Cindy's Tips
COOL SLEEPING...THE OLD-TIME WAY
How did our ancestors do it? With a "summer spread," an unlined (or lightly lined) quilt, often simply pieced and embroidered. (Redwork was a favorite technique.) Sometimes the quilt top was backed with a sheet, the edges turned and whipstitched together. Sometimes the top was left unbacked, and the raw seams turned over and handstitched, french seam-style. White, cool muslin was the main ingredient in these refreshing pieces. |
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| How do I make a signature quilt? |
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Dear Cindy, I would like to make signature quilts to sell and just finished an article by Debbie Kratovil. But I want to find out details on the best way to do this. I made a Quilt for my son and his bride and had everyone sign it but its hard to do after the quilts sewn. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank You Susan Dear Susan, My favorite book on this subject is THE SIGNATURE QUILT: TRADITIONS, TECHNIQUES AND THE SIGNATURE BLOCK COLLECTION by Pepper Cory and Susan McKelvey (Quilt House Publishing). It pretty much covers about every signature method out there, and has some wonderful patterns as well. Someday I will make one of the house block quilts in the book... You're right -- because of the batting making shifting areas, and the possibility of someone goofing up and not being pleased with their signature -- it is difficult to market signature quilts that would be signed after they were stitched. I experienced this first hand this summer, when my church's VBS made a signature quilt...some of the signatures being put on while I was in the process of quilting it! The best alternative I can think of would be to go ahead and make the top...but while it is being signed, STRETCH or SMOOTH the top as even as possible, then either tack or baste it down, so people have a smoother area to write on. Keep practice scraps nearby, so they have time to get used to the different texture. Some people iron freezer paper to the underside of each area for writing. This is best for individual blocks, though, instead of finished tops. Another possibility -- which is a LOT of work -- is to gather their signatures on paper, then trace them onto the quilt. It does produce smoother results, though any time you trace, you automatically lose some of the spontaneity of a real signature (in my opinion). And finally, you can always hand out squares and have people sign them BEFORE you stitch them into a quilt. We did this at VBS. The main problem there is that no matter how many times you remind them about seam allowances, they forget and flow over. I do think this is an excellent idea, if marketed properly! Good luck to you, Cindy Brick |
