Yellow Rose of Tedium
So I have this idea for an article. Which requires (SHOOT ME) about ELEVEN of these 8×11 small quilts. ALL THE SAME. Shoot me please. Now. Can you say BORING? But I want to do this test of stabilizers.
![Yellow Rose by Sarah Ann Smith. The first sample, with no stabilizer. The two fabrics began the same size--even at this small scale you can see noticeable shrinkage just from quilting.](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014.12.SarahAnnSmith.com_.YellowRose1.05.jpg)
Yellow Rose by Sarah Ann Smith. The first sample, with no stabilizer. The two fabrics began the same size–even at this small scale you can see noticeable shrinkage just from quilting.
I’ve been in a number of exhibits where you have to have an exact size, like the Dinner@8 and Living Colour Textiles exhibits. For the latter, size was to be 40 x 100 cm. That’s 39 inches long. My top was 44 inches long. Once quilted, I had exactly enough to make 1/8″ seam allowances for my facings!
![Amaryllis by Sarah Ann Smith (C) 2014. See the Living Colour Exhibit at http://livingcolourtextiles.com/](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014.04.20.Amaryllis002.jpg)
Amaryllis by Sarah Ann Smith (C) 2014. See the Living Colour Exhibit at http://livingcolourtextiles.com/
YEP, the quilt shrank up FIVE flippin’ inches in length. So I decided I needed to find a way to stop the massive shrinkage, and that means a foundation of some sort. Jennifer Day likes one product; my friend Susan Brubaker Knapp prefers another. I decided I needed to test a range of options. So shoot me. And please excuse me while I vanish for a week or two to quilt the same yellow rose umpteen times! EEEEK!
December 10th, 2014 at 7:18 am
but the end result will be so worth it 🙂
Teri
December 10th, 2014 at 9:44 am
I knew there was shrinkage but had no idea you could lose that many inches so I am looking forward to your results. I have used peltex iron on stabilizer and still have shrinkage.
Thankfully you are so good at this! You really have a knack for the research and that is why people (lazy like myself:))) love you. Ok, not the only reason because that would be lame:) Good luck and I agree with Teri!
December 10th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Thank you for experimenting and sharing with rest of us. I, for one, did not realize that exact measurements are sometimes required.
I enjoy looking at your work, even the “boring” yellow roses, and the humorous tone of your newsletters.
Aloha, from Hawai’i, précille
December 10th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Good thing you picked a rose. At least it will smell good while you are working on it. ;}
December 10th, 2014 at 2:09 pm
I really look forward to seeing the results of your experiment. (Could you change the colors on some your samples, just to make it a bit less boring?)
I often quilts for exhibits that have precise size requirements. My solution has been to add at least 1-2 inches extra background around all edges, knowing that it may or may not get cut off when the quilt is finished.
December 10th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
The effort will bring reward! I enjoy doing small experiments and document the results.. Stabilizers are so different in their properties,and fluctuate in their “hand”,density,shrinkage,laundering and “wrinkles”… I guess we all have favorites for the comfort zone of our endeavors!
December 10th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
The scientific approach can require a lot of repetition …
December 10th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
aw, come on…use a pieced sample (say, one with maybe 400 pieces…)he he. Seriously, sounds interesting and not nearly as mundane and repetitive as my quilting 165 5″ hearts!
December 10th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
I am really interested to see how this research comes out. I am only just beginning to make art quilts but the more I make, the more I see how stabilizers and foudations play a leading role in the outcome. Thank you for taking on this project.
December 11th, 2014 at 11:58 am
What a great experiment, and I am so glad you thought of it first. I do a lot of applique and never thought about shrinkage but I will really appreciate seeing your results. Happy quilting!
December 13th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Trying not to be too serious…
I never considered I would see a Quilting / “Design of Experiments” project!
I’m glad you’re keeping it simple!
It would get much too complicated to consider how many more variables you have and what’s the possible levels(settings) for each of them and would it be feasible to test each combination – do you really want/need to?
Is the finished size of your sample after sewing your only measured response?
Just like making the perfect chocolate chip cookie…
Look forward to hearing your result!