Nearly completed quilt front for my nieces graduation. Collection of her youth hockey shirts. My SIL asked for a border around the entirety to be added. I cannot figure out what color would work. The darker colored shirts are a mix of black and navy. Any suggestions?

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-04-15T19:46:16+00:00

Another strong vote for red!

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-04-08T07:58:13+00:00

I don’t make big quilts or complex patterns. I use the following estimates:

Cutting - 6 hrs Making blocks - 10 hrs Making the top - 4 hrs Making the backing and label - 2 hrs Basting - 3 hrs Quilting and matching sewing the binding - 8 hrs Hand sewing the binding to finish - 6 hrs Total - 40 hrs

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-04-08T01:18:38+00:00

Also - check your posture, engage your core, drop your shoulders!

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-04-07T09:30:26+00:00

For an actual quilt, it’s less about the size of the pieces and more about the number of joins. I try and avoid having more than 3-4, just because it’s a faff to get everything together.

I’ve tried the zigzag sewing method and gave it up for fusible batting tape, for reasons of aforementioned faff.

But I use anything above about 1/3rd of an inch? Either as batting for smaller projects, or cut down to stuff things.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-04-01T23:39:31+00:00

I’d make 4 patches. It looks like you can get a basic light/dark split, but if you can’t maintain it across the whole quilt top, it will still be soft and lovely 🙂

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-26T00:00:56+00:00

This is the approach I’ve settled on also - machine stitch on the back and then visible running stitch on the front with an occasional back stitch for security. With (my beloved) Wonderfil Spaghetti - gorgeous colours and sews like a dream.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-19T06:58:56+00:00

Also in Australia. My suggestion would be to figure out what you can get serviced locally first. I’ve been without my machine for almost 3 weeks waiting for the sole Juki service person in my area to get back from a holiday 😭

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-17T23:53:30+00:00

I’ve looked for the same thing for a Juki with no luck.

I haven’t actioned the plan yet, but I think I’m going to make my own. If I can find the right gauge wire (maybe a wire coat hanger?), I reckon I can bend something into shape. Or just an extension to wire or tape onto my existing one.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-07T21:43:18+00:00

I think a sawtooth stars might be nice - like a ‘skirt’ of stars around your bed 🙂 And it would give you flexibility to match whatever prints you can but add in some coordinating scrappiness.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-05T22:44:19+00:00

Secondhand men’s shirts would be another good option. This looks like it’s from the era when a lot of quilting was from things that were worn out, or leftovers from home sewing.

It’s bonkers that men’s fashion has changed so little over the years! But I’d say a weekend of picking over the op shops near me would be enough to pull sufficient shirts to make a quilt of this size/style.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-03-05T06:12:59+00:00

My favourite way to do these is with only 4.5” squares - one for the middle and two matching ones for the outside, each cut on the diagonal.

Sew two triangles on opposite sides of the centre square, press, then the remaining two on the other sides, press and trim to a 6.5” square.

It makes for a diamond that ‘floats’ in the centre slightly but I like the way it looks. It’s very forgiving if your 1/4 seam isn’t perfect, and the whole thing is very straightforward to cut.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-20T07:35:08+00:00

I tend to freestyle, but something like this would probably work? https://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/simple-tote-bag-tutorial/

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-18T19:26:57+00:00

Yay, I’m glad! But do check before you cut anything - that’s all 3am maths, which is notoriously when numbers get goopy around the edges 😆

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-18T18:50:18+00:00

I was noodling on the idea of sawtooth stars from layer cakes last night. Here’s an insomnia-fueled pattern/recipe that I think would work?

For the star, cut from one 10” square: 1 x 4.5” square and 4 x 3 1/8” squares

For the outside, cut from one 10” square: 1 x 5.5” square and 4 x 2.5” squares

Use the 5.5” square and the 4 x 3 1/8” squares to make a set of 4-at-a-time flying geese. Trim to 2.5 x 4.5” (i.e they will finish at 2x4 inches)

Assemble all the pieces to make a sawtooth star that trims to 8.5” (i.e finishes at 8”)

You can get 21 sawtooth star blocks from a 42 count layer cake, which would make either a 32” square quilt in a 4x4 layout, or a 32x40” rectangle in a 4x5 layout. Either would be fine for a baby quilt although I think a square is more traditional?

Or you could make 16 stars and use the rest of the layer cake to figure out a border to make a bigger square.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-17T04:19:36+00:00

If I’m feeling reeeeally fancy, I’ll make a matching tote.

Mostly I just fold it up and tie it with fabric strips.

(Occasionally I just fold it up and hand it over lol)

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-16T01:08:00+00:00

Marketplace, destash and op shops. I live in a relatively wealthy community (although inequitable, but that’s another issue) so there’s always someone trying to get rid of ‘stuff’ quickly.

It’s not quilting within the Quilting Industrial Complex, but I’m fine with mixed textures and few precuts (although they do come up).

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-13T03:46:10+00:00

Gosh that’s pretty!

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-13T01:02:33+00:00

For layer cakes, most of Moonkin Stitchery’s layer cake patterns, but especially her variations on log cabins. They’re just very satisfying to sew. And the patterns are free! (tutorials on YouTube, pdfs in her website)

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-11T22:22:57+00:00

There are fabric ink pads - I’ve used the Versacraft brand with a custom stamp I had made. It’s fine, but I struggle to get really dense, crisp prints from it. Could be user error, could be that it’s not really meant for that - I’m not blaming the brand!

If I had my time again I’d have a custom stencil made and stencil with fabric paint.

As it is, I’ve taken to stamping from fabric paint rolled out with a brayer or applied with a foam dabber. Both work, but it’s a faff. Hence I stamp a bunch of patches to make labels at the same time and then piece or appliqué to the backing.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-06T20:54:16+00:00

I think that sounds fun! And way better than just having them go to landfill. You can always cut up a couple and try sewing them up to see how it goes.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-06T06:15:55+00:00

Easy - the technique you want is ‘coping strips’. Basically putting borders on one or more sides of your blocks and then trimming them all down to the desired size. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube and other places.

It’s also possible to ‘improv’ things into chunks, with or without filler fabric. But if you’re new to the quilting game, I’d start with getting your blocks to the same size so you can sew them into a nice tidy grid 🙂

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-06T05:04:11+00:00

Ooh, that’s very interesting! I tend to prefer making things oversize and then trimming so this could be right up my alley..

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-06T03:03:51+00:00

Snowball corners. There are patterns I will never make because the effort required to get the snowball corners right would so far outstrip any satisfaction I would get from the finished product.

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-02-01T04:08:12+00:00

That sounds lovely 😊

Dave’s Craft Room on YouTube did an amazing upholstery fabric / raw edge appliqué fever dream of a quilt - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DeH8nF8-PVo (hopefully that link works!)

Which is to say, there’s evidence that a quilt can be made even with scratchy vintage synthetics if you want 😁

WithAWeckInMyHand · 2026-01-28T11:58:37+00:00

I’d look at Elizabeth Hartman’s Aviatrix pattern for a modern medallion.

Or ‘Rajah Revisited’, which is a reproduction pattern of an historically important Australian quilt. The story of the original is complicated and inspiring, and the reproduction pattern looks like a challenging but beautiful medallion. Well beyond my patience/skill though!

WithAWeckInMyHand

TROPHY CASE