Go from Quilt Backing Shortages to Creative Free Fabric | Lea Louise Quilts Tutorial

[@maryannecadd796]

It never occurred to me that I could make a reversible quilt. This is such a great idea. One of many things I've learned from you is to think smaller, not necessarily larger. If I found a fabric I loved, I bought waaaaaayyyy more than I needed and I ended up with a lot of leftover fabrics. I have vowed to not buy any more quilting fabric until I've reduced my stash to more manageable levels. THIS is perfect for getting some quilting done without breaking my budget. Thanks so much Lea Louise!!!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Yes, you are exactly right, Maryanne! There's still pieces of fabric leftover I bought years ago even though I've used quite a bit. I'd rather buy multiple fat quarters in similar colors and mix them together than just use one fabric. The reversible quilt idea is desperate attempt for me to get my quilt top pile to a manageable size! 😂😂😂 Thanks so much for your comment. Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@koalasez1200]

I'm doing a reversible quilt now thanks to Lea Louise!!! I love how she lets us [encourages us] to think outside the box!

[@BlueandDawnJames]

It's amazing how that last border, added out of necessity, elevates the whole entire quilt. Sometimes the very best design elements are born out of necessity and thinking outside the box.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

So very, very true! Challenges cause us to be more creative and I'm so happy with how this turned out. Thanks for following along! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@coreygilles847]

I love making reversible quilts and this one is gorgeously done ❤

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Thank you so much, Corey! Reversible quilts are new to me but I'm really enjoying pairing them up. Great to have you following along! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@denisestilling2810]

Bold and beautiful quilts.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Just the way I like them Denise! There may be some low volume mixed in, but there's also plenty that are making a huge statement! Mixing up fabrics is my favorite pastime. Thanks so much for your comment! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@marshawallace7522]

You are so encouraging and supportive of quilters no matter where we are in our journey. Thank you so much and I am very happy that I happened to find you.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

It's wonderful to have you following along, Marsha! Thanks for your kinds words. Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@patwilson5017]

You are the most amazing teacher...what a gift you have. Thanks so much for such wonderful ideas Lea.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Pat! Sharing my quilting is a joy for me and I appreciate you following along. Thanks for watching! Have a great New Year and Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@kathleenswan4184]

Love, love, love it!!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

So glad, Kathleen! It turned out very sweet. Still a couple more holiday ideas I want to do and before we know we'll be quilting for 2024! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

You are so smart to be able to figure this out. I am a newbie and so impressed!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Keep quilting and you'll be amazed how much easier it becomes, Mickey! Once you get the basics down other modifications and techniques are easier to understand. Remember quilting is a creative outlet and you can make any changes you want. Have fun and Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@loriweibel3521]

I've always wanted to do spiral quilting. You showed me how. Thank you

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Awesome, Lori! Start on a small piece first and you'll get very comfortable with. Glad you'll give it a try! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@vickiserre9457]

Another great lesson I will try on my Halloween project.🎃

[@Debisjoy]

Great idea. I love reversables! And I never thought about doing a border just on one side! Merry Christmas!🎄the imperfections add character!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

You're right, Debi! Imperfections can result in great design opportunities. 😊 Thanks so much for watching! Merry Christmas and Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Stitcher_in_MD]

Love this idea! Now I know what to do with all those extra pieces of backing. It will just take a little color planning. Often I’ll add off center strips to increase the size for my backing. Thanks for sharing your ideas!!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Absolutely, you'll love how much more fun quilt backs will be to make! Another suggestion for adding strips to your backings, try setting them off center by a few inches or more. For me it add a bit more interest than a divide down the center. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Great ideas

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Glad you think so, Diann! It's a fun way to get some quilts finished. Great to have your following along. Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@carolynthomas4527]

I really like the front and back on this quilt, such lovely pops of color😊

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Reversible quilts are a new favorite for me, Carolyn! After making these I've finished more and love the results. Sure appreciate you following along! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Cassandra-..-]

While watching, I’m totaling up in my head the number of quilt tops I have that need some border or backing reconfiguring just to finish. I’m up to five. 😬 Your reversible black/white/pink quilt is gorgeous, btw.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Now you can get them all finished, Cassandra! It won't take long at all. 😊 It'll be fun to pull lots of different ideas together and get super creative! Glad you liked the BW&Pink - it's a definite favorite of mine! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@nevafitzgerald2402]

I also use 100%sheets for the backs at I find at thrift stores .don't forget the mens shirts sometimes I only need a yard to finish something!!!❤

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Great tip, Neva! Any flannel shirts I find in thrift shops come with me to be cut up for rag quilts. Especially terrific mixing these with blue jeans. So much quilting out there - how will we ever get it all done? Thanks for stopping by! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@koalasez1200]

"Quilting imperfections". If you can't see them while galloping a horse past the quilt, then it doesn't matter. 🙃 I'd rather see that as opposed to something that looks like it was bought in a store and probably mass produced. Your local or national long arm service can at least gives you pattern options, but I won't do that either. I have this personal opinion because of a former boss I worked for about 20 years ago. He used to travel the world and bring home all sorts of fabulous things, including fabric. He had one incredible piece of brocaded silk that he wanted to have made into a quilt. He asked me but there was no way I was going to attempt anything with that amazing fabric, especially since I was nowhere skilled enough. He found a local woman who had a good reputation and had entered quilts into shows and placed. So, he met with her and they agreed upon an approach, a design, and a price. He was very excited. He did various things himself [like making stained glass] so was very appreciative of creative people working with their hands. Well, the day came and she arrived with a big box and like a kid at Christmas, he opened it and pulled it out. I have never in my life see such disappointment on a face. She competed the quilt just fine...pieced it and all that. But, she long armed the quilt with a tight pattern so the silky, brocaded fabric disappeared under all that quilting. He expected [and thought] she was going to quilt it by hand....not a complicated pattern but just a relaxed design like big loops, enough to sandwich the layers but not overtake the beauty of the fabric. He was crushed. After she left he told us it looked like he bought it at Sears. And he never used it. His business was home-based and I worked for him out of his home. I never saw it after the day of delivery nor did anyone else who worked for him in various capacities. I guess he must not have conveyed his expectation for finishing to her, but he didn't even know there was such a thing as long arm quilting. It was such a shame. I quilt on my home machine and appreciate the struggle of manhandling a good-sized quilt on a machine. Thank you for your tutorials. [By the way, do I detect a NY accent once in awhile? I hear it when you say "sorta". I used to live in NJ long ago and like hearing that accent.]

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Impactful story! Funny you picked up my MA accent. I lived there as a child but a bit of it still lingers even after years of living in other places. My kids grew up in CO and notice my accent slip out too! Now I'm in the south, wonder what effect that will have over time? 😊 Thanks for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@chi2tan]

Love the story!

[@LauraSup]

I absolutely love the idea of a reversible quilt and USA panel is a fantastic choice!!!❤

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

That is a great idea, Laura! We'll soon be seeing patriotic fabrics in the stores and that'll be a fun quilt to make. Thanks so much for your comment and following along! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I love your explanations and have subscribed and asked for the beautiful pattern. Thank you, I really want to try your method.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Enjoy the pattern, Mickey! Thanks for following along. I look forward to hearing from you again! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@suebennett3715]

Great tutorial on circular quilting, looks fabulous but it is tedious. Good to see home machine quilting techniques!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

So true, Sue! Those first couple rows are a challenge but so worth the effort when it's all finished! I've only ever sewn on a home machine and have found they can be very versatile. I've been quilting in this machine for over 20 years! We've come a long ways together. 😊 Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@claudiacrump7494]

Thank you! You're so creative in building quilts out of what you have. ❤

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Thank you, Claudia! 😊 It comes from necessity - I can't buy more unless I use what I have!! That's REAL incentive. 😂 Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@claudiacrump7494]

Thank you. Right now I have a lot of time to watch tutorials like yours because I broke my right arm. Anyway I learned the same way to use what I got. It feeds creativity.@@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise

[@brigitsomerville3460]

Just LOVE your video's. You have really helped with issues I have been having with my quilts. Thank you so much!!

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

That makes me so happy to hear, Brigit! Quilting is wonderful and I love sharing what I do. I'm incredibly grateful for quilters like you who follow along and support me. It means a lot! 🤗 Sure appreciate you following along! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@nevafitzgerald2402]

I love this idea ,I have been doing this for a long time. I didn't know what to do with all my practice pattern so to speak and I always hunt the goodwill for 100%cotton sheets for the backs. I love the colors on this quilt yoh are showing. Thank you 🙏 I love watching all your videos some of them I have watched several times.MERRY CHRISTMAS🎄🎄cant wait to see what you have in store for. 2023!!🙋🎇🎆

[@nevafitzgerald2402]

2024

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Glad this will be such a helpful idea for you, Neva! It sure makes your quilts more interesting with twice as much to look at! Thanks so much for watching and following along. I'm already working on a 2024 quilt and thinking about everything else I was to do. 😊 Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@auntdello5286]

Lovely quilt! Do you have a tutorial on using a free motion foot for quilting?

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Glad you enjoyed this video! While I don't have any FMQ videos, here's a link for using the walking foot. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@marcellarodriguez7955]

Hello Lea Louise. Thank you for your videos, I appreciate learning all the tips from you. I tried quilting last night on my domestic sewing machine and as I moved it around the back got really puckered:( I landed up putting it away last night and this morning I spend two hours taking stitches out and trying to make it look as best as I could. Do you have any suggestions for my next quilt?

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

It absolutely happens, Marcella! Were you quilting with a regular foot or doing free motion quilting? I always, ALWAYS use a walking foot when doing basic machine quilting. It make a huge difference. Here are some other ideas for you. 1- When you baste your quilt sandwich the back needs to be taut and not loose, otherwise that back fabric will bunch up. 2- As you're quilting, use your hands to move all the layers together while also holding them taut. That's the key, don't let the quilt sandwich move loosely. 3- If you've not done a lot of quilting, get some fabric scraps or old sheets and practice. I promise it gets easier! You've got this! When you get really good at ripping out your stitching, you know you've become a real quilter!! 😂🧵 Happy Quilting...and ripping, Lea Louise

[@marcellarodriguez7955]

@@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise Thank you for replying back. I do use a walking foot and I usually do spray baste and use safety pins. I was trying to go around a block that was set on point and I think when I turned it that’s when it puckered the back. I will take your suggestions on practicing and holding it taut all three layers. Do I use the free motion foot or the walking foot when I want to stitch in the ditch around the block that is on point since I will be turning it?

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I love your quilt and the softness of it. How do you manage to get your quilts so soft? I starch my fabric and by the time I make my sandwich and quilt it….the whole thing is heavy and stiff somewhat. Please help.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Many of my quilting methods are very 'old school', Mickey! When I start a quilt my fabric is not prewashed or starched. The sizing that's added when the fabric is manufactured keeps it stable enough for me to work with. The only thing I add is a fabric spray adhesive to baste my quilt sandwich together. It works great and doesn't change the texture which makes it very easy to work with. The batting I use is low loft so it's thin and very easy to work with. Hope this gives you a few ideas to try. Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

May I ask what you used in between to complete your “sandwich”?

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Good question, Mickey! My batting is a cotton low-loft batting by Fairfield. It's called Toasty Cotton and is wonderful to quilt with. It's thin and very easy to sew and maneuver while quilting. I've been using it for a few years and am very happy with it! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise

[@Cassieboce]

Just found you. I am a new quilter. Love your videos. Thank you.

[@nevafitzgerald2402]

I find if I roll the fabric that goes into the throat of the machine helps me.

[@InspiredQuiltingbyLeaLouise]

Yes it absolutely does, Neva! But I have trouble rolling when I'm quilting a circle. I think next time I'll roll it from the corners as that's where the bulk of the fabric is. It's always a learning process! Thanks for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise