Time for a quilt sandwich. I enjoyed taking these shots because it’s exactly how I do a big quilt only it’s small and fits on a table which means I can capture an image of the whole thing in a single picture.
Step 1: Use masking tape to secure the quilt back to a hard surface. I do my large quilts on a hardwood floor. The different pieces of the tape represent each round I took to secure the quilt back. I started with the middle piece of tape on the long side (top of the picture). I put another piece directly across in the middle on the other long side (bottom of the picture). A piece on the short side (right hand of the picture) and another directly across on the other short side (left of the picture). I gently tug to make sure the fabric is taut but not so tight that I distort the grain of the fabric.
Do another round of taping. A piece of tape on either side of the original on the long side continuing in the same pattern until the whole back is secure.
Step 2: Layer the batting on next. I cut my batting the same size as I cut the back, both are a few inches bigger on each side than the quilt top. I leave my batting unfolded out on the floor for a day or two before I sandwich the quilt. This helps shake out the fold lines.
Step 3: Layer the quilt top next. Safety pin all three layers together. I use that little awl looking thing to lock the safety pin. Start in the center and move outward.
Up next: Machine Quilting.
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Marcia sent me a note asking me to do a post on how I pieced my blocks without the templates for the Denyse Schmidt Hop, Skip & a Jump quilt pattern. I really want to do that and will try to get to it in short order. Wish me luck.
And speaking of luck. I went to my first PTO meeting of the year this morning. I sat in one of the chairs that had a door prize taped to the bottom. I told you guys I was lucky.
Clever.
Do you have problems lifting the tape off of the fabric (I guess it doesn’t matter much if it’s already pin basted, though). Have you ever tried blue painter’s tape for this method?
I like the border mosaic for these quilts; it helps to tie it all together.
To answer Kim’s question: I go along gently to pull off the tape. If I’m too quick it yanks on the loose threads which can cause trouble. The last big quilt I did I couldn’t find my masking tape and tried to use the blue painter’s tape. It kept sliding off my backing fabric. I made a run to the store to get more masking tape! Of course, I found the masking tape I already had the next day.
Thanks for the masking tape tip! I picked it up from one of your earlier posts (I’ve been reading your archives obsessively
) and it worked beautifully–not a pucker in sight! I did use blue painter’s tape (I thought it might be kinder to the floors, which I only rent) and had no problem with the sliding, but my backing was corduroy, so maybe that made a difference?
It’s really coming together nicely. So did this parent have 2 children in the same class? How is it that they are both on the same quilt?
The checkered border is beautiful – it really brings everything together perfectly. I much prefer smaller quilts. The big one’s are so hard to manhandle under the machine. Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to try it again…we’ll see.
Thanks for sharing your process, Kathy! I often wonder how people go about making a quilt, so this is a great insight. Using masking tape to hold down the back is very clever! Do you do the machine quilting yourself too?
How did I miss the first mini-quilt?? These are wonderful and I’m still hoping you’ll try another abstract quilt from a photograph–your first one was awesome!! And I will try not to hold it against you that you’re the one winning all the good prizes
Thanks for the photos. I have used a very similar technique too. One part that I always have trouble with is pinning — I have a hard time getting the point of the pin back through to the top side. I always seem to snag it on the surfact below (esp when I’,m working on top of my green cutting mat) or push through too far or not far enough. Do you have any tricks for the pinning process?
Looking very good indeed!! I love how kids draw hair, nothing in the back!LOL! I have carpets so I can’t do mine of the floor, not to mention the back can’t take it. I do mine on my large cutting table and use larger binder clips to secure the back to the table, then lay out the batt and re-place the clips while holding it in place.
Works like a charm!
Those tiny squares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow wow wow.
Kathy this is wonderful !! I am sooo impressed Clarice
Linda: The boy was in Leil’s class, the daughter was in the next grade up and did her portrait in art class. It was originally 8 x 10 whereas the boy’s started out at 5 x 7. She’s going to give one to each of their Aunt’s for Christmas. I liked small too, the beginning and ending are so much closer
Claudine: I will machine quilt these myself. The biggest I’ve done on my machine is a baby quilt (48 x 60). I haven’t tried anything bigger yet, my daughters’ quilts were done by the long arm lady.
Danielle: I really think the safety pins make a big difference. It took me 4 tries but I’ve finally found the GREATEST safety pins in the world. Lisa Call wrote about these on her blog. They are pins made for drycleaners which means they won’t rust or get glop on them over time and they’re super sharp and go through the fabric like butter. They’re also an absolutely amazing value.
https://www.walterhesse.com/customer/product.php?productid=17452
these are very clear instructions…even i think I can make it happen! thank you!
Nice process for basting! And the little portraits will really be nice to have as the children grow.
I’ve put your blog on my side bar, hope that’s ok?
This is so awsome that your doing this! I make mini quilts all the time& then never know how to hang them up! What do you use, and if you dont mind me asking, how big of a cutting mat is that? I have quite a small one & find it difficult for cutting large fabrics!
So good of you to post this tutorial. It’s coming along beautifully. I’m sure the mom will be ecstatic when she sees it. Looking forward to seeing your process for machine quilt.
Don’t hate me, but I just tagged you with a meme. No pressure, of course.
Such a cute mini-quilt. I think it would be so much fun to do a quilt using your children’s art (now if only my grown children were little again). Thank you so much for the tutorial.
In response to Angie’s questions:
I put a hanging sleeve on the back of these quilts. It’s easier because since I know it will be hung on the wall I actually attached the sleeve along the border before I put the binding on so that the seam along the top is hidden. My plan is to show this as my process goes along. I actually have lots of pictures and need to be posting but time seems to be evaporating into thin air around my house right now.
My cutting mat is 36″ wide by 24″ long. I’m very happy with this size. It allows me to fold a fabric in half and then cut selvedge to selvedge (22″). My old, smaller mat, required me to fold my fabric twice and I was never happy with the wiggles I got in the lines.
[...] My sister in law asked me to take pictures of how I sandwiched and quilted it, because she is planning to do a few quilts. Well, like I said, “a horse with blinders”. I have no pictures of the process, but I have seen a few good instructions out in blogland. I know I have seen more, but I can’t remember where. So if you know of (or posted yourself) some instructions on the quilt sandwich process, please post links in the comments! [...]