by cakes4u 06 Jul 2008

My Goddaughter is expecting her first child. I want to make a quilt for the baby. My designs are bascially 4X4. Wouldn't I want to make the squares at least 8X8? Suggestions please. Susan

943

by lbrow 07 Jul 2008

U have wonderful answers here, let us see it when U finish, I bet it will be beautiful *4U

145789
by mpo14011 07 Jul 2008

If you wanted to make bigger blocks, say 12"x12" you could always combine some of the designs. Just remember to cut them a little bigger then, after you have finished the embroidery, just square it up. Sometimes the fabrics comes together a bit and your original size is not what it was.What belwllms suggested is also a good idea. Sewing strips around the outside of the blocks.And, as cutiepie said, wash your fabric first.But this only needs to be done on the gentle cycle of your washing machine. A lot of the fabrics now are pre-shrunk except for homespun. I still wash this before I use it.Have fun. Ricky

27382
by cutiepie 07 Jul 2008

Well, if the design is 4x4, making the square 8x8 only gives you two inches of unembroidered fabric on either side of the embroidery, so yes that would work out quite well.

Make sure that you launder the fabric before you embroider on it (so you don't get distortion from shrinkage) and have lots of fun with your quilt project! I wish I still had time to do quilts, but I guess I have to wait for a few years now. Besides, I wouldn't give up my boys for all the free time in the world. =]

6653
by shirleysisson 06 Jul 2008

You got lots a answers here. Hope that it helps you to make that special quilt for the new baby. *4U

22886
by nglover1 06 Jul 2008

Check out konolinda's Quilt in projects. A flower for you.

16513
by bikermomfl 06 Jul 2008

I use the quilter square template at 6.5, if you turn it on angle you get the diamond shape which is pretty cute. I've done several. A great design idea is to use some of the alphabets we've gotten and use this as the design for your quilt, join the blocks with strips of a color that match your embroidered squares. You can use the nice flannels for your emboridery if you want, I found they stitch up great and then it's soft for the baby.

17161
by belwllms55 06 Jul 2008

I cut my squares 6.5x6.5. My designs are 4x4. After I embroidery all of my squares, I cut strips of materal to sew around the squares. I pick out something that kind of matches my designs. I sew my squares in strips and cut longer strips to sew between strips.

1 comment
clawton by clawton 06 Jul 2008

I use this method also. As someone said you don't want the design to get lost in a large square.

1323
by konalinda 06 Jul 2008

Be sure to cut the fabric larger then the size you want to end up with as the embroidery design will shrink it some. after you stitch a design, fold the fabric to audition different sizes till you find the size/look you like. you don't want the design to get lost in the square. Square the block after you do the design.

544
by kttyhwk4 06 Jul 2008

See you've gotten your answer,so congrats to you and the
Goddaughter.

20661
by nglover1 06 Jul 2008

Yes I would make the squares at least 8x8. I have added strips around te embroidery designs of fabrics to match quilt. Congrats on the new Goddaughters Baby on the way .A flower for you.

16513
by maryjo 06 Jul 2008

Susan,I have made a few baby quilts using embroidered blocks, and yes, I would make the blocks at least 8x8 if using a 4x4 design. I figure out the deminsions I want the quilt to be and adjust the block size to get the finished size I want. Good luck and give the expectant Mommy our best wishes for a safe delivery.

6832