Grain of Fabric

[Margo C.]

I just thought you might be interested to know that there is an excellent article about fabric grain lines in the March 2011 issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine.
http://mqumag.danemcoweb.com/home/

Barbara Hollinger has great photos that clearly show how much difference there is in the amount of stretch in lenghtwise grain, crosswise grain, and bias grain and lots of tips about how to deal with the differences.

All those tips that Sue Garman has been giving us about grain line in our BOMs is reinforced!

[Margo C.]

I believe quilt making is so much easier when someone understands the differences in the different grains. I keep the different stretches in mind, particularly when planning borders and even more so when cutting bindings.

[Eileen K.]

I find it very difficult to work on a client's quilt when they don't pay attention to grain. The quilt is skewed on the frame.

[Betty J.]

I find it very difficult to work on a client's quilt when they don't pay attention to grain. The quilt is skewed on the frame.

Eileen, I can see how that would be true for pieced quilts, and, since I came to sewing through making clothing I've always paid attention to that for any construction. I wonder, though, because sometimes in applique for some of my wall art/picture quilts I fussy cut for what it looks like rather than the grainline, do you find it makes much difference in appliques? I am struggling to substantially improve my quilting now and every little bit of info I can get on things like this helps.

[Jill B.]

Thanks Margo very interesting as sometimes ineed he pictures :? :? :?

[Jill B.]

I find it very difficult to work on a client's quilt when they don't pay attention to grain. The quilt is skewed on the frame.

Eileen, I can see how that would be true for pieced quilts, and, since I came to sewing through making clothing I've always paid attention to that for any construction. I wonder, though, because sometimes in applique for some of my wall art/picture quilts I fussy cut for what it looks like rather than the grainline, do you find it makes much difference in appliques? I am struggling to substantially improve my quilting now and every little bit of info I can get on things like this helps.

If your base is stable the different grain lines in applique will not effect the main structure. It really is not different from crazy quilts where you use a muslin foundation before you add the various "crazy" pieces.

[Betty J.]

It really is not different from crazy quilts where you use a muslin foundation before you add the various "crazy" pieces.

Good point. Thanks.

[Robin G.]

BJ, I follow Suzanne Marshall's way of doing applique, and she always puts the applique pieces and the background the same direction on the grain. She uses lined binder paper to help her figure that out. Then she cuts out behind the applique so that the batting will fill the pieces when it's quilted, puffing them up. She says that if the applique pieces and the background are on the same grain, then there won't be an issue of one stretching when the other doesn't. I think she talks about this in show 203.