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Quilting/Questions Answered by Expert Connie Hester
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Graph paper | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Do you know of a site that makes graph paper that you can download for rag or non rag quilts? So I ... A: While not specifically for quilts, one site which has printable graph paper is ... | |
| joining batting | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: I need to join 2 pieces of batting together to get the right size for my quilt. What is the best ... A: I lay battings flat, overlapping edges of battings about 1/2" - 1", and use a programmed ... | |
| Storing quilt-tops long-term | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: I'm just starting actual quilting, and I kinda figured baby-quilts is a good way to go. Small enough ... A: The perfect solution would be to store flat, one on top of the other, as on a bed in a guest room, ... | |
| sewing 60 degree triangles together. | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: I am new quilter. Found a pattern at Joann's for a table topper made of 3" 60 degree triangles. I ... A: "Sewing seamlines from beginning to end, not from raw edge to raw edge" refers to sewing strictly on ... | |
| sewing 60 degree triangles together. | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: I am new quilter. Found a pattern at Joann's for a table topper made of 3" 60 degree triangles. I ... A: Whenever piecing, you want to try to sew in as straight a line with the pieces as possible, or ... | |
| Fabric pictures for Quilting | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I followed your recommendation and purchased an Epson printer--ordered it online: C88+. My problem ... A: I do not use pre-treated sheets, so I am not familiar with the use of that product. HOWEVER, the ... | |
| Fabric pictures for Quilting | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: I followed your recommendation and purchased an Epson printer--ordered it online: C88+. My problem ... A: Did you iron freezer paper onto the back of the fabric sheet? Did you trim fabric-freezer paper to 8 ... | |
| Rag quilts | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: I am wondering if it would be possible to use T-shirts to make a rag quilt? A: Yes, it would be possible. The raw seam edges would curl up along the length of the seams rather ... | |
| rotary cutting triangles | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I am making an Ohio Star quilt. The center of the star is 3 1/2 inches. What size do I cut the ... A: Is the center square CUT 3 1/2", or does it finish out to 3 1/2"? If it finishes out to 3 1/2" ... | |
| which one | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: What type of batting do you use polyester or cotton batting for quilts? for rag quilts?? Why?? which ... A: I always use 80-20 cotton-polyester or 100% cotton batting for quilts. I don't make rag quilts. The ... | |
| Beginning Hand Quilting | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I have just completed machine quilting my first lap sized quilt top, and now I am wanting to go ... A: Well, you may get as many answers to a question about needles as number of people you ask. ... | |
| putting together octagons? | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: Greetings! My grandmother did several miniature tree-skirts for me, and two of them are very ... A: To join the octagons, mark the 1/4" seamlines on the wrong side of the fabric with pencil. Take 2 ... | |
| Simple circle out of rectangular pieces | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I saw a pillow that basically made a circle our of a number of rectangular pieces. I've scanned in ... A: This is a variation of a Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern - it is a Single Wedding Ring quilt ... | |
| Handquilting on Hinterberg frame | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: I am currently hand quilting an 80 X 90 quilt by hand on a Hinterberg frame. It is the fourth quilt ... A: We always want to start with a batting which is a few inches larger all around that the desired ... | |
| quantites of detergent? | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: I'm about to get the supplies for scouring my fabric and wonder about quantities. "For 2 yards or ... A: Yes, I would use the same quantities of detergent and dishwashing liquid for 6 yards of fabric as ... | |
| epson r1900 CIS for textile printing | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: Such an expert I could only dream of, and here you are. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate ... A: When using pigment inks on fabric, the two most important things are to use scoured fabric (in order ... | |
| applique | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: Is it advisable to do raw edge hand applique? I am making a pieced table runner with applique ... A: Is it advisable to do raw edge applique by hand? It depends on the amount of fraying you do or do ... | |
| Rag Quilt | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Colorado where winters are sometimes 8 months long. I want to make a rag quilt that will ... A: The first questions that come to mind are ... 1. Are you using a new needle? (probably yes, since ... | |
| Overlapping sashing | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a quilt made for my brother and his wife, for their wedding. The layout is attached as ... A: It just *looks* woven. The blocks are actually sewn in horizontal rows, with vertical strips between ... | |
| printing COLORFAST picture on fabric using HP PSC 1610 Inkjet printer | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I would like to print pictures on fabric to be used on a jacket design. I need to be sure the ... A: Your Blumenthal Craft PhotoFabric is one of many varieties of treated fabric I referred to in my ... | |
| printing COLORFAST picture on fabric using HP PSC 1610 Inkjet printer | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I would like to print pictures on fabric to be used on a jacket design. I need to be sure the ... A: I would not use HP inkjet printers for permanent washable images on fabric. In fact, years ago, ... | |
| Machine quilting with invisible thread | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I am just wondering if it is necessary to pull through and tie the ends of the threads together once ... A: Yes. You want the overall quilting stitches to be evenly spaced and of equal length throughout the ... | |
| stitch and tear | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I was given some stitch and tear cloth to use. As I am new to quilting and applique can you tell me ... A: It is just one of many tear-away stabilizers. It is used behind single-layer fabric to prevent ... | |
| Pieced quilt top fabric | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I was having trouble with my internet connection when I sent this before so I will try again. My ... A: I would go ahead and quilt it before washing. If you wash it now, you will have all sorts of ... | |
| flannel and applique seams | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I am so grateful that I came across this web site!! I am a first time quilter and have found this ... A: Unfortunately, flannel continues to shrink, has inconsistent stitch count (thus distorting easily ... | |
| sewing machines and YLI thread | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I am in the market for a new sewing machine and would like to learn free motion quilting. Any ... A: Rather than recommend a particular machine, I would suggest that you visit your local (or nearest to ... | |
| Orange Peel hand-pieced quilt | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I am having major prolems joining the rows at the intersections where eight points come together. ... A: Tip 1: Place 2 pieces of fabric together, right sides together, and insert straight pins ... | |
| Strip quilting | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I would like to make a diamond pattern from strip quilting. I would like the diamonds to be set on ... A: The strips are cut at 45-degrees, so exactly 6" x 3" finished diamonds are not possible. However, ... | |
| Strip quilting | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I would like to make a diamond pattern from strip quilting. I would like the diamonds to be set on ... A: Using a ruler, draw the diamond shape on paper by first drawing a cross which is 6" tall and 3" ... | |
| fading of inkjet imagery | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: Our local art center is very upset that a digitally printed quilt given to them is fading on the ... A: Wow. That's precisely why I was so thankful that I noticed my own first experience with HP ink ... | |
| Quilting with photos | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I am working on a photo quilt for my daughter for graduation and having a time with the pictures. I ... A: *Dye-based* inks, like in HP printers, require Bubble Jet Set so that *dye-based* inkjet ink will ... | |
| free motion machine quilting | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a New Home Model HF 2022 sewing machine. I recently purchased a hopper foot for it to do free ... A: 1.) Be sure the lever which raises and lowers the foot is down. I'm not trying to insult your ... | |
| Wedding ring quilt | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I bought an old wedding ring design quilt top at an antique store. I added backing and quilted it, ... A: Cut bias binding strips 2" wide, to fold in half (wrong sides together) and sew onto the edge of the ... | |
| Machine quilting | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: Greetings. I am about to machine quilt for the first time, and I'm lacking a bit of confidence. ... A: A walking foot is used in quilting straight lines, to feed the bottom fabric under the needle at the ... | |
| quilting | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: I need the measurements for the diamonds and HSTs for a 12 inch Lemoyne Star block. Thanks. Donna A: Finished size of diamonds would be 3 1/2" per side. Four corner squares, 3 1/2" square finished. 4 ... | |
| Basting for hand quilting | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I am making a quilt for my first grandchild which features printed blocks of various English country ... A: Beginning in the center of the quilt, baste lines outwards from the center in a "ray" configuration, ... | |
| quilt squares | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: I AM IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING MY MOTHER A QUILT I AM NEW AT THIS I WANT TO SEND EACH CHILD OF HERS ... A: There are so many variables possible in the layout, but I will give suggestions for one possible ... | |
| appliques on baby blanket | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I am appliqueing for the first time. I will use a Kenmore sewing machine. I have recently ... A: Use a scrap of the minky and try to machine applique something, say, a circle onto it with a satin ... | |
| appliques on baby blanket | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I am appliqueing for the first time. I will use a Kenmore sewing machine. I have recently ... A: Minky fabric is not appropriate for machine appliqueing onto. As you have been told by others, it is ... | |
| quilt finishing | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: I am creating a scrap batik quilt. I would like to use fleece as my backing with no inner layer. ... A: I would use a regular method of binding, to reduce bulk, as you suggest. HOWEVER, I have done this ... | |
| ran out of batting | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I made a quilt top that I thought was crib size when I went to put the batting in the quilt the ... A: Yes, but it will need to be SECURELY attached all along the joined edges to prevent separation after ... | |
| machine quilting on the bias | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: I am machine quilting on the bias. When I finish a row and take it out of the machine the ... A: You need to adjust the tension on your bobbin thread. Take a sample "sandwich" of fabrics and ... | |
| Star point design | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: Connie, I have some great Star War fabric and want to make it into a quilt for my grandson. The ... A: You will have to draw your own varieties of stars within the 12" square, then use the center piece ... | |
| printing on fabric | 6/13/2008 |
| Q: What is the best printer to use for printing onto fabric? I hate my HP PSC 1610. It doesn't grab ... A: Any Epson which uses pigment-based ink, like their Durabrite and Ultrabrite inks, for example. Be ... | |
| printing on fabric | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I have an epson C86 printer and would like to print photos onto fabric, but the bubblejet method is ... A: By the "bubblejet method", I assume you are referring to pre-soaking fabric in Bubble Jet Set ... | |
| quilting | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: What is a snowball square? A: A snowball pattern block can be viewed on a long list of sites if "snowball quilt pattern" is typed ... | |
| raw edge applique | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: I need to know how to finish the raw edge applique so as not to fray and will I sew edges before ... A: Yes, raw-edge applique is usually done prior to layering the top with batting and backing. There are ... | |
| Applique | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: The pieces I have are 1900 butterfly shapes. I have never appliqued before. How do I do this. I am ... A: There are many ways to applique. If possible, one way is to turn raw edges under 1/8-1/4" and ... | |
| quilt as you go | 2/13/2008 |
| Q: I am doing blocks with a border. A: Carol, Quilt each block, or border section, up to within 1/2" of the edges of each section. Sew ... | |
| king quilt | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if you know of a way to use a regular sewing machine to make a king quilt? Is there ... A: Yes, you can quilt it in sections. Quilt up to within 1/2" of the edges of each section. Sew ... | |
| quilting question | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: I have an old, completely hand-stiched quilt of a friend of mine - her great-grandmother made it. ... A: Batting will add more support to the quilt top by distributing the stress (upon the stitching) of ... | |
| stencils | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: What is the best size stencil to use on a 12" snowball block and what is the best method to mark the ... A: The goal of quilting is to have balanced overall quilting over the surface of the quilt with no ... | |
| newpaper sewn to quilt squares | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I read your response regarding the use of newspaper to provide strength to quilt fabrics. I ... A: Yes, just before sandwiching the quilt top with the batting and the batting, carefully remove the ... | |
| Polyester Quilt | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: My mother years ago pieced a quilt top of entirely polyester material. I have recently taken up the ... A: Patti, Even though your mother used polyester for the quilt top, I would choose 100% cotton for the ... | |
| Quilting a Pillow | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: I am new to quilting and am constructing a wall hanging. I would like to make a pillow, next. I ... A: Karen, Yes, the front of the pillow consists of 3 layers which are quilted together. The backside ... | |
| lap quilting | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: Would you be able to explain the process of lap quilting. I have hand pieced four quilt tops over ... A: In a nutshell, the 3 layers of the quilt "sandwich" are basted together. Basting lines should ... | |
| Basting large quilts | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I would like to baste my quilt, but don't want to do it on the floor (dogs and young children). I ... A: Tracey, I know a lot of people talk to their local libraries and arrange a time when they can put ... | |
| Hand piecing and templates | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I am making my first quilt and am not using a machine. I was wondering, the template I am using ... A: I think what was meant is that there is not the imperative need for exactly 1/4" seam allowances ... | |
| patchwork "corners" | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: I am in the process of making a patchwork piece where I have 15 main rectangles which I want to ... A: Yes, being the stickler for precision that I am, I would sew each strip of the frame, one at a time, ... | |
| PRINTED TREASURES | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: I have been trying to print on Printed treasures sew on. The ends curl and then get stuck in the ... A: First, call Printed Treasures, or find their webpage and email them with your question. I create my ... | |
| Machine Quilting | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a Consew 206RB used for upholstry that I no longer use, instead of selling my machine I would ... A: I am not familiar with the sewing machine you have, and you haven't mentioned exactly how you have ... | |
| The best machine and quilting frame | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I have enjoyed making quilts for the last few years and now due to my hands hurting i can no longer ... A: Deborah, It is hard for me to know how you feel about gadgets and equipment in general. I am of ... | |
| help on pieceing together a diagonal quilt | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: I am making a diagonal quilt my instructions say to cut 12 and 1/2 inch squares these are my ... A: Actually, without seeing the particular pattern, I shouldn't respond, but .... My thought is that, ... | |
| printing on fabric | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: Well, I will purchase these products and try again. How much synthrapol should I use in the wash? It ... A: For the soda ash/washing soda, you can buy "Arm & Hammer Washing Soda" at many grocery stores, or ... | |
| printing on fabric | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: I followed the guidelines to the letter to make my fabric colorfast. Used the Bubble Jet 2000. I ... A: Which specific "guidelines" did you follow for pre-washing? Do you mean that you washed/scoured the ... | |
| my fabric bled | 2/12/2007 |
| Q: I followed every step with 100% cotton fabric, that I pretreated in the wash. Soaked in Bubble jet ... A: As noted in my previous response, *Epson* pigment based inks are currently the only dependably ... | |
| concentric circles | 1/25/2007 |
| Q: I am making a Bella Bella quilt and have substituted a design for the center. This consists of ... A: To help attain smooth concentric circles, first applique the largest circle which will be the ... | |
| Dell Printers | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: I have a Dell A940 printer and it or me does a lousy job of printing pictures. I am trying to use ... A: If you will check back through my archives of previous questions/answers, you will find a lot of ... | |
| family photo quilt | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: Connie I want to have a family photo quilt made. I've seen your note on printing with Epson's ... A: When using Epson Durabrite ink, simple 100% cotton fabric, routinely used for quilts, would be ... | |
| Making a quilt | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I really want to make a quilt for my granny for christmas. I'm pretty novice when it comes to sewing ... A: Jennifer, If you have an Epson printer with Durabrite inks, or access to one, you can print ... | |
| machine quilting | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I am new at this craft and I was wondering where do you start when you free-motion machine quilt? I ... A: Karin, Yes, you should start in the middle of the quilt and work outwards. I prefer .004mm ... | |
| Pictures from Bubble Jet | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: I have just completed a quilt with several pictures on it using Bubble Jet. After completing the ... A: None of the HP printers is "recommended" because none of their inks are *lightfast* on fabric. Using ... | |
| Photo transfers for quilting | 11/11/2006 |
| Q: I am currently making a 9 patch quilt for my boss for his Christmas present and will be ... A: Yes, iron-on transfers are shiny and plastic-y, making the fabric stiff as well. As for sewing over ... | |
| quilt backing | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: How much larger should the backing be than the quilt top? The backing will not be used for binding. ... A: Your backing and batting should both be at least 2" larger all around, to allow for take-up and/or ... | |
| colorfast fabric | 11/1/2006 |
| Q: If I print out my own fabric for quilting can I use colorfast white fabric to ensure washability. ... A: I do not understand what you mean by "colorfast white fabric". Epson Durabrite inks are pretty much ... | |
| very new at quilting | 10/22/2006 |
| Q: Help please - I am making a quilt that will be 6 squares accross and 6 squares in length. I have ... A: Amy, While the top layer of a quilt is pieced, the batting and backing normally are not. The ... | |
| To tie or quilt: a question of integrity | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: I have a early 1900's Tumbling Block quilt made by my great-grandmother, a milliner, who used scraps ... A: Karen, It is my personal opinion that hand quilting with a thin cotton or cotton blend batting ... | |
| First-Time Quilting | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: Help...I'm making a quilt for my sister's baby shower and i dont know where to start. Each woman in ... A: Gabriela, You need an acrylic (see-thru) ruler in addition to the matt and the rotary cutter. ... | |
| stippling and meandering | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: I am new at quilting. I found a place that will give lessons. They teach stippling and meandering. ... A: Generally, stippling and meandering are the same thing, but meandering is on a larger scale and ... | |
| Follow up to Fabric Printing | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: I am still searching for white cotton sateen fabric that is not over $20 a yard. I did have a few ... A: Cotton sateen can be found at Wal-Mart for $4 a yard. I suggested it because it has a tight weave, ... | |
| Fabric Printing | 9/29/2006 |
| Q: I read a couple of your responses regarding fabric sheet printing, but I still have a few questions. ... A: It's true, durabrite ink does not require Bubble Jet Set solution to make it water-resistant ... | |
| Seam Lenght | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: I've just joined a 'block of the month' club and am working on my first quilt - and first block! ... A: Sandy, Standard seam allowances are 1/4". They are routinely pressed to one side, pressing to ... | |
| printing on fabric | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I appreciate your honesty, I was thinking more of using it for copying my child's art work onto ... A: The problem is the quality of the scan. Then, when that scan is printed, it may reproduce a child's ... | |
| printing on fabric | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: What would you recommend as far as a piece of equipment that would both scan images onto the ... A: I probably shouldn't respond to your question because I don't know the answer, but let me tell you ... | |
| printing photos on fabric | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: We finally got down to printing last night and had so much trouble. The fabric kept bunching up ... A: Yes, iron the fabric onto the shiny side of the freezer paper in order to firm up the fabric. Push ... | |
| printing photos on fabric | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: Sorry to keep bothering you on this topic. I am planning to make a project that will hang on the ... A: No problem, Amy! Preserve it in what way exactly? By printing directly onto the fabric, rather than ... | |
| printing on fabric | 8/4/2006 |
| Q: I saw your recommendations on preparing fabring to print on from June 16. After washing and drying, ... A: My current favorite fabric is white cotton sateen. I don't know the thread count, but it is tighter ... | |
| printing on fabric | 8/3/2006 |
| Q: I saw your recommendations on preparing fabring to print on from June 16. After washing and drying, ... A: Amy, My June 13 recommendations applied to using an Epson printer with pigment-based ink. To ... | |
| machine quilting | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: yes i would like to know why my needles keep breaking when using a darning foot to practice on my ... A: Josie, The most common problem when free-motion quilting - and often so subtle that it is not ... | |
| Quilt top with newspaper | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I discovered a quilt top which was probably made by my husband's grandmother. Newspaper hangs from ... A: Linda, It's difficult to say for sure without actually seeing the pieces. Often newspaper was used ... | |
| Quilting | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I am making a baby quilt with a ruffle, (not from a pattern - as why I got confused) It is just a ... A: Okay. Thanks for the clarification. That's not what I was picturing! Ha! Pin batting to wrong side ... | |
| Quilting | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I am making a quilt with a ruffle but am confused on attaching the ruffle, I want it in the middle ... A: Kim, I need some more information. Do you mean that you want to be able to fold the quilt, ... | |
| Quilt with Photos | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: My mother has a quilt that my sisters made that has photos on it and one of the photos is cracking. ... A: It is hard to make a suggestion for something so special without seeing it in person. My first ... | |
| adding a border | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: Connie my daughter bought a pre quilted block and she wants me to put on a wide border . Of course ... A: Judith, If the quilting stitches have not extended into the 1/4" seam allowances envisioned ... | |
| quilting | 6/21/2006 |
| Q: When appliqueing will I do all the quilting on the top layer first and then apply the appique work ... A: Linda, You will do all the appliqueing to the surface ("top") fabric first. Then you will create ... | |
| Binding angled corners | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: I have a table runner with angled corners. What is a tidy way to finish these? Thank you! A: Regardless of technique, you always want to fold excess fabric on the front and/or the back sides ... | |
| printers for printing photos on fabric | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: Do you have any recommendations for printers that can handle paperbacked fabric for direct printing ... A: Ann, You will need a printer with pigment-based ink, such as found in many of the low-end Epson ... | |
| how to quilt | 6/6/2006 |
| Q: iv always been facinated with quilting and wanted to make one. can u give me a simple model whic i ... A: Heidy, The scope of this question is too large to answer in a message here. There are simply too ... | |
| old quilt top | 4/25/2006 |
| Q: I have an old quilt top that my husband's grandmother pieced by both machine and hand. How would ... A: Debbie, There are so many choices. It is totally up to you. You might want to check out a book ... | |
| Quilting | 1/13/2006 |
| Q: I'm working on my first quilt, and now that I'm ready for the actual "quilting" process, I have a ... A: Jennifer, "In-the-ditch" means right on top of the seam between 2 pieces. The quilting won't be ... | |
| applique whole cloth | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: I'm trying to reproduce a whole cloth quilt that has flowers around the edges and in the center. How ... A: Mary, This is rather ambitious for a first project. Fold the whole cloth in half ... | |
| raw edge applique | 11/7/2005 |
| Q: I usually applique using the freezer paper method and I always do this by hand. I have a project I ... A: Pam, Yes, fusing is one method of raw edge applique, and stitching just inside the raw edge with ... | |
| Baby Quilt | 9/14/2005 |
| Q: I want to use some of my son's outgrown baby clothes to make a keepsake quilt to hang in his nursery ... A: Jessica, The main consideration would be stabilizing knits and fortifying any delicate ... | |
| machine quilting | 6/21/2005 |
| Q: I am trying to machine quilt for the first time. How do you machine quilt, in the ditch, without the ... A: Kim, Actually, pulling and stretching are the very things which create a distorted quilt, so ... | |
| Printing on material | 6/13/2005 |
| Q: I am making my daughter a "memories quilt". She loves to read, so I'd like to make a bookshelf with ... A: Rachel, First, "scour" the fabric you will be printing on with soda ash and synthrapol. For 2 ... | |
| photgraph on fabric | 6/4/2005 |
| Q: We want to print photographs directly onto a fabric that is more like a microfiber or satin than a ... A: Terri, You will need to do a test print. If you have an Epson with Durabrite ink (pigment-based ... | |
| Epson printers and Printed Treasures | 5/30/2005 |
| Q: After doing a google search of Epson C86 and Printed Treasures, your email came up. I am trying to ... A: Evan, I always iron my fabrics to freezer paper, then tape (with 1/2" cellophane tape) all the ... | |
| flannels | 5/17/2005 |
| Q: I am making a flannel quilt for a baby. Without realizing it, I purchased flannels with two ... A: Phyllis, The most important thing to do when using any flannel is to pre-wash. Since the ... | |
| stabilizers with applique | 3/19/2005 |
| Q: I am helping to make a retirement quilt in which we are doing machine applique through five layers ... A: Pam, The function of stabilizer is to keep the stitched surface from bunching-up or being ... | |
| Photo Quilt | 3/2/2005 |
| Q: I'm a first time quilter. I am going to attempt to use the Quiltsmart double wedding ring photo ... A: Some tips for printing on fabric: 1.) "Scour" your cotton fabric first. To do so, put 1-6 yards ... | |
| Durabrite inks on cotton fabric | 2/28/2005 |
| Q: I am working on a quilt project with my daughters 5th grade class. The quilt will ultimately be ... A: Michele, The fabric does not have to be treated for the ink to be water resistant, but you do ... | |
| Raw-edge Applique | 2/3/2005 |
| Q: Ok, I have tried a McKenna Ryan pattern, have all my pieces fused to the background, so far, so ... A: Yes, raw-edge applique is usually done prior to layering the top with batting and backing. There are ... | |
| Quilting | 1/15/2005 |
| Q: I would like to start quilting. I would like to know a few things first. What type of fabric is best ... A: Karlene, Pre-washed 100% cottons are best to begin with as they need no special consideration, ... | |
| Using Templates | 11/25/2004 |
| Q: Connie, I am new to quilting. In fact I have'nt yet begun. I am reading a book to teach myself ... A: LeeAnn, Boy, it sounds like this book is quite confusing! Each template should say whether or ... | |
| printing photos directly to fabric | 11/16/2004 |
| Q: I am helping my sister with her quilt project. I have agreed to print photos on fabric for her to ... A: I do a lot of printing on fabric. Unfortunately, the pre-treated fabrics and the Bubble Jet Solution ... | |
| quilting rows together | 9/7/2004 |
| Q: I'm putting together a strip quilt. It is made up of 6" squares. Two different fabrics. One of ... A: If fabrics are not cut on the straight-of-grain they will often stretch sna distort when sewn. If ... | |
| quilt | 8/24/2004 |
| Q: I've done some quilting, but still have a ways to go in learning. Most of the quilting I have done ... A: Margaret, First, you can use regular sewing thread (cotton, or cotton-covered polyester) for ... | |
| printing on fabric | 7/26/2004 |
| Q: Mine is not actually a quilting question, but In my research I found that some quilters print ... A: Irma, Printing directly onto pre-washed fabric which has been saturated (and dried flat) with ... | |
| altered books--quilted books | 6/29/2004 |
| Q: I have seen some beautiful quilted books in Quilting Arts Magazines. I am unsure of how to ... A: Anna, To produce a thinner quilted product, you don't have to use conventional batting to get ... | |
| How to Question | 5/8/2004 |
| Q: I have designed a free form wallhanging (approx 22x36). I had initially thought I could foundation ... A: Deb, You may be familiar with Caryl Bryer Fallert's work (http://www.bryerpatch.com). Her large ... | |
| quilt pattern | 4/5/2004 |
| Q: I'm looking for a quilt pattern that looks very intricate, but really is very easy and quick to ... A: Linda, I would suggest paper-piecing patterns. You could go to www.google.com and type in the ... | |
| Quilting - Getting Points to match | 3/31/2004 |
| Q: I am making a quilt with a nine patch and a snowball. The snowball has a triangle piece of fabric in ... A: Sandy, Place the 2 blocks right-sides-together. If, for example the wrong-side of the 9-patch ... | |
| quilting frame | 3/14/2004 |
| Q: I need a blueprint or directions on making a quilting frame out of wood or pvc pipe. Can you please ... A: Joanne, Here's what I use for a full quilt frame. Find or buy two 2"x2" pieces of wood ... | |
| Quilting | 11/9/2003 |
| Q: My husband has many t-shirts that are hard for him to part with. I was hoping to take the graphics ... A: Use iron-on interfacing on the back of the knits. Knit tricot iron-on, oriented cross-grain with the ... | |
| sewing machine for making quilts | 10/26/2003 |
| Q: I am interested in getting a new sewing machine. PFAFF machine (life style model) was recommended by ... A: Beth, I have a Janome/New Home 9000. I have had the New Home 7000 and 8000 models as well, ... | |
| Frame | 7/9/2003 |
| Q: I can't afford to buy a quilting frame. Several years ago I started a star quilt. I found it again 2 ... A: Bev, Absolutely. The easiest and most versatile, and even portable, is as follows. Find or ... | |
| Getting Seams Even | 6/28/2003 |
| Q: Greetings! I have always had a difficult time getting the seams to match so they look even when ... A: Cari, First of all, when piecing quilts, both seam allowances are pressed in one direction ... | |
| fuse, fold, and stitch method | 5/11/2003 |
| Q: On HGTV I caught the end of a segment on a show showing how to piece a quilt together using fusible ... A: Tyra, If you will go to <www.google.com> and type in "watercolor grid quilt", several sites ... | |
| sewing machine | 1/23/2003 |
| Q: I am fairly new to quilting and so far have created one hand-stitched quilt and one machine-stitched ... A: Sarah, I would visit the sewing machine shop loaded with the various combinations of fabrics ... | |
| raw edge applique | 1/21/2003 |
| Q: I am trying to find out, simply, how raw edge applique is done. Can you tell me if you just ... A: Gina, Here are a few ways to do raw edge applique: 1.) cover edges with invisible thread in ... | |
| applique star help | 11/17/2002 |
| Q: I need applique help. I am a novice quilter. Enjoying the new challenge. So far so good, but (my ... A: Julie, Cut straight across (perpendicular to) the point of the star as close to the point as ... | |
| Raw Edge Applique | 9/7/2002 |
| Q: I have seen kits and shows on raw edge applique and my big question is when they use a fusible on ... A: Diana, These kits and demonstrations you have seen were probably for wallhangings which were not ... | |
| Batting | 4/7/2002 |
| Q: How important is it to have batting in a quilt? I am finishing off a 30 year old quilt and it only ... A: Nancy, What do you mean by, "it only has one side"? Do you mean that you found an unfinished ... | |
| quilt history | 3/18/2002 |
| Q: I have quilted for a number of years and have taught adult ed on the subject. I have been asked to ... A: Lisa, The biggest male names in the quilt world which come immediately to my mind are David ... | |
| Quilt frames | 3/7/2002 |
| Q: What are the pros and cons of quilt frames versus hoops for quilting queen size quilts? If there ... A: Sharon, A quilt frame is a wonderful way to quilt a queen-size quilt because it keeps the ... | |
Quilting
Answers by Expert:
Connie Hester
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience
Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/ BS,MS See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
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