Blocking a quilt

[Anne B.]

I am curious about blocking a quilt. I have blocked needlepoint projects (a long time ago) but am not sure how blocking a quilt works. Alex Anderson talked about pinning a quilt to her carpet with T pins. I have hardwood floors and scattered area rugs, no wall to wall. It seems like this would be a good option. Please explain.

[Margo C.]

kathiec1950, I have never blocked a quilt in carpeting, but just spread my damp (from the washer) quilt on the vinyl floor in my sewing room. It has a grid design that makes it easy for me to pat the damp quilt into shape.
If you are working on a wood floor, a clear plastic drop cloth (from the paint department of a home improvement or hardware store) will protect your floor from the damp quilt.

A fan will help dry the quilt faster, but the weather (humidity) has a lot to do with drying time.

[Margo C.]

Margo, once you pat the quilt into shape, do you use anything to hold it in place or do you just let it dry? Obviously you can't pin it to the wood floor! Does the quilt shrink up a bit when it dries?

[Margo C.]

Hi Debbie! I just pat the damp quilts on the floor and it dries pretty much where I leave it. However, I do have a confession to make!
This is the same floor that I use to spread out beach towels and starch my fabrics before I cut out my pattern, and there is always a slight residue of dried starch on the floor.
ops:

Because of that starch, my quilts pretty much stay in place, and I actually have to peel them off the floor when they are dry! :shock:
Of course, I've never had to make a quilt block up to a specific size because I make quilts to use, not to hang where the dimensions would be scrutinized. I do know that after they are dried like this they hang beautifully in shows!

If I were protecting a wood floor with a layer of plastic, and really wanted the quilt to be a specific size after it was dry, I would probably tape the plastic securely to the floor (painter's tape?) and mist a fine spray of starch over the plastic before I pat it into shape. I've never actually had to do this, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

If you try it, please let us know how it works!

[Margo C.]

You can also lay down insulation board (like you'd use for a design wall) and cover it with white cotton sheet. Then lay the damp quilt on it, pat it into shape and pin it in place. If more than one board is used, tape them together first so they stay together. Fans blowing on the damp quilt will help it dry faster. If you are concerned about the dampness effecting the boards, first lay a plastic sheet on it, then the cotton sheet, then the quilt.

[Margo C.]

Thanks for the blocking advice Margo and Michelle. I've never really blocked a quilt before. Of course I've never entered one in a show before either. The ones I've made usually go in the washer at the end and once they're washed and dried they're good to go. I've hung a few small wallhangings before, but I just use straight pins to hold them in place on the wall! Usually if I take them down, you can't even see the pin holes.

[Margo C.]

This is fabulous! So, blocking a quilt is primarily for a quilt to hang on a wall so that it can hang straight, not necessary for a quilt that goes on a bed? I like the idea of using insulation board best. A follow up question is about the kind of spray starch that Margo uses? I have used a cheap spray starch from the grocery store and an expensive one from the quilt shop but not with very good results.
Thank you, very much.

[Margo C.]

This is fabulous! So, blocking a quilt is primarily for a quilt to hang on a wall so that it can hang straight, not necessary for a quilt that goes on a bed? I like the idea of using insulation board best. A follow up question is about the kind of spray starch that Margo uses? I have used a cheap spray starch from the grocery store and an expensive one from the quilt shop but not with very good results.
Thank you, very much.

Kathiec1950, I use a LOT of starch and I like to use Sta-Flo. I usually mix it half and half with water in a spray bottle, but you can mix it any strength you like. Apparently there is a preservative in it, because I don't worry about it "going bad" after it's mixed.



I buy it at Wal-Mart and always find it on the very top shelf, or the bottom shelf, but never right at eye level! Apparently it's not a big seller these days! LOL!!
For what it's worth, unless they are headed for a show, my quilts get thrown into the washer, into the dryer and right back on the bed or stored for the next body needing some comfort!

For an even more economical alternative you might want to try making your own like Diane Gaudynski:

Try my recipe for spray starch for all your pressing/piecing needs. Remember, you can adjust any of these amounts to suit your own needs, and also don't keep this for more than two weeks max. I make up a batch when I need it, then dump it out when I'm finished. It produces a super flat stable quilt: Dissolve half a teaspoon (or one teaspoon for a stiffer starch) of regular Argo cornstarch (in your cupboard probably) in a few tablespoons of cold water in a heat proof 2-cup measuring pitcher like Pyrex. Add boiling water to make one cup, stirring constantly. Then add cold water to the 2 cup line. Let cool and use in a pump spray bottle. Shake it every time you spray. You may have to dilute it a little if it is too thick or builds up white flakes. Lasts a week or so as there are no preservatives, no chemicals, no nothing that harms us or the environment, and it’s practically free, except for the spray bottle! Don't starch fabrics for storage as it will attract critters such as centipedes, and mice.

[Margo C.]

Thank you Margo! This blog site is so cool, my newest, best go to for answers to questions!!

[Jules M.]

I have a wallhanging in my hallway (& a 19 y/o son that must walk on the walls...) that curls on one corner. I have washed it and pinned it to the carpet to dry. A week later -- curls. I'm considering the starch while drying idea. Since making this, I've also read that I should have blocked it before putting on the binding. :?: Do any of you do that?

Suggestions for me? I can't do much about the son that walks too close the walls.... so bumps the curled out part and knocks it down. He is a skinny thing, not sure the issue w/ that! :roll:

[Jules M.]

Joyce, it could be that the quilting is a bit less or more dense on that quadrant. Or it could be slightly out of square. I had a quilt do that, and took the binding off, re blocked it and used diagonal and square measurements and pinned it to the carpet when it was just right. What I saw was that one area was fuller than the other, so I ran a running stitch in the seam allowance and cinched it up like you would do when making gathering... but only just enough to get it perfectly flat on the floor. Let it dry with the running stitch in there. Put on the new binding by pinning it in place, using a walking foot and going slowly. Once the binding is in place, you can remove the running stitch as you do the hand stitching of the binding.

With a bit of luck and if you hold your tongue just the right way, and say the magic words, the quilt will hang better and not curl.

Or you can just let it be, and enjoy it the way it is! Much less work!! LOL

[Pam D.]

Would it help to put a hanging sleeve on the bottome and put a piece of dowelling in which would hold the bottom flat or even put a pocket and a small weight which might hold it done? Just a thought. I hope that you find a solution.

[Pam D.]

Pam that's a great idea! I have done that too but forgot about it! It sure is easier to do and see if it helps. Drapery weights can be placed into a small sew on pocket on the offending side. Or a full rod pocket can be sewn on, and the dowel put in.

If it doesn't help, not much time or effort lost!

[jimmie w.]

Margo, I usually make Baby Quilts, but I am making a Double Wedding Ring quilt with fabric that was made into pillow cases by my Grandmother. I am using Eleanor Burns pattern and it is fairly easy. I did not use any starch in the blocks, because I knew that I would have to wash the quilt. I have washed quilts before but I am a little scared to wash this one because the fabric is old and the quilt is fairly large. (Although I did wash the fabric when they were pillow cases.) I am going to try the Sta-flo
starch. Your hand applique quilt with the cross-hatching is beautiful. I am going to get some of the crayola washable markers and test them several times before I use
then on a quilt. Right now I am using a disappearing pen to mark my quilts. So far the marks have been coming out pretty good unless I forget and touch it with an iron.
I try to square up all my quilts. On my Baby Quilts I wash them and lay them out on a large table and pat them more or less square.

Margo, thank you for helping me and anyone else who needs help. Jimmie

[Margo C.]

Michelle and Pam you have given GREAT tips! Thanks!

Jimmie, thanks for the kind words. I can't wait to see pictures of this new quilt!