We’re looking for some fun questions for the McCall’s Quilting staff to answer on our McQ & A page. Generally, these are opinion-type questions, as opposed to questions about specific patterns, etc. Post potential McQ & A questions as comments here, or visit our Facebook page and post there. Anyone whose question is chosen to appear in the magazine will receive a charm pack of fabrics from a famous manufacturer as a thank-you gift! Ask us…we’ll answer!
What are the pro and cons of using the various battings: silk, cotton, bamboo, wool. When and why should I use them? As a long-time quilter, I’ve always used cotton and wool, but I’m intrigued by new variations and wonder what their best uses, benefits and downfalls are.
What’s the best way to quilt a tshirt quilt if you tye it how close does it need to be tyed
How do you make a scalloped border fit the size of a quilt ?
How many UFO projects do you have stashed around the house? I have two design walls, one in my sewing room, the other in the dining room, and there are always 2-3 projects hanging up at all times. If my family complains, I just tell them it’s my revolving art display, haha.
How can I overcome my scrapaphobia? I’ve tried several times to do something with random colors of scraps and I can’t bring myself to do it. I like looking at other folks projects with random colors, but don’t like my own.
I was wondering what the process is for making the material after the designers have submitted their design. What are the steps??
Where do you see the quilting industry in 5-10 years?
Who inspires you to quilt? (quilter or non-quilter)
How do you describe your quilting addition to non-quilters?
What celebrity would you like to make a quilt for and what would it look like?
Do you prefer to press seams open or to the side?
Thanks for good questions so far, but remember, we’re looking for general, opinion questions, like “What 3 quilting items would you want with you if stranded on a desert island”? Something that each of our 9 staff members would have a different answer to….
I’ve never quilted with batiks and I’m wondering if the colours can bleed. How do I prepare batiks before using them in a quilt?
What is the warmest batting to use? It’s cold here in the winter!
If you could throw a Dinner party for any four quilters from anywhere in the world, alive or dead, who would you invite?
Since quilting is such a relaxing, enjoyable passtime or hobby, or profession, why has it become such a “busy, quick” business? Everything is now precut, quick piece, machine quilted. From store shelf to finished in 12 hours.
What happened to spending several hours in a quilt shop picking fabric and pattern(s), and glazed thread, then going home, washing and ironing it, and then the next day start cutting, and sewing and previewing until the top is done. Then layering the quilt, loading it onto a frame (or lap quilt it) and then sitting enjoying the hand quilting with a friend or Mother or group? A quilt is suppose to be a work of love to be enjoyed during and after the process, not a manufactured object.
Can’t even find YLI glazed hand quilting thread in the stores in Canada any more.
If/when you hit a “brick wall” and stop quilting/piecing for a while, how do you get reinspired to get started again?
I have many triangles left from making “snowballs”. They are small (1 1/4″) and will be even smaller if I sew them together. Is it worth it to sew these 80+ triangles into squares? I can chain-sew them. What would I make with them? Pinwheels? I’l love to hear your opinions.
What are the best gadgets and gizmos for use with a long arm quilter and frame set-up. What gadgets and gizmos should you avoid because of potential damage to your machine. I saw a gadget that some people loved and others thought would damage the machine — it was a 3/8″ thick clear plastic angled item, looked a bit like a boomerang. It had a slot with a hole in the center, you put the hopping foot into the hole, and used the clear plastic boomerang gizmo for fine control precision, small area quilting. Like microhandles at a fraction of the cost, and no hassle to install. But many commenters thought moving the machine by the hopper foot would be damaging over the long run, which made sense to me. But, I’m new to long arm quilting and certainly no expert.
What’s your favorite fabric color combo at the moment?
What project are you wanting to tackle, but are a little scared to try?
What was your first major quilt project, and what would you do different if you were to make it again today?
What is the process in becoming a fabric or pattern designer?
How does one get over guilt by leaving dishes in the sink so one can quilt instead?
If you were to make and gift a quilt to a toddler, what block pattern and quilting design would you use? I understand a “first” quilt is very likely to be a child’s favorite quilt.
Have you ever felt you had to sneak fabric into the house because you didn’t want it known you bought MORE?
What quilting foot do you prefer to use when you are free motion quilting? Why do you prefer this one?
Do you prefer the traditional blocks when designing a quilt or do you like the new free form ? What is your favorite pattern to use?
Do you have any quick(?) and easy way to make pinwheels? I always have trouble lining up the center points and making the blocks square…
What would you say is the easiest way for a beginner to learn to quilt?
When you see a new fabric design come out and have the opportunity to make something original and unique that would be considered “you” with it, what would you make and where would you start?
What was the most frustrating quilt you ever attempted to make? Did you finish it? Was it worth it?
You are going overseas to attend art classes in the UK. What HAS to go with you? (I am in that desirable dilemma soon!)
There are so many different quilting rulers available now. Which ones do you consider to be “must-haves” and why?
How different is the look of free motion quilting as apose to longarm quilting?
I love cathedral window quilts, runners, etc. What’s the easiest way to make them?
What do you do after to hunt all over the country(and spend extra shipping costs) to get the fabrics for a specific pattern and then the colors and design in the room scream no way — pinks/greens vs blue white sea coast colors? The fabrics and patterns are waiting for an answer.
What size quilt project do you mostly work on?
Do you ever test a pattern/design by making potholders or placemats before jumping into a large quilt.
I use my machine (Sears Best Kenmore) to do my quilting. Are there instructional videos that give tips on using your own machine for quilting? Also do all machines have a free motion stitch?
If you had to give away your favorite quilt. Which one would it be?
Ok I came up with another question… Does it make a big difference if you machine applique your design prior on your material, then quilt around it… I wonder if using the design as you applique would look ok…
how do you feel about mixing curves or circles in a quilt design?
What does “scrappy” mean to you?
What’s the purpose/story behind the tabs on penny rugs?
If you are going on a trip, what kind of quilt project do you take to work on?
What tools must you take with you?
What is the best thread to use for hand applique, needle turn? I have been trying to figure this one out on my own…
When starting a new quilt project, do follow the pattern’s instructions as written or do you tend to create your own version as you go along? If you are like me and sometimes alter the original pattern, what inspires you to go in another direction?
Why have the quilting magazines turned in to one big advertisement? Most patterns in magazines are basic, beginner level, more interested in selling collections and kits than encouraging creativity or individuality.
What do you think about the Modern Quilts and Monochrome Quilts. I can’t seem to wrap my arms around either of them, although they are definately beautiful?
What is your opinion of Modern and Monochrome quilts? I can’t seem to wrap my arms around them.
Is there a suggested formula to choose lattice & border fabric widths for a specific block size? If you could only buy one sampler quilting book to give a beginner as a good basic introduction to the art, which book would you buy? PS-I’m looking forward to reading all the answers to the questions I’ve seen posted so far! Thanks.
I’ve just purchased my first batik fabric for a wedding quilt for a family member. Does batik fabric have a front and back side? I can’t tell. If so how can I tell them apart?
What’s the most efficient way to sort your stash?
How do you measure and cut triangles to fit a square in a square?
Describe the ugliest quilt you ever made. Where is that quilt now?
Describe what an ideal meeting with your quilt group would look like. Individual projects, variations of the same project, make and takes?