Tuesday, September 9, 2014

DO YOU PREFER A KIT OR NOT TO USE A KIT?

This quilt was purchased at Hancock's 
It is called Sea Breeze quilt Kit.


I think I have made a few kits quilts before.  I have to say that I so love this quilt.
It goes so fast and is easy easy easy.  Took no time at all to make this.

The only problem I had was my needle going through the white on white.  For some reason my needles didn't like this fabric.  You heard me, I said needles.  I was using Schmetz  size 9, then  size 14, then  16 and finally I used an Organ needle that I use for my embroidery machine.  My thread kept breaking when I was trying to quilt.  Drove me insane.  Once I put the Organ needle in my thread only broke once.  

I really couldn't blame it on the thread because the thread I used to quilt is Sulky white 944-1001, I have to say that this is my most favorite thread to quilt with.  

So...as far as the quilt, the instructions were clear and well...sometimes it is just nice to have someone else make the decision as to what fabrics to use.

Back to the question, kit or not kit?


22 comments:

beaquilter said...

the quilt looks lovely! I do kits sometimes, actually I like to MAKE kits for my guild- haven't done it in a while though..... I'm wondering if your bobbin area has a lot of lint, that it's the reason for the threads breaking?

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Great quilt, love the colors.
That is a good question. For clothes, just tell me what to wear. I like it on the mannequin, so I'll take it. For quilts, kits make me nervous. I make mistakes and would not want to run out of fabric. So I do not use kits. Just like clothes if I go into a quilt shop and like a quilt hanging, I ask, where is that fabric and always buy extra!

Gene Black said...

I prefer to pick my own fabrics. But you know I am a "rebel" ha ha

onlymehere said...

I usually don't buy kits because I like to mix it up a bit so my quilt, table topper, etc. isn't the same as anyone else's. I rarely see a kit that is exactly the color combination I want, plus if I use up some stash it's cheaper and I feel like I've won some kind of prize, lol! Did I ever tell you that I used the insects and butterflies you sent me in my granddaughter's quiet book and some other things for them? It was fun to play with them so thank you so much for sending them to me.

KaHolly said...

I don't usually afford myself the luxury of buying kits. If I can't make something with the fabric I have on hand, I don't make it.

Ruth said...

I really never buy kits. I can't remember if I ever did, except for BOMs, which aren't really kits, but are kind of like them. I have only done a few BOMS from shops. I prefer to use fabric that I already have on hand instead of spending money on a pattern and fabric.

Fiona said...

I like both... kits are expensive but sometimes I want to make it as it is and not think to much about colours.... othertimes I love to play and do my own thing...
Hugz

Dana Gaffney said...

I've never bought a kit, I like to pick my own fabrics, but I have thought about it a few times, nice and easy.

Teresa in Music City said...

I really like that quilt Barb! I would have bought that kit too, but usually I prefer to pick out my own fabrics. There are usually a couple fabrics in a kit that don't appeal to me - I'm a color freak :*) I've bought exactly 2 kits in my quilting life.

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I like to buy kits especially on vacations. Sometimes I change out some of the fabrics for something else, but I usually enjoy them!

Needled Mom said...

When I have breakage problems I run a bead of silicone done the thread spool. It works like magic. Great looking quilt!

Scrappy quilter said...

Pretty quilt. I've only used one kit in all the years I've quilted. Prefer doing my own cutting and quilting

QuiltSue said...

As you may remember, I have bought 3 kits in the past. I never made them up though, instead, I've used all the fabrics in other quilts!

Joanne Lendaro said...

Interesting reading the comments...

I do both, but always try to buy extra fabric.

Gene Black said...

Ha ha... I have done that also. I have even bought a quilt to get the fabric for something else (but only if it was as cheap as buying yardage)

Lynn said...

Sometimes I want to just make something without all the choices. Kits are great for those times. So I buy them, but not often, usually only if I love the fabrics or it's on sale and I can live with the fabrics.

Wacky Woman said...

It depends. Once in a while at a quilt show I just fall in love with something hanging. I save them for when on retreats and it is then already together. As for thread breaking. In this order I, rethread the top. Take out the bobbin and bobbin case and clean it out very good. Then I change the needle. 99% of the time, that fixes it. Actually fixes most issues.

Jean said...

I like to choose my own fabrics.

KeyQuilter said...

intereting discussion. I lost touch with quilting while I was working out of town for 6 yrs, so when I happened to the Dallas Quilt Show the year before I retired, I bought a kit- & double it bcz I knew I'd need a KING. I still have NOT sewn that up. But now I have a small shop and I sure HOPE people buy kits bcz I've Got to move this fabric!

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

I guess it depends....typically no kit...but occasionally I have used a kit...typicaly I've regretted it for one reason or another...but I'm still very attracted to kits because ya know for sure there is enough fabric.

Smiles,
Kelly

Wendy said...

I have only used a kit one time and was so disappointed that I have never used them again...not all of the fabric was inside the quilt and when I tried to get the shop to make it right, they hem hawed about and never did send me the missing fabric...so the quilt was put away never to be finished...taught me a valuable lesson about buying the kits...I will do bom as you get those monthly, but I will never again buy a whole kit.

sandra said...

I like kits sometimes it is just easier and sometimes I like to do my own thing and get rid of mt stash. Lovely quilt but why did the needles keep breaking. I have done BOM but have a hard time finishing them. Blessings Sandra