I am 17 years old male. I know how to sew both hand and sewing machine... I want to make a quilt for my girlfriend showing how much I love her. How do I go about making it?
2006-06-15 04:59:08 · 7 answers · asked by Thomas 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
oh and Graffeng or whatever your name is... my great-grandmother taught me how to so becuase she said that every man should know how to sew atleast a button...
2006-06-15 05:13:33 · update #1
If you want to make a quilt out of her (or your) special t-shirts, first be sure to iron on one-sided fusable fabric to the inside before cutting so the t-shirt fabric doesn't stretch or shift while sewing. Cut 3 inch wide lengths of fabric (sashing) the length of one side of the square then sew together a row of blocks with sashings between each block. Cut 3 inch wide lengths the entire length of the rows then sew rows together with sashings between each. Put one or two borders all the way around the outside, layer top, cotton batting and backing together, leaving batting and backing larger than the top and trim to size. Safety pin all over the quilt to hold the layers together, then sew straight or random lines throughout the sashings and around the blocks.
Cut 2 inch lengths of fabric for the binding. With the top facing down, put raw edge of binding face down on the back of the quilt. Sew 1/2 inch in the length of the side then fold the binding to the front. Tuck 1/2 inch under, leaving a 1/2 inch binding on the front, then sew the length of the side. Repeat with the opposite side then on both ends, tucking the second corners under at an angle before sewing over the first ends.
If you want to make a more traditional quilt, there are plenty of free quilt patterns and directions available on line. My favorite site is www.quilterscache.com where you can find patterns by name, size or view drawings of the blocks so you can see how complicated they are. You can then go to the full easy to understand directions for each block as well as see how an entire quilt made with each block would look like.
Good luck on making your lucky lady a keepsake she'll always cherish - too bad my 18 year old daughter can't find someone like you!
2006-06-15 15:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by dragonwing 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Good for you! Quilting is a time-honored art form and as a quilter am glad to see your interest. Making quilts for loved ones is the best reason to start too.
The basic steps for making a quilt are:
1. Piecing the top (basically cutting and sewing pieces or fabric together)
2. Layer the top, batting in the middle, and the back fabric and pin together with safety pins
3. Quilt the top
4. Add the binding.
The best way to learn how to do this is to take a beginning quilting class at your local quilt shop or Jo-Ann's type store if you have one nearby. Not only will you have a quilt finished by the end, but you'll learn the right way and have a better success rate. I listed some urls to get you moving in the right direction.
Happy quilting!
2006-06-15 06:30:14 · answer #2 · answered by syndeelu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow! You're the first guy I have EVER heard of that can hand sew as well as Machine sew. There are 2 ways on going about this.
1) Blow your budget on fabric that you think she would like (ex. what is her favorite color? What animal does she like? etc.
2) Ask her if she has any old t shirts that she loves but can't wear anymore and cut a square out of the part she likes and sew it together with the other squares!
Good Luck ur a very good boyfriend!
2006-06-15 05:04:42 · answer #3 · answered by Lauriella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would use fabric squares, not triangles or any other fancy scheme, as making a basic quilt is a lot of work already. I'd also recommend that you use decent sized squares (at least 4x4), or you'll be spending forever and a day cutting and assembling fabric.
I'd check out your local craft store (Joann, Michael's, etc.) for books or magazines with quilt patterns for beginners. I'd be willing to bet that if you typed "easy quilt pattern" into Yahoo's search engine, that you'd get a ton of really helpful websites and message boards to aid you in your project. I also agree that the idea of using not only new fabrics (that fit her personality/tastes), but perhaps also some swatches from one of YOUR shirts, or a piece of one of her childhood/baby blankets (obtained from her mom) would make the quilt really special.
Quilts, as well as all handmade gifts are a treasure to the person for whom they are made, because they not only serve a practical purpose, but serve to remind your loved one of how much you're thinking of them with every stitch. You must be one thoughtful guy!
2006-06-15 09:02:33 · answer #4 · answered by livysmom27 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I alwys Cut a bunch of triangels out of different fabrics then sew them into squares then sew the squares togather
2006-06-15 05:20:30 · answer #5 · answered by hypnotiq_n_henny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
learn to sew or knitt....all you do is bind fabrics together(squares sheets.....)
2006-06-15 05:02:42 · answer #6 · answered by mimi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out www.diynetwork.com.... its a great site
2006-06-15 05:53:08 · answer #7 · answered by Sara K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋