go..........hmmmmm Am always backwards in one way or another!

I'll have to look up Leah Day! Thanks for the suggestion(s)! I NEED as much HELP as I can get!

[Horus]

I daren't even ask what a 'rotary cutter/self healing board' is but good luck with it anyway

[Ruby Slippers]

LLL, you do realise you are heading for the workhouse with this hobby, don't you? It will keep you poor!

[LovelyLadyLux]

Am quite naïve about quilting at this point. Have a couple friends who quilt, one gf who is absolutely obsessive about it, a cousin (the RN) who has started in her retirement and who is quilting non-stop so am (naively) thinking that they're having fun and creating some beautiful items so I will too. I think, I hope, gulp!

On the other hand maybe I'll just keep collecting snazzy material.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Have decided that the first quilt will be a "jellyroll" pattern. Seems quite easy to cut out, sew up and put together. Will be in shades of browns, rusts, oranges, olive greens (for the solid colour).

[Ruby Slippers]

I went to a local(ish) quilt show yesterday. It took an hour to get there, two hours looking around, and two hours to get back! Total purchases? 6 new rotary cutting blades; I book and two bolts of fabric! I honestly don't know why I bothered! Every time I go to this particular venue I end up saying 'never again!' And I still go!

[Grandad]

Two bolts RS, that's a lot of fabric? And the rotary blades? Are they for your sewing machine or some other machine?

I am completely ignorant about fabrics and sewing although I used to have responsibility for subcontracted stitched products when I was working, so I guess I did have to learn a bit.

[LovelyLadyLux]

@RS - how long do your blades last? Quite a while? So far I only have 1 rotary blade cutter and 1 spare blade. Am not too sure how long a blade will last but am hoping long enough to let me cut sufficient fabric for 2 quilts.