When yesterday’s pioneer housewives gathered to stitch a quilt spread over a table, they completed the project quickly while enjoying news, gossip and laughter. A “bee” means folks meeting for a specific purpose, such as a barn raising. Modern quilters hold bees to work on a single quilt as a fund-raising project. Steps: Appoint a […]
Quilting
How to Bind a Quilt
The final step of constructing a quilt is adding the binding. A quilt’s binding is a strip of fabric sewn around the edge of the quilt sandwich to help keep the quilt’s layers in place. Though there are a few different ways to make a binding, the most durable binding is a double fold binding, […]
How to Quilt a Quilt
Quilting a quilt is the process of permanently joining the three layers of the quilt sandwich by stitching them together by hand or machine. There is no defined pattern you have to use when quilting. In fact, quilting is often used as an additional decorative element in a quilt. For instance, some of the ways that […]
How to Layer a Quilt
Layering a quilt is the process of sandwiching the batting between the quilt top and the backing, then pinning and basting the layers so that they don’t shift during quilting. Make the Batting Batting is available in many different sizes, but depending on the size of your quilt, you may have to piece together two lengths […]
How to Piece a Quilt
Piecing a quilt is the process of creating the quilt top by sewing together all of the individual pieces. Piecing a quilt involves joining smaller pieces into bigger pieces, and then joining those bigger pieces. If you’re working with blocks, piece together the pieces to form the blocks, then piece together the blocks. Whether you’re joining […]
How to Cut Quilt Pieces
The first step in making a patchwork quilt is to cut pieces of fabric into the geometric shapes that you’ll later piece together to form blocks. Quilt-Cutting Guidelines To cut pieces as precisely as possible, it’s important to follow a few guidelines for setting up and cutting your fabric: Always square the fabric so that […]
How to Choose Batting for a Quilt
In addition to choosing fabric, you have to choose a type of batting, which affects the loft (thickness), warmth, and drape of the finished quilt, as well as how easy it will be to quilt. The fiber content and loft of the batting you use determines the warmth and shape of the finished quilt. Batting Fiber Content Characteristics […]
How to Calculate Fabric Yardage
Many predesigned quilt patterns provide instructions to help you buy the right amount of the different fabrics you need to make the quilt. If you’re designing your own quilt, you’ll have to calculate the yardage you need. To calculate fabric yardage for a quilt: Count how many of each piece you need. Determine the dimensions […]
Quilt Design Basics
The first step in making a quilt is selecting a design for the quilt you’d like to make. You can follow a preexisting quilting pattern or design your own quilt. Using a quilting pattern: If you’re a beginner, it’s best to work from a quilting pattern because it leads you through all the steps, from calculating fabric yardage to choosing […]
How to Choose Quilting Fabric
Fabric is the foundation of all quilts, and the type of fabric you use will have the biggest impact on how the finished quilt looks. When selecting fabric for a quilt, the three factors you should take into account are its: Construction (woven or knit) Fiber content Color Fabric stores often display fabrics designed for […]
How to Choose Quilting Thread
In both hand and machine quilting, thread is used for basting, piecing, quilting, and appliqué. You can use multiple types of thread in a single quilt. Quilting threads come in a wide variety of colors and can be made from a number of different natural or synthetic fibers. To choose thread for your project, consider […]
The Most Essential Quilting Tools and Supplies
You’ll need several tools to perform the four basic quilting tasks: cutting, measuring, marking, and sewing. If you sew often, you probably have many of these tools on hand already. Cutting Tools Rotary cutter: Unlike scissors, this wheel blade cuts in one fluid motion. A large rotary cutter is ideal for simultaneously cutting multiple layers of fabric into consistent shapes, […]
