It's hard to tell from the picture as it's too small to see the detail well, however, it looks like it could be a combination of patchwork and appliqué.
To continue the theme of guys replying... I know they aren't super easy, and take a bit of time - my wife has made a few for friends.
That said, we use them instead of a doona on our bed, and they are great because they aren't anywhere near as heavy, and it's easier to adjust the temperature with layers.
While quilts are traditionally made from cotton, there's nothing to say that they can't have other materials in them. Quilting is as much art as is painting or sculpting or..., the medium just happens to be fabric rather than paint, clay, marble...
You can do a top fairly easily with a sewing machine - you can do what's called a "nine-patch", which is 3 squares across by 3 squares down. It won't look all that interesting so you can jazz it up by (a) appliquéing something on some of the squares or (b) chopping the nine-patch through the middle in both directions then turning the pieces around, so they aren't facing the original partner piece, and sewing them back together.
A quilt consists of three layers - top (decorative side), wadding (the stuff that keeps you warm) and backing (to keep the wadding inside). It's not a quilt until these three layers have been sewn together. Then you need a binding around the edge to keep it neat and tidy and be the 'wearing' edge (where wear and tear happens the most).
Since you claim to not have any sewing skills or staying power, I'd suggest sending your top, wadding and backing to a professional quilter. Even people who make lots of quilts will get a professional to do this bit for them because they either don't have the time or don't have a machine that will do it well but they will do their own binding. Yes, you have to pay for this service.
There's probably a quilting group or hobby group that has a few quilters in it somewhere near you. I'd suggest finding one of them, go along at least once and ask questions. That way you'll have a better idea of whether you want to make it yourself or just buy one.
And be aware that if you're not prepared to pay a couple hundred $ for someone else's 'hand-made' one (as opposed to something cheap and nasty imported from a sweatshop) then you should just get a doona.
My friend Sheryl is a quilter, her blog is called oneforawish and there's a link on the side of my blog if you want to check out her stuff. She's very good and she also has links to other quilting blogs/groups there.
My impression (and I am also a non-sewer with little staying power for time consuming craft projects, and no sewing machine...making a single square/block for a quilt for little Jonathan took half a day for me to do!) is that yes, they are time-consuming. But it would depend on the size I guess...and the amount of detail you wanted in it. I guess sewing a few squares of material together could take as much or as little time as you put into it.
I'd be more inclined to find a friend/relative who enjoyed it and commission them to make one for you....you could go together and pick out the fabrics/colour scheme you wanted and leave the smaller details to them :)
Laetitia is right - it is a combination of patchwork and applique. What is Andrew talking about.
You should not make a quilt. You need extreme attention to detail, patience, TIME and sewing knowledge. I am a patchwork teacher's daughter and made two single bed quilts last year and they took me a lot of time. Pay someone else to do it.
Seriously the number of UFO's (UnFinished Objects) of the craft kind I have in my house leads me to agree with Helen's advice. Don't do it. Buy one. Commission a friend if you can to be able to direct colours if you like but you really do need time and sewing skills to make a full size quilt.
Hahaha - Ben, appliqué means something applied to a larger surface. In terms of quilting it means that a piece (or pieces) of fabric sewn onto a larger background piece, so it sits on top of the background piece. This is in contrast to patchwork where all the pieces are on the same level.
Do you spend time in front of the TV doing nothing with your hands? If so, you could take up hand sewing (since most shows don't require complete absolute attention). Yes, it will take longer (does it have to be done in a short time) but (for me at least) it can be quite relaxing.
That being said, I did too much the other week and gave myself RSI - oops. Oh, well, I used the enforced rest to go through my craft cupboard. :-)
I don't sit in front of the tv doing nothing. I lie on my bed with iview or a dvd on and multi task by writing or reading blogs, marking or by sleeping.
Ah...and this is the discussion starter for the girls, in lieu of Malory Towers. I see.
ReplyDeleteAndrew just pointed out that the picture isn't patchwork.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find a google image of one I liked. A Facebook friend of friend posted a pic of one I liked very much.
It's hard to tell from the picture as it's too small to see the detail well, however, it looks like it could be a combination of patchwork and appliqué.
DeleteTo continue the theme of guys replying...
ReplyDeleteI know they aren't super easy, and take a bit of time - my wife has made a few for friends.
That said, we use them instead of a doona on our bed, and they are great because they aren't anywhere near as heavy, and it's easier to adjust the temperature with layers.
How does Andrew know so much about patchwork quilts? You gender non-conformists you...
ReplyDelete*pokes Nathan in the ribs*
ReplyDeleteWhy is that picture not considered patchwork? It looks very much like patchwork to me.
ReplyDeleteIt could be. Neither of us have any patchwork knowledge really. He thought it looked silky.
ReplyDeleteWhile quilts are traditionally made from cotton, there's nothing to say that they can't have other materials in them. Quilting is as much art as is painting or sculpting or..., the medium just happens to be fabric rather than paint, clay, marble...
DeleteYou can do a top fairly easily with a sewing machine - you can do what's called a "nine-patch", which is 3 squares across by 3 squares down. It won't look all that interesting so you can jazz it up by (a) appliquéing something on some of the squares or (b) chopping the nine-patch through the middle in both directions then turning the pieces around, so they aren't facing the original partner piece, and sewing them back together.
ReplyDeleteA quilt consists of three layers - top (decorative side), wadding (the stuff that keeps you warm) and backing (to keep the wadding inside). It's not a quilt until these three layers have been sewn together. Then you need a binding around the edge to keep it neat and tidy and be the 'wearing' edge (where wear and tear happens the most).
Since you claim to not have any sewing skills or staying power, I'd suggest sending your top, wadding and backing to a professional quilter. Even people who make lots of quilts will get a professional to do this bit for them because they either don't have the time or don't have a machine that will do it well but they will do their own binding. Yes, you have to pay for this service.
There's probably a quilting group or hobby group that has a few quilters in it somewhere near you. I'd suggest finding one of them, go along at least once and ask questions. That way you'll have a better idea of whether you want to make it yourself or just buy one.
And be aware that if you're not prepared to pay a couple hundred $ for someone else's 'hand-made' one (as opposed to something cheap and nasty imported from a sweatshop) then you should just get a doona.
My friend Sheryl is a quilter, her blog is called oneforawish and there's a link on the side of my blog if you want to check out her stuff. She's very good and she also has links to other quilting blogs/groups there.
ReplyDeleteMy impression (and I am also a non-sewer with little staying power for time consuming craft projects, and no sewing machine...making a single square/block for a quilt for little Jonathan took half a day for me to do!) is that yes, they are time-consuming. But it would depend on the size I guess...and the amount of detail you wanted in it. I guess sewing a few squares of material together could take as much or as little time as you put into it.
I'd be more inclined to find a friend/relative who enjoyed it and commission them to make one for you....you could go together and pick out the fabrics/colour scheme you wanted and leave the smaller details to them :)
Laetitia is right - it is a combination of patchwork and applique. What is Andrew talking about.
ReplyDeleteYou should not make a quilt. You need extreme attention to detail, patience, TIME and sewing knowledge. I am a patchwork teacher's daughter and made two single bed quilts last year and they took me a lot of time. Pay someone else to do it.
Seriously the number of UFO's (UnFinished Objects) of the craft kind I have in my house leads me to agree with Helen's advice. Don't do it. Buy one. Commission a friend if you can to be able to direct colours if you like but you really do need time and sewing skills to make a full size quilt.
ReplyDeleteI was totally about to say that it was a combo of patchwork and applique.
ReplyDeletewhat's applique?
ReplyDeleteHahaha - Ben, appliqué means something applied to a larger surface. In terms of quilting it means that a piece (or pieces) of fabric sewn onto a larger background piece, so it sits on top of the background piece. This is in contrast to patchwork where all the pieces are on the same level.
DeleteLadies in my church do one Friday a month where they teach the ancient art of patchwork to other willing lasses. Get on over here.
ReplyDeleteDo you spend time in front of the TV doing nothing with your hands? If so, you could take up hand sewing (since most shows don't require complete absolute attention). Yes, it will take longer (does it have to be done in a short time) but (for me at least) it can be quite relaxing.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I did too much the other week and gave myself RSI - oops. Oh, well, I used the enforced rest to go through my craft cupboard. :-)
I don't sit in front of the tv doing nothing. I lie on my bed with iview or a dvd on and multi task by writing or reading blogs, marking or by sleeping.
ReplyDeleteHahaha - love that "sleeping" as the multi-tasking activity.
Delete