Tutorial: Joining Batting Scraps to Use in a Quilt

I know other people have done something similar to this.  If you're like me, though, you can never get enough pictures or descriptions of new techniques!  I love seeing how different quilters do the same tasks because everyone does it a little differently.  Or maybe it just takes reading different descriptions before you finally decide to tackle something new.

One of the skills that I had been putting off trying was making good use of my large batting scraps.  I got tired of wasting so much batting and opening a new package every time I needed to baste a quilt.  I had long narrow pieces that would work, if I could only magically put them together!  I put off trying it because I was afraid of producing something with lumps or gaps that would be visible or obvious when feeling the quilt.

Finally I tried it and discovered that it wasn't as hard as I thought!  I took pics to share with you.

First, determine the size batting you need for your project.  Second, I would choose to create that size with the fewest scrap pieces as possible.  That means using your larger pieces first.  The super-small pieces aren't worth the trouble.  Save them for use in placemats, mug rugs (or as I like to call them, Quilt Dads), or pincushions.

Take your two large pieces and figure out how they need to be joined to reach the necessary size batt you need.  Batting has two different sides.  One is nubby and the other is smoother.  Make sure both scrap pieces have the same side facing up as you place them together on your machine.

This is a bulky job.  And, uh, by the way, don't wear black pants.  I'm just sayin'...

So now you've lined up your two scraps side-by-side (not overlapping at all) on the bed of your machine.  Start about 6-8" down from the top.  It's too hard to start at the top because the weight is pulling it wonky.

Set your machine for a zig-zag stitch and needle-down position if your machine has it.

I used a simple, clear presser foot so I could see what was happening.  As you feed the batting into the presser foot,  Make sure the edges are butting-up against each other but not overlapping.  Stop every once in a while or go slowly to make sure you don't start overlapping.

When you get to the end of your seam, clip your threads and go back to the beginning of your seam.  Turn the batting around so you can join those 6-8" to finish it off.  Now admire your handy-work:

Go ahead and chuck it in your quilt.  No one will ever know!

FYI - The quilt being basted in the pics is now finished and will be featured on Moda Bake Shop on May 8th.  If I can use this technique on a quilt that will be shown publicly, I know you can try it on yours  ;-)

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

PS - Don't forget about the Longarm Quilting discount I'm offering on quilts I receive by May 31st!  For more info click on the pig.

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Basting Bastard

First off, let me update my February Finish Challenge for Week #2.

I finished the Michael Miller Funky Christmas top (otherwise known as the Old Red Barn Co Quilt-Along quilt).  Don't you love my quilt names?  Do you stand in awe at the creativity?  Gah!

I selected this quilt for my Week #2 finish because it is one of the oldest WIPs in my stack.  Once I finished the top, however, I realized I didn't have enough backing fabric.  For some reason I only purchased 2 yards when I needed 4.  So I'm off to the fabric store today to figure something out.  Am thinking about backing it with flannel.  Mmmmm...

Meanwhile, in an effort not to lose momentum, I basted another quilt top.  This one is my Glace' quilt.  It is kind of small but I love it.  These fabrics feel incredible.  I love, love love Moda's 3 Sisters fabrics.

The top was already finished and the backing was already pieced together (wahoo!) so I just needed to do the super-fun part of spending time on my hands and knees on a wooden floor poking myself with the pins.  Luckily I had my usual ever-helpful basting assistant:

You would think that quilt fabric had cat nip in it!  There is something about a basting-in-progress that gets Jax very excited.  He wants to stretch out on it.  Roll around on the fuzzy batting.  Eat the pins!  Or at least pick them out of the box and toy with them.  So I spend as much time managing him as I do actually pinning the quilt sandwich together.  High-maintenance but very sweet.

So the Glace quilt is now basted and ready to be quilted.  The Michael Miller top is done and ready to be backed and basted.

And my Joann coupons are next to my car keys and ready to be used.  You know you're in trouble when you have to make an actual shopping list for Joann's!  Green ric rac, cream and white zippers, hot pink embroidery thread, 4 yds backing fabric, Dresden Plate template if cheap enough, skinny pins to replace bent ones, etc etc.  Living out in the boonies means I have to save up my list until it's worth the 40 minute drive.

Happy Friday everyone!
Chris

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Basting and Quilting Fig Tree Fresh Cottons Quilt

My first target of the February Finish challenge is my Fig Tree Cherry Delight Quilt made with the Fresh Cottons line.  I bought this as a kit.  I love anything Fig Tree and putting this quilt together has been a breeze.  Instead of adding cherries to the center block, I added circles and a flower.  So it's more of a Fresh Cottons quilt than a Cherry Delight Quilt in my case.  Or maybe a Flowers Delight.

In this case, the top and back were already pieced and ready to go.  I needed to start this week by basting it.  Ugh, I hate basting.  Luckily, I have a nice, big area of bare hardwood floor in my foyer that works very well for basting.  It's well lit by natural light, there is no furniture to move, and I can easily move around all four sides.  Also, we don't use the front door that much so it isn't an area of heavy traffic.

First I use painter's tape to tape down the backing:

Please notice that I blatantly break the quilt police rule of trimming off the selvage edge when piecing the backing.  I don't do it.  And so far in making, washing and using qulits, I haven't noticed a difference.  Please feel free to chime in here and give me some good reasons to change my routine.  I'm open to criticism.

I guess one reason would be to have all of that lovely selvage to make selvage projects with! 

For this quilt I decided to try double layers of batting.  I'm not entirely pleased with how thin my quilts are.  I use Warm & White cotton batting.  I like it and it's very easy to use.  I just wish the quilts were a little more substantial.  Heavier and thicker but not poofy like with a high-loft polyester batting.  I would love any input about how to achieve these results.  I've looked around online and someone recommended just doubling up the batting.  So here goes.  After carefully laying and smoothing out the two layers of Warm & White, I add the quilt top:

Yes, the sides are a bit wobbly.  I'm ok with that.  I can always square it off before binding.

Next I take it to the machine for quilting.  Because I want this quilt DONE, I choose a very simple quilting plan of quilting down the center of each strip.  This will form concentric squares on the quilt back which will mimic the design on the front.

I just eyeball the center and let er rip.  I'm using the walking foot and my machine's needle down feature.  When I get to the point of needing to make my 90 degree turn, I just stop, pivot, and continue.  Easy peasy.  I'm using a Shmetz quilting needle and Connecting Threads thread in a nice light peach color.  I really like the way this thread looks in the finished quilting stitch.  It looks cottony, if that makes sense.  And it doesn't end up looking too thin like piecing thread or embroidery thread. 

After an evening of finishing up the quilting, I unfurl the quilt to admire my work and see at little mistake.  See post below for that story.  Next steps, binding, washing and photographing finished quilt.  Only two days left to get this one finished for the February Finish Challenge!

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