First quilt questions

bkay2000

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I'm planning my first quilt. I'm having trouble making the math work. I want it to be about 84" square. I'm doing a log cabin square. If I make my logs 2" and use 4 layers of logs (not sure of the proper terms), I'll have 6 - 13.5 inch blocks across and down with a 1.5 " border. That doesn't seem to be enough border to be pleasing to the eye. If I reduce the strip by .25 of an inch, my block will be 11.25. With 6 across that will leave me 8.25 inches on each side, which seems like too much border. Somehow, I think 2" strips will be easier to measure and cut correctly than 1.75 inch strips. How do you work this stuff out?. (I need an equal number of blocks for the layout I am planning.)

Do you wash the fabric before you start? There are differing opinions, I know. The reasoning expressed at the fabric shop for not washing it doesn't make sense. She said the fabrics would shrink at different rates if you prewashed them (having to iron it was another reason), It seems shrinkage would be a reason to wash them, as shrinking after the quilt is finished would make the quilt ugly, wouldn't it?

The last question (for today) is about thread count. How do you know if the fabric has a good thread count? I've only looked at quilt shops and at Walmart. Walmart has the thread county listed on the bolt. The quilt shop doesn't. How do you know if that $12.00 a yard fabric is really worth $12.00?

Featured Answer

glassquilt

10 years ago

1) Here's an online tutorial. You can cut you logs any size you you want to. The technique remains the same.
http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2015/08/quilt-in-a-day-log-cabin/

2) I prewash because I want my fabric to be shrunken before I cut it. Sometimes the fabric on the bolt has been ironed and is no longer 'straight' on grain. Washing allows it to return to it's woven grain. (Much more important when sewing cloths but still a consideration.) Washing removes the excess sizing that some manufacturers use to make their fabric feel like better quality. You can starch your fabric yourself after washing if you prefer to work with it that way.

3) I don't know how to explain different fabrics. Cheap fabrics seem flimsy to me, I can see light through them. Better fabric has a nice 'hand'. Batiks are the firmest because of the way they are made. ( http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/batik )

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Comments (9)

geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
10 years ago
If you make your strips 2 1/2" (as in the link given), your block will be 12" finished (if made like the tutorial) with 7 across and 7 down making your 84" without a border. If you want a border, use only 6 blocks across and down which will give you 6" finished border or divide it up with 2 different kinds of border fabric and sizes......as in 2" finished for the inner one and 4" finished for the outer border.

I also prewash fabric before making a quilt.

To be truthful, there would have to be a very good reason I'd pay $12 a yard for quilt fabric. Usually, you can get pretty good fabric for much less than that. I have always gotten nice quality fabric from Connecting Threads.......even their sale fabric. I use fabric from Walmart, too, but have to pay attention to what I'm getting.

Hope this helps.......
bkay2000 thanked geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
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User
10 years ago
I didn't do the math but what Sharon says sounds good to me.

I always prewash fabric as soon as it hits the door, not only for shrinkage but to make sure there is no excess bleeding of colors.

I only buy fabric on sale. You know the markups are ridiculous when the store is constantly putting it on sale at 30 to 40 percent off. Since I don't buy the finer stuff online I am limited to whatever Joann's or the LQS has and that's not saying much. So I don't see a whole lot of variation on quality. With the exception of Batiks and Kona solids it all seems about the same to me. I rarely go to the remaining Walmart in the area that still has fabrics and what's there isn't much different anyway. We have a Hobby Lobby here now and I'm really not very impressed with their selection, either.
bkay2000 thanked User
trouzernc
10 years ago
I always prewash for the reasons others have listed.

When it comes to buying fabric, I don't like having to pay such high prices either. But I make more scrappy quilts and a few small pieces of lesser quality fabric aren't going to be noticed in the long run. I'm more particular about whether or not the fabric in question is 100% cotton. I can always tell if the fabric is a blend of polyester or something else, especially when I iron it. To my thinking, a quilt with a few pieces of cheaper fabric in the mix is not going to detract from the finished results as long as the color, hue, print, or pattern suits the quilt over all and "plays well" with the other fabrics next to it.
bkay2000 thanked trouzernc
bkay2000
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, guys for the help.

I'm in Dallas, so I have lots of choices for fabric, with two or three quilt shops within 5 miles.

I just found an inexpensive program on Amazon for quilting called Quilt Design Wizard. Does it work well?

bk
toolgranny
10 years ago
I've used the wizard program and yes it works well. It is a basic layout program with basic blocks and you should be able to buy it at Joann's with a coupon. If on the shelf there, you can read the package and save the postage.

I started with that and then I upgraded to EQ7 which is much harder to use but does more. I still can't make that one do what I want but it also does applique designs and harder stuff.

To play with layouts and blocks, wizard would be a good learning tool. It's also more reasonably priced.
fran1523
10 years ago
I'm one who never presages fabric. In my opinion it creates a lot of extra work and good fabric doesn't shrink that I've noticed.
littlehelen_gw
10 years ago
Fran...I'm with you, I Rarely pre-wash except perhaps reds and blacks. I buy 95% of my fabric on line and mostly from the sale bins of the on line fabric shops. I've not paid 12.00 a yard, although the one quilt shop about 20 minutes from my home charges that much for her stock - no thanks.

My favorite online fabric stores are Hawthorne threads, fat quarter shop, intrepid thread and once in a while I find a good deal at fabric.com. I've not purchased fabric from connecting threads, but love their thread.

Have fun with your first quilt...post pics!

V.
bkay2000
Original Author
10 years ago
I went to JoAnn's yesterday and all their fabric is 10.00 or 11.00 per yard. All their fat quarters were $2.49 each. That's pretty much what the quilt shops charge for yardage.

So far, I'm having a hard time figuring out my fabric. Maybe i'll try the online shops.

I ordered the quilt program yesterday. It should be here soon.

Thanks again.

bk