So You Want to Learn To Quilt

Anybody who wants to learn to quilt can find plenty of advice on the internet, and there is more than one way to start learning this amazingly creative craft. If you know how to stitch you could begin with a starter pack, containing all you need for your first quilt, or you could decide to read about it first and find out a bit more about the techniques, tools and fabrics before starting on the practical side of things.

Although there are plenty of quilting books available, there are surprisingly few dedicated to beginners. Most books, however, have reasonable good sections detailing the tools, materials and basic techniques that can be useful to the beginner. It is handy to have a basic idea of what quilting is, and what the general techniques used are, before actually starting on your first creation.

Quilting is Both Attractive and Practical

Quilting is attractive, and is used for warmth as well as to look good. While, most people think of the large bed coverings when they think of quilts, the term also applies to garments such as quilted jackets which can keep you warm in winter, quilted house coats and dressing gowns, and even quilted purses and bags. It is more versatile than many believe.

A quilt consists of three essential parts: the quilt top, which is the patterned part that is most often seen, the batting, which is the central padding, and the backing. While a starter pack is a good way for a beginner to set off on their first project, many feel that they learn more by starting from scratch and making their own blocks. A block is one of the basic units of a quilt top, and is made by sewing small pieces of material together. A quilt is made by sewing a number of similar blocks together into one complete patterned top, then joining the various parts together by sewing or tying.

Most traditional Quilting Patterns are Block Patterns

There are other ways to make quilt tops, apart from using blocks, but most of the traditional patterns are block patterns, and it is a good type of design to start with. The stitching tends to be in straight lines which is a help, and it is also easier for machine stitching. Whether you start from scratch or use a pack, once you have completed your first quilted piece, you should take some time to learn about the fabrics and other aspects of quilting.

There is a very wide variety of fabrics and textiles of various textures and colors available for quilting. Although the choice might be confusing as to what can and cannot be used for certain types of quilting, you are not alone. Everybody feels the same way when the first start out, but you will soon pick it up. There are very few rules, and it is generally useful to take some time browsing round your nearest quilt shop checking out everything on display.

Quilting Machines are Specialized Pieces of Equipment

The equipment is not specialized, except perhaps for the quilting machines. Even a standard domestic sewing machine is best adapted to render it more suitable for quilting. You need good sharp scissors for cutting the fabrics, though some people prefer rotary wheel cutters. If you intend taking up quilting seriously, you must learn about the equipment, fabrics, accessories and theory of quilting. It not only makes quilting easier, but also makes it easier for you to make up your own designs and patterns.

Without a shadow of doubt, quilting is one of those crafts that are extremely useful to have, and if you learn to quilt your work will passed down your family from generation to generation. If you can sew you can quilt, so get started.

About The Author: Jessie Pedersen is an avid and experienced quilter of over 10 years. She has made over 250 quilts of all sizes, patterns and types. She has come out with an ebook, Learn To Quilt In A Weekend. For more quilting tips, visit her site today!

Thread Talk from my Sewing Machine #26

November 9, 2011 by ivoryspring

I have always used my walking foot to quilt straight lines because I like the look of straight lines when quilted with a walking foot. Even after I learned to free-motion quilt, whenever I have to quilt straight lines, I dutifully change out my quilting foot for the walking foot!

Sometimes stitching with the walking foot and feed dog up isn’t the most convenient … like quilting piano keys, for example. As a result, I have never quilted piano keys on the border until my last quilt. After I decided to be brave and free-motion quilted the straight lines with a ruler.

In the past, I tried free-motion quilting the straight lines to avoid the twisting and turning the quilt, but the stitches would look like the ones in straight line “B”, shown in the picture below. The stitches look like they are quite uncertain of themselves, and the occasional “veering off the straight-ness” moments just bug me. I like my straight stitches to look confident and just plain nice… enter line “A”. Line “A” is quilted free-motion with the use of a ruler. I like the look of “A” stitches MUCH better…

An Accents in Design Fine Line Quilting ruler…

***

Here are a few points in using the ruler for domestic machine quilting that I hope would be helpful to you:

1. Use the smaller sized rulers – 6? or 8?. Anything bigger might make handling harder.

2. The key to using the ruler is to anchor it down with your hand (butting it against quilting foot), and not lose the pressure, and maintaining the same grip through an entire quilting pass. If you lose it, you might lose the exact positioning, and causes veering off and jerking in your final result. Lots of concentration needed! But once you are through one pass, take a deep breath and a mini break before you attempt the next.

3. The ruler actually has scored markings so that you don’t have to mark your quilting lines. I go ahead and mark my quilts because I find that to have to move the quilt, move the ruler AND check my quilting pass against the scored lined is too much for little old me quilting on a home machine.

4. When doing piano keys, I find that it’s easier to quilt horizontally than it is vertically. For me, at least. You just have to play a bit and find out which one suits you the best.

5. I find that the Fine Line Ruler isn’t as good for quilting in the ditches because sometimes a seam is not perfectly straight, especially after the surrounding area is already quilted. If I absolutely have to quilt in the ditch during free-motion quilting to move from one spot to the next, I actually quilt in the style of “B” line, as shown above. I just gingerly take very small step to quilt along the seams. The stitches should “bury” themselves in the “ditches” (thus quilting in the ditches) and not visible.

***

Now I can quilt piano keys and not have to be frustrated with my stitch quality. You will see more piano keys in my future quilts, I am sure. In this case, a little bravery really went a long way… sometimes we just need to be a little brave, don’t we?

p.s. I have also quilted curved cross-hatching using ruler. Click here to read about it.

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Machine Quilting, Hand Tying and Hand Quilting

You have pieced together your quilt top and now it's time to decide how you are going to stitch your quilt. There are several methods of quilting that you can choose from. This article will explore the various methods that you can choose when quilting your three sandwich layers together. Whatever method you choose, you will end up with a quilt that will have your unique signature.

I'll start off by giving the definition of a quilt. A quilt is a fabric sandwich. This sandwich is made up of three layers. The top, the filling (also called the batting or wadding) and the backing. There needs to be a method of securing these layers together. The three most common methods are machine stitching, hand tying or hand stitching. Let us explore the method of machine stitching first.

If you decide to machine stitch your sandwich, the easiest technique to use is straight line quilting. Straight line quilting involves stitching your quilt pattern in straight lines. The most popular straight line technique is a stitching technique called "stitch in the ditch". Stitch in the ditch involves stitching right along the seams of your patchwork top which in turn hides the stitches in the seam line. It is quick and easy to do and you can easily finish a crib sized quilt in less than 2 hours using this technique. Another variation of straight line stitching is a technique called cross-hatch quilting. Cross hatch quilting is straight stitching evenly spaced apart in a diagonal pattern over the whole quilt sandwich. When the stitching is completed, the stitching design on the fabric sandwich will look like many little identical diamonds evenly distributed throughout the quilt.

The other machine stitching technique is called free motion machine stitching. Free motion stitching creates graceful curved designs in a variety of styles. These styles may include stippling, echo designs, clamshell designs or you can stitch decorative quilting styles traced from quilting stencils.

If you want to quickly finish your quilt, you could try hand tying your fabric sandwich. Hand tying is often done to fabric sandwiches that have high loft batting but this technique is not just limited to high loft batting quilts. I have seen a few hand tied quilts that have low loft batting and the quilting style of tying complements the piecing on the top. Quilt tying involved hand stitching one stitch through three layers of a fabric sandwich using either thick thread or strong wool. The ends of the thread or wool are then tied securely in a knot on the top layer of the sandwich and the two tails of the thread or wool are trimmed to approximately one inch in length. Tying a quilt is much faster than hand quilting or machine quilting. Fabric sandwiches that are tied are often utility or every day quilts rather than fancy decorative quilts.

Hand stitching a fabric sandwich is the traditional way of quilting. To hand stitch a fabric sandwich, a hoop or frame is needed to keep the pieces of the fabric sandwich taut as you stitch the layers of the fabric sandwich together. It is recommended that a thicker hand quilting thread be used to reduce the chance of the thread breaking while the sandwich is being stitched. Hand stitching is the slowest method of quilting but hand stitched quilts gives a wonderful textured look when finished. Many hand stitched quilts are highly sought after.

Whatever method you use when you are quilting your fabric sandwich together, you know that your quilt is almost finished. Your investment of time and energy is about to pay off with a beautiful quilt you will be proud to call your own. May you enjoy the quilt you have created for many years to come.

Ramona Dunn is a sewer and quilter with over 35 years of experience behind the sewing machine. She has a diploma with honors in sewing and dressmaking from the Stratford Career Institute and she is the proud owner of her own online quilting web site called Those Cotton Pickin' Fabrics.

Ramona is a professional educator by day and she has authored a book for beginning quilters called "How To Do Quilting In 8 Easy Steps". To learn more about this book

Click Here: http://how-to-do-quilting.com/

Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Your Amish Quilt

Amish Quilt Care

Knowing how to properly care for your quilt will ensure its longevity. Amish quilts generally take approximately 400 hours for an Amish quilter to complete. Considering how much time it took to make your quilt, we know you will want to handle it with care. Here are some helpful hints that we received directly from Barbara, an Amish quilt designer from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

To clean your quilt, we recommend two solutions:

Traditional Amish Quilt Care

Barbara said this is what she does to clean her quilts. Soak your quilt in cold water in either a bathtub or washer machine. Add 2 quarts of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of mild soap (like MelaPower), and a 1/2 cup of table salt. Do not use bleach. If you use your bathtub, let your quilt soak for 1 hour. If you use your washing machine, put your quilt on your Gentle cycle. After your quilt has been soaked or washed, hang dry it. Do not machine dry your quilt or use fabric softeners.

Dry Cleaning

Amish quilts can be dry cleaned. Ask your dry cleaner if they have cleaned quilts or bed coverings in the past. Dry cleaning is recommended if your quilt has loose lace or puffy applique work because this material can be damaged in a machine wash. Dry cleaning is also recommended for fabrics that may run in water, such as fully saturated dark colored and hand-dyed fabrics. To determine if your fabric will run, rub it with a piece of cotton that has been moistened with very hot water. If color bleeds onto the cotton, do not wash your quilt - even in cold water. Instead, have your quilt professionally dry cleaned. After your quilt is dry cleaned, hang it outside to air it out.

For quilts that are used daily, we recommend that you clean them once a year.

Quilt Markings

Amish quilters use markings to guide them as they hand stitch a quilt. Often these lines are still noticeable when the quilt is complete. Amish quilters typically use either pencil or chalk. If the quilt markings are made in pencil, you can purchase an eraser from a fabric store. Do not use a regular pencil eraser; they have oil in them that will permanently mark your quilt. You can also use a clean toothbrush. Dip it in a mixture of warm water and mild liquid laundry soap (we recommend Woolite). Use the toothbrush to gently rub out the quilt markings. If the marking line is white, it is probably chalk and can be brushed off or easily removed with a damp cloth.

Storage

Direct sunlight is not good for your quilt. It will naturally cause your colors to fade and the fabric to weaken. To store your Amish quilt, we recommend that you use a pillowcase or sheet. Do not use a plastic bag. Keep your quilt somewhere dark and dry.

Michael Bell is an expert on Amish quilts and has provided commentary in publications such as National Geographic Traveler. To see a full selection of authentic Amish quilts from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, please visit AmishQuiltShop.net.

Michael Bell is an expert on Amish quilts and has provided commentary in publications such as National Geographic Traveler. To see a full selection of authentic Amish quilts from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, please visit AmishQuiltShop.net.

Rag Quilts - What Makes Them Different Than Regular Quilts?

Rag quilts are a unique type of quilt that many quilters prefer making over traditional quilts. Because of this, rag quilts are growing considerably in popularity. There are several factors that make them popular. Some of the reasons include that they are easy to make, work up quickly, don't require expert sewing knowledge, and they are wonderfully warm and snugly.

Why are they easier to make than traditional quilts? As mentioned earlier, expert sewing knowledge is not necessary. If you can measure fabrics and sew a straight line (or even not so straight), then you can make a rag quilt.

Traditional quilts must be cut and measured very accurately, or the end results will suffer, but when making a rag quilt, the methods to make them are very forgiving. This means that if your measurements are off a bit, there's no reason to worry, since the edges make up the "rag" part of the rag quilt.

Also, traditional quilting requires learning many skills, such as either hand-quilting or machine-quilting once the top, bottom and middle have been assembled. The other option is to send off your quilt to a professional quilter, which means added expense and time to completion. Rag quilts, on the other hand, are "quilted" as each square is made. Once the quilt is put together, it's basically finished! The same goes for the edges of the quilts. With traditional quilts, the edges must have binding added, which is a tricky technique for some quilters. Rag quilts, however, don't require much (if any) finishing of the edges.

Another reason that many quilters prefer making rag quilts over traditional quilts is the amount of time that it takes to make them. Traditional quilts can takes weeks or even months. If you have a gift-giving occasion coming up soon, there may not be time to make a regular quilt. A rag quilt, however, can be made start to finish in a weekend.

A final reason that rag quilts are so popular is that they are just wonderful to snuggle under. After all, that's what quilts are for, right? Because they have the extra "raggy" fringes, there's extra warmth due to the amount of fabric.

While traditional quilts will always be popular, right now rag quilts are the rage of quilting! They are easy to make, very versatile, can be finished quickly, and are great for gift-giving.

Click here to visit the author's website, where there is lots more information about rag quilts, size recommendations, pictures, and more.

Thread Talk feature in THE QUILTER (December 2011/January 2012)

November 1, 2011 by ivoryspring

Be on a lookout for the upcoming issue of The Quilter (December2011/January 2012). The magazine will be on sale November 8th, but I suspect some of you who subscribe have already received your copies in the mail:

One of my Thread Talk posts “Swirly Tails” was picked up by the editor for publish. I am so excited!

In the issue, you will also find my quilt projects – a playful version of Coxcombs and Berries,

and Winter Bouquets:

Photo from www.thequiltermag.com

[After you have a chance to look at my Thread Talk feature in the magazine, should you have any suggestions or thoughts for the editor (whether good or bad), you may email them to me at wendy2@wendysheppard.net. I will compile your thoughts and send them along.]

p.s. #1 I am waiting for the aforementioned quilts to return to me from the editor for more picture-taking before I share about them on the blog.

p.s. #2 I have resumed working – sneak peeks within the next couple of days.

p.s. #3 A Thread Talk post about feather quilting is coming in the very near future!

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Double Flowers: Final Sneak Peek

November 7, 2011 by ivoryspring

Happy Monday, Friends! I hope you had a good week. Mine was good despite the fact that it was mostly work for me. I finished quilting Double Flowers (formerly known as “Pretty in Purple”). I hadn’t noticed that the name of the quilt was already thought of for me by the editor until I looked at the contract.

You probably noticed the straight lines I quilted on the quilt. I did that with my free-motion quilting foot, and a ruler! Look for more about that in a future Thread Talk post.

Thanks for dropping by. I always enjoy your visit. Take care, and have a lovely week ahead!

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Quilting For Beginners

If you've ever seen a beautiful quilt, you might have thought about how amazing it would be to make one for yourself one day, or to even make one and give it to someone you love. But if you don't know how to quilt, it can seem like a daunting task to become a quilter.

Quilting for beginners is not an impossible task, if you know the right way to start. One thing you will want to do before even buying any materials is to either go to the library or bookstore to find a book on quilting. This will make it easier for you to see the basics and give you a few ideas. You can also go on the web to see directions on how to quilt so that you know the basic steps to creating your first quilt. There are many places you can go online and get step-by-step instructions that are great for the beginning quilter and will make it very easy for you to get your first quilt done.

When you have learned a little about the process, you will be ready to decide what your first quilt should be. Never start off with a complicated pattern. There are many simple blocks that you can choose that will make a beautiful quilt, and will not be very complicated or take a lot of time. If you choose something simple, you will be able to see it through and have your first finished quilt in your hands before you know it.

Once you make the first few blocks, you will get the hang of it and realize that it is not hard to do. All you have to do is follow the directions on making blocks and putting the blocks together, and you will have your first quilt in your hands in no time.

One thing that quilters who are just beginning might worry about is that it takes too long to make a quilt. There are many tips and tricks you will find that will help you make your quilt faster, and easier. So this is nothing to worry about. If you choose a simple block and a reasonable size quilt, you can easily have your first quilt done in a weekend.

Even if you have never quilted before in your life, and are a complete beginner, you can easily learn how to make your first quilt. Just because you have never quilted before is no reason not to learn how to, as it is not as complicated as you might think. Before you know it, you could be looking at your very own quilt on your own bed that you made yourself!

Jenny Grant enjoys quilting and loves to help others learn how to quilt. She wants to help you make quilts faster so you can make more quilts for friends and family and even earn money from selling them! If you want free tips on quilting, visit the Quilting Advisor.

Baby Quilt Patterns - A Brief History of Quilting and Quilt Patterns

My interest in quilting and patchwork started many years ago and I found that starting with a small project and using Baby Quilt Patterns as a source of ideas and inspiration, I was able to produce a very pleasing quilt for a baby's cot without too much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands.

I think the term The Quilt became a product of the verb To Quilt as there is evidence of ancient statues wearing quilted garments, a quilted linen carpet was found in Siberia around the beginning of the first century and of course the very fashionable quilted doublet and hose of the Elizabethan era. Even today we have quilted body warmers, trousers and sleeping bags.

To quilt is to attach two pieces of fabric together with a sandwich of wadding or batting between them (to provide warmth if required) by sewing through all the layers. Attaching the layers together ensured that the padding remained evenly distributed particularly during the washing process and also air was trapped which provided further insulation.

Baby Quilt Patterns are unlikely to have been used in the first quilts created because coloured fabrics were scarce. Therefore the first quilts were made out of one piece of white calico and the stitches used to secure everything would have been small running stitches. Probably initially they would have sewn the fabrics diagonally but as they became more imaginative, they created more intricate patterns.

It is unlikely that quilts were made as the first form of bed coverings - they took too long to make. Blankets were spun and woven out of wool. However, once the very necessary need to keep warm in bed had been met, I think the more affluent ladies who did not have to bother with household chores and therefore had time on their hands wanted something to occupy their time and an outlet for their creativity. They started to make pretty bed coverings. White calico with a couple of lines of running stitches was somewhat boring so gradually stitching a pattern on the calico developed until some very intricate patterns were created. As the art developed, so did the competition to become the most proficient quilter.

With the increasing availability of coloured fabrics, colour was introduced to The Quilt by sewing shapes to form applique quilt patterns to the top cover. Any shape could be used (even a motif cut out of an old curtain). The edges were turned under and the shape sewn onto the fabric with a variety of stitches. Once again creativity blossomed as the shapes to be appliqued could make a pattern depicting a scene, tell a story, help a child to read by sewing on the letters of the alphabet. The ideas were and still are endless.

Block patterns came later. It has been a general assumption that the poorer families re-used old clothes and old furnishings by cutting them up into a variety of shapes or strips and sewing them back together to make a new garment. An early example of recycling. It became known as "patchwork" quilting. One example is the Log Cabin Quilt effect. When I first started to learn to quilt I looked for some easy quilt patterns. Log cabin patterns are made up of strips of fabric cut at the same width but differing lengths and then sewn together to create a block effect. An additional pleasing effect is achieved by lighter and darker shades of the same colour.

Paper played an important part in quilting too. In the early American pioneering days, paper was scarce. Used envelopes, letters, newspaper cuttings were cut into shapes - (hexagonal being very popular) and a piece of fabric was cut of the same shape, slightly bigger. The fabric was tacked to the paper and then the shapes were sewn together to make pleasing patterns. The paper was left in to provide insulation and many years later was a source of information about pioneer life.

Of course all this activity was taking place without the aid of electricity which meant hours of sewing by hand in natural light and then by the poor light of a candle or paraffin lamp if there was a deadline to finish the quilt. These days we may not get together as much to help make a quilt for a young girl's bottom drawer but the art of quilting is still very much alive and there are lots of quilting groups both in America and Britain.

The invention of the sewing machine in the 1850s and subsequent electric models has considerably reduced the time it takes to make a quilt. Quilts have become a work of art and are used as wall hanging as well as bed covers. There is a lot of information available to anyone considering making a quilt but I would advise you to start small and what better way than to look at some Baby Quilt Patterns to get inspiration and you could create a quilt which in time becomes an heirloom.

Davina has created an number of quilts, duvet covers, beach bags, cushion covers over the years. It is a very satisfying hobby and I would encourage any one who is interested in colour and patterns to have a go. Be warned though, you will find your spare room becomes filled with bags of material just waiting to be attached to other bags of material!

http://mybabyquiltpatterns.com/

http://mybabyquiltpatterns.com/baby-quilt-patterns/baby-quilt-patterns-how-they-will-help-you-learn-to-quilt

Using Quilting Tools To Make A Beautiful Quilt

The art of quilting goes back generations; a skill passed from mother to daughter and family to family. A quilt can instantly evoke a wonderful memory or a long-gone loved one; the threads of a quilt can be the threads that bind one time in history to another. Those who quilt do so with an unrivaled passion - and the expert handling of quilting tools to accomplish their task.

The modern quilt maker has the choice of doing so by hand or using any one of the contemporary machines that have given quilt making an easier, more convenient alternative. There is no right answer when it comes to machine versus hand; whichever method is more comfortable for the quilter becomes part of their quilting tools of choice.

Quilting tools are largely dependent on the quilt maker's personal style. For those who prefer the traditional hand sewing like the quilts of yesteryear, then there a few quilting tools that are par for the course, such as a ruler, sewing scissors, quilting pins, measuring tape, quilting thread in the colors that match or complement your fabric, needles, and for the safety conscious among us - a thimble.

Ultimately, the most important of the quilting tools is the fabric that the quilt maker chooses. The style, color, and texture of the fabric will determine the look and feel of the final product; while traditional quilt makers would choose their fabric based on the scraps they had available to them, today's quilters choose fabric largely based on the use of the quilt. Soft pastels are often used for baby quilts, bolder colors are often used to complement a room where the quilt will be hung, or different blocks of fabric are used to commemorate special events. The choices are virtually endless when it comes to choosing fabric.

Modern quilt makers find the use of a pattern or template to be an essential part of their quilting tools. Such items help guide novice quilters and provide a bevy of new ideas for experienced quilt makers.

Quilting tools are varied, and ultimately, are very personal to the quilt enthusiast's tastes and style of working. But, the end result is all the same - a beautiful quilt to be enjoyed for generations to come.

For easy to understand, in depth information about quilting tools visit our ezGuide 2 Quilting.

How To Quilt - The Plain Square Quilt Block

The most fundamental of quilt blocks is the plain square. That block could actually be square or rectangular. And that piece could make up the entire quilt or it could be one of many blocks in the quilt. However they are designed, plain, simple quilt blocks are an easy, quick quilt design.

The blocks for a blanket don't have to be made of cotton fabric. My initial introduction to knitting and crochet was instruction for a square to be combined with others pieced together. In practicing my new skill, many, many square-ish blocks of various colors and types of yarn were created and then bound together. It was a practical and useful result for my initial efforts in needle-craft. All of my dolls were well covered in knit or crocheted blankets created from the colorful blocks. Using a much lighter weight thread for crocheted blocks, the square can even be laid over a fabric piece and sewn into a cotton fabric quilt.

The simplest of quilt top to create is the whole cloth quilt. It is easy to create but not so easy to quilt. Because of the lack of design, more focused attention is given to the quilting, so the quilting will be under a greater scrutiny. When done well, whole cloth quilts are spectacular. Because they are essentially made up of one large quilt block, I am including whole cloth in the category of plain quilt square.

Plain fabric blocks are an easy, quick and beautiful addition to any quilt top. With all of the amazing fabric patterns available, plain square quilt blocks combine into wonderful creations. More often, they are used as fill space between more intricately pieced blocks. Like the knitted blocks, very few of us who learned these skills as a child don't have small starter quilts made of plain fabric squares. Those quilt blocks can be made of patterned fabric or a solid color.

Fabric manufacturers also offer large images printed right on the material. Pictures of solar systems or teapots or African wildlife are all motifs that require quilt top patterns with ample area to display the images. Plain quilt blocks made up of the beautiful large pictures can be such an interesting addition to a themed quilt top.

Manufacturers are not the only ones with the ability to produce photographic images on quilt blocks. By using photo transfer fabric sheets, a personal picture can be printed onto a cotton quilt block. Memory quilts, capturing important events, people or places are perfect for personally printed squares. These blocks can be interspersed with other meaningful fabrics to increase the memorialization in the entire quilt.

Painting on fabric is another option. Painting technologies improve constantly and the development of new and better tools and materials make fabric painting more and more durable and easier to accomplish. The painting can be of images or can be made of written words. Write names, titles or events. Writing can be of every day script or fancy calligraphy. Painting can be done with inks, acrylics or metallics.

Another way to personalize plain fabric quilt blocks is to embroider on it. My first embroideries on quilt squares were done by hand. Later quilt blocks were machine embroidered. Adding embroideries that personalized a quilt meant for someone special is an easy, beautiful way of creating a one of a kind gift or memorial.

Images, embroideries or designs can be further embellished by including lace, ribbon, crystals, leather or whatever else can be sewn on to further impart the message being created in the quilt.

All in all, the most basic of quilt blocks, a plain square, can be transformed into a truly unique and creative expression. Plain isn't necessarily so plain.

For more tips, techniques and free online quilting classes come visit us at http://onlinequiltingclasses.com/?page_id=20

Free Quilting Patterns

Whether you have just started quilting and are a beginner, or you are an experienced quilter who has made dozens of quilts, eventually you are going to want to look for new quilting patterns. Most likely you won't want to spend a lot of money on these quilting patterns, and of course nothing is better than free quilting patterns. Here are a few ways you can get free quilting patterns.

One of the easiest ways to get many free quilting patterns is by going to the library. Your local library probably has dozens of quilting books, all with many different free quilting patterns to choose from. The best part is you can usually keep the books out for a month at a time, so you should have no problem getting the information you need out of it. If your local library doesn't have the books you are looking for, you should consider asking them. Many of them have deals with other local libraries to switch books to get you the books you want, and this is also free, so you have even more quilting books and free quilting patterns to choose from.

Another great way to get free quilting patterns is online. There are many websites dedicated to helping people quilt, and will give you all the free quilting patterns you can handle. There are entire sites that have different blocks on it, so that not only can you make any quilt you want, but also you can even design your own quilting pattern from the different blocks.

If you don't want to go to the library or online, another way to find free quilting patterns is to look at different quilts you see. If you are at a store nearby and see a quilt you like, take note to what it looks like. Or if you are at your friend's house, and really like her quilt, pay attention to why you like it. If you have a chance, even take a pen and paper and draw the quilt. When you get home, you will most likely be able to sketch it out, and recreate it yourself. If you aren't sure about exact measurements, you'll most likely be able to use them online.

If you want to quilt, but don't want to spend a lot of money on quilting patterns and books, you don't have to. Just follow a few of the tips above, and you will have all of the free quilting patterns that you could ever use!

Jenny Grant enjoys quilting and loves to help others learn how to quilt. She wants to help you make quilts faster so you can make more quilts for friends and family and even earn money from selling them! If you want free tips on quilting, visit the Quilting Advisor.

The Long Arm Quilting Machine

The Long Arm Quilting Machine is a compact machine for your Table Top quilting frame that enables your to complete your quilts faster and in larger blocks and patterns.

It operates using a Synchronous drives that is a contemporary and efficient system that enables the mechanical components to perform at an optimum level. The Long Arm Quilting machine is perfect for people who wish to make quilts for sale and need to produce a high volume of quilts.

It is not definitive where quilting first originated, yet there are signs of quilting existing at the time of the crusades and in Egyptian historical clothing artifacts. It is thought that quilting was used to re-enforce clothing in order to make them warmer for the winter months. Before women were able to work, they often spent their time sewing, spinning, weaving and quilting. Contemporary quilting has become an art form; with exhibitions often being held to display the intricate and beautiful design creations of the quilt maker's handwork.

Some of the most well known quilting machine names in the quilting industry are Hanson, Gammill and Nolton - just to name a few. The Long Arm Quilting machines can produce queen and king size quilts with various designs. You will be amazed at the variety of designs that can be created using a Long arm quilting machine.

The Long Arm Quilting machines synchronous drives eliminate the disadvantages of previous machines mechanical components. Its synchronous belt drive system is similar to the timing belt found in an automobile engine. The synchronous belt operates in a basic fashion - the teeth of the belt engaging with the grooves of the pulley to drive the mechanism.

This sophisticated, yet simply synchronous system eliminates slippage and speed loss and enables the Long Arm Quilting machine to operate at high speeds. The synchronous belt wraps around the pulley rather than operating in a rotational fashion, thus eliminating wear and tear and reducing the noise level of the machine.

There is no friction involved in the operation of the synchronous drive of the Long Arm Quilting machine, as it is entirely dependant on the positive engagement of the belt teeth on the pulley grooves. To ensure that the synchronous drive on the Long Arm Quilting machine is maintained, the belt line size coincides exactly with the diameter of the groove pulley.

Using a synchronous drive system in the Long Arm Quilting machine enables drive efficiency and energy savings, a non-slip environment and a low maintenance machine. It also reduces noise, compacts the drive system, increases the service life of the machine and eliminates the need for lubrication.

Overall, for those people who wish to make quilts for sale in large quantities, the Long Arm Quilting machine increases productivity and increases efficiency. Within no time at all, you will be meeting your quilt making quota and people will be enjoying the comfort of owning their own Long arm quilting machine made quilt in a variety of colors, patterns and styles.

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How to Design a Quilt

If you are about to start making a quilt, whether it is for you, a loved one, or something you are going to sell, one of the first things you need to think about is the quilting design. There are so many different quilting designs you can use, so before you can even start to get the materials and fabrics you will need, first you will have to choose the design. Here are some ways to choose the quilting design that is best for the quilt you will be making.

The first thing you should do is consider who the quilt is for. If you are going to be making a baby quilt, you might want to put a design with teddy bears, or ducks, or something else that would go for a baby. You wouldn't want to make a quilt for your best friend with the same design that you would make for a baby. So first you should think about who is getting the quilt, and what they like, or what their taste is.

The second thing you might want to do is flip through a few quilting books, or go online to look at a bunch of different quilting blocks. This should give you some ideas of what you can make, and will make it easier in the next step, which is when you will figure out what type of quilting design you should use when you make the quilt. This should really help you get started, if not help you find exactly what you are looking for.

Once you know who the quilt is for, you can start to think about what type of quilt to make them. You can pick a nice block that you think they might like, and use some of their favorite colors to make a really nice quilt. Another idea would be to use one or two blocks to create a design that will go well in their bedroom.

You can also create a "crazy quilt" as your quilt design, and do almost anything. You can also try to create your own design. There are an unlimited number of different ways you can do quilting design, and as long as you know what type of things the person you will be using the quilt will like, you should be able to make a great quilt.

Jenny Grant enjoys quilting and loves to help others learn how to quilt. She wants to help you make quilts faster so you can make more quilts for friends and family and even earn money from selling them! If you want free tips on quilting, visit the Quilting Advisor.

Quilting Fabrics Through The Ages

Quilting fabrics date back thousands of years and examples can be found in Japan, China, Korea, India, England, Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia and Europe. The oldest example of quilting fabric is thought to have been found near the border between Mongolia and Siberia in a Scythian chieftain's tomb and is thought to be as old a AD200. Many of the intricate spirals and cross-hatching techniques are still used by quilters today when practicing the art of wholecloth quilting.

Another ancient form of quilting was shoes being made from quilted fabrics. Usually the shoes were made from quilted felt and patched with leather to give them added strength.

Quilted garments are one of the oldest forms of clothing and in ancient times were used as a form of armour. This gave an elevated level of protection against arrows and spears. When gunpowder and gun power was introduced, this level of protection was no longer afforded and quilted garments in military battles gave way to more advanced types of battle clothing.

It is said that the art of quilting fabric originated in the East and Japan has a long history of quilting. In the earliest times quilts in Japan were articles of bedding. In fact the word quilt is derived from the Latin" culcita" meaning a mattress or pillow.

One of the earliest quilts from Japan is the futon being a thick mattress, generously padded with cotton wadding. The Japanese originally slept on the futon on the floor and depending on the season would have a lighter or heavier quilt on top.

Japanese Buddist monks were expected to renounce all materialism and adopt the "Kesa", a patched robe made from recycled fabrics.

In England, several hundred years ago, quilting was a thriving cottage industry and generally produced warm and comfortable bedding for protection from the cold and miserable winters. Nowadays people are still quilting and derive a lot of pleasure from producing quilts which are more of an artwork or tell a story.

Many have forgotten that patchwork and quilting are two different and distinct crafts and only over the last hundred or so years have merged together. Originally patchwork fabrics were not quilted and when quilters worked they worked on wholecloth projects.

Professional quilters in England applied their skills to many different articles of clothing as diverse as petticoats, baby's bonnets and coats.

The making of quilts can be produced in many different styles, some examples being Mosaic Patchwork, Crazy Patchwork, Country Style Quilts, Wholecloth Quilts, Stripy Quilts and also more contemporary quilts.

By Sigrid Gangsoy

Quilting Fabrics

Copywrite 2006 All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Sigrid has been involved with the craft of quilting for as long as she can remember. Having a Norwegian background it was a forgone conclusion that you would learn one or several crafts. Sigrid also has an extensive background in design and sees this as encompassing all areas of the arts and crafts

Quilts Aren't Just for Beds Anymore

Quilts aren't just for beds anymore. The perfect quilt can compliment any room and bring a splash of color to your home. The quilt is a very versatile home accessory with many uses.

Have you ever seen a quilt hanging on the wall? No the wall isn't cold, well maybe it is. But most likely it is to add dimension to a room where there isn't a lot of room for pictures. My neighbor is a fantastic quilter, I'm amazed at where you'll find quilts tucked away in her home, adding a certain touch of coziness. She has a 15" x 15" quilt hanging above her stairs as you descend into her basement family room, done it a beautiful array of colors, the perfect size and color to add dimension to that hard to decorate space. She also has a framed, yes I said framed, 8" x 10" quilt done in civil war reproduction fabrics hanging in her living room. Each piece adds a new dimension to her home.

Quilts can be used as a throw on your furniture. I have several quilts, lap size on my love seats in my formal living room. In a room that could be too formal the feeling is just right because there is a cozy quilt on each love seat and on the rocking chair. Quilts used in such a manner adds not only a splash of color but also a touch of hominess. While in the living room, a beautifully quilted table runner can be used on tables, pianos, fireplaces. Quilts add a special touch to any room.

Quilts can be used to top a window seat in a girls bedroom. What a wonderful place to sit and watch the rain as it comes and cuddle with the perfect size quilt. What girl would not enjoy her own special place near a window complete with her own quilt. While in the bedroom just throw a quilt across the end of the bed, a special little flair to bring life to a room, a tossed quilt on a piece of furniture to make it look like someone does live there and enjoys life.

Quilts can be used in the kitchen or dining room. The very first quilt I made can be used as a square table topper on a kitchen or dining room table. It softens the room. I have also enjoyed tiny quilts that are used as hot placemats to set hot dishes. Your family would love quilted placemats. There are so many uses for quilts in the kitchen.

In the family room besides placing a quilt over all the chairs and couches to snuggle with as you watch your favorite movie, add a quilt to a favorite basket. A smaller quilt placed in a basket makes you home accessories come alive.

Don't forget the nursery quilts. Beautiful quilts in the crib, the changing table, the rocking chair, a quilt for every place. As your daughter grows she will need a beautiful doll size quilt for her own "baby". There are plenty of places for a quilt to add a touch of love in the nursery.

These are just a few wonderful way to use a quilt for a home accessory. It is amazing how versatile a quilt can be as a home accessory. When you begin to choose your quilt, look for colors that excite you. Quilt patterns that are cozy and warm to you. Remember to choose a quilt that appeals to you in every way.

Holly Gerdes JJ Ladell's [http://www.customrusticmirrorsandfurniture.com]

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Blog Tour

Welcome! If this is your first visit to my blog, or just your latest trip, welcome. It’s my honor to take part in Quiltmaker’s Blog Tour for their newest issue of 100 Blocks.

Back when I was still just a kid I fell in love with the old fashioned style of Christmas decorations called Della Robbia. Named for a family of Italian sculptors, Della Robbia mixes winter greens such as pine boughs and holly, with seasonal fruit. It was often gilded. Rich, and lush and colorful, it’s always been my favorite holiday style. So when Quiltmaker invited me to create a block for an issue coming out just before Christmas I decided that I’d go for it.

A little shameless self promotion here, I used my Hand Applique by Machine technique with Wash Away Applique Sheets to quickly and easily create the block. Let me show you how easy it is!

Start by printing out the line drawing of the applique. We can print directly onto the Wash Away Applique Sheets using an ink jet printer. Cut the shapes apart and press them to the wrong side of the fabric. Glue baste the edges. For edges that touch, we’re going to glue baste one side of the edge and leave one unbasted. You’ll see why in a minute. Here’s my guy in pieces. Looks like somebody cooked this goose! (Yikes!)

Next we’ll glue the shapes together. I like to work on a light box for this step, so I can see where the pieces fit together.

 

The light shining through the unbasted edge will guide the face part into position.

Here he is, all glued together. By working with a line drawing and just cutting the shapes apart we have no paper overlapping at all. This is pretty handy, if we’re working with freezer paper, when it comes time to remove it from the project. The cool thing about the Wash Away Applique Sheets is that they iron on, just as freezer paper does, but THEY WASH AWAY! No need to cut the background fabric away, or to try to tease the template out of a narrow opening. Nope, they just wash away! And, they’re acid free, so if you don’t want to, you don’t ever have to wash your quilt. How cool is that?

Once the shapes are glued together, it’s time to stitch. I’m a big fan of Superior’s MonoPoly invisible thread. Using a simple zig zag, adjusted to be short and narrow, the shapes are stitched together before they are placed on the background.

But what I love most about the WAAS is how easily I can embellish my applique. All of my embroidery stitches were completed before I put the bird on the background. The WAAS act as a stablizer for my stitching.

Well, there you have it, Hand Applique by Machine in a very tiny nutshell. And as a thank you for visiting, and reading all the way to the bottom, I have a little gift for you. Leave a comment (with a way to contact you), and I’ll draw a name for a free copy of the newest 100 Blocks magazine. Let’s see, shall we pick a topic? Hmm, how about sharing your favorite holiday tradition?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 12:05 am and is filed under Hand Applique by Machine, embellishments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Designing a New Baby Quilt

Ready, set, go... It is not a race when I set out to design a new baby quilt.

Before I decide how I want my next baby quilt to look, I pull out the quilt books on my shelves, the magazines that I have sitting just waiting for me to leaf through their pages, and check out some of my patterns that I have saved either in boxes or on the computer files.

Through the years, I have learned to carry my camera or a sketch pad to quilt shows, or even in a quilt shop if I see a design that intrigues me. Filing that information away and waiting for a time when I just may use pieces or bits of those designs to get an inspiration for a quilt of my own.

Here are some of the starting points that I deem necessary to consider when designing a new quilt:

Decide on the style of baby quilt you would like to make. Is the baby quilt going to be a traditional patchwork, or more contemporary? Do you want to piece the quilt top or appliqué? Maybe a combination of the two?

Ask yourself what is going be the purpose of the new baby quilt. How much wear and tear will it receive and will the quilt be subject to repeated laundering? A baby's quilt more often soiled, dragged on the floor may need to have a quick and easy design, as compared to a wall hanging or a bed quilt, that is well cared for.

Decide how much time you have available to denote to the baby quilt project. If you need to complete the quilt in a short period of time, select a pattern or design for your quilt that requires limited hours of your time to quilt. Yet, if you have the time to put into hand sewing or appliquéing a special baby quilt, choose an intricate design and put more effort into the quilting.

Fabric is always an important decision. If you choose a busy print this will hide the quilting design, use a cross-hatch grid or quilt in the ditch method. Place intricate and detailed quilting motifs on solid-color fabrics or tone-on-tone prints.

Remember that you also need to consider you own level of expertise. If you are just a beginning quilter, choose patterns and designs that are simple and require straight lines or grids. If you have the expertise to handle more advanced techniques, challenge yourself with the more intricate patterns, such as feather designs or if you machine quilt, meander or stipple quilting.

Once you are ready to bind your baby quilt, consider again your skill level, time constraints, how much use the baby quilt will receive, or whether the baby quilt has edges that are straight, irregular or curved.

I have one more important and vital part to the process that many quilters tend to skip. Photograph your quilt both from far away and close up shots. Keep these either in an album of all your treasured works of art that your print out at your local photo shop or store digitally, both on your computer and also on a back-up copy (CD or jump drive), just in case the technology fails.

A baby quilt is an heirloom and records should be kept.

Come and choose one our handmade children's quilts, a lasting keepsake, a unique birthday gift, or Christening gift, for that special "little one."

Visit my website: www.uniquebabyquiltboutique.com and chose of one unique handmade children's quilt from my collection for your child's birthday or other special event.

Sharon Camp has been quilting for over 30 years.

Embroidery Quilting Designs

Making quilts is a unique art form. Embroidery quilting is decorating fabric with different colors and various designs to create a wide variety of styles to fit into all occasions and decors. Quilting actually means combining fabric pieces with a soft interlining using wool or cotton thread. The quilt top is traditionally sewn into an attractive arrangement. The love of quilting has been around for a very long time and has now combined with the love of embroidery for the modern craft person. It is not uncommon to see decorative stitching used to make the quilt look more attractive. Embroidery can either be done by machine or by hand. Though one can create a quilt the old fashioned way by hand stitching, machine embroidery quilting designs offer the quilter a wonderful option that is very attractive and much quicker in this busy day and age.

Let's have a look at some of the main reasons for combining fabric and embroidery designs instead of just fabric alone when making quilts:

To enhance the beauty of the quilt- Embroidering and designing around coordinating fabrics can enhance the beauty of plain colored fabrics and textures, making the finished project more interesting.

For every occasion - By using seasonal embroidery patterns and fabrics, the quilter can create projects that fit the occasion they are made for. The embroidery quilting designs add fun and festive appeal to the creation.

To ensure variation- By using different embroidery quilting designs and fabrics, the quilter can use similar quilt block shapes as they have on another quilt and the new quilt takes on a completely different personality.

What type of designs to look for?

Decorative Machine Embroidery Quilting Designs - There are many different types of designs that work well when making quilts. Filled stitch, redwork, colorwork, and appliqué are a few types to try. Whether the quilter is making a baby quilt, patchwork quilt, elegant, vintage or special holiday quilt, the desired results will be achieved by carefully choosing the right designs and fabrics and combining them into an attractive arrangement.

Feather Quilting Designs - The traditional method of hand quilting can be long and tedious. Or to get it professionally quilted with a long arm machine can be very expensive. An alternative is to use quilting designs made for the home embroidery machine. The double stitched designs have no jump stitches and come in a variety of patterns. With the continuous hoop available for some machines, a quilt can quickly and easily be quilted on the embroidery machine, though larger quilts are more difficult using this method because of the bulk.

The quality and the appearance of the quilt is determined by the fabric's thread count, which quilting patterns are used and the embroidery quilting designs chosen to decorate it. When the fabric thread count is high, the texture is better and more durable than a lower thread count. This is why it is important to choose good quality fabrics, rather than lower quality 'economy' fabrics when making quilts. The quilter will spend a substantial amount of time and money creating the quilt and the very best materials should be used. There are ample resources available on the internet where the quilter can shop for supplies, which is especially helpful for those who live in areas without a quality quilt fabric shop.

One such virtual marketplace that the serious quilter will surely enjoy, is EmbroideryQuilter.com, which specializes in embroidery quilting designs, patterns, fabrics and supplies for all your embroidery and quilting needs.
With a huge collection of Machine Embroidery Quilting Designs, Embroidery Quilter is now the perfect destination for all sorts of Embroidery Quilting designs. Embroidery Quilter has wonderful designs and amazing variety of Embroidery Quilt design that will make your embroidery experience the best ever.

Beginner Quilting - 3 Tips to Get You Started

Beginner quilting tip number 1: Equipment

You could spend a small fortune on quilting equipment even before you have bought the fabric. It's difficult to know at this stage how much quilting you are likely to do, so don't get carried away and buy half the shop until you are sure that you want to continue quilting - although the chances are that you will continue.

You must have a decent pair of fabric scissors. These need to be sharp and have long blades but you may have some household scissors that fit that description. That's fine. Just keep them separate and don't let anyone use them for cutting paper or anything else that will blunt them too quickly.

You will definitely need a stitch unpicker. Trust me - I don't think I have made a quilt yet where I haven't needed to unpick something along the way.

A rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat are probably a necessity if you do much quilting, and they certainly do save time and improve accuracy, but the first quilters didn't have any of these accessories and they produced beautiful quilts.

A sewing machine is useful and saves a lot of time. If you don't have one, it's perfectly possible to complete a quilt with hand sewing only, but don't expect to make a quilt in a weekend. If you have a basic machine, that will cope adequately with your needs. Don't feel you need one of the new all singing all dancing machines.

An uncluttered workspace is a necessity. Whether you have a dedicated sewing room or plan to use the dining room table, do clear it before you begin quilting. Otherwise you will find yourself hunting for that pen that you know was there but has in fact now been buried in fabric, or searching for the green 4" fabric squares which are now underneath the evening newspaper.

Beginner quilting tip number 2: Planning Think carefully about what quilt you want to make and for whom. Cousin Janice's baby isn't really going to need a double bed sized quilt with a really complicated quilt design. By the same token, your partner probably won't thank you for a baby sized pink quilt with ruffles.

Some quilters feel that once you have begun quilting you can keep going and make the quilt as large as you want. I can see the logic but a large quilt is more difficult to put together and it takes longer before you see the results of your work. Personally I would advise a relatively small quilt with a simple design for a beginner quilting project.

Beginner quilting tip number 3: Accuracy

There's no other way to say it: size does matter.

In a patchwork quilt you could have hundreds of patchwork pieces coming together to make your completed quilt. If these pieces have not been cut accurately, a small variation can become very noticeable when multiplied up hundreds of times. Almost all quilting is based on a 1/4" seam, not the 5/8" seam that you may be used to if you have done much dressmaking. Again, small variations in seam widths can lead to major distortions by the time your quilt top is completed.

The most important factor when you come to sandwich together the three layers of your quilt is how flat each layer is. If you have been tugging at bits to try and make the seams match when they are quite obviously about half an inch apart, your quilt top is going to be lumpy and bumpy. That means that your overall quilt is going to be lumpy and bumpy. Save yourself time and frustration by cutting and sewing accurately.

I hope that these tips will have allayed some of your fears, but for more tips and advice on beginner quilting, visit ludlow quilt and sew.

Patchwork Quilting Past to Present

Patchwork quilting means many things to many people. Springing out of necessity we find that quilts have gone through a metamorphosis as they travel to us through history.

While people think of our founding mothers quilting this was not true. Most women of Colonial days did not have the time to quilt. They spent their time actually making the very cloth that they needed, spinning and weaving were prevalent during that time-frame. They had only so many precious hours of light, and while it sounds "romantic" I don't think trying to quilt 22 stitches to the inch in the gloom of a normal home on any evening during their winters would have been very easy on their eyes.

Pieced quilts of any number were not common before 1840 when cloth started being manufactured in factories rather in their homes. Women tended to make their own patterns, relying on simple, common items around the house for inspiration or templates. You will find evidence of this simply leafing through any book or website of historical patterns. Log Cabin was a common patchwork quilting pattern that really didn't even need a pattern; its center square depicting the chimney [usually red to indicate the warmth of one's home] surrounded by simple logs of cloth. Friends tended to share patterns passing them to one another until, finally, in the late 1800's some magazines and newspapers started printing patterns to attract the ladies as readers.

But by the late 1800's to the early 1900's those ladies that could afford it and wanted to show off their skills had started making Victorian era patchwork quilts known as Crazy Quilts. Made of velvets, silks, and satins and heavily embroidered over every seam and open space they were not for everyday use and were usually found in the parlor, over the piano or harpsichord, if one was lucky enough to own one. They showed off the quilter's skills and were treasured by generations. Since they were not used for beds a number of them have survived to today and give us a wonderful history of the era.

During this same era the country lady was not, for the most part, making crazy quilts. They were still making patchwork quilting quilts that served as bedding for their family. They tended to cut back on the hand quilting to save time and tended to simply tie the quilt layers together to get them done and on the bed. If these ladies wanted to challenge themselves you might find them making what were known as Charm Quilts, which boasted at having 999 different unique patchwork quilting fabrics within them. They had great fun trading with their neighbors to gain the great variety of cloth. These fun quilts were resurrected in the last part of the 20th century as members of quilting guilds swapped fabrics even today.

Move farther into the 20th century and we remember the 1930 depression quilts. Ladies who had to be even more frugal than normal but tended to use bright, often pastel colors to try to cheer their homes.

World War II brought about further changes, and the beginning of a real lull in patchwork quilting that lasted decades. Many women found themselves in the workplace and simply did not have time to quilt. Quilts started to become passe and store bought blankets and bedspreads filled their homes. Some women still quilted but it tended to be found in rural areas and the city women completely lost touch with the pastime.

Patchwork all but disappeared until the 1960's and the arrival of the hippie movement and then you started to see a return to the earth and saw patchwork showing up in clothing and accessories. But it wasn't really until 1976 and the Bi-Centennial celebration that you saw a lot of women getting involved in the art again. By the late 1970's quilt shops started springing up in cities as well as towns and people were back to learning how to do this thing we call patchwork quilting.

Having gotten involved in 1979 myself, I can tell you the ensuing years have brought many more changes in the art/craft. Patchwork quilting is now firmly entrenched in our modern culture having transcended from craft to art and back again. Patchwork quilting now varies as much as its quilters; men, women, young and old alike sharing this wonderful passion!

Take time out this month to seek out a quilting event near you and find out for yourself! You will be amazed what it has transformed into! But be careful... the patchwork quilting "bug" just might bite YOU!

Marge Burkell
professional quilter, lecturer, teacher, showing my patchwork quilting all over the world, publishing and being published for 30+ years.

http://www.patchworkquilting.net/ for more patchwork quilting resources.

A sigh of relief…

November 4, 2011 by ivoryspring

Happy Friday to you, dear Friends. I have a pillow request from my sister. So I will be flipping through “Quilt A Gift” this weekend for ideas. I recently came across Barri Sue Gaudet‘s work – she makes the most adorable things!

I just came through a pattern-instructions-writing marathon! I was totally wound up in the last 36 hours doing calculations on fabric cutting schemes, and writing up instructions for quite a few quilt designs — my brain is officially FRIED! It’s not hard writing just one quilt design, but when there is a whole string of designs… my mind (and the computer) started to play tricks on me. I will alert you when those patterns become available.

Now I simply must go and deal with the aftermath of my marathon! You have a great weekend now – see you again Monday!

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Free Quilting Patterns Are Okay - But Wouldn't You Like More From a Quilting Website?

There are hundreds of sites online offering all sorts of free quilt patterns. Free applique quilt patterns, free beginners quilting patterns, free Amish quilt patterns or a quilt in a day free pattern. You name it and there are sites out there offering some kind of quilt pattern giveaway.

Now these sites are useful and can be helpful in giving you fresh ideas for new patchwork projects but there is now a new kind of quilting website around that also offers a lot more besides just free quilting patterns and quilting merchandise.

I am talking about quilting community websites that provide a specialist online experience where you can share your passion for patchwork and quilting with a group of like-minded enthusiasts.

These sites provide a whole new dimension to the online quilting world through the use of the kind of innovative social networking features that have made the social media sites such as My Space and Facebook so popular recently. They give quilting enthusiasts a corner of quilting cyberspace that becomes their own "online patchwork space".

Some of these patchwork and quilting community sites operate as free sites and some as subscription based membership sites (usually just charging a small monthly membership fee). However like most things in life you tend to get what you pay for and as the saying goes "there is no such thing as a free lunch". The "free" sites therefore often have copious and sometimes aggressive advertising which many people find off putting.

So what type of features do these kind of sites offer? This can be very variable and can be anything from a simple online forum for quilters to a complete suite of online communication tools and utilities.

At the simplest level you can find groups for quilters (such as those on Google and Yahoo) that permit the exchange of text-based information between members. The problem with these is that they are open to all comers and are often "infiltrated" by spammers and others who are trying to push unsolicited material, some of which is often of deeply dubious (and even offensive) quality.

Other craft oriented sites can have quite good member forums but they are sometimes poorly structured with the forum posts all being made under a single category (rather than subdivided into special interest topics) which means you have to wade through dozens and dozens of posts to find anything of interest to you.

At the other end of the spectrum you get patchwork and quilting websites which offer a lot more in the way of member features and benefits. These are intended to provide a more interesting and fun online environment for craft enthusiasts by creating a vibrant and interactive web based community rather than just a static website that is mainly trying to sell quilting merchandise. They also usually offer quilting related articles and resources designed to inform and educate members.

The kind of interactive features available are things like personal photo galleries, which give the ability to store, share and showcase digital pictures of your own quilt portfolio; a members forum to exchange views with other quilters around the world, ask questions and pass on (or pick up) patchwork and quilting tips; and also web based utilities that allow you to set up your own quilting blog and/or a personal quilting website.

Many needlecraft workers these days are starting blogs which act as their own online patchwork and quilting journal to record their projects and ideas and share these with others in the community and (if they choose) the rest of the quilting world. Having your own website can also become a possibility through these online membership sites, even for the most technically challenged. Most will be running on a software platform designed to make the use of these type of web based applications very easy to use and, provided you can use a web browser and a simple editing tool, you will surely be able to take advantage of these type of features.

Some of these community sites include more advanced tools as well, such as online "chat" giving the ability to communicate with other members (or a group of members) in "real time" anywhere in the world without phone charges. This can be by using text messages but also sometimes include the ability to use audio or even video messaging. Alternatively, you may also be able to send pre-recorded audio or video messages through the site by email (which are just created via the web browser using a simple webcam), to other members (or anyone else who has an email address).

If you are passionate about patchwork and quilting but are bored with run of the mill websites and online quilting groups then joining an interactive community of quilting enthusiasts might be just what you are looking for. Having the fun (and the features) of being involved in a quilting community as well as having access to free quilting patterns and other resources may be something that just takes the enjoyment of your craft to a new level. If this idea appeals to you then you need to check out what is available on the net that will give you the kind of features and benefits described here and which will serve to enrich your online experience by enabling you to share your passion with fellow quilters around the world.

When looking for quilting community websites that offer the kind of features and benefits described in this article please visit the "My Quilt Patch" website below which, although it is quite new, I think you will find to be one of the more fully featured quilting community websites around and one that will give you a lot more than just free quilting patterns.

Sarah-Jane King

http://www.MyQuiltPatch.com

Pressed Flowers (Un-named) Quilt: Sneak Peek #1

November 14, 2011 by ivoryspring

Happy Monday, Everyone!  I hope you are doing well.  I spent part of my weekend working on my Pressed Flowers quilt.  I don’t have a name for it yet, but the design is a bit more contemporary than my usual offerings.  Feel free to suggest a name if you have one.

This will be a super quick post as I am running major-ly late on all fronts!  So, I shall not dilly dally.  I will visit your blogs/respond to your emails soon! I am nosy though… what’s on your agenda this week, the week before Thanksgiving!

Hugs to you all!

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Handmade Quilts are Made with Love and Make Great Family Heirlooms!

Today's handmade quilts are more like a work of art than a bed cover. With all the wonderfully artistic quilt patterns available to quilters today, we are beginning to see some absolutely breathtaking quilts glowing with character and personality. If you are lucky enough, hopefully someone will give you a handmade quilt that you can enjoy and pass on to your children.

When I hear the word "quilt", I think of the colorful patchwork quilt draped across my Grandmother's bed. Her quilt consisted of a well thought out arrangement of bright colors and shapes that she had cut out from leftover fabric remnants. All the patchwork pieces were lovingly sewn together into a one-of-a-kind pattern creating a quilt that even today continues to add a cheerful traditional charm to my own bedroom. My Grandmother's handmade patchwork quilt is now a beautiful family heirloom that will be cherished by many generations to come.

If you don't have a beautiful patchwork quilt to pass on as a family heirloom, there are many quilt kits available to you. This way you can make your own quilt instead of buying one and it will have more sentimental value to your loved ones as it was handmade by you!

If a handmade patchwork quilt is absolutely out of the question for you, don't despair as there are plenty of quilts available at linen shops or through online retailers. You may even be able to find a beautiful handmade bed quilt at an auction, flea market, or local bazaar.

Whatever kind of quilt appeals to you is going to look stunning draped across your own bed. The unique look and textures of each quilt will add a traditional, charming look to your decor. You can find these colorful bed covers in a wide array of sizes too. There are baby quilts for your little one's crib, and child size quilts for your child's room.

Many of these beautiful home-made quilts are so stunning, that they are worthy to be hung on a feature wall. Hours and hours of time are put into the making of a typical quilt, so the next time you are given one as a gift, be sure to show your appreciation.

Check the internet for a variety of quilts, some handmade and others machine made. Or maybe you prefer to make your own quilt with one of the many quilt patterns or quilt kits available. Whatever you choose to do, your quilt will be a fabulous and charming addition to any home!

Chris Rodriguez is the author/publisher for http://www.duvetcovers-n-more.com Visit her sight and discover a wealth of information on different kinds of bedding and other decorative linens. You too can turn your bedroom into a luxurious sanctuary where you can escape from the stresses of day to day life.

Starry Pursuit made COVER!!

November 10, 2011 by ivoryspring

My Starry Pursuit quilt made the cover of Fons & Porter‘s Easy Quilt (Winter 2011)!

I am over the moon and… stars.  After all, the quilt is called Starry Pursuit!

Photo from www.fonsandporter.com

I was told Starry Pursuit actually went to Quilt Market in Houston last month, and was warmly received.  The editor warned me to not be surprised if it returns to me with an attitude!

The quilt was to be shipped back to me asap so that I can take some close-up pictures to share with you… turns out it is going to stay in Des Moine, Iowa for just a little longer.  I am going to have a “show and tell by proxy” at Linda‘s Des Moine Modern Quilt Guild meeting on November 17, meeting at 6:30om at At the Heart of Quilting, 315 5th St. (Valley Junction), West Des Moines!  They would love for you to drop by.  If you live in the area and feel like joining a quilting group… check out Des Moine Modern Quilt Guild!  Plus you get to see my quilt, front AND back!

I will wait till I do a proper post on Starry Pursuit to share with you why I had picked the name for the quilt.  Until then, take care!

Be the first to like this post.Posted in Quilting, Quilts & Projects: Published, Quilts: Pieced | Tagged Star Quilt, Wendy Sheppard Designs, Fons and Porter Easy Quilts Winter 2011, Henry Glass The Great I Am Fabric Collection, Christmas Star Quilt | 43 Comments

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A thousand paper cuts

There are parts of writing a book that I really love. While I enjoy putting my ideas into words, what I really love is editing those words. Getting the first draft done, getting all those words on a blank page is hard work. But editing is pure joy. Really! Instead of the struggle to find just the right word or to get the sequence of directions just so, editing is bullying those words around to make them earn their keep. I’ve just finished editing the book, and it’s so much better than it was!

 

Of course, sewing the projects is awfully nice as well. I’ve sewn more in this month of October than I have in all the last two years put together. It’s made me take a good look at how my time has been ordered, and helped me to decide that I truly need to spend more time at home, and especially at home sewing. The projects in the book are quilt designs that I’ve wanted to make for some time.

But, there are parts of writing a book with a publisher that are totally not fun. Perhaps it’s because I self-published first. When working on my own I could start a sequence with a partially made block and photograph it, step by step, as I finished that block. Sending the step outs off to the publisher for photography means that I have to make that same block over and over and over again, each time taking the process a little further forward in the sequence. Ugh!

 

And then we have to keep track of all those bits and parts, which means paperwork, and lots of it. Image logs are spreadsheets that describe the tools and the focus of each step out. Of course it makes sense to have an orderly system. I have to communicate my expectations to the publisher and their photographers. Each step out gets a designation, either <<100.tif>> for a photo or <<100.eps>> for an illustration, for example.

Each step out is photographed as we’d like it to appear in the book. My set up for making videos (yeah, like that happened this year) turned out to be just the thing for taking these “snapshots”. Once again, having self published, I was frustrated by the duplication of effort. With just a little more care (the snapshots don’t have to be top drawer, just good enough to show what I want), I could have done the photos myself. And I wouldn’t have had to make a thousand million repeats of the same block. See what I mean?

 

So, in addition to the Image Log, the snap shots need to be labeled and printed. More paperwork!

 

Finally, all the step outs need to be packaged. I started out with eight boxes of gallon sized zip top bags. I have one full box and a few left, meaning that I have prepared over a hundred individual step out samples. Here are the stepouts, bagged and ready to go off to their new home. I have one large bag for each chapter, which holds the zip top bags with each step.

Today is my last day to work on the book. My deadline to have everything to the publisher is November 1. Tomorrow I am leaving for Quilt Market, where I am scheduled to do demos showcasing the Wash Away Applique Sheets, (Which means more step outs!), so it must go out today. But, when the box is shipped I will have met all of my deadlines. I will have written a book, a book I’ve been writing in my head for years, in just three months time. Two months and a week’s time if you take out all the travel time for the teaching I have also done since the first of August.

When I return from Market next Tuesday I will be officially “AB” - after book. Yes, there will still be times when I need to interact with the publisher. There will be another editing, and page layout and book design. But that’s more my giving my approval of their work than me working. And it truly is exciting to see the book come to life.

I’m looking forward to finishing my Christmas Yet to Come quilt. And, believe it or not, starting work on the next book! But this go around, since I haven’t even proposed it yet, I’ll have all the time in the world! (Please don’t quote that back to me!)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 at 8:21 am and is filed under Sneaky Piecing Tricks, writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Pretty in Purple: Sneak Peek #2

November 3, 2011 by ivoryspring

Good day, Friends… Pretty in Purple is now ready to be quilted!

I disclosed to some of you that I do not use a color wheel when I am deciding the colors of my quilt.  Since I never really had formal art training, I really can’t tell you exactly how I select colors for my quilts.  I just try everything out until I find something I like…  that brings up my question for you:  How do you come up or decide colors for your quilts or any art or craft projects?  Do you use a color wheel?  Do you use a focal print as a starting point and try to pick out colors in the main print?  Please tell me, I dearly would like to know.

Thanks for stopping by.  I have a million things I need to get done today.  I’d better fly!

Posted in Quilting, Quilts & Projects: Upcoming | Tagged Benartex Perennials | 26 Comments

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The Facts about Quilts

What's in a Quilt?

When you hear the word "Quilt", what comes to your mind? Maybe you think of grandma or even mom. Maybe you think of warmth, great for these cold winter nights. Maybe you think cabin retreat to the woods. Whatever the case may be, rest assured, quilts are used in so many ways.

Quilts have been around for hundreds of years, and still they are as popular as back in the day. You can find them in homes all across America. When quilts were made 100's of years ago, they weren't for style, but made by grandma or mom, to keep the family warm. The best made quilts are those who take the time to cut out fabric and sew them back together to make a masterpiece. In cities and countries around the world people have a hobby called, quilting. Many quilts are made in a patchwork block, or an applique design. Some artists take quilting to a substantial level of difficulty by cutting pieces of cloth and then sew them back together to make beautiful life-like pictures. This truly is an amazing thing to see in person.

Maybe you are the type of person who loves quilts so much and would love to make one but don't have the time or patience. Well my friend, that's where manufacturers come in. There are many quilt manufacturers out there that take pride in what they make. They are the manufactures that make our quilts to last a life time. I have stumbled across two manufactures that make quality quilt bedding for our homes. I valued there workmanship so much that I have built a website around them.

The first company I choose was Patch Quilts. Patch Quilts uses homespun fabric, which is known for better breathing. For the batting, they only use pure cotton, which is layered between the quilt for maximum comfort and touch. This makes the quilts fuller. They use forty to seventy different fabric choices to design a single quilt. Patch Quilts has hundreds of style choices to choose from and are handmade in applique or block patchwork designs.

The second company I choose was Victorian Heart Company. Victorian Heart has many modern style quilts. They make quilt patterns with fabric like satin, silk, velvet, and cotton. All of Victorian Heart quilts are hand-stitched in an applique or patchwork designs. They use polyester or cotton batting to fill their quilts for warmth. Victorian Heart has three category quilt types to choose from, which makes them also have a great selection of variety.

Must quilt manufactures make quilts that are either made with a cotton or polyester fill. Cotton filled quilts are usually more expensive because it takes more knowledge and skill to make. Cotton filled quilts are great for summer because they breathe well and won't smother you. An all cotton quilt is also usually heavier than a polyester filled quilt. Polyester filled quilts are lighter because it is has more air holes and is less dense than cotton. One good thing abouta polyester filled quilt is that they retain more heat in which case is warmer than your 100% cotton quilts. With that said the choice is up to you.For more information on the beauty of some quilts made by manufactures, you can visit my website at http://www.littletikebedding.com.

Michelle Bowman is the writer for this article. You can find beautiful quilts for babies and kids on my website at http://www.littletikebedding.com