A big thank you to all who shopped at my Tuesday Sale this week! I hope that you love your selections when they arrive. I've still got plenty more to sell, so check back next week!
The quilt above is the one I recently got out of hock from my favorite quilter. It is an old pattern from Fig Tree called Garden Fences. It is also in a book by Fig Tree called Hearth and Home Quilts. The "fence" part is the teensy checkerboard squares that surround each block. Thank goodness for strip piecing. That would have been a lot of 1 1/2" squares! The fabric was all from my stash. I was proud of my machine applique effort (the circles). If you are trying to teach yourself machine applique, those circles are a gentle introduction.
Now I need to get the binding on and give the quilt a wash. Let's hope all my machine appliqued circles don't fall off! lol
Tell me, do you wash your quilts right away when they are finished? Or do you prefer the flat newish look? In the past, I have preferred the newness aspect, but recently was told that the "quiltier" look a quilt acquires after washing is the preference of many others.
The quilt top I have been working on for a certain Quilting Rock Star must be washed upon completion, it turns out. The reason being that washing a quilt gives it a much more interesting look in photoshoots. Also the quilting design shows up better after washing and makes for a more attractive appearance. Isn't that fascinating? Who knew? What is your opinion?
46 responses to “Garden Fences”
I immediately wash all my quilts when they are done – in fact I don’t count them done until they are washed. They are more cuddly after washing, and it’s true the quilting shows up more. Also it tends to hide a few mistakes…
I immediately wash all my quilts when they are done – in fact I don’t count them done until they are washed. They are more cuddly after washing, and it’s true the quilting shows up more. Also it tends to hide a few mistakes…
I almost always wash a quilt right I finish it. I just made a table runner using scrappy log cabin blocks and have decided I like the crisp look. Good question!
I almost always wash a quilt right I finish it. I just made a table runner using scrappy log cabin blocks and have decided I like the crisp look. Good question!
As soon as that last stitch of binding is on, my quilts are in the washing machine! I can’t wait to get that crinkly homey look to them!
As soon as that last stitch of binding is on, my quilts are in the washing machine! I can’t wait to get that crinkly homey look to them!
It depends on what it is. “Quilts” I wash right away; if it’s a wall hanging or table runner, etc., then I like the flatter, crisper look.
It depends on what it is. “Quilts” I wash right away; if it’s a wall hanging or table runner, etc., then I like the flatter, crisper look.
Oh, you had to bring me back to thinking about that Garden Fence quilt, didn’t you? J/K. That was my beginning with machine applique with Wonder Under and I don’t know how it would turn out after washing. I ditched the project because of having trouble getting the fence to fit. Some day I’ll go back to it. I always wash my quilts after they are done. I love that crinkly look and couldn’t imagine a quilt any other way. Let me know how your applique turns out after the wash. I worry about fraying with mine. Nancy in WI
Oh, you had to bring me back to thinking about that Garden Fence quilt, didn’t you? J/K. That was my beginning with machine applique with Wonder Under and I don’t know how it would turn out after washing. I ditched the project because of having trouble getting the fence to fit. Some day I’ll go back to it. I always wash my quilts after they are done. I love that crinkly look and couldn’t imagine a quilt any other way. Let me know how your applique turns out after the wash. I worry about fraying with mine. Nancy in WI
No, I don’t wash them. I spritz them with a spray bottle pretty heavily and then pop them in the dryer.
No, I don’t wash them. I spritz them with a spray bottle pretty heavily and then pop them in the dryer.
I loved that quilt when you finished the top. It’s even better now.
I love the look of a quilt after it’s been washed, but I usually don’t was it right away. At my house, it will need it soon enough.
I loved that quilt when you finished the top. It’s even better now.
I love the look of a quilt after it’s been washed, but I usually don’t was it right away. At my house, it will need it soon enough.
Beautiful quilt, Nicole! I like the new look of my quilts and don’t wash them until they’ve been out a while and I feel they need it! Then I look at them after they’re washed and wonder why I didn’t do it right away – go figure!
Cheers!
Beautiful quilt, Nicole! I like the new look of my quilts and don’t wash them until they’ve been out a while and I feel they need it! Then I look at them after they’re washed and wonder why I didn’t do it right away – go figure!
Cheers!
It’s a beautiful quilt!
I always wash my quilts right away, they are usually full of dog hair!!
It’s a beautiful quilt!
I always wash my quilts right away, they are usually full of dog hair!!
Yes, right into the wash after the last binding stitch. They look so soft and cuddly and smell so nice.
Yes, right into the wash after the last binding stitch. They look so soft and cuddly and smell so nice.
I have looked at that pattern for a long time! I think now I will tackle it. I usually don’t wash my quilts right away but like others who have posted here, I like the way they look after washing so I am going to consider it now.
I have looked at that pattern for a long time! I think now I will tackle it. I usually don’t wash my quilts right away but like others who have posted here, I like the way they look after washing so I am going to consider it now.
oh, definitely the crinkled, fresh from the dryer, cozy quilt look. just makes it look warmer and more cuddley.
oh, definitely the crinkled, fresh from the dryer, cozy quilt look. just makes it look warmer and more cuddley.
I definitely wash ASAP! I agree with Diane that I don’t count them done until they’ve been washed. Plus, there’s nothing like pulling a finished, soft, warm quilt out of the dryer, curling up with it, and admiring your hard work! 🙂
I definitely wash ASAP! I agree with Diane that I don’t count them done until they’ve been washed. Plus, there’s nothing like pulling a finished, soft, warm quilt out of the dryer, curling up with it, and admiring your hard work! 🙂
The quilt is wonderful, I always wash my quilts when they are finished. I find they get a bit grubby after I’ve been dragging them around and since I often use a washout pen, I do need to soak and wash. I love the look and feel when they are washed.
The quilt is wonderful, I always wash my quilts when they are finished. I find they get a bit grubby after I’ve been dragging them around and since I often use a washout pen, I do need to soak and wash. I love the look and feel when they are washed.
Love your Garden Fences quilt…I always wash my quilts when they’re done. I like them when they get squishy.
Love your Garden Fences quilt…I always wash my quilts when they’re done. I like them when they get squishy.
My preference is that like Mary on the lake, as soon as the last binding stitch is done, into the wash it goes. With Orvus soap and a Color Catcher sheet or two… of course. That’s when it looks and feels like a quilt. It also takes that “new bolt” sheen off the fabric and gives the color a little more depth.
Then the final “finishing touch”… the quilt simply must be “road-tested” for nap-worthiness. 🙂
My preference is that like Mary on the lake, as soon as the last binding stitch is done, into the wash it goes. With Orvus soap and a Color Catcher sheet or two… of course. That’s when it looks and feels like a quilt. It also takes that “new bolt” sheen off the fabric and gives the color a little more depth.
Then the final “finishing touch”… the quilt simply must be “road-tested” for nap-worthiness. 🙂
The quilt is beautiful! I d wash my quilts as soon as they are done – I like the squishy loved look.
The quilt is beautiful! I d wash my quilts as soon as they are done – I like the squishy loved look.
Nicole, your quilt is absolutely beautiful and the quilting is wonderful. As for washing or not washing…My first quilt was a gigantic 114″ by 118″ and my washing machine can’t begin to accomodate it so it is still wrapped in a sheet, laying downstairs waiting patiently to be put on my bed. However, I do love the smooth look of a newly finished quilt, but when I finished a smaller throw size I was talked into washing it immediately to get the krinkely look and found that it also softened up the 2 layers of warm and natural batting I had used in it as I am always cold. It made it much easier to snuggle up in and it really did emphasize the quilting design. I washed it of course on delicate for just a couple of minutes and then dried it about half way on low heat then let it finish air drying. So even though I love the smooth look when I have just finished them, as Vicky says, the squishy appearance makes it look loved.
Nicole, your quilt is absolutely beautiful and the quilting is wonderful. As for washing or not washing…My first quilt was a gigantic 114″ by 118″ and my washing machine can’t begin to accomodate it so it is still wrapped in a sheet, laying downstairs waiting patiently to be put on my bed. However, I do love the smooth look of a newly finished quilt, but when I finished a smaller throw size I was talked into washing it immediately to get the krinkely look and found that it also softened up the 2 layers of warm and natural batting I had used in it as I am always cold. It made it much easier to snuggle up in and it really did emphasize the quilting design. I washed it of course on delicate for just a couple of minutes and then dried it about half way on low heat then let it finish air drying. So even though I love the smooth look when I have just finished them, as Vicky says, the squishy appearance makes it look loved.
I love to wash my quilts when they are completed. If I have had troubles with points, I wash the quilt in hot water, and then in a hot dryer, it crinkles really well, and helps disguise those hidden points. I have been know to iron a quilt after washing, if I want that flatter look.It’s all a matter of personal preference, but washing a quilt gives a softer hand.Isn’t that what we are after.
I love to wash my quilts when they are completed. If I have had troubles with points, I wash the quilt in hot water, and then in a hot dryer, it crinkles really well, and helps disguise those hidden points. I have been know to iron a quilt after washing, if I want that flatter look.It’s all a matter of personal preference, but washing a quilt gives a softer hand.Isn’t that what we are after.
I don’t wash my quilts after they are finished. I really like the smooth look. But everyone likes different things, and quilts are no exception.
I don’t wash my quilts after they are finished. I really like the smooth look. But everyone likes different things, and quilts are no exception.
I wash all of my quilts after I finish them. Even small wall hangings and table runners. I love the crinkly look and I think that it gives the quilt more texture.
I wash all of my quilts after I finish them. Even small wall hangings and table runners. I love the crinkly look and I think that it gives the quilt more texture.
Oh, Nicole. I absolutely love this quilt. It’s so classy. I think it’s your best ever.
Oh, Nicole. I absolutely love this quilt. It’s so classy. I think it’s your best ever.
I rarely wash a quilt. I must prefer the flat crisp look! My daughter washes her quilts a lot and they always look “worn out” after a few washes.
I rarely wash a quilt. I must prefer the flat crisp look! My daughter washes her quilts a lot and they always look “worn out” after a few washes.