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Hi, I am working on making a quilt. it is made out of War Between The States reproduction fabric. the pattern is my version of what The US Sanitary Commission gave out to Union Soldiers. I am sewing this quilt on Olga, my Pfaff 1939 treadle machine.
My question is whether to hand quilt or machine quilt. I spoke with a young lady at the Amish bakery near Dalton, WI. and she said that their group always hand quilted. I asked her why and she couldn't come up with an answer. I got the idea that they always did it that way. Oh and she is from a conservitive Old Order community.
Anyway, I wonder if Lovina or any one else would have any ideas on this. I am willing to hand quilt the quilt and could machine quilt too. I know how to do free motion quiltin on treadles w/o dropping feed dogs. :-) which ever way would be best.
blessings,
CarylAnne
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Re: quilting question
Like many other things that the Amish do, quilting is seldom done alone. Getting together to quilt is a great way for Amish ladies to come together to fellowship, talk, and get something useful accomplished at the same time.
In my community the ladies get together in each of our three districts for Sewing Day, the first Wednesday of each month. They come about 9:00 AM and stay until early afternoon. Sometimes they quilt. The quilt may be for a special reason. The ladies have made a quilt, before, for a doctor, in place of a big surgery bill. Or, it may be the quilt is made to be sold and the proceeds to go for a medical bill. The ladies have made a quilt several times for a school teacher who is leaving teachingn to get married.
Sometimes the ladies will come together and help a young mother catch up on her sewing for her family. It's amazing how much sewing needs to be done for a growing family.
Re: quilting question
I forgot to mention that on the Sewing Days that the ladies of the church come together; in the evenings the Youth come together, too. The Youth knot comforters. We, usually, try to do four an evening. Afterwards there is a supper. Followed, by volleyball.
The comforters are sent to Holmes County, Ohio and from there are sent by Iron Curtain Ministries to poor people in Romania, Ukraine, Moldavia, and Belarus.
Re: quilting question
Sounds much like the "sewing bees" that my grandma talked about.Of course that would have been years ago..I am 50. It is so sad that we "English" have allowed such events to fall by the wayside. Most women want outside work. Sadly,they fail to realize what a trade-off they make for a few $$. I am so thankful that my daughter and daughter-in-law have chosen to stay home. In my opinion,there is no greater honor than being a wife and mom. I have had a couple very small store clerk jobs in the past few years(only part-time),but I am no longer doing that. Even though my kids are grown,I still feel like my place is home. It works best for us!
Re: quilting question
totally butting in here but i feel so lame now!
i just use old clothes that have worn out to make quilts and things..i dont think ive ever bought fabric to make a quilt before.
Re: quilting question
Don't feel bad -- there's not a THING wrong with using old clothes! My MIL used to do the same thing! She even made a small pillow out of some of my FIL's old ties!
Re: quilting question
CarylAnne, what did you finally decide to do? ~ Janice
Re: quilting question
Definitely do not dry clean a quilt. Quilts are supposed to be made from 100% cotton, so I would determine first what the fabric is in the quilt. Quilts should be washed at the maximum of once a year; an antique quilt only every 5 years or longer to help preserve them. The chemicals used in dry cleaning would ruin an antique quilt.
You also want to check for colorfastness. It's possible the fabric in the quilt might bleed. There is a product called Color Catchers which can be used in the water to help absorb any color that is released into the water so it won't ruin your quilt.
The best way to preserve a good quilt is to let is soak in a bathtub of cool to mildly warm water using a soap that is free of dyes and fragrance; gently swishing it back and forth with your hands to get it clean. Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to the rinse water to make the colors bright. Rinse extremely well through several tubs of water until all the soap is out then lay it out to dry.
Never hang a quilt to dry. You can put it in the washer and let the washer spin some of the water out. then it should be laid flat to dry. You can put it outside to dry by spreading a sheet or towels on the ground, then the quilt, and top it with another sheet to prevent it from fading.
Quilt shops usually sell special soaps to use when washing a quilt too.
Re: quilting question
thank you so much for the great information! One thing that is frustrating me about hand quilting is how the back looks. with all the knots and tails. It just lookes like a needlework piece that should be put in a picture frame to hide the back.
blessings,
CarylANne
Re: quilting question
Omygoodness, I just noticed this thread! You should not have any knots and tails on the back of a quilt! The back should look as good as the fromt. When starting a length of thread, gently and firmly tug the knot through from the front to the inside, and begin quilting. When you finish, tie a couple of knots with the needle and pull the tail to the inside and snip, burying the tail.
Re: hand vs. machine quilting: a hand-quilted quilt apppreciates in value, whereas a machine-quilted one does not. I hand quilt ALL of mine.
Re: quilting question
Hi. This is the way my family always did it. Make the knot in the thread small and with a slight tug, it should slip through to the middle. Try to make your stiches as small as possible. on the top and bottem when you put about four or so stiches on your needle beffore you pull it through. I'm sorry if this is confusing as I can see it in my mind and feel my fingeres doing it.
I have hand quilted quilts as old as 200 years and the family just handwashed and laid it over something to dry. Some probably haven't ever been washed.
They always said if you used a machine to piece and quilt it wasn't quilting but sewing.
No matter how you do it it will be made with love and be beautiful.
Re: quilting question
Talking about keeping your stitches small reminded me of a friend in Lancaster, PA who told me that Amish quilters (at least in her area) are paid according to how many spools of thread they use when making a quilt. My friend had commissioned a quilt from an Amish woman, and when she went to her home to pick it up, all of the empty spools were lined up on the table, and she was charged so much per spool. So not only do small stitches pay off in terms of the quilt's durability, but they apparently pay off literally, too. ~ Janice
Re: quilting question
At an Amish quilt shop in Leola, PA, I was told that all of the quilts they sell (all Amish made) are pieced together with a treadle sewing machine, but the quilting is all done by hand. The shop is owned and operated by Old Order Amish. At any rate, let us know what you decide to do, CarylAnne -- and maybe post a photo of the finished product so we can admire it. Happy quilting! ~ Janice
Another quilting question
Several years ago I purchased a handquilted Lonestar quilt in Lancaster PA area. It is king size with muslin background and greens, purples and browns. I use it on our bed, but take it off at night. It really needs to be cleaned because it is so light. What is the best method? Dry clean, handwash, machine wash? What about drying? The quilt is so gorgeous I don't want to take any chances. I machine wash my quilts on gentle and fluff partially dry on medium before draping them to finish drying. Thanks for any hints.
Re: Another quilting question
A few years ago my hubby bought me a quilt from the Lancaster Amish. I also have it on our bed. It's a king size quilt,all hand-quilted. I wash it on gentle and line dry it. It isn't showing any signs of wear,so I can honestly say that this method works. Good luck with yours!!
Re: quilting question
I agree with Cheryl. Hand quilting indeed holds up better. I also just like the whole idea of handwork..it is relaxing!!! Good luck with your quilt,no matter what you decide!!
Re: quilting question
Just from my own experience I know that hand quilted quilts stand up better to wear and tear and washings, mind you that is just my experience, I have two that are hand stitched and are about fourty years old and still going strong, I also have three my sister made for me on the sewing machine and they are only about ten years old and are falling apart at the seams all over the place, personally I would take a hand stitched quilt over a machine stitched one any day, good luck with yours and have fun, I love making quilts and quilted items......