This is day 2 of quilting Birthday Wishes (60 x 72). I was thinking I would try matchstick quilting with some blue variegated thread. I had two different spools so used Gutermann machine quilting thread in the bobbin and Coats and Clarks up top. I used some low loft batting I had on hand.
I'm not sure of the definition of matchstick quilting vs straight line stitching vs echo quilting. Basically I decided to quilt some vertical straight lines (or lines as straight as I could get them). I have to say that this is time and thread consuming. And I'm having second thoughts as to whether this was the right way to quilt this. But time will tell.
Yesterday I first started out using the guide on the walking foot to stitch some vertical straight lines at irregular intervals. (I guess I had the guide off in this photo).
This morning I started stitching in between the lines I made yesterday. I noticed that when the lines were closer than half an inch the quilt started to feel a little stiffer. Maybe because of the low loft batting. All I know is is that I don't like stiff quilts. And maybe that will change when the quilt is washed and dried.
Now the plan is to have areas where it's close together and then farther apart then close together then farther apart.
On quilting breaks I've been sorting through boxes and bags of scraps and strings. I need to make room in my sewing room to start seeds under lights on some shelves and in the south window. Going through some of those old scraps is like going through a box of old photos. Oh, the memories of quilts from the past. And while quilting I've been pondering what I will make with the piles I've sorted. Oh, and a tip...don't throw string quilt trimmings in with your scraps you want to save. I must have absentmindedly done that a couple of times. And now I can add rag picker to my resume.
13 comments:
I think matchstick is supposed to be about 1/4 inch or so of straight lines and straight line quilting is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch?
Matchstick quilting will make a quilt quite stiff. The stitching is very very close together.
I didn't know that that quilting style is called matchstick....now I do! I agree that the result is likely to be very stiff and flat. Maybe expand from matchsticks to channels? (1" to 2" apart).
I think I have a good handle on my stash but lately I've discovered fabric that I don't remember acquiring at all!
Scraps do hold a lot of memories. I think that is why I like scrap quilts so much.
I know what your mean about the strings. Came upon the same problem yesterday when I was making some QAYG String blocks. Some of the hairy strings were tangled with the straight cuts and I ended up thread picking! Hope your match stick quilting goes well.
Like others have said, I believe matchstick quilting is 1/4" apart and actually you are lucky to be using thinner batting. If it were heavier or part cotton I think it would be even stiffer. The colors and prints are very pretty though.
If it's time and thread consuming, then it's matchstick. You'll know you're doing it right if you are composing your own eulogy in your head as you sew. "I'll be dead before I finish this, so here's what I want them to say at my funeral." You'll have plenty of time to edit the eulogy, and even write a few for other folks. Especially, maybe, the person who convinced you that matchstick was a good idea.
That being said, I think matchstick quilting looks really great, particularly on mini quilts. I don't care for the stiffness on a cuddle quilt. Your idea of tight alternating with looser spacing is probably right on.
Matchstick quilting is too dense for my taste. I just quilted a 16 patch batik quilt with my walking foot doing a gentle S curve down the center of each column and across the center of each row. It went much faster than I expected and looked pretty good when finished as the stitching created some quirky curvy squares as a secondary quilt motif. I'll use it again.
Pat
Good luck with your quilting. I usually use the side of my walking foot to make the lines. But yes, my line quilting looks terrible at this point, too. And it gets stiff when less than half and inch. But it always looks good when I keep going to the end and softens beautifully once it's washed.
Experiments are good because you learn what to do and what not to do.
I almost always end up putting my own spin on things I try.
Ann is right, a wash or even a good shake, softens it up.
I've read that matchstick can be 1/8th" apart up to 1/4" and I think it would take forever for a large quilt. I have done it on a small mat and loved it, but it does make the mat/quilt stiff. Haven't washed this little mat yet so don't know whether it will soften or not. I'm trying to remember if I just used a fine Pellon, I do think I did. I guess now you're so far along you will have to continue on and then wash it. I do hope it works out ok.
Hahaha, "Rag Picker" with my barf yarn I feel like that; "yarn unknotter" and sometimes when I get overwhelmed with my scraps I think "what am I doing??!!?" hahaha so fun to laugh at ourselves.
I'm planning to quilt my Are We There Yet quilt (formerly known as Long Time Gone) that way - with long vertical lines spaced 1/2 to 1 inch apart. I'll be watching your adventure with great interest!
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