Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon

Conversational Threads

Help! Making ‘quilt’ from diff. sheets

sundragon | Posted in Quilting and Home Decor on

My daughter wants me to take 1 flannel sheet, and 1 regular, sandwich batting between, and quilt. Sounds easy enough for a 1-quilt veteran! LOL!!! Got everything I need, but I have questions.

1 – I’ve got a non-bendable back (titanium rods) and can’t lay the quilt out on the floor. Can’t use the dining room table because she’d see what I’m doing. Has anyone successfully pinned a quilt sandwich together from a seated position? I do have an adjustable ironing board.

2 – I bought some blanket binding, but I was wondering if I need to do anything different at the top end of the sheet. The double or triple layers will be harder to sew. I plan to match the top of one sheet to the bottom of the other. Does it really matter? Should I take out the top & bottom hems & make them smaller/narrower, like the sides???

3 – The flannel sheet is thicker than any I’ve had before, and the regular sheet that looked nice & substantial in the package is thinner than I’d like.

And I’ve got to be finished by Christmas Eve!!! Sigh. At least it’s all washed & will be ironed tonight. I’ll open the batting & hang it over the shower rod so it’s relaxed & ready to go.

ANY help at all will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Replies

  1. rjf | | #1

    If you're going to quilt in squares,  I'd start across the middle in the short direction.  Pin the first row, move the quilt away from you on the ironing board, pin the next  and continue to the edge.  Now roll that edge back to the middle.  You can quilt this half and then go back and do the other side the same way.  Then do the same procedure over again the long way of the quilt.

    If you're really pressed for time, why don't you cut off the hems and put the binding over the raw edges?  I don't think you'll lose too much length and it would be easier than stitching over lumps or trying to take out the old stitching.

    Good luck!  and Merry Christmas.       rjf

  2. kai230 | | #2

    Hi Sunny, what an ambitious project in such a short time! I've always (exactly twice!) used the floor, but rjf's method sounds like it would work for you.

    You do need to measure both sheets to be sure they are the same size. If not, that could affect how you decide to pair them, or which, if any, end to cut off.

    Depending on the width of your binding, you might be able to fold over at least the top edge to be contained within the binding, rather than sewing through multiple layers. This would give a puffy appearance, and define the edge. If you chose to do this all around, you probably would have to miter cut (not sure if that's the sewing term) some fabric from the folded corners.  

    Good luck, quilts are fun.

    1. sundragon | | #3

      Kai & rjf:

      Thanks for the help! I think I will cut off the top & bottom hems. What a great idea, rjf... sooo much easier than 'unstitching' them! The way my daughter makes (or doesn't make!) her bed, the little difference in length won't matter at all.

      I think I'm going to buy one of those gardener's seats on wheels, or a mechanics' one; my bed & box spring are sitting flat on the floor, since that keeps it very sturdy & stable. So, if hubby brings home a piece of plywood about that size (queen size) and I put that on the bed, I can use the wheeled seat & scoot around the bed, working on quilts in the future. Getting to the middle will be a bit of a problem. Guess I won't be able to do it the traditional way & start in the middle, but start at one side & roll the quilt towards the middle as I go. Starting something new!!

      I got the neatest book from a co-worker for Christmas; it's a rotary cutting book about quilts, and it's wonderful! I can't wait until things slow down a bit and I can get into doing a "real" quilt!

      Thank you both for your quick response... going back to work now, and cut off the hems & get it all pinned. Then I'll start sewing.

      Happy holidays! Huggles, Sunny.

      1. kai230 | | #4

        gardener's seats on wheels

        Oh boy, that is a perfect idea! If you find a source you like, please let me know. My old knees don't work as well anymore, kneepads are ok, but then the old back gets tired. I have lots of ground level work to do everywhere!

        I don't think you'll have much prob w/the fabrics moving if you pin like a maniac. But while you're pinning, it would definitely be helpful if you could hold the center in place. One way to do this is w/a 2x4 or something, that you place, say, top to bottom. Scoot around the foot of the bed to make sure it's at the halfway point, and eyeball the head of the bed to adjust if you can't maneuver it at that end. Then, pin from the middle of one side to the board, and you have secured 1/4 of the --|-- shape. (I need a free drawing program.) 

        This is probably not a very good explanation. In any case, the only thing that can go wrong by not starting in the middle or otherwise securing the middle is that the final edges don't match, in which case, scissors to the rescue!--the equivalent of the carpenter's adjustment tool, the hammer ;-)

This post is archived.

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Conversational Threads

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More