Candy Corn Jumper: Part I

October 18, 2011 by ivoryspring

Hello Friends, things are chugging along rather slowly in the Ivory Spring household.  I am about 75% back to my old self, but Miss Baby is now sick!   So, we have been trying to cheer each other up!  Here you see the start of a Candy Corn Jumper I am making for Miss Baby…

The other pieces are cut, and the embroidery is done… all I need is some extra time to put it together before the end of the month.

I am looking for crochet or knitted candy corn hat to go with the outfit.  All I have been able to find are sized for infants… so, would you pretty please let me know if you know of someone who can make these hats and sell them for toddlers?

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Quilting Stores & Other Ways to Get Quilting Supplies

If you're looking for quilting supplies, you might be looking for a good quilting store. If so, you're in luck since there are many types of quilting stores, both online and most likely somewhere near where you live. This is the type of place that you can walk into, and see many types of fabrics to choose from, as well as all of the other tools you need to create your next quilt.

While you might think you need to go to a quilting store itself to get these materials, you might be cutting out a lot of other stores that will also have the supplies you want and need. Here are some of the different kinds of places you can check out when looking for a good quilting store to get your quilting supplies from.

First of course is your local quilting store. It will most likely be a small shop with lots of fabrics and materials, and is totally dedicated to quilting. The people who own and run it are most likely very into quilting and will be able to answer all of your questions, as well as maybe even help you with quilting if you are having a problem. They might even have lessons at certain times, or other meetings for quilters. Of course the big plus side to this is that you will be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about, as well as having many if not all of the materials you need. The down side is that because it's most likely a smaller run shop, they might not have as great prices, or as big of a selection.

This brings us to the craft store. While not totally dedicated to quilting, these stores are usually pretty big, and have a lot of different items in it. Since many different crafts use fabrics, you will usually see a very large selection of fabrics, and maybe even some that you would not see at a quilting store. You will also see many quilting materials, along side materials for other crafts. Many of the people who work at these stores love crafts, and some will probably know specifics about quilting, but others might only be able to help you generally, or with finding materials. The plus side to this is that because it's such a big store with many crafts, you'll usually see a very big selection. Also, (especially if it's a chain store) you will usually see better prices, and maybe even coupons to go along with the better prices. The down side would be that you might not be able to get specific quilting questions answered if you needed to.

One other way to buy quilting supplies is to go to a quilting store online. There are many different websites dedicated to quilting, and you will be able to find hundreds if not thousands of different fabrics. You will also see many different materials for your quilting as well. The plus side is that you will be sure to find a specific fabric or material you are looking for, and should be able to find whatever price you are looking for as well. The down side to this would be since you're looking online, you might have to go to a few websites to find what you are looking for. If you have questions, you can still call most of the owners of the online quilting stores, so that shouldn't be a problem.

As you can see, there are many types of quilting stores, and each one has their plusses and minuses. So the next time you're looking for a specific fabric or other quilting material, think about all of the quilting stores you can go to in order to find them, and have fun!

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.

What Is Quilting?

Take a journey into the world of patchwork and quilting and you will discover that quilters have a language of their own. Unfamiliar lingo encountered when learning about quilting, can be very baffling.

Even the word quilt has different meanings. It refers to a coverlet made up of three layers and the act of stitching the three layers together (as in quilt a quilt). Now for some inexplicable reason the word quilter refers to a person who makes quilts even if they don't necessarily know how to quilt them. You could be an expert quilter and still not be capable of quilting a quilt, as your expertise might lie in one of the many ways to create a quilt top.

Even though quilting is sometimes used as a short form of "patchwork and quilting" (as in saying you are taking up quilting when you are learning how to piece patchwork), in the dictionary you will find that there are two different meanings for quilting. Quilting is the stitching that holds all three layers of a quilt together and it is also the act of creating those stitches.

Here are some more terms that you will come across when learning about machine quilting.

In the Ditch is quilting very close to the low side of the seam line, to be almost invisible. The low side is the side without the seam allowanc

Outline quilting is stitching done inside each patch about ¼" away from the seam line or stitching around a shape as in Echo quilting. Sometimes confused with stitching in the ditch, in outline quilting the stitching is suppose to be visible.

Motif quilting creates a design by following a pattern on the quilt top. There are various marking tools and numerous techniques for marking the pattern onto the quilt top.

Accent quilting is stitching that complements the featured design. Stippling the background around the design is a type of accent quilting, as are Echo quilting and Meandering.

Selective quilting is used to emphasize certain portions of a design.

Allover quilting ignores the seam lines and fills the entire quilt top with a design.

Trapunto is a "fattening up" of areas of a quilt design to create brilliant texture. Trapunto is most effective when the background quilting around the the "fattened up" area is densely quilted. It makes the plumped areas stand out more.

Quilt As You Go means that you quilt and piece all your blocks separately. The smaller pieces are quilted separately and then joined together to make a large quilt. It is easier to manage and quilt a smaller piece under the sewing machine instead of a huge quilt.

Free Motion Machine Quilting is a form of quilting done by the quilter without marking the quilt. You just sit down with the quilt under the machine and "doodle" away!

Fill quilting fills in and flattens the background space while emphasizing the primary design. Types of fill quilting are:

Echo - Stitching around the outline of a pattern repeatedly to create an effect similar to ripples in a pond.

Channel - straight, parallel lines of stitching.

Crosshatching - straight line quilting in a grid pattern. A straight grid forms squares, while a diagonal grid forms diamonds.

Meandering - random curved lines, squiggles and swirls done "freehand".

Stippling - is similar to meandering but the line never cross.

Since discovering quilting ten years ago Bev McClune has become an award winning domestic machine quilter, a professional machine quilter and a popular tutor. She has four how-to quilt DVD's available at http://www.quiltersworld.com.au

A bit of Oriental fun!

October 12, 2011 by ivoryspring

The start of another new quilt involves these beautiful prints from Blank Quilting‘s Asian Mist collection.

I especially love the cranes in this focal print fabric, and am planning something a little “pecial” (that’s how my Miss Baby says “special”) around the fabric theme.

Incidentally, cranes (including the red-crowned cranes) are quite the celebrity birds in Japan, making their appearances in many aspects of Japanese culture.  Their mating habit of only having one partner for life is the reason for the cranes being symbolic of unity in marriage.   Artistic renditions of cranes are often seen on a bride’s obi or kimono patterns.  The legend that cranes live for a thousand years also makes the cranes to symbolize health and longevity in the Oriental culture.  How interesting!

Curious mind wants to know…. are you a fan of Oriental-themed fabrics or home decorations?  What kind of Oriental fabrics do you find attractive?

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The Basics of Making Your Own Quilts

Patchwork quilts have been around for centuries, well-loved and well-used household items that have been treasured by each generation then passed down to the next.

There is perhaps nothing more evocative of home and family than a beautiful, handmade, cosy patchwork quilt. Once painstakingly pieced and quilted by hand, such quilts can now be made much more quickly and easily with sewing machines and quick techniques such as rotary cutting and chain piecing.

Quilting does not require any advanced sewing skills; most quilts can be made by anyone with average sewing skills, and many are suitable for beginners. Most quilts are designed to be machine-pieced, but they can be hand-pieced if you prefer. Similarly, many of them are hand-quilted, but they can be quilted by machine if you wish.

Some people love the meditative nature of hand-sewing, and don't mind taking months or years to finish a quilt; others prefer the speed and ease of machine-sewing. Neither method is better than the other; they are simply different, so choose the method that suits your lifestyle and temperament and that you enjoy the most.

If you find that you like piecing but not quilting, there are commercial quilting services available; these are often advertised in the back of quilting magazines.

Your choice of quilt can be traditional or contemporary in design both in patchwork and whole-cloth quilts. If you like a particular design but are not keen on the fabrics in which it has been made, remember that the choice of fabric and colour can transform a traditional design into something modern looking, and vice versa.

If you are uncertain about the fabrics you intend to use for a particular quilt, buy a small amount at first and make a sample block to see if you like the effect. If not, try using the same fabrics, but arranging the components of the block in a different order. This can result in a very different effect. It is worth a little experimentation early on to avoid wasting time, money and effort on a finished quilt that doesn't meet your expectations.

The Parts of a quilt

Most quilts consists of three layers; the quilt top (the decorative part); the batting (the filling that gives the quilt extra warmth and also contributes to its padded look); and the quilt backing. The batting may be omitted if you want a very light quilt for summer, or if the fabrics that you have used in the quilt top and backing are heavy enough on their own. The edges of the quilt are generally finished with binding.

The quilt top

Often, a quilt top will consist of a central design or a series of blocks surrounded by one or more borders. The top of the quilt may be pieced (made of patchwork), appliqué (with designs sewn onto a background) or whole-cloth (made entirely of one fabric).

In whole-cloth quilts, the visual interest is created by the quilting alone, so these quilts are perfect for showing off a beautiful and intricate quilting pattern.

Batting

Also known as wadding, batting is the quilt's filling, or middle layer. It may be made of wool, cotton or polyester; each has different properties. Cotton and wool are easier to quilt than polyester, but polyester generally gives greater loft (thickness), although not usually greater warmth.

Backing

The quilt backing is usually made of one fabric, but there is nothing to stop you from making it wholly or partly from leftover patchwork blocks or strips of different fabrics. You will normally need to join two lengths of fabric to create a backing wide enough for anything larger than a cot or lap quilt.

Binding

This is a way of finishing the raw edges of all layers of the quilt by enclosing them in a thin strip of fabric. Binding is generally made from a double thickness of fabric for extra durability, as it is the edges of a quilt that will wear most quickly. Binding is usually the last thing to be done, once the quilting is finished.

Fabric for quilts

For most quilts, it is best to use pure cotton fabrics. These wash and iron well, are easy to sew, take a crease well and do not fray excessively. Generally, all fabrics used for a quilt should be of a similar weight and weave. Using fabrics of different weights may result in some areas of the quilt wearing more quickly than others.

It is possible to use other fabrics, such as velvets, silks and satins, for a more luxurious effect. If using such fabrics, do not wash them before use. If they need ironing, do so at a low heat setting on the wrong side of the fabric. Quilts made born such fabrics should be dry cleaned, not washed.

Fabric can be solid (a uniform colour, without a print or pattern); printed; tone-on-tone (having a background printed with a design of the same colour); or checked. Printed fabrics are divided into four categories:

small, medium, large and directional.

Small prints may look almost like solid fabrics from a distance. Medium prints are more distinct and are often used to add visual texture.

Large pints have very distinct patterns that stand out from the background. These are often used in quilts as borders or feature prints. Directional prints have a very distinct pattern that runs on one direction. Large directional prints, such as stripes, can be very effective when used in a border.

When choosing fabrics, give thought to both the balance of prints and plains as well as the tonal values of the fabrics; that is, the mixture of light, medium and dark fabrics. You will also find that the effect of a fabric may change according to the other fabrics surrounding it, with often surprising results. Experimenting with colour, tone and pattern is one of the pleasures of quilting.

Preparing fabrics

Many people prefer to wash, dry and iron cotton quilt fabrics before use. Wash each fabric separately in warm water with a scrap of white cotton fabric to test if the colour runs, If it does, the fabric should be discarded or used for another purpose. Otherwise, when the quilt is washed, the colour may run and ruin the quilt.

Washing pre-shrinks fabric and removes all finishes added by the manufacturer. Such finishes can make the fabric stiffer and easier to sew. if you wish to restore e stiffness, spray the fabric lightly with spray starch before sewing.

Before sewing, remove the tightly woven edges (selvages) from all fabrics. If left on and included in seams these may cause the fabric to pucker and bunch.

Supplies.

You should be able to source all your materials from a local haberdashery shop, or there are plenty of online alternatives.

There aren't that many small haberdashery shops left, but if you live in a big city, a lot of the large department stores will have their own haberdashery department.

Happy quilting

Oh Sew crafty - haberdashery specialists

The outer bunting border

Despite all the wedding shenanagans around here, some sewing has been going on, not a lot, but some. Progress is being made on my Christmas Yet to Come.

I used some very sophisticated tools to space out the swags for the outer bunting borders.

After folding the background fabric in half to find the center (and marked it with a pin), I placed the first two swags so that they were a thumb print apart.

They are also a thumb’s width from the top edge, which will leave enough room for a seam allowance.

Like the sparkly nails? They’ve grown out some, but it’s been more than two weeks since they were done. They’re not acrylics or gels, it’s a shellac manicure.

I’ve never been able to grow out my own nails. They are thin and tear off, right at the quick. I’m tough on my hands, weeding the garden without gloves, washing dishes in hot water. But when I decided to give my nails a rest from the acrylics after my shoulder surgery in December, they just kept growing. And not breaking. Growing so that I had to actually file. them. down! I’m guessing it’s a menopause thing, and if so, that’s just another great “gift with purchase”!

Anyway, I didn’t really hold out much hope that the manicure would last. Regular polish just peels right off. But it’s been more than two weeks and, except for the growing out part, they look as good as new!  And believe me, with the wedding, I have been very rough on them.

It’s pricey, as costly as the gels, so I don’t know how often I’ll have them done. But it’s nice to know I have another option for sparkly nails.

Meanwhile, the outer bunting borders are all pinned up, waiting for their turn under the needle.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 11th, 2011 at 7:02 am and is filed under Block of the Month, General Silliness. 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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Explore the Wonderful World of Quilts

A quilt is essentially two layers of fabric with wadding sandwiched between. The top layer of material is the quilt top and the back layer is the backing. These layers of fabric, along with the wadding (also known as batting), are held together by stitching or ties.

Many beginning quilter's desire to create a quilt comes about after viewing quilts in magazines, at an exhibition or in the homes of friends and family. Once hooked quilter's are always thinking about their next quilt. The idea for a particular quilt can come from anywhere. Inspiration may begin with a painting, garden or the beauty of a specific piece of fabric.

Much thought goes into each quilt. Will the quilt be for a bed or displayed on a wall? Who will be the lucky recipient? Is the quilt to commemorate a special event or to be a wedding or anniversary gift? Contemplation of the finished quilt include size, pattern and colour scheme considerations.

A quilt top can be one large piece of fabric or made up of smaller pieces of fabric called quilt blocks. The blocks are sewn together edge to edge or with sashing separating the blocks. Borders are added to emphasis the quilt blocks, as another element of interest or as a way of simply creating a larger quilt.

Different techniques or combinations of techniques are used in the actual construction of a quilt.

1. Piecing or patchwork is the sewing together of small pieces of fabric (patches) to produce a design. The designs incorporate the various colours, patterns and textures of the fabric, as well as different shapes. The contours of the shapes are generally geometric in traditional patchwork, with elaborate shapes appearing in many contemporary quilts. So that the patchwork lies flat, the shapes are precisely joined, after being carefully measured and cut.

There are countless ways to construct a patchwork quilt.

A patchwork block quilt is typically pieced from squares. (8", 10", 12", etc.) The blocks can be of all the same design or different patterns. Some common block patterns are Four-patch, Nine-patch, Log Cabin and Pineapple.

Anoverall patchwork quilt design is made of pieced shapes stitched together to form a larger design or specific effect. Star Burst quilts are examples of an overall patchwork quilt.

InCrazy Patchquilts,random shapes of fabric are stitched together in an irregular pattern, with fancy embroidery embellishing the seams.

Techniques used in piecing patchwork are numerous. English Paper Piecing is still used to create traditional hexagon designs. Foundation Paper Piecing where the fabric is sewn directly onto a paper pattern allows complicated patterns to be created easily and accurately. Revolutionary Template Free methods have eliminated the need for marking the fabric making it quicker and easier to construct quilts, such as lovely Feathered Star quilts.

To folks with limited knowledge of patchwork and quilting the intricate patterns of many quilts appear to have taken years of patience to construct. Clever modern methods of quick cutting and quick piecing, have made it possible to create beautiful Bargello quilts, and the classic Le Moyne Star quilts without frustration.

2. Appliqué is a technique where shapes are cut out of fabric. A design is created by arranging and sewing these pieces onto a background fabric. Bias Appliqué used in Stained Glass and Celtic designs are a popular type of appliqué. Baltimore Album Quilts are a style that features intricate appliqué from century old designs.

3. Embroidery and stitchery create designs with thread on the fabric block. Other materials, such as beads, sequins, buttons, ribbons and lace may be included as additional embellishment.

4. Whole Clothis a quilt that does not use embellishments but features the pattern created by the quilting stitches as the focal point. These stitches may be done by hand or by Machine Quilting. The quilting technique of Trapunto is an elegant type of quilting seen on whole cloth quilts.

5. Contemporary Art Quilts can use any combination of these techniques, along with other innovations the artist chooses. Confetti is an easy unique technique that involves a type of appliqué and machine stitching to create wonderfulquilts brimming with texture. It is an ideal technique for recreating flora and fauna, as well as stunning landscapes.

Quilt making is a process of creation. There so many different aspects that even experienced quilter's always have new areas to explore. For those just learning there are many sampler quilts, structured to give the beginner practice in some basic techniques while building a foundation of skills.

Remember it is not just the finished quilt that should be enjoyed, but each step in the process of bringing the quilt to life.

Pauline Rogers has taught patchwork & quilting for close to 28 years. She travels extensively helping others learn and perfect the techniques of quilt making. Pauline's Schoolhouse programme is a popular way for quilt groups to share in her tool expertise. Visit Quilters World online at http://www.quiltersworld.com Visit her website at http://www.quiltersworld.com.au

Making Progress

The book is the center of my universe for the next six weeks. Six weeks and the final deadline will arrive. I’m anticipating that I’ll be able to sigh in great relief at a hard job well done. In the mean time, I’m working like a fiend.

Up until now I have had really nothing physical to show for all the time I’ve put in. It’s been hours and hours in front of a computer screen, writing words, moving them around and then writing more. It’s intense work, but even still, it’s hard to understand why I’m exhausted at the end of the day when I’ve hardly moved a muscle.

I still have computer work to do, the graphics for most of the projects still need to be done, but now I’ve tipped over into the fun part. I get to sew!

Sewing is something I don’t do nearly enough of. Honestly, months can go by without so much as turning on the sewing machine. But for the next half of the book work, I’ll be a sewing fool. It’s hard to remember, when I’ve been away from it for so long, how much I really love piecing. There’s something meditative about it: the quiet hum of the machine, handling the fabric pieces, watching something grow from nothing.

While I’m piecing I often listen to books on my iPod. Right now I’m listening to Tom Clancy’s Dead or Alive. (It was on a special sale on Audible.com.) I am totally addicted to listening to books, it’s a multi-tasker’s dream. 

The top and binding are done for quilt #1. There will be four bedsized quilts and three smaller projects. While the piecing will be a snap, I’m a little worried about getting all the quilting done. Of course I want to do it all myself. But I have faith that it will all work out as it should in the end. In the mean time, I’m off to start on quilt #2.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 16th, 2011 at 1:41 pm 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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Elements Of Your Quilting Design

You can transform your quilt from a Plain-Jane to an Exciting Quilt with simple design elements in your quilting design. Although books are getting better about this, often a book demonstrating a beautiful quilt top design falls short when it comes to suggesting quilting designs.

Many of the books have small pictures of the whole finished quilt top, leaving you guessing how it was quilted. Others have close up pictures of the quilting design for part of the quilt top, but don't show how that part connects with the rest of the top.

Effective quilting designs don't need to be intricate and detailed to be effective. A quilter might choose a pattern that simply echoes the pieced or appliqué design, outlines an individual design feature, or creates a grid or series of parallel quilting lines.

In deciding how to quilt your quilt, you should first look at some of the overall design elements of the quilt top, and ask some basic questions, like: Are there design features I would like to emphasize? Are there elements I would like to have recede into the background? Are there large, open areas where a quilted design, such as a feathered wreath, could be effective? Does the quilt have movement that I would like to enhance (i.e. are there curves and waves vs. straight seams)? Is there interesting fabric I would like to highlight or create a contrast

Once you have some of those basic questions answered, it's time to look at some specifics.

A quilting design that echoes the basic design of the quilt is probably the easiest to accomplish, yet choosing which design elements of your quilt you echo can, indeed, affect the overall look of your quilt.

For example, if you take a simple Irish Chain quilt, by quilting parallel lines of quilting through the diagonal lines of squares creates a kind of channel affect, making the center squares stand out. The square in the center can be quilting in a completely different way, creating a new design element.

If your quilt is green and white, how about quilting a shamrock in each square? Quilting a heart in each square delivers yet a different message. Or, mix them up, a shamrock in every other square, alternating with a heart.

Another method of enhancing the pieced pattern of the quilt is to quilt additional shapes of the main design. For example, you can turn an eight pointed star into a 16 pointed star by simply quilting points in the background between each of the 8 pieced points. By varying the size of the quilted points, you can give the star even more dimension and interest.

Quilting designs in large and open areas can be used to repeat curves or angles appearing in other places on the quilt.

Going back to our Irish Chain, you could carry the shamrocks or hearts into the border by quilting them in one of the borders.

On a quilt using plaid fabric, you can create a plaid design with your quilting stitches, even in areas where you have placed solid fabric.

Although some quilters may advise you differently, there are really very few rules when it comes to designing the quilting pattern for your top. However, understanding a few things about quilting does help.

Quilting in the ditch anchors and sharpens the seam line so the seam looks as straight as it did when the top was pressed. In the ditch stitches also cause the adjacent pieces to puff up.

Because your quilting stitches cause the fabric to recede, a line of quilting can create the illusion of a seam where there is none.

Quilting across a seam line distorts that seam line and may soften the contrast between two pieces, thus easing the transition between areas on your top.

Quilting through a fabric design will distort the design. If the fabric design element is something you want to keep, consider quilting around it. For example, if your fabric has flowers, then quilting around the outside of the flowers will make them puff up in your quilt top. Adding more background quilting - whether it is stippling or quilting a grid - will make the flowers puff up even more.

The good news / bad news about quilting designs is that there are really no rules - only things that happen when you put quilting stitches in your quilt. Therefore, designing your quilting pattern, much like designing your quilt top, is very much an issue of personal taste and your idea of your final quilt.

So, take those unfinished quilts out of the closet, and plan a quilting design, knowing that it cannot be wrong! And that however it is quilting, it is better to have the quilt being used on a couch or bed or viewed hanging on a wall than it is to have it hiding in your closet.

Penny Halgren http://www.How-to-Quilt.com Penny has been a quilter for more than 26 years and enjoys sharing her quilting knowledge with beginner quilters so they can avoid the mistakes she made as she was learning to quilt.

Rag Quilt Patterns

Quilting has long been an art with the earliest American women creating beautiful quilts to adorn their homes. For hundreds of years, women all over this planet have been sewing quilts to keep their family members warm. In fact a lot of women would hand down their quilts from one generation to another or make some memory blocks to stitch lovingly all the wonderful milestones in their lives.

Many families use quilts also to celebrate different events of our life like weddings, birth of a baby, Christmas and other festivals and events. When it comes to warmth, there is little that can outmatch a quilt, and when you want something that is aesthetically pleasing, quilts deliver in spades. There is no particular technique for making quilts nor are there rigid rules barring safety and hygiene. People are attracted to quilts by the variety of designs and the many different colors. Quilts can be seen as a reflection of people, places, life and times. One of the joys of quilting is being able to spend your craft time doing various styles or types of quilts. Quilts, what a wonderful way to add that country touch to your décor.

Easy Quilt Patterns

If you are into quilting, then you must have realized that one of the most critical and important parts is actually in choosing quilting patterns to work on. You also need to consider your ability and skill in choosing quilting patterns. One critical thing to remember in choosing quilting patterns is that you have to make sure that the design will complement your home décor.

Start Quilting Business

Sewing has a proven track record as a home-based business in dozens of niches, including upholstery, bridal wear, crafts and quilts. You can often make at least a fifty percent profit on your completed quilts. Whether you want to make a business of quilting, or you just want it as a serious hobby, investing in a quilting machine is a wise decision. Quilting machines allow you to not only create quilts faster but, you can even make a profitable business out of selling them. With a quality quilting machine you can easily make two or three quilts per day.

Quilting Sewing Machines

Good sewing machines for quilting can really help you to enjoy your hobby rather than hindering it. A poor machine will leave you frustrated so it is well worth taking the time to research and choose from one of several good sewing machines for quilting. The needles that fit in the good sewing machine for quilting will also be an extremely important point for consideration. Number 14 needles are the best option for quilting, but not all sewing machines will hold them.

So if you are searching for inexpensive quilting patterns with great designs, using easy to follow quilting techniges then here is your answer.

You can find the best easy quilt patterns review here and the best expert advice available for quilting techniges [http://www.treat-baldness.mylexical.com] (techniques).

Navigating the Quilting Bakery - Fabric Advice For Beginning Quilters

For the person who is just getting into the art and craft of quilting, the first visit to a quilting store can tend to be a bit overwhelming. On the surface, a person might thing that quilting is a simple as finding a pattern, finding the right fabric, having a few quilting specific tools and supplies. While this is true, like most things that are taken seriously by a lot of people, once you start peeling back the layers of the onion, there is a lot to learn. Take fabric for example. Once you start your investigation you will begin to see lots of new and wacky terms. The conversation could go something like this; "Like this pattern? It is very easy, all you need is this quilt kit. However, is you like a different color, you could also make it with these pretty fat quarters, charm squares, jelly rolls, layer cakes or turnovers." Hold on just a minute! Are we trying to quilt here, or have we accidentally landed in a New Orleans Bakery? "Pass the beignets please!". Here is a quick rundown of the terms that you will need to familiarize yourself with to help you navigate this strange new world of quilting fabric.

Quilting Fabric

The best fabric to use for quilting is 100% cotton. Most quilting fabric is 42" wide although you can find wider yardage that can be found to use for backing. Obviously, quilting fabric comes in and infinite number of colors and patterns. It is usually recommended that the fabric be washed prior to using to minimize shrinkage and/or fading. Keep in mind, though, that fading and shrinkage is not quite as much of a problem with higher quality fabric. If this is a concern you can always wash a small piece of the fabric prior to using.

Quilt Backing

Quilt backing is the fabric panel used as the back piece of a layered quilt. Backing can be made from a single piece of fabric or it can be pieced or assembled in another decorative way. Sometimes it is possible to find specific fabrics that are made in wider yardage that can be used specifically as backing. This may be a good approach for getting started with beginners quilting.

Quilt kits

Quilt kits contain all of the necessary fabric, in the yardage that you need, to complete the specific quilt patterns that you would like to make. Usually the backing fabric, batting, and thread are not included in the kits. For the busy quilter kits eliminate a lot time, effort and initial confusion that it takes to pick out fabrics that will work for a specific pattern. It also minimizes waste. Also, if you see a quilt kit that you like then you can be assured that yours will look the same.

Quilt blocks

Quilt blocks can be a single piece of fabric cut to your specification or pattern specifications or it can be a pieced block (several pieces already sewn together in a particular pattern). A single quilt block can be used for different purposes such as a quilted wall hanging, quilted potholder, quilted table topper, quilted candle mat or several blocks can be sewn together to make a larger quilt. For the beginning quilter or quilters on a budget, you may want to search the internet, or our quilt pattern section for a free quilt block pattern.

Quilting Fat quarters

This is a one fourth yard cut of fabric that usually measures 18" x 22" instead of the typical 9" x 42" quarter-yard cut. The advantage of a fat quarter is that it is a wider cut of fabric and more economical than the 9" wide quarter yard for certain quilting patterns. There are many quilt patterns designed specifically for fat quarters.

Quilting Charm squares

These are also sometimes referred to as charm packs, are 5" squares of fabric from a specific fabric line. These come with forty squares in a pack with at least 1 square of every fabric in the line. These may be used to make quick and easy small quilts by sewing coordinating squares together and bordering with coordinating fabric from that same fabric line or any other coordinating fabric of your choice. There are also new patterns out using charm squares to sew piece blocks.

Jelly Rolls

These are 2 ½ inch wide strips of every fabric from a specific fabric line rolled up jellyroll style. These are nice for sewing the strips together for strip quilts, eliminating the need for you to cut each strip. They can also be used for checkerboard patterns but sewing the long edges of a desired number of strips together lengthwise and cutting across the seams. These can then be arranged in the desired checkerboard pattern. Again, it is easy because there are a lot of patterns calling for 2" strips and this eliminates the cutting time.

Charming Jelly Cakes

These are a charm pack, jelly roll and a layer cake of every fabric in a fabric line. There are patterns written specifically for these.

Layer cakes

Quilting Layer cakes are 10" squares with at least one of every fabric from a fabric line. Usually used in the same way as charm squares but for use in making larger quilts. They can also be cut into half and quarter square diamonds to be used in piece blocks.

Quilting Turnover

These are 6" triangles each fabric in the line with 40 pieces in every pack. This eliminates the need for you to have to cut the charm squares into triangles

Honey Buns

Honey buns (used to be called cinnamon buns) are 1 ½ inch wide strips of each fabric in a fabric line. Used the same way as Jelly Rolls, they honey buns eliminate having to cut the strips.

Quilt Panels

Quilt panels are a panel of fabric with a pre-printed design. The whole panel may be quilted or sections of the panel may be cut out and used in a pieced quilt. These are time savers if you use the whole panel because they can be sandwiched and then hand or machine quilted.

Quilt Batting

Quilt batting is the middle part of the quilt that is sandwiched between quilt top and the back. The batting is what gives the quilt its depth and thickness. There is a large variety of quilt batting to choose from. The batting that you choose for your quilt is basically a personal choice. Specifically, you should think about what the quilt will be used for and also experiment until you develop a personal preference. High loft batting is very puffy. 100% cotton batting is a thinner bat and is used when you want the quilt to have an aged appearance as it shrinks when washed, giving the quilt a slightly wrinkled appearance. Pellon, which comes in several thicknesses, is a batting used for table quilts and wall hangings that you wish to have a flatter appearance.

Quilting Applique

This is the process of sewing one or more smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger background. Applique can be accomplished by hand or by machine. Busy quilters generally use an iron-on applique product. These iron onto the back of the fabric, are cut out into specific designs and are then ironed onto the quilt top. For seldom washed quilts this is all that is required, for quilts with heavier use a button hole or zigzag stitch holds the applique firmly in place.

Annie B

For more tips, hints and advice on quilting and quilting fabrics as well as a calendar of regional quilting shows go to www.highplainsquilting.com.

http://www.highplainsquilting.com has been developed as a full service quilting web site that offers fabrics tools advise and a community forum where users can get together talk about upcoming quilt shows, give quilt store reviews and display their best work for others to see in the quilting gallery.

Patchwork Quilting - A History Summary

Patchwork Quilting goes back many years. Examples of quilting have been found in tombs of Pharohs dating back to 3400BC. Joseph's coat of many colors was probably patchwork. Even armour was made by quilting heavy fabrics together. Quilted bed covers were recorded in household inventories from the 17th century. Patchwork quilting has even evolved into an art form known as art quilts. The Amish have developed the quilting traditions of other immigrants into America, into their own style.

Emigrants from Europe took their traditions of making quilts from scraps with them to America. Ideas and designs and even fabrics were exchanged across the Atlantic. The Log Cabin Quilt Design that was originally known in Ireland as the Folded Quilt Design, was a good way of using small scraps of fabric to create a very practical piece of art. It is doubtful if women quilters viewed their creations as art, it is much more likely they were simply seen as a quilt to cover a bed and provide warmth, albeit still a beautiful item. Crazy quilts are made from randomly stitching together odd pieces of cloth. In colonial times all cloth had to be shipped from Europe at great expense so nothing could be wasted.

A patchwork quilt was never regarded as being finished until it had been quilted. Quilting combined the three layers of the quilt - the backing, the wadding and the pieced top together, so the woollen or cotton wadding would be held in place. Quilting was a time consuming yet essential task as it provided a hard wearing warm durable quilt that had cost very little as it was made of the scraps from other projects.

Quilting is generally regarded as a female pastime since traditionally men did not learn to sew, while sewing was an essential skill for a young woman. Quilting was also a social pastime. Women would gather together to piece the top together and while they worked they would exchange gossip and tales. Sometimes after a quilting party the men would join the women for supper and often romances would begin.

Lives are displayed in traditional patchwork quilts. Part of the dress of a dead child or part of a cherished Father's shirt could be pieced in to allow the maker to hold her memories. Quilts have been made over years, lifetimes or even generations. Telling the tales of women's lives though embroidery, color and embellishment.

One group of special mention is the Amish, a religious group who migrated to America in the 1800s'. Quilting was not a skill they bought to America, but rather a skill they learnt from ex-English neighbours in their new land. In Amish societies, a simple life is a core belief and continues to be today avoiding modern mechanisation. While they do use a treadle-operated sewing machine to piece their quilts together the quilting is always done by hand.

The Amish do not use patterned fabrics in their quilts, the piecing patterns they use readily distinguish Amish quilts from other varieties of patchworking. The patterned fabrics are considered to worldly for use in a conservative Amish home. Some Amish quilts do not even use pieced tops; the only pattern is the intricate quilting designs. For an Amish woman an elaborately quilted design is not extra work but a creative outlet.

Traditionally Amish quilts were made from scraps left from clothes or recycled fabrics. This is another Amish value to waste as little as possible. Characteristically Amish quilts will have borders (almost always at least one and usually two) added because they increase the size and frame the pieced design. Borders are cut conservatively on the grain so as not to waste fabric. The inner border is cut from strips of cloth with a square in the corner to join it. Mitre corners or bias cut borders are rarely used as this wastes fabric. Often the quilts are bordered simply by cutting the backing larger, allowing it to be folded over.

Amish quilts are very striking despite their simplicity. This is usually due to the colors used. Although it is commonly believed that there are color restrictions in Amish quilts, this does not appear to be true. The only restriction is what is available to the quilter and the quilter's own color sense. Typically an Amish quilt will feature two or three dominant colors with an accent color, e.g. Slate blue, black and deep mauve. White is not often used as it is hard to keep clean.

For the wider quilting enthusiast population, quilting has evolved into more of an art form. While traditional patchwork relies on pattern and color to create an image. Art quilts (or water color quilts) are more like painting with fabric than traditional patchwork designs.

Art quilts range in size but generally they are more often seen hanging on a wall rather than on a bed. There is no form of embellishment that is forbidden in Art Quilting, if you can imagine it you can use it. Because of these rather vague boundaries this is the perfect art form, for any creative fabric artist.

There are many groups for modern quilters to join and sell their works. The internet provides an excellent medium for groups to collaborate with each other to create a quilt together. Thanks to T.V. shows, Quilting is reaching a wider audience and is no longer viewed solely as a women's pastime. Quilts and quilting have never been more popular.

Erin Mayers
http://www.readymadequilts.com

When words fail

So, I’m writing this book. It’s a quilty sort of book, that much I can tell you. It’s a quilty sort of book about a topic that I feel pretty passionate about, something I have a lots of opinions on. So one might think that coming up with roughly 40, 000 words wouldn’t be all that hard. I mean, let’s face it, I think too much, and always have something to say. Now’s my chance, wouldn’t you say?

And yet, some days the words just don’t want to fall in the right order. I think, yes, this is where this fact goes, except that I need to tell that fact first, and I don’t think that fact belongs here. I think, geeze, this is getting dry, or, rein it in, girl, you’re getting too silly. Let’s not put fun before information, but then, geeze, this is getting dry.

 On days like that just about any distraction will do. I wish I could dvr the east coast earthquake because some folks here in Saginaw felt it and I didn’t know to pay attention. Not that I want another earthquake, but that being able to back up the television to see what he really said is messing with my head.

Out the back window of the studio, the daily parade of momma turkey and her babies offers momentary distraction. She heads south in the morning and the  back north in the afternoon. I think there are actually four or five babies, they pop into the high weeds for snacks.

Out the front window the momma deer is back, helpfully cleaning up the fallen crab apples. Last night she had two darling little fawns with her. They must be napping. I don’t think she’s so adorable when she’s snacking on my rose bushes or cleaning out the bird feeders.

This is one of two peaches our little tree produced this year. The other one was very tasty and juicy. I may eat this one tomorrow before I leave for New York. It’s not quite ready today.

Our little apple tree is doing better. They are just starting to redden, so they have a ways to go yet. Watching these apples ripen could provide plenty of distraction on days when the words won’t play nice with me.

The problem with all this goofing off, of course, is the DEADLINE. I’ve had a bit of reprieve, the deadline has been extended a week (my editor is going on vacation). But I still have about fifteen thousand words to get into the right order. Sure it’s just a first draft, but it needs to be a pretty good first draft so that when we kick it around it doesn’t fall completely apart.

 But for now, there’s packing to do. The step outs for the new classes are done. All the hand outs are packaged. Everything’s ready to go, I just need to pile it into the suitcases. Oh, and there’s a Tigers game on tonight…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 at 6:20 pm and is filed under General Silliness, Gardens, 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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Quilt and Dishes meet…

October 13, 2011 by ivoryspring

… on my Mums the Word quilt.

If you have known me for any length of time, you would know that I am a dish-aholic!  Playing with my dishes is super fun for me.   My “me alone” play time has greatly diminished in the last year or so due to an increased workload and more attention needed for Miss Baby — playing with my dishes hasn’t been something I have done much at all of late. Although I know there is a season for everything, I do miss my dish-playing time.

While Miss Baby was having a date with the z-monster one afternoon last week, I decided to play a bit to experiment with some possible ideas for my Thanksgiving table.   In the ensemble below, I used an Armetale platter as the charger, and layered with a spongeware dinner plate, a Spode Cabinet Collection accent plate, a Portuguese Majolica leaf bowl, and a pumpkin.

Everything you see is old except for the spongeware plate and pumpkin.  Miss Baby picked out the “baby pucket” from one quick grocery run with my husband recently.  The spongeware plate is form the pieces I had purchased from a New England potter not too long ago.  These spongeware peices go nicely with my other autumn dishes by adding a bit of primitive feel amidst all the flourishes and swirls.

Here you see Mums on the quilt as well as on the accent plate:

I was playing away, and then I heard, “Mama, a-tairs”… translation: Mama, time for me to go downstairs.   My play time was up.  I  had thought about using my Mums the Word quilt for our Thanksgiving tablecloth, but I think I have decided against it due to the amount of quilting I have done on it.  I think I would rather use it as a display quilt, rather than a quilt for use.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures…  and if you have any fun ideas to share about Thanksgiving tablesettings,  I am all ears (rather, “eyes” since I will be reading your comments, and not hearing them! )

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Happy Columbus Day (Observed)

October 10, 2011 by ivoryspring

First Landing of Columbus on the Shores of the New World, after the painting by Discoro Téofilo de la Puebla (Wikipedia)

You can read about some interesting facts here.

Have a lovely week ahead, Friends!

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How to Care for a Quilt

A quilt is basically a bed covering made of two layers of material or fabric with a layer of padding in between. The fabrics are all stitched firmly together, usually in a decorative crisscross design. Designing a quilt is an art. A handmade quilt for example, is something that should be preserved not only for the comfort it gives but also for the technical skill involved in making it.

How to Take Care of Your Quilt

Quilts are made of various fabrics, some of them more fragile than others over time, and thus need to be taken proper care of. Follow a few basic tips to take care of all your quilts, whether you are handling, storing, or cleaning them.

Tips on handling quilts:

oYou must always wash your hands or wear cotton gloves while handling your quilts.

oYou must never eat, drink or smoke around the quilts.

oYou must keep quilts on clean and dry surfaces.

Tips on storing quilts:

oYou must store your quilts in a cool, dark, dry place. Avoid storing quilts in the attic as attics have very poor ventilation. Do not store quilts in the basement, as basements are very humid.

oYou must keep your quilts out of the direct rays of the sun. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are responsible for breaking down fabric dyes and speeding up the oxidation of fibers.

oYou must ensure that the quilts are kept away from insects and mice.

oThe best way to store quilts is in acid-free boxes or papers. However, they can also be folded in clean cotton sheets or washed.

oYou need to ensure that you do not pile too many folded quilts on top of each other. Also the quilts need to be unfolded and refolded every three to six months to avoid extreme creasing.

oYou must avoid storing the quilts in plastics as they contain dangerous vapors, which might deteriorate the fabric.

oWooden boxes can also be used for storage provided they are sealed with a defensive covering of polyurethane varnish, and then lined with unbleached, washed muslin or acid-free paper.

oYou must avoid storing your quilts in newspapers and cardboard boxes, as they are full of damaging decomposing agents.

Tips on cleaning the quilts:

oThe best way to clean the quilt is by vacuuming. The usual method is to lay it out on a big, dirt free surface and then tenderly move a low-suction, handheld vacuum with a small brush accessory over the quilt.

oYou can also wash the quilt by the wet-cleaning method. However, it must be avoided unless handled by an expert. If you must wash it yourself, you must first test wash a small portion to check whether the dye is running out or the fabric is getting spoiled or not. You need to use a very mild detergent and a container that can take care of the entire quilt at one go.

oYou must not use too much force while washing. Instead, you need to rinse the quilt gently with the palm of your hands.

oOnce the washing is over, the quilt must be lifted with both arms to distribute the weight evenly. You should never lift it by one corner.

oThe quilt must be laid flat to dry on a clean non-porous surface.

oYou must avoid dry cleaning cotton quilts. This is essential as dry cleaning agents are chemicals that are believed to be carcinogenic (causing cancer) in nature. The various chemicals used for dry cleaning will get inside the padding and remain there.

Once you have finished washing your quilt, the next step is to dry it. You can just throw the good quality quilts in the dryer and expose them to a regular warm cycle like we do with all our clothes. If it is very delicate, you might want to dry it naturally in the air. However, as already mentioned, quilts must never be placed under direct sunlight.

So, guard your quilt and its fabric carefully! It's an heirloom in the making!

Jan Myers is the author of numerous articles and books on topics from organizational development and leadership to quilting. It was her avocation--the love of quilting--that inspired the popular online membership site for quilters known as the ?world?s largest quilting bee? at http://www.QuiltingResourceCenter.com.

Tack basting the applique borders

I was on a little bit of a cleaning binge last weekend. I’m not usually one to be working on more than one project at a time. Deadlines usually require that I start and finish a project in a relatively short period of time.

The current block of the month is a different animal. Because it’s been offered for free on the website there is no real urgency to get the quilt done. I just need to stay enough steps ahead of the postings to have time to test out each step before it goes on the web. It’s sort of a background project, quickly set aside for projects that will help pay the bills.

But now that my focus has shifted to book writing, and the projects that will accompany it, I feel like I need to clear the decks. The Christmas Yet to Come quilt was taking up precious storage space that would be better spent on book projects. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

It’s almost done, really, all of the applique motifs are done, the borders are pieced together. I just needed to get all the parts placed on the background fabric and then I could clean up (put away) all the tools from this project. (Found another pair of scissors in the process.)

As usual, I used flat flowerhead pins to hold the appliques in place. Despite having approximately one gajillion pins, I could see that I wouldn’t have enough of them to pin all of the appliques down. And then I remembered how sharp those buggers are. And how getting constantly poked and scraped by them as I stitch pretty much sucks the joy out of the process.

And then I remembered my basting gun. Because I know you’ll ask, it’s a Micro Stitch (or maybe it’s Micro Tach, they keep changing the name), by Avery Dennison. Your local quilt shop can order one for you. It’s not cheap, it’s like thirty bucks, but it’s a terrific tool for basting the quilt for quilting or basting down applique for stitching. The tacks are super fine and very short and don’t damage the fabric at all. When basting the quilt, the tacks just go straight through to the back. Basting applique isn’t as bulky, so I bring the tack back to the front.

The appliques are held securely in place, and without the pain and extra bulk of all those pins, stitching them down will be a lot more fun. I’ll be using this project as my meditation time, when I need some quiet, mindless, stitching time to focus my thoughts.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011 at 8:18 am and is filed under Hand Applique by Machine, Block of the Month. 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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Quilting - A Coming of Age for Young Men and Women

The art of quilting once played a much more prominent role in the lives of young men and women. The Bride's Quilt and the Freedom Quilt teach us lessons of the days gone by.

Our lifestyle today finds us purchasing a wedding gift at a local store; many people lack the time and the patience to be able to craft a meaningful gift with their own hands. It is thought that quilt making is done mostly by older women who have retired and have more time to devote to such an intense art; however, today younger women are once again enjoying the creativity of quilting. While this demographic makes up an incredibly important segment of the quilting community, too often others who enjoy the process are looked over. Worse still, many people believe that this stereotype is typical of the historical quilter.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Not too long ago, quilting was considered to be an important endeavor not only for those who practiced it, but among communities in general. Creating a quilt was a skill that was attained through years of practice, and although most had the skills to create a basic design, not everyone was truly a master. Moreover, quilting was an important activity for women of all ages, and many men also recognized the value of a quilt. Quilts were commonly used to mark the coming of age of both boys and girls, as evidenced in the idea of the Bride's Quilt and the Freedom Quilt.

The Bride's Quilt

Back in an age where many girls still brought a dowry to their weddings, quilts were an important inclusion in any hope chest. In fact, there was a certain number of quilts that needed to be included in any hope chest, ranging from ten to thirteen, according to American Patchwork Quilts by Lenice Ingram Bacon. The most important of these quilts was that made by the bride, according to her design and by her own hands.

As the bride and groom planned their first lodging, there was rarely a question that the Bride's Quilt would cover their first bed. So a tradition of an engaged couple was to design a pattern for the quilt that would one day cover their marital bed. It is clear from this endeavor that men had an active role if not in the creation of the family quilt, then in the decision making process that guided it. This may come as a surprise to many in today's world of "his" and "hers"! Traditional Bride's Quilts often used the symbol of love, the heart or a pattern with various hearts included. The later 1800's brought, through the influece (and impracticality) of Queen Victoria, a leaning toward white for weddings!), white bridal quilts also gained a lot of popularity, according to Jean Noon, writing for UltimateWedding.com.

The Freedom Quilt

If the role of a man in the Bride's Quilt comes as a surprise, you might be even more shocked to learn of the concept of the Freedom Quilt. While today's historians consider the pre-industrial male to be something of a free person by right of gender, the fact is that many men lived in servitude to their parents until they came of age. On his 21st birthday, a boy was a man in the eyes of the law and thus was truly free to make his own way and to keep his own money. One way in which the celebration was marked was through the creation of the Freedom Quilt. This quilt was usually made by family or friends, especially the young man's mother, and carried heavy symbolic significance. Once such instance quoted in Mrs. Bacon's book, the man's quilt was made entirely of squares stitched by swooning and hopeful young ladies.

Like the Bride's Quilt, the Freedom Quilt was used on the marriage bed, and usually given to the groom on the day of his marriage.

Throughout history and still today, quilts such as the Bride's Quilt and the Freedom Quilt often celebrate important events in the lives of those for whom they are quilted. Interestingly, both men and women took part in the quilting bees, even in the stitching, though we often think of it as a woman's craft. No matter the gender, a quilt can become a family heirloom.

Jan Myers is the author of numerous articles and books on topics from organizational development and leadership to quilting. It was her love of quilting that inspired the popular online membership site for quilters known as the ?world?s largest quilting bee? at http://www.QuiltingResourceCenter.com .

What You Need to Start Quilting

What is Quilting?

Quilting is done by hand, sewing machine, or Longarm quilting system, and refers to the process of attaching various fabric materials and layers to make a large flat quilt. Each technique makes use of a needle and thread to merge at least two layers of material to create the final product. The most common quilting is done from three distinct layers -- quilt top, insulation, and backing. The actual act of quilting occurs as the quilter or the sewing machine passes the needle and thread through the layers and then brings the needle back through to secure the layers.

Quilting is done back and forth like that all across the quilt to secure all of the pieces. In most cases, quilters use a running stitch which adds a decorative look to the quilt. Quilts are most often showcased on beds, as wall décor, as clothing and attire, and within several different textile products.

What Do I Need to Know About Quilting?

Standard quilting generally follows four steps -- piecing, layering, quilting, and binding. Piecing occurs when the quilt top is sewn. The quilt top features small strips or squares of fabric set in a pattern. This is commonly the colorful and creative part of the quilt. The assembled pieces are called blocks, and they are the components that are sewn together to create the full quilt top. They are put together in one of two ways - either each pieces is laid together with their edges touching, or sashing (small strips of fabric) is sewn along the edges of each. In some instances, one full piece of cloth is used for the quilt top instead of pieced together blocks. Quilting occurs when the three layers (top, insulation, and backing) are sewn together. The quilting employs stitching in a decorative pattern that often follows or complements the design of the quilt top. Sometimes the top is not pieced but is a single piece, and only the stitching forms the pattern. Binding is the final step to finishing the quilt by adding the edges with a piece of trim fabric.

What Do I Need to Start Quilting?

If you will be quilting by hand, the basic equipment you will need include a thimble to protect your fingers from the needles, needle & thread to complete the quilting process, and a frame or hoop to hold the quilt fabric taut as you work. Should you decide to use a machine to quilt your craft, basic supplies include safety pins, thread, a walking foot, and a darning foot. Of course, you'll also need the fabrics, insulation, and backing materials from which you will create the quilt.

Where Did the Art of Quilting Originate?

In its earliest days, quilting was done for necessary purposes rather than for decoration. Some scholars believe that quilts were first created to provide additional protection under armor for soldiers in combat. These quilts were also used for warmth during cold winters and cooler weather. The ancient Egyptians are believed to have quilted clothing for warmth and protection - this belief is based upon the sculptures that have been discovered with ancient figures dressed in quilted clothing. By the time of the American colonial period, upper class women engaged in quilting as a showing of their class status.

Are There Different Kinds of Quilting?

Although there are many variations to the art of quilting, the two most common types are quilting done by hand and quilting done by machine. When a quilt is created by machine, the person operating the machine runs the material through in the stitch pattern desired while the elements of the machine handle the actual process of the needle and thread. When hand quilting is done, the frame is usually used to hold the material solid and tight for the quilter. He or she will then manually pull the needle and thread through the material to create the stitch pattern.

What Fabric Do I Use for Quilting?

Quilts are so popular partly due to the fact that there are a number of fabric designs, colors, and materials available for creating custom, colorful quilts. Many of these quilts are so unique and personalized that they quickly become family heirlooms. To make a quilt, you must first decide on the design and print of the main part of the quilt. Major hobby and craft stores will carry a wide variety of these fabrics, which can be purchased by the yard. In addition to the fabric, you will also need to select insulation, backing, and sashing, which is optional and depends on your preference.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been quilting for years. See her favorite quilt patterns at Quilts and Quilt Patterns, and be sure to visit Quilts and Quilting for more quilting fun!