I'm starting my first machine embroidered quilt. What fabric and stabilizer would you use for the blocks ?

you have great advise. Just another *2U

You have got lots of good answers here. *4U

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

I'm so thankful for all these good opinions and advice. Flowers for everyone ! (I will post the photo when I finish the quilt.)

For a first-quilt I used el-cheapo unbleached calico. I pre-washed for shrinkage then spray starched and ironed. I placed this over a light batting, hooped - and because of the starch it had enough body to stitch an outline redwork design on without using a stabilizer...But I would normally use a tearaway. Next I used a large loose stipple in cream/ecru (same as calico colour) around the redwork design to hold the layers firmly. Sashed it with red/cream print and viola! Grand-daughter very happy. It was an excellent inexpensive experiment before progressing on to more complex and pricier efforts. Hope this helps annmouce. *4U

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thank you. I am thinking maybe I should make a wall hanging out of some of the embroidery patterns first---before committing to a quilt. Hmmmm...

Ann, your answer is all of the below. You can use anything that you want to, just stablize appropiately. tabsolom used basically the same method that I have found to be easiest, except for one difference. I DO pre-wash...I'm of the school that if I put that much time and effort into it, I don't want a color run the first time I wash it and have it ruined. I put a liquid starch (heavy) in the final rinse, dry until still damp and then iron. It sews like a dream, doesn't shrink at all and the starch is a bonus stabilizer for the fabric. DO use another stabilizer, though depending on your design and fabric choice. Hope this made sense.;)

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thanks. I'm saving everyone's advice and method.

by toet 15 Oct 2008

I have been going to quilting classes for 2 years now, also member of large quilting group. The rule is allways pre wash,as some fabrics shrink more than others and the last thing you want is bleeding colour from one fabric into another. It also removes the sizing,which makes it easier to handle. Jrob is correct with her information.

I'm of the "it depends" school. I'm doing a quilt now, and using flannel. I'm using a felt as the stabilizer, because the designs are kind of redwork, and I want them to look quilted already. The felt will be the batting as well. Then I'm cutting the felt a little more than 1/4 inch smaller than the squares, so it doesn't catch in the seam. I know, probably way more work than it needs to be, but I'm making it up as I go along, hee hee hee. It's a lap robe/baby quilt, pink & blue kitties, just for meeeee! Best of luck, Ann. Marji

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thanks for those ideas.

It really depends on IF you are going to quilt around the design that you stitch.. Use cotton fabric. I always prewash IF it isn't going to be a wall hanging and then decide how it will be quilted b-4 stabilizing. I did an alphabet quilt and used cutaway cuz it wasn't quilted around the stitching. but IF you are going to quilt near or thru the design then use the tearaway. Hope that helped :) *2U

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thank you. The more ideas I read the more excited I get about the project and I think I might try a few blocks using different people's methods and see which one I like best. * for U

by blhamblen 15 Oct 2008

Turn your trial blocks int a wall hanging or pillow :)

i have made my first quilt begin this year and the fabric was in verry soft fleece and the stabilizer was washaway stabilizer,my 2nd quilt was also in fleece fabric,good luck with it

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by adelmarie 15 Oct 2008

those are lovely, my kids will go crazy over the Winnie the Pooh quilt. *2U

I can`t answer this for you as I have never done a quilt before, but here is a flower or you .

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Well, thanks, that's nice and here's one for you, too.

I always use 100% cotton, never prewash as I find with ironing with steam and spray water pre shrinks it, and I find if you starch you material (which I cut at least 1 inch bigger to allow for shrinkage) the designs sew out so much better and I always use tear away usually 2-3 layers depending on how many stitches. I hope this helps and if you need any more help I'm always here...good luck****

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thank you for your advice.

I have made a couple a quilts using homespun fabric which is cotton with tear away for the stabilizer use 1 or 2 layers depending on the design I'm embroidering,if a very dense design (2 is better). I have almost completed my latest one which I'm using a satin material. I have used a iron on pellon on all my quilts which I put on first then use the tearaway behind which really helps stabilizes the quilt. Good Luck hope to put a picture up when I can work out how to do it.
Dixie

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

So many wonderful ideas here. I'm glad I asked !

100%cotton and tearway stabilizer.

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thanks, MPO. That seems to be almost everyone's favorite.

I'm no pro, but I like cottons and cut away stabilizer.
Good luck! It's alot of fun and very rewarding once you've finished. *4U :>)

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thank you. :-)

There'll be seasoned quiters here who'll no doubt give you advice. I use pure cotton for a quilt. As for stabilizer, I like tear away, one or two layers, depending on the thickness.

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by annmounce 15 Oct 2008

Thank you, Mops. I think I'm ready to do a test block with cotton & tear away.