'Quilted' Blanket Questions.

[xfoxglove]

All right, I’m not sure if this is the right place to be asking this and I hope it doesn’t irritate anybody, but I’ve already gone through like 30+ pages of threads and I haven’t found an answer (perhaps because I’m not sure what I’m looking for…).  But anyway…

I’m really interested in making this:



Or something similar.

I’ve never quilted before.  I’m not sure if this is even quilting at all, but this is the closest thing I can relate it to.  So I’m hoping someone could help me.

I just want to make a light blanket/throw or something.  So I was thinking I wouldn’t have to use batting, per se.  Maybe some other fabric, muslin?

I’m not sure how to ‘applique’ the pieces on?  And then how to stitch it together without the stitches transferring to the back of the blanket and having a 'stitched heart' on the back in thread.

Yeah, sorry for so many questions.  It’s just I don’t know anybody that I can ask and I figured you guys might have some suggestions.  Everyone here on craftster seems really helpful.  If this is in the wrong spot or if I'm just being completely oblivious, please delete.

Thanks in advance.

(& I’m praying that picture shows up.  If not, here’s the link: http://tinypic.com/a27xnn.jpg )

[superstitch]

ok, so you would need to make it in two pieces, a top with your applique and a backing. It would probably be best/easiest to use batting in the middle. So you take a large piece of fabric and applique your pieces on and get it how you like it. Then get a backing piece, put the batting on top, then put your top on and quilt. Then bind the edges to remove all the raw edges!

[xfoxglove]

Thanks so much for the fast reply.  I guess I'm just worried about if... 

Well if I worked on the front and then put the batting in and then the back and I only 'attached' the edges, would it stay as one layer, or would it get all... pulled apart in the middle?  Or is that something that doesn't even matter. Would the batting make the layers all 'stick'?

I don't know if I'm making a whole lot of sense.

[superstitch]

you would have to do some kind of quilting to attach all the layers together otherwise the batting would all shift around and look crazy.

Are you a fan of fleece? You could get a big piece of fleece for the background and then other colors to make your applique and sew it on, then get a backing piece and you can cut the edges and tie (fleece doesn't fray) or you can sew  the edges together and maybe pink the edges or something

[xfoxglove]

I guess I could try something with fleece.

I just have a lot of fabric in my basement from when my mom used to sew, so I wasn't planning on buying anything for a first try.  But I might have some fleece laying around.

I'm thinking that if I put everything together (sew the front the way I'd like it with the batting attached and then put the back piece on) and do the edges and then sew along the outer edge and then maybe the middle square that would keep it more as one 'layer'. 

[d2vge]

If you don't want to actually quilt it, you could just leave out the batting altogether, use a fairly heavy backing, and tie the quilt. You'd still have a bit of thread showing on the back, but if you used a matching colour it wouldn't show too much.
It wouldn't look exactly like the example, though. 

[cmoore]

 The original piece is quilted. If you don't want the stitches to show as much, use invisible thread and a patterned fabric for the backing. While not completely disappearing, the stitches will be difficult to see.

for appliqueing I'd machine stitch, using fusible web in the manner of a "stained glass" quilt.

[xfoxglove]

Thanks for all the help.

I did a search on stained glass quilts and I think I'll attempt it that way.

Thanks again.


(& cmoore, your self-portrait quilt is beautiful.)