What is birthing a quilt about?

Finishing a project without binding is simplified with inside-out method for making a quilt sandwich, sometimes also called you may have heard it called “Birthing”.  When making my first quilt this process of birthing was used in my class making an Eleanor Burns "Log Cabin in a Day Quilt".  Then the quilt was tied together.  My have thing changed.  The processes have evolved and the technology has evolved to help us to be better at what we love.

 

Backing with cut line across width of fabric

Cut the backing 2” longer than the top allowing for the seam.  Cut backing piece in half along the center on the same side you added the 2". Place right sides together. Using 2 pins mark a 4” space along the width of the backing. Seam the edge using 2.0 stitch length and ½” seam allowance.  Press to one side (not open). 

Next place the top on the backing right sides together.  Place the batting on the wrong side of the top. Stitch around the entire quilt.  Trim excess fabric around quilt and snip corners. 

Turn the quilt through the hole that was created in the middle of the backing.  Trim corners to remove excess fabric.  Use a corner turner to push the fabric to a point at each corner. Press and quilt as desired.  When finishing this way there needs to be no hand sewing since the quilting is done after you birth.  The edges all look wonderful and the students loved it in class.

 

 Many of the small wallhangings are finished with this same process instead of binding.  Ricky Tims taught this finishing technique at one of his retreats I attended.  It has stuck with me for years.  

Happy Quilting, 

Denise

Ready, Set...Quilt!

Just a reminder if you live near Tucson hope you can join us for a special quilting event.
Event Start Date: 3/6/2015 9:00 AM
Event End Date: 3/6/2015 5:00 PM
Event Locations
Sheraton Tucson

Trunk Show, Lecture & Demo Event

Ready to take the fear out of quilting?
Want to finish your own quilts?
Does free motion quilting make you nervous?
Not sure which machine best fits your needs?

Have all of your quilting questions answered when you spend the day with quilting expert, Baby Lock’s Denise Applegate-Schober.  This event will showcase the many techniques of quilting. Denise will share their inspiring stories and samples, as well as tricks and tips for success.

From quilt preparation and design, to fillers, features and feathers–whether using a sit down or long arm–beginners and beyond will learn how to become a successful quilter.  The skills taught in this class will give anyone the confidence to tackle quilts at home.

This event will feature the latest and greatest machines from Baby Lock

When: Fri., Mar. 6 OR Sat. Mar 7 • 9am - 5pm

Where: Sheraton Tucson • 5151 E. Grant Rd, Tucson

Cost: $49 includes lunch, goodies and refreshments

These events fill up quickly!
Register by calling 721-4000 or 797-7117 or stop by one of our stores!

Tension

    Once you set your machine up for free motion tension is next.Samples are one of the most important things to understand when free motion quilting. Let's look at a few items that would be good best practices for every quilter.  Tension is not always the easiest to understand or get just right. 


 1. Thread your machine with red thread in the needle and black thread in the bobbin. 

 2. Make a quilt sandwich using fat quarter, with a low loft batting and basted together with water soluble thread or a long basting stitch.
 3. Now its time to practice your quilting.  Move in every direction, left to right, circles, corners and keep moving in to test the tension.  
 4. When you look at the fabric, thread and stitches do you like what you see? Look at the image and see if your stitches are balanced. 
 5. If you do not like the look of the back you may need to change the top thread.  When the back of the quilt looks bad it is most often the top thread. Change the to thread in small increments unless you have a long arm. A long arm is where you will find the tension is changed in larger increments. 
 6. When the top is not pretty check your bobbin tension.  On my long arm I change the bobbin more that I do the top thread.  You will find what works best for you.  

   Happy Quilting with controlled tension!
    Denise