Sunday, October 9, 2011

Basket Quilt Love & Bias Handle Hell

Thank you Pokey & Julia!
You're right, maybe some pictures will help!
I have been wanting to make a liberated basket quilt for well over a year (maybe 2 now?) based on Gwen Marston's Easter Basket quilt in her book Collaborative Quilting.
I have several half baskets made. LOL And cannot get my handles to work :(  Every couple of months I pull them out again and give them a try.
You know the definition of insanity, don't you?
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!
I keep trying different things though... and keep coming up with the same result. FAIL!
Here's a few pics of what i want to do...

 above pic is a Gwen Marston liberated basket quilt.  Couldn't find a pic of the easter basket one i am referring to...
below is one i found on google images



These two were borrowed from Blue Elephant Stitches  -LOVE how her quilt came out!! This is very similar to the look i am going after.  Just look at how flat her handles are! See how they bend like they are supposed to? Mine end up with too much material in the inside curve, and trying to ease the fabric in, makes the handle look squared and bulky :(   What am i doing wrong??
Ok, so here's where i'm at...
yes, i have cut all my handle material on the bias - 45* angle, sewn them together... after struggling with trying to fold and iron them myself, finally went down and spent the 5 bucks on a bias tape maker. LOL  MUCH better success!!  Have the tapes made and pressed and wrapped around old spools and ready to go!
Except when i go to curve them (and not even as much as some of the above ones) I end up with bulkiness. Even on slight curves.
So - i am obviously missing something huge! LOL!!
And probably something extremely simple, knowing me!
I need bias education! :D
Ideas?  Thoughts? Step by step instructions?
ANYTHING would help  at this point! :D
xo
Bren

5 comments:

Julia said...

It's me again Bernis. You may find it easier to stitch the inner curve first.

This is how I did my bent stems. I fold my bias strip so the edges are under and baste it and then I press it. I pin it on the backing following the pattern and I loosely baste this on the backing. I sew the inner curve first so the outer edge can stretch. Give this method a try. Let me know if his works for you. Good luck. JB

woollylottrugs said...

What are you doing wrong Bren? HA! Absolutely nothing!! I love it and think it's perfect the way it is. OMG I wish I had half the sewing talent you have. Seriously I love it to death. Great work!! Don't sweat the small stuff!!

hugs
cyndi
xo

Jacqueline said...

I think you are being too hard on yourself. They look good to me.

WoolenSails said...

I like the idea of a scrap basket quilt, something fun and you can use all different types of fabrics.

Debbie

Pokey said...

:-}pokey