Fabric Math

I totally lied to my Algebra teacher when I said I would never use math in the real world.  If only I could have stayed away from quilting, then I could have shown him!  OK, fabric math, not very hard and essential!  Let's use the square as our example.  You have graphed your pattern and chosen to use 2 inch finished squares.  This means when your quilt is all put together your squares will be 2 inches.  That means you need to cut out 2 1/2 inch squares.  For today's example we will use 560 red squares and 430 white squares.  Let's assume that the width of the fabric will be 36 inches, yes I know its usually wider than that, but we are not interested in accuracy, we err on the side of caution.  The very minute you walk out of the fabric store, even if you turn around and walk back in, they run out of the color you just bought, it is a different dye lot, or they stopped making it altogether.  The upshot is you will never, NEVER find that color again, so plan accordingly.  Determine how many squares you can get in 1 yard of fabric.  Using 36 inches as our width, divide 36 by 2.5, the answer is 14.4 so round down and use 14 squares per 36 inches.  Now knowing how many squares fit across 1 yard the answer is the same for legnth.  14 squares.  Multiply 14 times 14 = 196.  This is how many squares are in  1 yard of fabric.  So we need 560  red squares.  In 2 yards of fabric we can get 392 squares, in 3 yards of fabric we can get 588 squares.  So I would get 3 yards of the red fabric.  Now in the white we only need 430 squares.  2 yards of fabric yield 392 squares plus 98 (which is half of  196) = 490, so I would buy 2 and 1/2 yards of white.  I know we will end of with extra material, but that is ok, it will give you fabric in your stash for that scrappy quilt!  Remember, these calculations are for your squares only.  If you want the same colors for binding, backing and borders factor these into your calculations before going to the store.

Quilt something beautiful today!

Quilting is a lot like life-ism #2

When you look at a quilt you have finished, you can pick out every mistake in it.  Other people may look at it and see it as the beautiful project it is.  But all we see are the mistakes we've made.  Forgive yourself for past mistakes.  A few people may remember some of your mistakes, but only you remember them all.  And you are the only one who knows how imperfect a piece is.  Accept compliments for a piece that has been well done, and don't point out the flaws.  Forgive yourself, don't let the fear of making a mistake paralyze you, making you unable to do anything at all.  After you make a mistake learn from it!

Quilt restoration...or just recycle old pieces into new works?

I've had a lot of questions about restoration this week so let's just make this our chapter for the day.  It can be daunting to try to preserve an old quilt that has been damaged over the years.  Here's a few hints that will help you decide if you want to preserve an old quilt or take it apart and recycle the pieces.

Assess the damage on the quilt.  Does it need to be completely taken apart? How many holes?  Replacing fabric can be the biggest challenge, but lately 1930's style fabrics are in vogue.  Also I have  heard of (but never used) computer programs that will match fabric and print out a pattern.  If you cannot match the fabric, a entirely new piece of fabric should be inserted in it's place.  If the quilt has definitive color placement (where the same fabric as the damaged piece is used over and over in a specific place), it would be best to replace all pieces matching the damaged piece with a new fabric.  That brings with it, it's own set of problems ( no one said this was going to be easy!), inserting a new fabric should not bring attention to the new pieces, it should look similar to the other materials in the quilt. The new fabric should also be distressed to match the rest of the quilt. 

When the restoration is over, the replaced pieces should not stand out, but blend in to the original piece.  If displaying the quilt, be sure to keep it out of the sun, this will help prevent fading.  Enjoy the quilts you have.  Display them, use them...it's cold out there!

If you have any questions about restoration or anything else please feel free to email me at questionthequilter@gmail.com.

Go quilt today, it will make you feel good!

Quilting is a lot like life-ism #1

Quilting is a lot like life in the way that each lesson you master is a building block for another task that is ahead.  Like you can't run till you walk and you shouldn't sew triangles until you've sewn squares.  You learn from your mistakes.  You take knowledge from a previous situation and apply it later on.  It's all about the journey, as in life don't skip steps that you find boring or you are too busy to do.  Make the whole quilt.  You'll be a better person for it. 

Go forth and quilt today!

Just a small tip

OK quilters, I'm working on a "how to" article, but here's a little something you should all know.  Never cut fabric late at night.  Trust me on this, been there, done that, woke up the next morning looking at the pieces I cut and wondered what I was thinking.  Don't be in a rush to cut fabric.  The old carpenter motto totally applies to quilting.  Measure twice, cut once. 

Hello Quilters!

Hi, my name is Stacy and I'm a quilter.  That sounds like a quilters anonymous group!  I live in West Texas and teach a quilting class for beginners in Lubbock.  I wanted to make a place where quilters who don't have a lot of experience can ask questions.  I wish I had a place like that when I started quilting, cuz I had a LOT of questions.  So come and question the quilter!  I'll be sharing some mini lessons, some short cuts I've learned, and encouragement to beginners.  I know how intimating a quilt can be.  Yes, it's a big project, but with patience and working on it a little each day you'll get to the end. 

Happy Quilting!