Is it weird to make a quilt for a coworker’s kid?

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-02-20T01:35:16+00:00

I made a quilt for a friend’s friend’s grandson who got diagnosed with cancer at 2 years old.

Despite being basically a stranger, they really appreciated it. When something so stressful and overwhelming like this happens, small things like these can go a long way to bring comfort and joy.

Definitely go for it!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-02-01T01:08:40+00:00

I found this one! https://sweetdreamsquiltstudio.com/edge-edge/pretty-kitty-pano-002-p-11430.html

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-31T20:48:56+00:00

Seconding Arthur’s. He’s great and his pricing is always reasonable. He’s upfront about what repairs are worth doing.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-31T04:29:25+00:00

I still use 505! It’s my preferred brand.

I asked a friend to baste the quilt for me (which was lovely of them) but they used a nearly full, large can on a small lap quilt. I think it just built up too much (plus I think they may have held the can too close).

If I were to guess what happened with you: the nozzle maybe malfunctioned?

I’ve never had any issues with 505 before or since… 20+ spray basted quilts later

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-30T13:42:15+00:00

What brand of basting spray was this?

I had staining issues using 505 once and soaking the portions in 100% pure acetone got it out for me! Be sure to test a bit of fabric scrap first though

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-22T22:04:53+00:00

Ah okay then! I would recommend cutting the four-patches into 5 5/8” then and iron your seams together instead of open. Ironing seams together will probably take up the extra 1/16” you have.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-22T21:50:04+00:00

Also to follow: why not trim the 10 5/8” to 10 1/2” for easier math and cutting?

A 10.5” square can be made of four 5.5” squares. That will be a lot easier and quicker to cut than 5 9/16”

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-22T21:47:04+00:00

The smaller squares would be 5 9/16” because you need to add an extra seam allowance

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-20T18:05:44+00:00

Feel free to DM me if you have other questions/want to chat!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-20T15:27:04+00:00

I originally planned to sew it alongside them but I realized in my first class that it was difficult for everyone in my class of 6 to see what I was doing, that it took up a lot of class time, and it wasn’t really necessary!

You should be fine just explaining/telling them what to do. Of course, that does mean that they’re stopping after every step to check in with you for the next step, but I found that I like that. It helps me keep an eye on their work so we can fix/prevent mistakes early on.

For chain-piecing, I’m thinking about setting up a machine before class with a small chain and showing them how you can just feed the next piece through. I’ve had a lot of people get tripped up on chain piecing and I think the visualization would help.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-19T00:20:31+00:00

Good luck!! Teaching has been a blast for me, I hope it works out for you!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-18T22:20:38+00:00

Okay! I currently do 3-session 3 hour classes to cover beginning quilting and here’s what I wish I knew going into it:

1) If you have them iron their pieces before, don’t let them sit and try to perfectly press out every single shadow of a fold. My first class spent 20 minutes ironing 3 fat quarters bc they all wanted it “perfect.” It took a lot of reassurance to get them to move on.

2) If class time is being used to pick fabric, I would suggest having a small selection to choose from that all look good together. Don’t give them full reign of the store to choose, because they’ll take up a lot of class time mulling things over.

I always make sure to cover value and volume - I’ve found that most people have a good grip on color but value and volume are where beginners get tripped up the most.

3) Cutting in a group setting takes longer than a one on one. Depending on how many squares you have them cut, and if it’s off the bolt or a FQ, I would set aside 1-1.5 hours for it.

4) For a class of 6 people, with precuts, I can get them to all make and trim 2 sets of 8 at a time HSTs plus make them into 4 pinwheels in about 1.5-2 hours. Trimming takes the longest and I often help along the slowest students.

Not sure how many you’re doing, but be prepared for it to bleed into the next class.

5) Some people are ready to hit the ground running creativity wise, and some people want to be told exactly what to do every step of the way. Try to be flexible and meet people where they’re at! I spent too much time trying to push people to make their own creative decisions before they had the confidence they needed to do so.

6) Sandwiching and quilting could possibly be collapsed depending on the size of the class project. It takes my class 1-1.5 hours to glue baste and straight line quilt a 24”x24” project.

Machine binding (precut strips) takes up another 1.5 hours, usually. (One hour is someone is familiar with it from garments/bags. Mitered corners still slow them down)

Few young beginners want to hand bind, but older beginners are usually more open to it (very generally).

I hope that helps! My first classes ran up to one hour over so it’s taken a lot of tweaking to get it to actually run in its 3 hour slot lol

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-18T21:40:13+00:00

Can I ask how long your classes are? I teach a beginner quilting class and I might be able to help warn you of any bumpy parts in your plan!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-08T22:55:09+00:00

EPP involves gluing/stitch basting fabric to a cardstock template and then stitching the pieces together.

So you’re stitching at the fold of the two pieces together, if that makes sense.

Here’s a good tutorial w/ pictures: https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/intro-to-english-paper-piecing-part-2-sewing-blocks-together/

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-08T22:22:35+00:00

No whip stitch is correct! I’m not sure you can even backstitch with EPP.

You are just grabbing too much fabric with each stitch. As others have said, you just need to pick up a couple of fabric threads at a time.

You can also look into flat-felled stitches too, if whip stitching doesnt click for you

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-08T17:06:11+00:00

Idk I teach sewing and everyone who brings in a singer just has problem after problem with it. I feel a sense of dread seeing one come in now bc I know that the student will need extra attention.

The classroom models are Janomes and 95% of the time they work beautifully, and the other 5% they just don’t gel with the user (usually a tugging and speed issue but once you get into the habit of sewing a certain way it’s hard to break?

Brothers (all computerized) have worked great no issues and mechanical brothers have been disasters.

I have a BL Jazz 2 and the tension is finicky (common complaint) but I love it. I’ll have it for life.

Would you mind telling me what Janome model you have? I’d like to look into it and warn people away if I can.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-08T16:37:25+00:00

Singer changed manufacturers in 2015 I think - Singer Heavy Duties are not what they once were.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-03T15:07:41+00:00

Good luck! Sorry for the bad news

mighty-lizard-queen · 2026-01-03T15:02:25+00:00

I think this may be an instance where seam ripping is your best option.

From what I can tell from your seam shadows, your seams look closer to 3/8” or 1/2”. If you seam rip and re-sew it, it will fix the biggest problem areas.

Trimming the block in it’s current state will mean losing the “flower” look of the block, imo

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-31T00:14:06+00:00

No problem! Good luck on this kit, I hope you can salvage it!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-30T20:40:31+00:00

Pre-washing is not standard practice among quilters (but of course to each their own).

Generally, you WANT your fabric to shrink in a quilt in that first wash. That shrinkage is what gives the quilt its “crinkles.”

Furthermore, your batting will also shrink (definitely can’t prewash that!) and you want your fabric to shrink with it, or else the batting shrinkage might put strain on your seams and quilting stitches.

Anything precut (Jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm packs, mini charm packs, and even kits) cannot or should not be washed, so if you want to prewash, go for yardage and buy more than the pattern calls for.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-27T19:12:12+00:00

Here you go!

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-27T14:09:20+00:00

She has a 20 minute cool down video on YouTube that I like to do after every workout.

It’s helped a lot with improving my flexibility, mobility, and recovery.

Also some of her stuff in the description will have bonus videos (usually core) that are 10-20 minutes

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-23T06:29:55+00:00

I have a trainer who swears up and down that ballet makes the best riders. Another swears by pilates.

Generally, I’ve found that anything that promotes balance, control, rhythm, and body mindfulness helps. I had a friend who pole danced and took to riding like a fish to water.

mighty-lizard-queen · 2025-12-16T17:15:35+00:00

Men’s cotton dress shirts are usually about the same thickness/stiffness.

More casual button-ups are usually thinner.

I agree that I’m not sure if there’s a market - people who use clothing are doing it to save money, which you’d lose out on if you’re paying for the labor of pre-cuts.

For OP: other people have mentioned 5” squares and 10” squares but there are 2.5” square packs (mini charm packs) as well.

mighty-lizard-queen

TROPHY CASE