Old Chinwag Craft Board Block Swap 2007

[azureline**]

Sometime in early 2007, the Craft Board quilters got together and organised a Block Swap. We had to design and prepare enough blocks to make a quilt for ourselves, provide the first block completed and send the package on to the other crafty people in the swap.
We each completed a block in everyone's set.
My quilt was for my grandsons' bedroom in my home. I set a theme of teddy bears and boy's toys.
Most of these quilts have been finished for some time....... but.... I could not make a decision on how to do mine until recently.
I learned so much in that year and can't thank everyone who was involved enough! My applique skills are much improved.
So, thank you ♥
Sewinggilly123
Nanarener
Nelson333Nelson
T Hugs
Billngrace
Patcher246
Tasfleur
I have also sewn the labels of the blockmakers onto the back of the quilt, behind the relevant blocks.
I made mine into a quillow, a quilt that folds into a pillow, so one of the blocks is on the back of the quilt and when folded into it, becomes a pillow.
My 3 yo grandaughter looked at it and said "Gran, that is brilliant" and that is a good recommendation, so I have to thank everyone who was involved.
Pics in post 1

[bunderella*]

ive never had one come apart but yes a shorter stitch length would help

[keeliaclare]

Morning/afternoon ladies

Karen love the raggy quilt it's gorgeous. Funny though, that russion doll fabric is exactly what i bought to make Zozo's next quit!!! I bought the co-ordinating fabrics in he green and pink too. Its only about 1/2 finished though, its the "bargello style" I did in class, but as their new house isn't even started yet, I'm in no rush to finish it!

Re washing fabric, I know lots of people say you don't need to, but I made a quilt for Meg (daughters dog!) which was mainly quitec heap fabric but I used a black and silver sparkle fabric (at $28 per metre) as a feature and border, washed it (gently on hand wash in a front loader) after I had finished but before I gave it to her and every single bit of silver sparkle washed off.

So....never again, I will always prewash from now on. If it had been a good size quilt for someone special I would have been devastated!

[azureline**]

Hi Keeli, I already had most of the fabric when I came across the doll one, lol.
I sometimes prewash....mostly not. I figure if it is 100% cotton, it should all shrink at the same rate..... black, red, navy.... always wash in case it runs.
Yes, sparkles, they usually wash off........

[keeliaclare]

That's really bad. I think they should have a warning on it before you buy it. It is after all, quilting fabric!


I did go back to the quilt shop and show them and they credited me with an equal amount of fabric of my choice, which was fine, but still not really good enough if for instance I had made a full size quilt.

I've used the "Fairy Frost" ones (sure you know them, they seem to be everywhere in lots of colours) and they are fine, but this one was different.

[keeliaclare]

btw, I've decided with the quilt I'm doing now to insert bands of black (can't remember the technical term!)in between the blocks and was going to use a jello roll I have. Would you wash that? It will be a pain washing all those 2 1/2 inch strips..

[azureline**]

you could test one? for colourfastness?

[bunderella*]

i dont pre wash nuffin

lol

and the bands are sashing

[azureline**]

i dont pre wash nuffin

lol

and the bands are sashing

Bundy.... we are not supposed to confess such things.... the quilt police will see us!B-)

[keeliaclare]

Yup, sashing, that's the word I was looking for LOL, tested one,seemed ok I think..... sure if will be ok...meh, onward.......life's too short to wash little strips of fabric right?

[april_reigns]

btw, I've decided with the quilt I'm doing now to insert bands of black (can't remember the technical term!)in between the blocks and was going to use a jello roll I have. Would you wash that? It will be a pain washing all those 2 1/2 inch strips..

I wouldn't wash the 2 1/2" wide strips. They are usually ok left unwashed.

Today I washed a piece of flannel that started off at 42" wide by 60" long and it ended up at 38" wide by 58" long, that's a 4" difference in the width alone! I wasn't expecting that!

Had I not washed it first I wonder what that much shrinkage would have done to the finished quilt the first time it was washed? I am using wool blend wadding and flannel on the backing as well. I suspect it would have bubbled in the middle as the wool blend wadding doesn't shrink that much?

Now it's back to the calculator for me. I need to work out if I can cut it into enough squares to make the quilt with this new width! ?:| Or go shopping for more? 😉