Craft Blog

There are several things you should know about quilting techniques before you start your first quilt project. Knowing some of the basics about quilting can help you get off to a good start so that you can surely enjoy this wonderful, relaxing hobby that offers personal enjoyment as well as satisfaction.

Quilting can be done by hand or machine. It is a hobby that nearly anyone can learn. There are many different kinds of quilts to create but a quilt generally consists of three layer; The top, the batting and the backing. There are several different ways the quilt top can be constructed. Some these ways include patchwork piecing and applique. Quilt blocks can also be used to construct the quilt top as well. Quilt blocks are individual sections of patchwork that are put together in a particular pattern. The blocks are attached together to create the quilt top. There are a number of different patterns available if you decide to use quilt blocks to complete the top. Quilt tops can also be made using pieces of fabric scrap left over from other projects, household items or pieces of clothing.

The layer of insulation that provides warmth and fullness to the quilt is the batting. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing batting for your quilt. These factors include the type of quilt you are constructing, the warmth desired and price range.

The final layer of fabric that completes the quilt is the backing. The backing can be a whole piece of fabric or two or more pieces of the same fabric sewn together, it really depends on the size of the quilt. Backing used for larger quilts is often two or more pieces sewn together. Smaller quilts a whole piece of fabric is usually all that is needed to complete the quilt.

When the top of the quilt is constructed, the batting and backing need to be cut to size, and all three can then be layered together. The layers must be basted to hold them together during the quilting process. The stitching that is used to bind these three layer together is the specific definition of quilting. This stitching can be done by hand or machine and is usually decorative and follows a pattern.

For your first quilting project, choose a project that is simple and small. Some projects that are good for beginners include baby quilts, lap quilts, pillows, and wall hangings. Select good quality material to construct you quilt from. Quilts are commonly constructed using 100% cotton fabrics and thread. Packages of fabric that are color-coordinated and pre-cut for quilters are usually sold at quilting shops. You should try to find a good quilting shop in your area to purchase fabrics and other items that are necessary to begin quilting. A good quilting shop can be a wonderful resource for materials and advice.

When selecting a simple project to begin with, try choosing template free designs. You can cut multiple pieces at one time and also use a quick piecing technique when you use template free designs. Batting that is thin is easier to quilt and maneuver. Batting such as Warm & Natural and Warm & White are good selections for your project.

The basics of quilting can be learned by choosing easy blocks to use for your quilting project. Easy blocks can also help you to see how color choices work together. Easy blocks include rail fence, 4-patch, 9-patch, and checkerboard.

Always use ¼" seams and keep the seams uniform when performing quilting techniques. A useful and helpful tool to have is a ¼" quilting foot. There is also no need to backstitch at the end of seams because when the top is finished and all the layers have been quilted, they will be locked together by the stitching.

A simple and effective method of decorating fabric done by hand or by other methods is known as applique. Cutting a shape out of one fabric and sewing that shape onto another fabric is the basic concept of applique. Applique can be used with other materials besides fabric. Some of these materials include beads, sequins and more. Not every material is suitable for applique. However, applique can be used for small or large scale work. Applique requires two important steps, the first is the designing and transfer of the design to the fabric. The second step is the applique itself. You can look at designing for applique in two different ways. The first is to work directly with materials, cutting shapes, arranging and rearranging the shapes, and stitching them by hand or machine to a background without  any type of planning. The other is to plan a design on paper, using cut paper, and tracing or drawing forms that are easy such as leaves, butterflies, fish, etc. Be careful when choosing the color and texture of the material because it is an extremely important part of the design.

There are different applique techniques to choose from. These techniques include:
- Needle turn applique.
This technique is done by stitching directly onto the surface. The needle is used as a tool in this method of applique to turn the seam allowance under as stitches are taken.
Needle turn applique steps:
1. Leaving a ¼" seam allowance between motifs, trace or transfer applique shape onto fabric. Then carefully cut out.
2. Transfer applique design to the fabric background.
3. Fold over seam allowance and crease to wrong side, using a bamboo creaser. Follow traced line when folding over seam allowance.
4. Place applique in position and then pin from the wrong side.
5. Using a threaded needle, place needle under applique and come up just on the applique edge of the creased seam allowance. Then pull thread through. Directly across from where the needle came up , insert needle into background fabric and move needle up under the applique, emerging 1/8" from the last stitch. This is known as a blind stitch and with practice it will be nearly invisible.

-Freezer paper applique technique.
Freezer paper is used as a guide for stitching when this method is used.
Freezer paper applique technique steps:
1.Transfer applique to the background of fabric.
2. Then copy motif onto the freezer paper, the motif should be copied onto the dull side of the freezer paper. Do not add seam allowance and cut out exactly on line.
3. Place shiny side down onto motif fabric, iron freezer paper motif. Adding ¼" seam allowance, cut out shape, but do not remove freezer paper.
4. Place on background fabric and proceed to pin.
5. Just on the outside edge of the freezer paper template, but under the applique, bring the needle up. As a guide while blind stitching applique,  use the point of the needle to  push seam allowance under following paper edge.

Raw edge applique technique.
Use this technique to add a fun look that gives an added dimension to the top of a quilt.
Raw edge applique technique steps:
1. Trace or transfer design to background of fabric.
2. Then transfer motif to applique fabric.
3. Cut out motif. For added dimension try using wavy edge or pinking edge scissors.
4. Place motif on background of fabric and pin.
5. Using machine or by hand, stitch with decorative stitches inside the edge of the applique leaving the edge free of ravel.
6. Embellishments such as buttons, beads, etc. make this type of applique look exceptionally well.

There are many different types of quilt blocks that can be used to construct a quilt. Some examples of different quilt block types include log cabin, medallion and stack & whack blocks.
 Log cabin quilt blocks are one of the most popular and commonly used quilt blocks. This block begins with a center square that is surrounded by long, narrow strips or logs. Moving clockwise in an orderly fashion these long, narrow strips are sewn on around the center square. These strips often become darker as they move to the outer sides of the block. Some variation of this type of quilt block include courthouse steps and pineapple block.
Medallion is a large central block or patterned area on the top of portion of a quilt, which is defined in some way by space or a border. The center is commonly a large square on point.
Stack & whack is method of creating kaleidoscope style blocks using repeats in fabric. The method is often credited to Bethany Reynolds.

Quilts are often recognized and chosen as a project by the type of quilt block used to construct it. Here are just a few of these quilts:
-An album quilt is assembled from individual blocks that are designed for a different person . Album blocks are sometimes stitched into a quilt by a group for a public person and then later presented to that person. They can also be used to commemorate a special occasion or event. Previously, blocks were signed and dated by the maker. They were often signed in India ink or embroidery. Currently, special markers are available for signing and dating album blocks.
-Cathedral window quilts are created using a particular quilt block that uses fabric folding in a special way to reveal an inner window of fabric.
- A charm quilt is made up of block units of different types of fabrics that are all the same shape and size but different fabric. These pieces are often times small, most commonly 2" but they can be up to 5". These type of block units are common themes for fabric swaps.
- A memory quilt is a quilt made up of blocks to commemorate an occasion such as a wedding, retirement, or birthday. Signature blocks, direct printed photo blocks, theme blocks, etc. can be used to make up the individual quilt blocks.
- A quilt top that is constructed using blocks with a different design or style is know as a sampler quilt. This type of quilt gives a person that is just beginning to quilt experience in many different quilt block patterns and style. The sampler quilt is very popular among all quilters.

Fabric swaps are a great way for beginners to explore the different types of quilt blocks available and also a wonderful way to accumulate a variety of fabrics in just a little bit of time. There are many type of quilt block swaps. There are quilt block swaps for the beginner, the advanced  and there are also other swap blocks for other items such as fabric postcards and quilt components. The majority of quilt block swaps generally consist of the same thing. Typically you buy one or two fabrics and cut them up into smaller pieces to swap. Your small pieces are exchanged with others for a wide variety of fabrics.

Be sure to always follow the swapping guidelines. Some block swaps may have different guidelines than others, so be sure to read them carefully before joining. Almost all guidelines include a deadline, fabric and/or color requirements and accuracy guidelines. You can also find challenges made by other participants to make a specific type of quilt.  

A shop hop is a great way to inspire the artist in you. It is a wonderful way to visit shops that you may not get to on a regular basis and see the quilts that are being created. The shops involved often stock the most interesting fabrics and quilting materials possible. Many times these shops work extremely hard to offer quilting prizes. When you attend a shop hop, you will find not only interesting quilts and fabrics but there are also demonstrations and don’t forget the many prizes that are given away. A shop hop is also a great way of meeting other quilters, getting advice and just having fun. When going on a shop hop, it is best to plan at least a day to experience all that a shop hop has to offer. Be sure to plan a route before attending so you do not miss a thing. For more information about shop hops in your area, contact participating shops.

Here are some of the different types of quilts you may find while attending a shop hop:
- Album quilt: This is a quilt that is assembled from individual blocks, which are each designed and/or executed by a different person. Album blocks are appliquéd or pieced, or even both and are quite often stitched into a quilt by group to present to a public figure to commemorate a special occasion. Special markers are commonly used to sign and date the blocks.
- Baltimore Album quilt: This is a quilt that is similar to the album style quilt. It is named for quilts made in Eastern Maryland between 1844 and 1855. The quilts made during this time featured ornate appliqué and embroidery blocks.
- Bargello quilt: This is a quilt that is made up of off-set squares of color in a rising or falling pattern. Different strips of fabric are sewn together and then cut into smaller segments and then pieced together in a way that features geometric patterns in the design.
- Charm quilt: This is a quilt created using "block" units that are all the same shape and size but all different fabrics. The pieces are usually small, most commonly 2" or less.
- Memory quilt: This is a quilt created using blocks to commemorate an occasion. Common themes used in a memory quilt include; wedding, retirement, and birthday. The individual quilt blocks can be made up of signature blocks, direct printed photo blocks, theme related blocks, and more.
- Miniature quilt: This quilt is made on much smaller scale than a full sized quilt. The blocks are usually two to three inches in size. Paper piecing is a common method used for miniature quilts.
- Postage Stamp quilt: This type of quilt is similar to a charm quilt. This style of quilting is when all of the pieces in the quilt are approximately the size of a postage stamp.
- Sampler quilt: This quilt top is created using blocks that are each a different design or style. This is a popular style quilt for beginners because it gives experience in many different quilt block pattern styles.
- Scrap quilt: This quilt is generally created using many different fabrics. Quite often, scraps of fabric left over from other quilting projects are used.
- Stained Glass quilt: This is a style of quilting that is meant to resemble a stained glass window pane. Pieces of glass are joined together with some kind of leading, which is often copper. The pieces are usually vibrant hand dyed or batik fabrics.
- Summer quilt: This is a quilt made of only a quilt top and backing. There is usually no batting used in this type of quilt, which is commonly used in the hot summer months.

There are many reasons to start quilting. Quilting can not only give you personal enjoyment and satisfaction but a quilt can be a work of art that tells a story. A quilt is also a great way of giving to those in need in your community. You can give quilts to the homeless or children in foster care, lap quilts for senior citizens or baby quilts for crisis pregnancy centers are all ways that this hobby can help those in need and change someone’s life.

Before you begin, there is some basic quilting information that may be helpful. There are a number of different types of quilts, but a quilt generally consists of three layers. The first layer is the top, which may be created in several different ways. Some of these ways include patchwork piecing and appliqué. The quilt top can be created also by piecing together scraps of fabric left over from other projects, household items or pieces of clothing. You can also purchase fabric specifically to be used for the top layer of your quilt.
Using quilt blocks is another way of creating the top. Quilt blocks are individual sections of patchwork that are put together in a particular pattern. The blocks are sewn together to complete the quilt top. There are a variety of different patterns available for the beginner to those with more experience and skill.
The next layer is the batting. This is the insulation that adds warmth and body to the quilt. There are several kinds of batting available depending on the amount of warmth that is wanted, price range and type of quilt.
The final layer, which completes the quilt and brings it all together is the backing. The backing can be a whole piece of fabric or it can be two or more pieces of the same fabric sewn together, depending on the size of the quilt. A whole piece of fabric is generally all that a smaller quilt requires, but a larger quilting project often requires two or more pieces of the same fabric sewn together to complete the project.
When the top layer is ready, and the batting and backing are cut to size, all three layers are then layered together. To hold them together during the quilting process these layers must be basted. The stitching that is used to bind the three layers together is generally decorative and often follows a pattern. This can be done by hand or machine.

When choosing a first time quilting project, it is a good idea to choose a project that is simple and small. Some good beginner projects include baby quilts, lap quilts, doll quilts, pillows, and wall hangings. Quilts are generally constructed using 100% cotton fabrics and threads. Cotton fabric is generally easier to work with, it holds a crease well and is available in wide variety of colors. You can find packages of fabric that are color-coordinated and pre-cut for quilters at your local quilting shop. Use batting that is thinner, such as Warm & Natural and Warm & White. This is because it is less difficult to quilt and maneuver.

Be sure to use accurate rulers for measuring and use curved safety pins when pinning. Curved safety pins will make pinning your quilt much easier.

Always use ¼" seams and be sure to keep the seams uniform. A ¼" quilting foot is a useful and very handy tool to have. Also, always press the current piece and then move to the next step. And seams should be ironed towards the darker material.

Keep in mind, quilting is a hobby in which anyone can learn. It can be a wonderful way to relax while creating something beautiful.

If you are into quilting or are just getting into quilting there are certain types of quilting machines available. Depending on what type of quilting you are doing will depend on what type of quilting machines you will want to get. If you want to do a lot of quilting that involves doing a lot of fancy embroidering you might want to look into getting a longarm quilting machine. If you are thinking about getting a longarm quilting machine, here are some tips on what you should know about longarm quilting machines.

The first tip on what you should know about longarm quilting machines is that there are different types. Different longarm quilting machines will differ in size depending on what type of longarm quilting machines you decide to go with. Longarm quilting machines have different sizes depending on the quilting you are going to be doing.

The second tip on what you should know about longarm quilting machines is that there are different brands. Different longarm quilting machines will have different features. You will want to make sure that you take a look at the different functions that each longarm quilting machines have.

The third tip on what you should know about longarm quilting machines is that there are different prices. Depending on what features you get on your longarm quilting machines will help determine the price of your longarm quilting machines. If there are some features on a long arm quilting machine that you are not going to use you will not want to pay the extra money for it. Longarm quilting machines have a large price range. Longarm quilting machines are nice because they usually have a guide that you can use to make certain patterns. Some longarm quilting machines have computers that you can input a certain pattern and the longarm quilting machine can sew it itself because of the computer that is connected to it.

The fourth tip on what you should know about longarm quilting machines is that they are not for everyone. If you don’t sew all of the time and when you do sew you are only patching holes in clothes a longarm quilting machine is not for you. Longarm quilting machines are for people that love to quilt and even quilt to make money.

The fifth tip on what you should now about longarm quilting machines is that they can take up a lot of room. Longarm quilting machines usually sit on top of a base that has patterns on it that you can follow when you are using your longarm quilting machines. You will want to make sure that you know how much room the longarm quilting machine you are looking at take up. If you don’t have a lot of room you will want to make sure that you account for that when you are making your decision.

These are just a few tips on what you should know about longarm quilting machines. If you want more information on what you should know about longarm quilting machines you can do some research and read reviews on what different longarm quilting machines have to offer and what other people have to say about different longarm quilting machines. Sometimes it is good to find out what other people have to say about longarm quilting machines because then you can hear what experiences they have had with their longarm quilting machines. This will help you to know different pros and cons for different longarm quilting machines. Doing your homework on longarm quilting machines will help you to decide what is important on what you should know about longarm quilting machines.

There are a lot of things that you have to take into consideration when you are going to do some quilting. If you are just getting into quilting you might want to take some classes before you go off on your own. If you have been quilting for a while but are still having some problems with the fabric lines, here are some things on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting.

The first thing on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting is that there are many different kinds. Depending on what type of quilt you are making will depending on the type of fabric lines you will want to use. You will need to make sure that you look at all of the different fabrics to know which one is going to work the best for your quilt.

The second thing on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting is that there are different ways that you can sew different lines. For example if you are making a quilt that you want it to be a little busier and not the traditional blanket you can change up the fabric lines. You can make some fabric lines go one way while others go the other way. You just need to make sure that if you are going to change fabric lines that it will still all match up and your blanket is going to come out the right size.

The third thing on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting is that there is is a lot to choose from. You will want to make sure that if you are making a quilt from a pattern that you read what they recommend. Different fabrics lines will hold quilts together better or have a certain reason why they are called for. This is why it is important that you pay attention to the pattern if you are using one. If you are doing a quilt on your own you might want to ask for some advice from people at the quilting shop and see if they have any suggestions that they think will help you. You will want to make sure though that if you are asking some one questions at the quilting shop that they are a quilter themselves. You don’t want to ask some one that has never sewn a quilt before because they will probably be clueless about different fabric lines.

The fourth thing on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting is that certain threads might be recommended for different fabric lines. Depending on the thread you use will depend on the strength. If you are using a heavier fabric you will want to make sure that your thread will hold your fabric lines together.

These are just a couple of things on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting. If you still have questions on what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting you can go online or go to your local quilting shop and ask around. If you do your homework you will be able to know what exactly you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting. This will help you out a lot when you decide to make your quilts it will help ensure that your quilt will stay together longer. This is why it is important that you find out what you should know about fabric lines when it comes to quilting.

There are so many different types of things that you can buy when it comes to quilting. One thing that you might want to consider buying for quilting is a machine that will take the thinking out of quilting for you. If you are thinking about getting a sewing machine that uses different software to make different designs in your quilts but don’t know what software you want to buy, here are some tips to take into consideration when you are deciding what kind of quilting software you should use.

The first tip to help you decide what kind of quilting software you should use is to decide what type of quilting you are going to be doing. Different quilting software has different features so you will want to make sure that you know what you are looking for. If you just start looking at quilting software without knowing what things you have in mind you might end up getting overwhelmed and just buy the first one you look at. This is why it is important that before you even start looking at quilting software that you write down what types of features you want to have.

The second tip to help you decide what kind of quilting software you should use is to see what software is recommended for your quilting machine. Different quilting machines might have different software that is compatible with your quilting machine depending on how much memory your quilting machine has to how big your quilting machine is to how old your quilting machine is. These are all things that you will need to take into consideration.

The third tip to help you decide what kind of quilting software you should use is to decide how much quilting you are going to be doing with the software. If you are only buying the quilting software to do one or two quilts with you will probably not want to spend as much money on software as you would if you were going to be quilting a dozen quilts or so.

The fourth tip to help you decide what kind of quilting software you should use is to decide how much detail you want on your quilts. For example some software you get will offer features where you can get really in detail where others just have basic stitching. If you want to get the software that offers a lot of detail you will want to make sure that you know how to work your quilting machine if you are going to be guiding it back and forth.

The fifth tip to help you decide what kind of quilting software you should use is to ask around. Ask different people that quilt what they recommend. You can call different quilting schools and ask them what they prefer and how much they have used different software. You can also go to your local quilting shop and ask them about different software they have used and if it is user friendly software to use.

These are just a couple of tips on what kind of quilting software you should use. There are so many different types of quilting software out there to choose from. If you are still unsure about what kind of quilting software you should use you can go one line and do some research. This is a great way to read different reviews and see what is available in quilting software. Doing research will also give you an idea about different quilting software and the experience level that you need to have to use different quilting software. This will help you to decide what kind of quilting software you should use.

There are so many different things that you can get into when you decide you want to quilt. You can go to quilting school so you can learn little tips and tricks on how to do a variety of different techniques. You can also join a quilting group. If you are thinking about joining a quilting group but don’t know if it is a good idea, here are some of the pros and cons of joining quilting groups.

The first pro to joining quilting groups is that there is a set time whether it is once a month or once a week that you will have the opportunity to take time out of your busy schedule and quilt. This is a great way to set time aside so you are guaranteed that you get your quilts done and they don’t end up sitting in a closet half finished because you can never find the time.

The first con to joining quilting groups is that you have to take time out of your busy schedule to make it to a quilting group. Sometimes it is hard for everyone to meet on the same night so you always have to try to switch things around to work around the night or day that you are going to meet with your quilting groups.

The second pro to joining quilting groups is that you will be able to learn new techniques and new tricks to doing things that you were not aware of before then. Different people have different ways of doing things and when you join a quilting group it is a great way to show others what you have to offer and they can do the same in return.

The second con to joining quilting groups is that you might have to work on a quilting project that you don’t want to work on. For example some quilting groups take turns quilting a quilt for different people. You might not want to work on some one else’s quilt because you want to work on your own when you have a little bit of free time.

The third pro to joining quilting groups is that it helps you to get to know other people that are interested in quilting just like you are. Maybe you are the only one of your friends that is into quilting, joining quilting groups will give you the opportunity to meet other people who love to quilt as much as you do. This also gives you the opportunity to ask questions about quilting that you might have.

The third con to joining quilting groups is that you might not get along with everyone in the quilting groups. Everyone is different which means everyone is going to have a different opinion on things. This can cause conflicts depending on what you are on. This is why it is important that you meet the people in different quilting groups to make sure that at least some of them have the same type of personality as you.

These are just a few of the pros and cons to joining a quilting group. Before you make your final decision on whether or not you want to join a quilting group you will want to make sure that you weigh all the pros and cons of joining quilting groups against one another. This way you will be able to make the decision that is right for you. You will also want to make sure that you find out all of the different details of each quilting group that you are looking into. Some might have certain fees while others don’t. These are also things that you will want to put on your pros and cons list of joining quilting groups.

There are so many different things that you need to know when you are quilting. One thing that you need to decide when quilting is if you would rather hand quilt or quilt with a machine. If you hate to hand quilt but feel like it is something that you need to do, here are some pros and cons of hand quilting to help you decide if hand quilting is really worth the work.

The first pro to hand quilting is that you can see every stitch that is being sewn. This is a pro because you can make sure that every stitch is being sewn Hand quilting can also be a con. The con of hand quilting is that you can see every stitch that is being sewn. If you see every stitch you will know if you have messed up or if one stitch is more crooked then the rest.

The second pro to hand quilting is that you can make custom designs in your quilts. If you are hand quilting your blankets you are guaranteed that there won’t be another quilt out there just like it. You can hand quilt in initials into your quilts or different designs that you can make a look of its own.

The second con to hand quilting is that it does take longer than if you quilt with a machine. Hand quilting also takes more time because it might be harder to put the needle in and out of a quilt then if you quilt on a machine.

The third pro to hand quilting is that you can see your mistakes before it is too late. This will help you to not have to unpick as much as you might if you were quilting with a machine. You will also be able to change your mind in the middle of a quilting project and add or take away something that you decide you don’t want.

The third con to hand quilting is that you might have to figure out how to make certain designs that might be easier to do with a machine quilter.

The fourth pro to hand quilting is that it is easier to get into hard to reach places that you might not be able to get into if you are quilting with a machine. For example if you are doing the edges of a quilt it might be easier to hand quilt it then to try to quilt with a machine and to get the edges to lay right.

The fourth con to hand quilting is that you might not be able to get the stitches as tight as you could if you were using a machine quilter. A machine quilter combines to threads that interlock which cause the stitches to be stronger.

There are a lot of pros and cons of hand quilting. You just have to weigh the different pros and cons of hand quilting against each other to see if it is worth the effort of hand quilting or if you should bypass hand quilting al together. Hand quilting is a personal preference that each quilter has to decide for themselves if it is worth it or not. Each quilter also has a different way of hand quilting. Some quilters will tell other quilters that they are hand quilting wrong because it is not the way that they do it. If you are going to hand quilt you will want to have a technique so that your hand quilting will be a littler easier. Just make sure that before you decide one way or the other about hand quilting being right for you that you weigh all the pros and cons of hand quilting.