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which quilt you are going to make next? I know you all have a tonne of UFO's hangin around...there's always a quilt you want to make. But how do you decide? I normally see a pattern that I like then a fabric that I like then go from there. I seem to be struggling with quilting on a budget tho!
How do you decide which you will do and with what fabrics?
why don't you go through the fabric you have and put some together that would look good in a quilt and then look for a pattern that would work with those fabrics.
I usually pick something from my stash and then figure out what to do with it. Sometimes I have to buy another piece of fabric to go along with it, but I am not buying fabric for the whole top. Sometimes I can make something else from my stash work too.
I have recently finished a challenge from my guild and gotten my UFOs finished, I haven't been quilting too very long so there were not that many, 10 in the last year have been done. Now I am going to make a quilt I saw and really admired from the trunk show part of my first class. I bought a JR as a daily deal that will be perfect and bought more fabric to go with it on vacation so I am ready. It is My Blue Heaven by Bonnie Hunter and is all blues and beiges. I can't wait to start it this week.
After that I have fabric to make 5 quilts of various sizes and a wall hanging for Winter. I figure I will do the wall hanging this Fall and the others as I feel the urge. There is no particular purpose for any of these quilts, they are all just fabrics I loved when they were bought and I still feel that way. I do need to not buy anything until I get a few of these made, at least the tops since I am out of batting other than pieces to be sewn together.
Hope you don't mind my booklike reply.:lol:
wish my stash was big enough! Sadly, I'm not there yet. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Doloris
I always see new patterns I want to try. I look through my stash and see what looks good and maybe buy a piece or 2 to complement.
Well I have a dilemma, I bought a jelly roll and a charm pack of the Moda Front Porch and don't know what to do with them. I love the lattice quilt but you need 4 charm packs with it and I don't want to spend any more money (husband would have a stroke if he ever saw all the fabric I've bought) any ideas? I just love the fabric and want to use it together.:(
Usually I pick a fun pattern and then see what I have around. My stash is not large so I can tell pretty fast if I need to shop to make it happen. Often when I'm choosing a pattern I know what I have on hand and am thinking of those fabrics then too. Of course what I had in mind for fabrics when I bought and what I end up making often don't happen ;)
Did you decide to do something with those great pink and white fat quarters yet?
Terri
You could make the square in a square that Jenny has a video. You would need to get a honey bun or cut 1 1/2 strips. That one is the next on my list. :icon_wave:Quote:
Originally Posted by estrogen
I usually want to make the most recent tutorial from Jenny LOL
Right now I am working on a UFO that I am finishing up for my nephew since I had a request to make him one. I made the blocks at least a year ago, and I am finishing it up from my stash. I still have several tops ready to sandwich.
So I usually start one with someone in mind, or just fabric I love.
I watch Jenny Doan's videos and go from there. My next one is going to be square in a square.Quote:
Originally Posted by WendyI
Want to come & join us in the Second Hand Rose group? The goal is to make a quilt from fabric that has been used before -- so it is budget-friendly! Some members have bought thrift store shirts for a total of less than $20 to make a quilt top. I spent the princely sum of $30 for enough cotton shirts to make a quilt top, & I'm guessing I might have enough fabric for backing or binding too. Some members are using old sheets or clothes from their own family, which is even more budget-friendly. Some forum members like Lenie have posted examples of quilts they have made from recycled fabrics in the past, & some have posted Pinterest examples. There are lots of options!Quote:
Originally Posted by WendyI
Decisions, decisions! I have so many UFOs, I should probably not start another project till I finish these up. But...I keep seeing tuts. & patterns I want to try! Sometimes I make just 1 or 2 blocks to see how they turn out. Sometimes I make a whole quilt top -- usually kids' or baby size. Right now I'm working on the big star block, which is 32" square. I'm adding to it until it will be rectangular shape for a boy baby. I'm using fabric from my FQ stash as well as yardage I had on hand. I'm sort of developing it as I go. lol My choices for baby gift quilts usually depend on the mom's theme & color choices. JCY
I usually find the fabric first and when I see it a pattern pops into my head that the fabric would be perfect for. I am working on a scrap quilt right now. Then my next one will be Jenny's Big Star.
I like to give quilted items as gifts, so often my next project is the next gift for a birthday or a holiday. I also have a very long list of quilts and quilted items I want to make, so I can refer to that list. Finally, I have a few kits I have purchased, so that is another option. I have a stash, but almost everything I bought was intended for some specific project. Well, some of those projects never were started, and now I am looking at using some of those materials in a different way. I still find it difficult to buy material with no particular purpose in mind - how do I know how much to buy if I don't know what I will do with it?
Much of the material I have was purchased a few years ago when I was still working. Some of it was purchased from stores that were going out of business, and I also participate in a shop hop where the stores offer 20% a days purchase (material, thread, batting, tools) during the first six months of the year. So now I try to plan all my quilting projects by June each year, and go to those shops to get the fabric I need with the discount coupons. Most of my batting comes from Joann's - where they are already discounted or I use coupons to get them at 40 - 50% discount.
I go by what's funnest for me. King size quilts are not fun... brown anything is not fun...
I don't have a very big stash yet, either. I'm building mine, hoping that once I retire I won't have to give up quilting. As you know, it can be a very expensive hobby. I don't have to limit my purchases at the moment, but if I did, I think I'd comb thrift stores for mens shirts. I have seen MANY lovely quilts made from mens shirts. In fact, it could become a treasure hunt!
But that wasn't your question. How do I decide on my next quilt? Lots of things affect it. I have an unwritten rule that I finish what I start. I am going to allow myself to break that rule in a couple of weeks when I start hand quilting my great grandmother's quilt. I will work on that in front of the TV while I'm working on modern quilts on the machine. My next machine-made quilt will be made from the prettiest charm packs I got from Daily Deal. I just fell in love with them and bought background, border and backing fabric and decided I had to see those charms in action! Next after that will be the Christmas quilt kit my hubby recently bought for me. Seems only fair that he should see me working on it soon. After that, I'm not sure. I have so many possibilities. It often comes down to what colors are speaking to me at the moment. Or sometimes Jenny's latest tutorial calls my name. If I was on a budget, it would probably come down to what I can create while using the least amount of resources.
I dont have any fabric stashed away. I have a long list of "sew it". There are a few projects Im already working on but when a daily deal comes up that I really want, I go through my list to see what it would with best.
This is what I recommend. Give husband Crestor or other stroke medication. Buy those charm packs. He probably has a hobby that he spends money on. When we moved across Texas, lots of boxes marked dishes, were really boxes of fabric. Worked for me.
Janbee, when I comment on the expense of quilting, my husband says "at least it isn't horses."Quote:
Originally Posted by janbee
It depends upon which I find first the pattern or the fabric or one of Jenny's videos. Currently, my next project is going to be a mini quilt by hand. Between being at the pool with the children, waiting at other various times, I am needing a project. So I will just do a mini quilt. A friend of mine started making layered flowers through handquilting - they are very pretty but I am not in a spot to get the pattern right now. Her quilt was beautiful when she was done.
I like that she took an empty rectangular plastic baby wipes box and decorated the outside. She put her handquilting supplies including fabric and takes it with her to quilt when she had a free moment throughout the day. She has gotten several projects done this way in a short amount of time.
I usually try to alternate. I'll do one that I would like to do and then hand the issues of BLOCK out to DH or a neighbor and have them pick a pattern and what colors they would use. So far DH has picked 5 and my neighbor's husband has picked Falling Charms. I wish my neighbor would pick one so I can get my BLOCKs back but she says she loves just looking at the pictures!
I will get invited to a shower or a kid's birthday. At that time, I drop whatever I am doing and make a quilt for the said shower/birthday :-D
My husband's quilt is next, I promise. I have all the fabric and the paper showing the pattern layout is pinned on the design wall. I started cutting the fabric and then got invited to a birthday party for a 3 year old on July 26th!!! Sorry, DH.
And since I have finished quilting my "modern quilt" I am dying to finish binding on that so that I can share/blog about it...
How do I decide? HAPHAZARDLY (ha ha ha...)