This top measures 46" x 58" (which clearly shows that my quarter-inch seams are not). At this point I need to decide whether or not to add a border. I was thinking it would be a good baby-to-toddler quilt, but with a border will it be too large? Does it need a border?
I was at Hobby Lobby earlier this week to buy perle cotton and saw that all of their fabric yardage is 40% off. That's a great deal considering that most if their fabric is in the $6.00 to $8.00 range and of reasonably good quality.
What do you think? Would you put a border on this quilt or leave it?
Have you ever sewn with double gauze or used it on the back of a quilt? If so, were you happy with the experience and the gauze? Did you hand quilt it or machine quilt it?
I'm linking this post to Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Alycia.
Thanks!
--Nancy.
I think the quilt is lovely, autumn leaves scattered on city pavement. Border or binding in cheddar or bright pumpkin might add to the glow.
ReplyDeleteI ordered double gauze years ago, it was scratchy and stretchy? But my friend did have it for receiving blankets a few years ago---it must have improved. Too bad I already placed a recent HL order or I'd add a yard. I'm looking forward to reading what other people say about the gauze.
Thank you, LIzzy. I'll try out cheddar and pumpkin and see what I think. Hobby Lobby had limited colors of double gauze but there was a coppery color (see the photo above) that might work --you know that newer color we're seeing these days-- and an orange that was way too bright for me. I'm still deliberating about the double gauze. I was looking online last night and some who have used it say to absolutely wash and dry it before using; others say do not wash it before using. I think the non-washers were making baby quilts with double gauze for the front and back of the quilt, and the washers were sewing clothing. Hobby Lobby's was super soft. I don't know what I'll decide to do. I don't what to add a border but trying out a few smaller pieces of fabric I have.
DeleteThanks for your suggestions and sharing your experiences with double gauze.
I like Lizzy's description of how this fits autumn., and I agree that a fall colored border might give you more the feel you are looking for (but I think it is also a lovely fall quilt as is).
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I understand what double gauze is. I used a gauze fabric (I was told it was for receiving blankets for newborns) to make face masks for a couple of people back in the early COVID days. They had other health issues that made the other masks difficult for their breathing, and the gauze (in multiple layers) was more doable. It wasn't scratchy, but it also didn't seem to me to be sturdy enough to be a quilt backing. Maybe what I used is different from the type of gauze you are referencing.
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions for the autumn quilt, Janet. I didn't want to add a border but I'm considering it.
DeleteThe double gauze I saw sounds like it might be what you used for face masks. There were two layers of really soft cotton stitched together, somehow. It was somewhat loosely woven, maybe a little like linen for clothing. I loved the softness of it but, like you, I'm not sure it will be durable enough for a quilt. I searched online last night to see if I could learn more. It seems that people make clothes from the double gauze, and there are a variety of responses to how it worked. Some people insisted that it be washed first (the clothes makers) and some insisted that it should not be washed first (the people making baby quilts from two layers of double gauze). There were three reasons I thought of using it: because the quilt isn't too large it would take about a yard and a half of backing fabric; the fabric was under $5.00/yard; and it's just so soft. I'm going to look at it again today and see what I think. If I buy it, I'm sure I'll probably write a post about working with double gauze.
That gold and pumpkin color in your patches might add the “glow” you desire. Maybe as a border or if you don’t want it larger as the binding. It will be lovely as is. Step away from it for a while and you might be happier with it, especially in September. Gauze does not have the sturdiness of quilting cotton, my opinion. Dotti in CT
ReplyDeleteThank you for the suggestion, Dotti. Most of the squares are scraps but I think I cut some from yardage or fat quarters. I'll take a look and see what I can find in my fabrics in the gold or pumpkin range.
DeleteI think you're probably write about the gauze not being as sturdy as quilting cotton. I'm going to look at it again today and see what I think.
A border in an autumn color will bring make the quilt glow. The only thing I buy at Hobby Lobby is fabric. (I wonder how the tariffs will affect their other merchandise, nearly all of which is from China.)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thought about a border, Nann.
DeleteI don't buy much at Hobby Lobby. Occasionally, fabric or perle cotton; sometimes pins or other notions; and even less often marking Pigma pens. I think their fabric is better than JoAnn's was but maybe not as good as some of the name brand quilting cottons.
I wonder how tariffs will affect stores like Hobby Lobby, too. Will the prices go so high that no one can buy things? Or will they go out of business? I don't follow the political news much so don't know what's been said, but I wonder what Trump's motives for the tariff increase are. Is he trying to control other countries, especially China, or is he hoping manufacturers will return plants to the US to bring back jobs, or ...?
The quilt is pretty as it is, and adding a border to make it a bit larger might enhance its usefulness for the recipient. What I've found lately is that new moms seem to favor the store-bought soft blankets over quilts for their babies. I'm intrigued by the idea of using double gauze as a quilt backing though we don't have any quilt shops anywhere near us so I haven't had an opportunity to see or touch any in person. The only experience I have with gauze is the memory of childhood bandages on my knees after falling off my tricycle - layers of white gauze with white tape securing it to the skin, guaranteeing painful and bloody reopening of the wound when changed since the gauze always stuck to the wound. Thankfully a lot has changed in the past 75 years!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. I'm considering a border, trying out colors and fabrics. I've noticed that I don't often see moms with quilts around their babies. I used quilts with my girls and they started soft enough, then with washing and drying became softer and softer. I'm not a fan of the synthetic blankets, but that's just me....
DeleteOh, what an awful childhood memory of gauze, Pat. My mom didn't use gauze often but when she did, my memory is just like yours. Oh, ugh! Yes, it's wonderful that they have created non-stick bandages.
I hope you have a good weekend.