The Poultry Keeper

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2036 Location: North Cornwall

Thanks everyone for your help Very Happy

Angela, I have 34 good ones, 1 that isn't too mouse chewed which I can repair with a bit of unpicking and 1 pink middle, so as theres a whole lot of strips I could make 1 more, making 36.
So I can go 6x6 or 7x5 and with a border that shouldn't look to bad, what d'you think Laughing

Does it have to be top stitched through the wadding when its all together Confused

and should I wash the blocks now or when they are joined. They are not dirty as such, but smell a bit mousey. There are no end made into a big mouse nest, I can just see all the baby mice dressed in little outfits Laughing

Its amazing how bright the colours are after all this time. Some are scraps left over from dresses I made for my daughters when they were small Very Happy

I feel real keen to get started now Very Happy

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject:

Jan, I've put together the odd log cabin in my past...

If you want to wash your squares, do so with handwashing with gentle soap. Then iron dry - it will help to be accuracy in piecing. You can choose how you want to quilt it... you can do a tied quilt, where you insert 'ties' into the corners of each block (use wool), insert from top, into three layers through bottom and tie off from the front. This is the quickest way to finish a quilt if you don't feel confident to do hand quilting.

If you want to do hand quilting, then you'll need to tack the three layers together securely. First put the backing on a large surface (like a large floor space) - I very often tape the corners to make it tight, then put the wadding on top, then the quilt top. Tack from the centre out to each side and corner and then finally the edges. If you want to machine quilt, you can quilt "in the ditch" along the seams.

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2036 Location: North Cornwall

Thanks Loudmouth, thats a big help Very Happy

If i do the ties, do I just tie an ordinary knot, are they supposed to show?

And why wool? Confused

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:58 am Post subject:

Wool is nice and strong.

You just get a big needle, insert from top through bottom and up again. Just tie a good tight knot and clip off excess. Yes, they can show. It's the handquilting where you don't show knotting.