I just posted pics of the quilts I just finished....

Yes it is time consuming. But.. the simpler patterns are easier so they tend to go a little quicker. THing is...quilting ideas are literally endless. To the point that one pattern can even be tweeked to make 2 or 3 other designs...using the same pattern pieces! And things like if you sew on this side, you get this design, but if you sew on that other side, you get a different design! Start small..lap quilt and then you'll get hooked and will see how to do it in "sperts". Good luck on the quilts and post pics when they are done!

I"ve heard that kind of thread is hard to work with..tedious too. I am not up to trying it! Let me know how it turns out..post a pic!

Actually this isn't a hard pattern but the thread is a monster to work with. It is gold metallic and just clogged up my machine so I have too hand stitch and even that I can only do one stitch carefully at a time to make it work. Worse I am stubborn and cannot just do it with different thread because this looks so nice in the design!

Pick away! But first, let me tell you this...no matter what you have done, no matter what you have heard, thought or anything else....PRE-WASH RED. Then get those color catchers things and PRE-WASH AGAIN. Then wash it again! I swear, wash that red a couple times... 100% cotton reds that is This quilt I made.. I did pre wash the red, as I do with ALL fabrics I buy, and when the quilt was done, I had to wash it to get out some of the dissapearing pen marks...those dissapeared...but the RED BLED!!! It bled into the white..like streaks. I have re-washed and used those color catchers, but it is set in. The quilt is basically ruined. I can't give it to my GS like that. I am going to put it in my yard sale next month and see if I can get enough out of it to buy fabric to make him another one. And COLOR CATCHERS twice! And then I will wash it with some white scraps and see if it is going to bleed again! Sades thing is tho... the back fabric I got at a thrift store...it is American Indian theme....Chief with headdress, dreamcatchers, coyotes, tee=-pees, mustangs on the run.... it was the perfect complimentary theme to the flag. I wont' be able to get him that. Oh, the sadness of quilting!

If the quilt is that old, I would dry clean it. I wouldn't even take a chance on something like that getting messed up for any reason. That is an heirloom and I'd say just dry clean it to be on the safe side. I don't know about the bleach pen. I was thinking of taking a Q-tip dipped in bleach to some of the areas, but that bleach can soak through to the other side and bleach the back side fabric. I don't know how much bleach is in the pen. I might try that, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe they are a bit diluted or maybe in another form than just plain liquid bleach and that soaking through wouldn't be an issue. I'll check that out and see.

Oh no I'm soooo sorry! IDK with the quilt that's going on 50yrs old that my Mother never finished I fear washing it if I ever finish it. 2in x 2in square I was hoping to make as an oversized bed spread I think when I am done assembling I'll just fold it in half. But who know's maybe one of my girls will end up finishing that one. Either way there is some solid cotton red in it. I would ask though you know more than I do. Would using a bleach pen be out of order for getting the stars back to their rightful color?

I'm a veteram crocheter... Made afghans for everyone in the family and then was told "no more afghans!" Now...I suspect I will be hearing that on the quilting front! Start picking it up now...when you finally have the retirement time..you'll be a pro and ready to have at it!!!

Check out this cute easy pattern...make them one a day and then one weekend, sew them all together! http://twinfibers.blogspot.com/2011/11/bow-tie-block-tutorial.html

I am so sorry!!!!!!! It sure was a beautiful quilt though! Absolutely beautiful!

There a the others in my profile album. THanks for the compliment. I kind of made it up. The strips are made with a sideways tumbler template..I did that to insinuate the "wave" of the flag. I couldn't find any fabric with small white stars, so I made these large ones....5 states per star! Those were made with the flying geese template where you sew two half squares together and then cut per the template to get the star points. Pretty easy, but read in the post just above what happened. I still haven't recooped from it! But it is a relatively easy pattern so making a nother one isn't much a problem... just getting the fab so it doesn't bleed again is the biggest problem!

My mother offered to send some of her quilt projects that she has started. She had a retinal detachment two years ago and can't really see well enough to sew much anymore. I told her to hold off, but when I retire in a couple of years I just might have to see what I can do with some of those. Too busy right now, but I'd really love to try - assuming my eyes hold out. Great site! Thanks for the link! I'll let you know if I get started, and definitely if I need any help! Hope you're doing well otherwise, too!

Yeah, my eyes are minor problem due to my surgery but I can feel it coming on so I am able to stop and patch my bad eye and go do something else for awhile. Thank god for that! And yeah, I"d love to help you out. Just let me know. That'd be cool to finish one your mom started. I'm just to sentimental!

Practice makes perfect...it sure does. I think many people look at a quilt and see all the work and designs and cutting and just get overwhelmed and think they can't do that and it is so complicated. It isn't really. Start on a simple design like just squares and then work your way up to more intricate designs. Thing is..math is involved! You are off 1/4" on one piece and your entire quilt will be wonky! But take it slow and easy and take breaks time to time, and you will get the feel of it and then it will start to get to you and you'll want to do more! That first finished quilt will just be the best thing for future inspiration and talent!

Sadly..EXTREMELY SADLY... the red bled when I washed it and ruined it! I even used those color guard sheet things..and still it bled the red onto the white. I had prewashed the red fabric first with this in mind....like I do with all fabrics..they go straight into the washer when I bring them home. But it is ruined now. I tried washing it twice with the sheets afterwards and not so sure it didn't make it worse!

Thank you. And the only way you will know if you are talented is to give it a try! Here's a site that has TONS and TONS of craft things to do..all mediums and skill level...find something that looks fun and give it a whirl! www.favequilts.com

Thanks, randylovesdar! I have been sewing since I was 10 and now...a bit over 50...still sewing! I am self taught..okay, well.. mom taught me the basics, but that's as far as she went. I taught myself all the rest! I made my first quilt 34 years ago for my new baby daughter's cradle...Mickey Mouse fabric! Then ones here and there, but at the time I was mainly into little girls dresses. Then I stopped quilting and started crocheting and everyone in the family and beyond got afghans! I also stopped dress making as there was no need for it anymore! I went back to quilting in early 90's, then stopped and went to scrapbooking and 8 years ago, ended that and haven't done much do to a health issue. But last summer my grand daughter asked me to make her a princess dress. She said she is her daddy's princess, but how can she be a princess without a princess dress? I immediately went to the fabric store! That sparked it in me enough that I started sewing again. Last fall I decided I wanted to go back to quilting and bought a new sewing machine (the other one was 25 years old..still great condition but I figured I deserved a new one for starting my twilight years!) and have been quilting ever since. Made a couple dresses for the grand daughters too, some tote bags but quilts are where I am focusing at the moment.I have several more I need to make!

Its quilting with a sewing machine. And although I understand what you are saying.. I say the same to those the sit in front of a tv for hours on end! how can they just sit there and stare at that for hours and hours!!! Or even just for sports games..how can anyone just sit and watch that..how boring! But to each his own...this is what makes me happy, keeps me "busy" (just think, I could be eating!) and gives me the satisfaction that I have done something that I like,someone else will like and also it is great therapy for calming down, getting away from the stress that is life, and just having fun! Plus on the ones I am giving to someone.. I know they will enjoy it and (selfishly) know that every time they use the quilt I made for them..they will think of me! THose that I am giving them to, I don't get to see that often!

I have been sewing all my life, and it is something that makes me happy. I always sew for others...some appreciate it, others didn't. But always my kids got my heart and soul in the things I made them.However, in my old age now...I am seeing..if they don't want it, don't do it.But it makes me happy so I am making for the ladies prayer group at my church. They have a prayer meeting mon-fri at 9am. Small church and a stone building and it gets cold in that little room! Someone is always taking their heater and they can't turn the heat on as it is a money waste for just an hour and by the time they are ready to leave..it is warm..but the whole church is! So I ammaking a bunch of lap quilts for them. Granted...the idea came in spring as the cold weather is gone, but my plan is to have about a dozen of them done by fall to start the new winter! You should get going on that quilt!