Blocking a bound quilt

[Nancy R.]

Hi -

I blocked my wholecloth quilt before putting on the binding, but I want to block it again before mailing it off to the show in the hopes of getting it to hang as straight as possible. I'm worried about the pins leaving holes in the quilt. Before the binding was on, I just put the pins in the outside area of the quilt where the binding would cover up any holes (and I just don't remember if there were any holes to cover up). I know that others block quilts after the binding is on. Do you have any problems with holes showing where you put the pins in? If so, how do you handle this? Do you rub your fingernail over each hole until it disappears? I assume that the best place to put the pins is in the ditch between the binding and the body of the quilt, correct? Any thoughts would be appreciated as I don't want to screw this up!

Thanks!

Nancy

[Norma H.]

Actually I'm blocking a bound quilt right now and I put the pins in the ditch. I don't think there will be a problem but I can't see it before it is dry. If you are willing to use the finest pins for this I'm almost sure you're good to go. Good luck with it all

[Nancy R.]

Thanks! Are the fine pins strong enough to hold the quilt in place while stretching the quilt? This is the first quilt I ever blocked in the first place, and I used T-pins originally.

[Nancy R.]

I'd like to know the answer to this question also. I finshed a wall hanging, but just hung it up and it's wonky a bit. ops: I hope re-blocking it will help. I've even thought of stretching it over/putting on firm wooden frame (on the back) would that work?

[Norma H.]

Actually I'm blocking a bound quilt right now and I put the pins in the ditch. I don't think there will be a problem but I can't see it before it is dry. If you are willing to use the finest pins for this I'm almost sure you're good to go. Good luck with it all

Quoting yourself, hmmm!
Anyway, I took the pins out of my quilt today and I use the coarse flower head pins. You can see some holes when you look carefully, but in this case I'm sure no one will ever see it.
Just to tell you

[Norma H.]

I block with my pins in the ditch until it is just a little damp, then take the pins out and let it continue to dry. If there are marks of the pins you could use a steam iron to steam them out (don't put the iron on the binding).

[Dawn S.]

Yup! That's the way I do it, too! Pins in the ditch. But, I use a stronger flower head pin. I've gotten pretty good at bending the finer ones, so save them for lighter work. A tiny drop of water and a fingernail will easily eliminate a pin hole. Good luck on your first entry into a show!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Nancy R.]

Thanks for the advice and assurances!! I'll do the blocking this weekend. I'll try my flower pins to see if they are strong enough.

Nancy

[Nancy R.]

I just wanted to thank everyone again for their good advice. I blocked the quilt on Thurs and just took the pins out yesterday. I used the thin flower pins, except in a couple of corners where they weren't strong enough. There I used the T-pins. The flower pins left very small holes which I could easily close with my fingernail where needed. The T-pins left larger holes, but I think they aren't as noticable in the corners. I worked at them a bit and I think they are fine.

Thanks again!

Nancy

[Eileen K.]

Thanks to all who answered Nancy's question because I was going to come on and ask it myself. :lol: I have never blocked a quilt at all so I have another question: How wet am I supposed to make it?

[Eileen K.]

Mine is usually right out of the washer--I do a double spin (you know, put it through two spin cycles)> Then I start blocking. Don't know what is right or what others do--this is just what I do.

[Nancy R.]

This was the first quilt I've blocked, but I soaked it completely in the bathtub so I could really control the water temperature, then put it in the washer on a very low spin cycle. When done, I took it out and pinned it to the floor. The quilt was thoroughly wet, but not dripping, at that point.

Nancy

[Eileen K.]

Can I do this without putting it in the washer? I have some raw edge applique on it that might fray. Can I pin it down and use a spray bottle to wet it?

[Margo C.]

Can I do this without putting it in the washer? I have some raw edge applique on it that might fray. Can I pin it down and use a spray bottle to wet it?

Absolutely! That's the way Diane Gaudynski does hers! She puts down a sheet of plastic (like a drop cloth from the hardware store) to protect her carpet, then liberally sprays with water and uses pins to get everything squared. Here is a link to her web site, but it's not been updated in a while. http://www.dianegaudynski.net/
I absolutely love her work!!

Depending on the size of the project, just a mister bottle would work or for really big projects, even a (NEW!!) garden type sprayer.

[Eileen K.]

A friend on another list said to pin it securely, use a damp towel and steam it into submission :lol: ! So that's what I ended up doing. I have one of those cardboard dressmakers' boards with the lines on it, so I used corsage pins and stretched it square. I used as much steam as I could and now it's laying there with 2 fans on it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone who posted; I appreciate the suggestions, and Margo, I'll check Diane's site right now.