Our2CuteKids Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 First of all, I am a BEGINNER at this so I may not use all the correct terminology. This is my first time trying anything like this. I am making a "quilt" to give to my mom on the 1 year anniversary of my brother's death. I have taken some of his jeans and made a quilt/blanket out of it. No pattern, just random pieces taht I've sewn here and there. I scanned in various photos of him throughout the years and printed them onto Colorfast Fabric sheets. But I'm not sure the best way to attach these to the quilt. Also, how could I make a border around each photo? Please remember that I am a beginner. Thanks so much for any advise. Kellie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 Kellie, what a sweet, kind expression of love to do for your mom. I am sure that it be a great healing for you also. there are several ways you could finish this top and I am sure that wonderfully talented women that belong to this group will give you other ideas. You could actually use the photograps as the border around the quilt, you could make it into a crazy quilt and scatter the photographs throughout or you could even make a "window" around each photograph It is hard to really give you good advice without seeing what you have pieced together so far. If you can could you post a picture? Not aht I am an expert by any means but I just finished a quilt and ended up using the photographs as the border and it turned out much better than I thought. I will watch for your photo. Blessings to you as you go through this process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our2CuteKids Posted May 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 Thanks for the reply. I've attached a photo of what I have so far. Believe me, its crooked in alot of places but I did the best I could with the time that I have. I haven't done anything with the photos other than just lay them on top, just to give you an idea of what I was thinking of doing. I saw a quilt on a website that did something similar and just sewed around the edges of the pictures with some type of special stitch. That seems like it might be the easiest solution for me, although I don't know what stitch would be the sturdiest.. The material I have for the border and backing is red, kind of looks like a design you would find on a bandana, but its not. I like the idea of having the photos on the border, but because all of my photos are different sizes, not sure that would work. Thanks for all your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rooster Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 What a blessing this will be for your mother. I assume you have printed the pictures on fabric sheets so that they are ready to sew. If not, e-mail me and I will help you with that first step. It looks good the way you have the pictures arranged so I would suggest you use a 2-sided fusible web like Steam-A-Seam2 (or something similar) to fuse the pictures onto the various squares. Then you should sew around them using a satin stitch or tight zig zag so that they will permanently stay in place. Then it's ready to quilt. When using denim I recommend a very light batting so that it doesn't get too heavy. Your project is definitely a labor of love and I wish you the very best with it. Your mother will never notice any imperfections so don't worry. It will be wonderful. Let us know if you need any other assistance. Best Wishes, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Wonderful! My sister passed away a while back and I keep thinking my mom needs something like this. While we are on the subject, how do you quilt over the pictures or do you?? I have a t-shirt quilt to quilt that has some blocks that are picture transfers onto fabric. I read that it leaves a hole when you quilt over it , is that true. What do you do?? Mary Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltaholi_518 Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 I am in the process of a comission of a similar nature. I am putting fusible on the back of the pics, then using a wave rotary cutter I cut them around the edge and fuse them on hear and there. Then when I quilt I will quilt the edges but not into the iimportant parts of the pics. I will also use a poly batt so it can be quilt farther apart. I will post a picture in a day or two when it's ready to quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 To answer the question regarding the T-Shirt transfers and if the hole closes up once its been quilted. No, its a perment thing and you just need to sort of plan on it being such. I have quilted T-Shirt quilts for others and some prefer to have the transfer areas left open and that's fine and others prefer the stippling or edge to edge to just go right over the transfers....which is easier for us quilters, but I need to keep a bottle of "sewers aid" handy as the needle sometimes sticks in the plastic transfers and breaks the thread. If I keep it lubed up it glides better and makes me happier. Some of the really rubbery transfers leave bigger holes than just the silk screened ones, but they also have a hole and its noticable. After washing it closes up some, but not completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 I like Jean's idea and your quilt looks just right the way you have the pictures laid out. Thank you so much for posting it. Having lost both of my brothers, I know my mom would have loved to have had something like this as a memory. I use photos in all of my quilts I do for my grandkids. I use photo transfer and do a regular block usually. These are the blocks I SID instead of any quilting on because I have been afraid I would mess them up. I think if you used red thread on some of the stitching to bring the border color into the quilt with a zigzag or satin stitch it would look really sharp. Please keep us updated. we will anxiously await the finished photo:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rita Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 I've got a question -I've done some photo transfers using BUBBLE JET -but have since heard that it's not the best way, that the fabric transfer sheets are LOTS better -would appreciate your opinions! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 my first one was done with a Bubble Jet when that was all we had to use....okay this is dating my quilt by a few years,but that is okay. I will have to turn this twin size quilt into a wallhanging...it was our 25th wedding anniversay quilt and it has pictures from our first 25 yrs on it... The only draw back that I have experienced is that I can't wash the quilt in a machine as it will possibily rub off the transfers....I can't dry clean it as it will remove the transfers totally. And heaven forbid if I touch a warm to hot iron to any of the transfers as they will remove or smear. If you can, I would redo it all with a fabric transfer sheets. Yes, they are a bit more costly, but you can at least launder it and use it. This one will never be used as functional quilt. It was to have been my hubby's present, now he can't use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rooster Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 I find the fabric sheets much easier to use than the Bubble Jet. Well worth the extra cost considering the time that you save. Just follow the directions on the package because they vary by manufacturer. Happy Quilting, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperlady Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I have made memory quilts for my family reunion for about 5 years now. I have used the bubble jet set and have never had any problems. I did transfer some pictures and then washed them to see the results before ever making my first quilt. Most people don't intend to use these quilts as they are so beautiful and usually people just want to show them. I have one I made for myself and one for my mothers 80th birthday. My family just about fights every year when I bring the quilt in. Not really bragging but they are pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LA Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 I just finished a memory quilt, it was a joy to quilt & I felt like I am part of their family after looking at the pictures & "talking" to them as I quilted! LOL! Here are the pictures for inspiration~ http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=550742267&security=HwWlfV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calicoquilter Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Rita, I have had great success with a product called Printed Treasures. I have used several different types of photo transfer sheets, but I like these the best. With a bubble jet printer, it helps if you heat set the picture first. You can use a pressing cloth and a dry iron or do what I do, throw it in the dryer by itself for five minutes or so. Try a sample piece and then, after it cools, try wetting it and see if that works for you. Because there are so many different brands of printers and ink cartridges, there is no one perfect solution. You just need to test and see what works best for you. Colleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbWetzel Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Linda.. The phot quilt is beautiful.. Did you quilt over the pictures.? I can't tell in the photos... Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LA Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 Hi Barb, No, she did not want the pictures quilted, they were small. I will ask her what product she used for the photo's as they were high quality fabrics & I really loved the look & feel. Did you get your CQ yet??:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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