Quilted by Carmen Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Hi, I have been asked about making a quilt out of sweaters. My biggest question is, do I need to put interfacing to the back of each sweater? should I use batting? any info you have is much appreciated! Carmen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 I'm only jumping in here because no one else has yet. What type of sweaters are we talking about? I'm thinking hand knit, but I don't think it would be a problem. Yes, you'd want to interface them, possibly even zig zag stitch the edges or stitch them somehow so that they don't unravel. Batting? Don't know. Might be decided after you finish the top. Might be necessary to even out the different thicknesses of the sweaters. You'll probably need to raise the height of your hopping foot to get it over the sweaters, but maybe I'm still thinking of hand knits. Someone else, jump in here please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisae Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 I think I'd put water soluble stabilizer or a light tear away stabilizer on top of the sweaters when quilting. Then you don't have to worry about your foot catching on the knit, especially if there are cables or any type of uneven design. I'd also use something like thermore or warm and natural as a batting just to give some support to the blocks. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 The biggest problem I think would be the batting working out between the stitches. I would certainly put a substantial interfacing behind the sweaters, or even a layer of muslin. I would keep the batting on the thin side. I agree raising the hopping foot might be necessary. Where do people get these ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qltnbe Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Are these sweaters going to be felted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 The biggest problem I think would be the batting working out between the stitches. I would certainly put a substantial interfacing behind the sweaters, or even a layer of muslin. I would keep the batting on the thin side. I agree raising the hopping foot might be necessary. Where do people get these ideas? I'm with you, Lynn. How could this not end up a hot mess and nothing but a problem for the quilter? I'll be waiting to see the outcome... Edited--I couldn't resist doing a search for "quilts made from sweaters" and there are a bunch out there. The only thing is---they aren't quilts, they're blankets. Just chopped up sweaters with the edges finished and then sewn together, sometimes with a backer but not with batting. And I don't think there's any quilting involved. They look pretty rough. Not something elegant but a great cuddle blanket, especially if the sweaters are old treasures. Here's a link--- https://seamstresserin.com/sweaters-blanket-tutorial/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bliss Quilter Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Wow, such a challenging request. Good Luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micajah Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Not to rain on anyone's parade but....not everything is meant to be a quilt. Some things just don't work well. To me, sweaters are in that catagory. This is not something I would want to waste my time with..not enough years left as it is. Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terri D. Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 When my mom died two years ago I inherited her wool sweaters, and began an internet search to learn everything possible about working with this stretchy material and how to turn it into a patchwork quilt. The result is an almost-done sweater quilt (we became marching band parents and then moved to another state, disrupting its completion), but I got pretty far with it and blogged about it in the process, starting with this post: https://chocolatecakequiltdesigns.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/sweater-quilt-explained/ Micajah is correct: this is not a project for everyone. It has the potential to be frustrating; but for me, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about something different and figuring out what would work best in order to give me the result I was looking for. The best part was feeling like I was with my mom when I was working with her sweaters. I wish you good luck should you decide to tackle one. Terri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dramaqueenB Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Just a thought...although this would not work on a long arm quilting system, may I suggest looking up this very talented sweater artist: Katwise on etsy or on Facebook. Katherine Sullivan. She makes frankensweaters, and arm warmers, bags, hair accessories, but elevates it to an art form. Check her out before you start the quilt, as she sells tutorials that are very entertaining in her etsy shop about working with sweaters, washing, felting, shrinking before construction...and you might have a project here that would work best constructed almost like a rag quilt, using a serger and quilt as you go method. I have two of her goddess coats, and they are heavy, but warm and soft and fantastic...and I could see a quilt made in this way. Any other doubling, or batting sounds too heavy and stiff, and I can't imagine how it would be used with all that thickness and bulk unless you are using cashmere or very light weight and tightly knitted sweaters...not cotton or acrylic or any loose weaves. http://katwise.com https://www.facebook.com/sweaterkat/timeline/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/katwise You won't believe how beautiful and wacky and colorful her work is. It might inspire. Best!! Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkey1030 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 I would talk her into making them into pillows. The idea of a washaway on top of the sweater when stitching makes good sense, and I would spray baste them to a muslin for stability. Still...pillows make more sense to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted September 23, 2015 Report Share Posted September 23, 2015 I cannot imagine quilting sweaters, so I cannot wait to see the finished product. I can see wool sweaters, maybe, since you could shrink them and make a tight weave, then I would back them with something for stability. But some sweaters are made of just yarn....whatever that is....and is very stretchy, no matter what. I am glad it is not me And will be glad to see the finished product. It may be inspiring to try it....or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.