It is quilted with Baptist Fans, beginning at the bottom right side of the quilt and finishing across the top from right to left.
I always wish the top edge of the Fans would end a quarter inch from the top edge of the quilt because I think the lower vertical edges of the Fans don't look quite right. (You can click to enlarge this photo and see what I'm talking about.) I suppose most people, including me, don't notice after the quilt is completely finished.I have a question for you quilters who are reading. When you cut the batting and backing edges off a top that's been quilted, do you cut along the quilt's edges or do you use a straight edge and a square at the corners to make sure the quilt is square? I never have but I also notice that sometimes my quilts are not square, with one side or end a little longer than the other. I'm just wondering what you do. Thanks for responding (if you do).
I'll post details about this quilt after it's bound, washed, and dried.
I'm linking this post to
> April One Monthly Goal Finish Link Up at Stories from the Sewing Room
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
--Nancy.
I do use a large square ruler for the corners, aligning with one of the straight seams (a border or piecing) and ensuring the corner is 90*. Sometimes it leads to a bit of trimming of outer edges, which doesn't bother me generally. I do pull the quilt top as flat as possible before any cutting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining your process, Karen. I appreciate it.
DeleteI trim to the edges of the quilt straightening, if necessary, as I go with my cutting mat lines and long ruler. I don't own a T-square--my quilts are just for fun and use--so I don't feel the need to have anything perfect--but I do like it to look good...If that makes any sense???
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is so beautiful--I love the little band of applique at the top and corners...lovely work...hugs, Julierose
Thank you for your explanation, Julierose, and yes, it makes sense.
DeleteAnd thank you for your kind words about this quilt. I appreciate them.
I'm not a purist as far as trimming to achieve 90 degree angles at the corners, especially if the quilt has a pronounced outer border. It seems to me a consistent width on the border is far more important, so the quilt appears straight to the eye, even if it mathematically isn't an exact 90 degrees. But then I don't put myself in the angst of entering into judged contests either, life is too short to sweat the small stuff as they say. Your quilt is beautiful as it is right now and I love your applique additions in the borders. All it needs is a binding!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your explanation of what you do and how you decide about the edges, Pat. I doubt this quilt will ever be judged, except maybe by someone who sees it in my or someone else's home, so I think I'm good with just trimming to the edges.
DeleteThank you also for your kind comments about the quilt. I hope I can get the binding cut and sewn on this week so I can hand stitch it to the back.
It's beautiful! I'm so pleased for you. As far as the squaring, if it's just a sliver off, I might square, but if you'd lose a lot, I'd leave it as is. You'll never notice once you're using it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for both your comment and explanation, Anne-Marie. I like "you'll never notice once you're using it." That works for me!
DeleteYour quilt is so beautiful! I'll enlarge and look at what you mean about the ending of the quilting tomorrow, my eyes are tired tonight.
ReplyDeleteI do a combination of what everyone has said. My longarm quilter kindly trims the edges to the top's outer edge, bec when I have pain flare ups I cannot handle a big quilt. Then I use a 45" ruler to create straight edges, and a square ruler for corners. One can also use straight grain not bias binding that is premeasured and ease/ stretch the sides to a premeasured size that is marked on the binding. Mostly I agree w Julierose and QB, the eye sees the even border, not the exact 90*; and I quilt to entertain myself, so as long as my eye is happy I am happy. I know tho that you are a perfectionist, what is your method?
I collect antique and vintage quilts and I have never been motivated to notice if the corners are square and would only maybe/ or not notice differing side measurements when fold.
Hope you're feeling ok, how are the headaches?
love
lizzy
Thank you for your explanation, Lizzy. The only time I really notice if a quilt is far out of square is when I fold it. I made one quilt that's off by an inch or so! It works on the couch or a bed so I don't mind, really, but I would like to have had it a little more even. But oh well. (And I think I tried to make sure the corners were even and the sides the same length....)
DeleteI rarely square corners but I do measure the length of the quilt in the center and at the sides/ends and then decide which length I want to use for the binding. I once sewed the binding without pinning first as I see so many quilters seem to do and ended up with awful, wavy edges. Ugh!
I'm a perfectionist only as far as trying to get it right the first time and then trying to do better the next time. I guess you could say I'm competitive with myself.
Thanks, too, for your kind comment about the quilt.
Wonderful wonderful finish! This quilt is one of my favorites. I square up the corners as I trim but if they're not exact I don't fret about it. Baptist Fans are my favorite way to finish a quilt. They seem to quilt up quickly and don't wear my hands out as fast.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Robin. I really like this quilt, too. For the first time I tried Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly and I hope it turns out to be warm. It seems like a really thin batting.
DeleteI'm being like you and not fretting about the corners being exact. I think I'd like the lengths and widths to be even, though.
When you quilt Baptist Fans, do you mark the fans or quilt them free-hand? I read that diagonal quilting is easier than quilting on the grain so it makes sense that Fans would go quickly and not wear our your hands since curves are mostly on the diagonal. Sort of....
Congratulations on finishing the quilting. Squaring up a quilt depends on the purpose and what you are trying to achieve. Is the quilt going to be judged? If yes, then you will want perfect 90 degree angles. If not, then don't worry about. Instead use your quilt as a guide. When the edge should finish at points, then do your best to leave .25" allowance to add your binding. Personally, I work with my husband on large quilts. We measure, remeasure and measure again, use a square and even measure from diagonal to diagonal. I am a professional art quilter and a tad OCD. I do not enter judged shows.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your descriptions and explanations for squaring a quilt, Gwyned. I think I'm a little more casual about edges and 90-degree corners than you are, but I'm not sloppy about it either. I like the lengths and widths to be the same on opposites sides and ends, though.
DeleteLovely finish! Some projects just take their own time to get done. I definitely use a large square ruler (I have a 15 inch) to trim the corners and then a straight edge to trim up between the corners. However, I think it's only an issue for quilts that will be hung (either in your home or in a show). For "working quilts" (those that wil spend their time on beds, laps or the backs of couches or chairs), I don't think you will notice whether it is truly square or not.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vivian. I got stalled on the quilting on this one. Once I decided to mark the fans it went so much faster. I've done free-hand fans before so I don't know what the problem was this time. I'm glad the quilting is finished.
DeleteThis will be a working quilt, no hanging, nor competition, so I'm not going to worry about perfect 90-degree corners! Thank you for your explanation.
My answer is Yes!! haha - if its a quilt that is going to be used and loved just trim it, if it is something you are going to compete with - I do that blocking thing and use a square.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest - If I give a quilt to someone and they actually check the squareness of it... I deem them *Un quilt worthy* Bwahh haha!
Thank you for your thoughts about squaring corners, Alycia. I don't think this quilt will ever be entered in a competition so I'm going with the more casual trim to the quilt's edges.
DeleteHahaha. "Un quilt worthy." I love it! I once found a quilt I made that my daughter asked to have in a damp pile on the floor! Thank goodness she washed it before it became the mildew set it. She hasn't asked for another quilt....