Quilting Basics

A large variety of thread has been produced since the boom in the interest that people have started taking in the quilting craft. And since there is such a huge amount of thread, choosing the right one can leave you in a whole lot of confusion. You will have a wide choice to select from.

There are two categories into which quilting threads fall- thread for embellishing and sewing thread. In quilting, the most popularly used thread is sewing thread. Lets briefly discuss about that. There are different fibers and weights in which you can select sewing thread. The thread weights range from as less as 28 to as much as 60. Strength is the basic property that quilting thread should possess so that it lasts for long. Therefore it is best you go for threads that weigh around 40. Threads that weigh 28 are usually used for embellishment and those that weigh 50 are usually used for piecing. Reading the label can help you find the weight of thread that you are looking for. The labeling is usually of the kind: 30/2. Here 30 is the thread weight and 2 is the number of plies.

Cotton, polyester, plastic, metallic and rayon are the most common threads for quilting. Plastic and metallic threads are used specialty stitches and embellishments only. The most common is cotton thread and it is usually mercerized. Mercerization is a process in which the fiber is made to swell and straighten repeatedly. This removes the fibers tendency to get fuzzy and also increases the thread's luster. The common weights of cotton thread range from 30-60.

Another high lustrous thread is rayon while polyester is known to have a colorfast and non-shrinkable finish. It is usually a little tougher to sew metallic threads and it is not recommended for beginners although they make the quilt look dazzlingly beautiful. A few popular and trust worthy brands that quilters can choose from are Coats and Clark, Guterman that is popular for its ease of use and strength especially for hand quilting, the Madeira rayon thread, which is good for embroidery on leather or denim, and Mettler, which offers several different fibers.

Using old sewing thread is not such a good idea as old threads tend to degenerate when on the spool. Take the old thread by pulling on it after unreeling it a bit. If it s naps, then it is most likely to snap even when you place it in the sewing machine. It is best you buy new thread what with the vast variety of threads available for quilting and its low cost. This way you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

There are certain manufacturers who manufacture special threads for the purpose for embellishing and you can easily find them at any local quilting store. For hand quilting, there are a range of colors and fibers in which embroidery floss is available. You will definitely fall more into love with quilting once you learn about the various threads available for it.

Abhishek is an avid Quilting enthusiast and he has got some great Quilting Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 40 Pages Ebook, "Understanding The Basics Of Quilting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/622/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

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Quilters who are not already a machine embroidery enthusiast just may find themselves engrossed in the craft once they realize they could incorporate machine embroidery into their quilting.

Embroidery is a traditional way to add special decorative touches to quilts. Whether by hand or machine, a quilter may accent his or her creation with embroidered flowers or other accents. But today's machine embroidery - for those willing to try it - can make quilting quite different.

For instance, a quilter may use a simple embroidery design to let the machine "quilt" the project. Simple one color designs work best, especially for the beginner.

If you want to give this a try, look for an embroidery design that's simple - one that you can visualize stitched into a quilt. Some redwork inspired designs work well. Other simple designs like flowers, circles, sun/moon, houses, hearts - there are all sorts of designs to choose from - can work well as quilting stitches.

Be sure to keep your quilt top's theme in mind. We all know and love the traditional beauty of the double wedding ring quilt. While the quilt top is beautiful with its color variety, the quilt back is just as pretty with its simple stitching that follows the design on the top.

What if you used an embroidery machine to quilt hearts into the quilt design? That one unexpected touch would truly make your quilt unique.

Have you ever needed to throw together a quick quilt? Many quilting pros laugh at the notion, but sometimes we need a quick gift to give and want to make it personal. Lap quilts and baby quilts are very easy to create on an embroidery machine.

Simply hoop your top fabric, batting and backing fabric into an embroidery hoop. Pick a design and get to work! Even if you are quilting solid color fabrics, you can complete a quick, beautiful quilt with the embroidery machine in no time!

Some ideas for a baby blanket for a boy would be to use outlines of footballs, airplanes, trucks, trains, etc., for your quilting pattern. The hardest part of your job will be re-hooping fabric and pushing the "start" button!

Ideas for a baby blanket for a girl include outlines of flowers, baskets, dolls, kittens, etc.

The method above uses machine embroidery on relatively small quilts. Larger quilts can be done the same way or may be quilted with machine embroidery by individual quilt blocks. Experiment to decide which method is easiest for you and remember that the machine embroidery quilting method may change with each unique project.

If you can't find a pattern you like already on embroidery file, ask a digitizer to help you create one. A digitizer takes art images like drawings, clip art images and fonts and alters them via computer to become a stitch pattern. So if you'd like for your family tree wall hanging to be quilted with a tree pattern, a digitizer can create one for you.

Tell your digitizer you want to use the image for quilting. The digitizer will need to plan stitches accordingly.

Quilting is rich in tradition and therefore many true-blue quilters do not like the idea of using machine embroidery to quilt their projects. Isn't it great to try new ideas and techniques? Remember, not to long ago quilters refused to consider machine quilting at all! Embroidery machines will never take the place of quilters, but it can be a fun and rewarding sewing technique to try from time to time.

Penny Halgren

http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

Penny has been a quilter for more than 26 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting sharing her knowledge with all quilters.

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Quilting is really addictive and the array of materials is endless. There are such a lot of projects to form - beginning off on small projects like cushions, tablecloths, pillowcases to the bigger projects like throws, bed quilts and wall hangings. But select something that most nearly fits your talent level.

The easy block patterns are very fast and fun. The 9 patch block pattern can be the foundation for your imagination. When you stitch the nine blocks in a pattern you can make tiny blocks and from these blocks make plenty of different quilt patterns.

You do not have to use just squares either, you use half square triangles and quarter square triangles also. As this is a straightforward block to make, you may have this finished over a weekend. What easier way to spend your weekend than to make something to enjoy forever.

There are so many block patterns to make a choice from. Try these patterns: bears paw, double T, card trick, the windmill, Yankee puzzle, maple leaf, log cabin, Ohio star there are too many to write down here. But there's so much info within easy reach books, magazines, web sites, craft stores, you have to start looking.

A good quilting idea is to decide what sort of time you can spend on a project. If you do not have a large amount of time select something straightforward, but if you do have plenty of time on your hands then make something more detailed and be imaginative. Regardless of what you decide to do have fun!

Machine quilting is kind of easy to learn the skill of. But be prepared as the day can go by when you're engrossed in a project. When quilting it is fine to use different kinds on the same block or quilt.

You also do not have to follow the seam lines and you can give your quilt a new element by stitching diagonally across the block. It is generally better to have the design on the overall quilt instead of single blocks.

Hand quilting is a calming way to spend the day. You want short and pointy needles, start at size eight which is the biggest and then the littlest which is twelve and it's critical to have uniformity.

Employing a ring is a brilliant idea when quilting as the layers are held tight which will help you in keeping your stitches uniform. Some quilting ideas on projects to make are:

Clothing quilts - these quilts are made out of pieces of material from garments that you perhaps had when you used to be a kid and other pieces that have many memories for you.

T-shirt quilts - are made out of t-shirts with pictures or sayings on them, cut them out and put them in a quilt.
Message quilts - this is where you stitch messages onto blocks and then stitch them together. This is a great family project.
Sports team quilts - Cut emblems, team colours, and other sports themes and stitch them into a quilt.

There are several places to get quilting ideas - photos, landscapes, exhibitions, craft shops, books and mags. Just let your imagination run wild and you'll be shocked at what superb projects you can create.

Dorothy Grounds is a quilting expert. Discover The ULTIMATE Guide For Quilting, Learn The Secrets How To Quilt Marvelous Crafts Effortlessly!

Learn more information about Quilting Ideas, visit http://www.learnquiltingbasics.com.

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Of all of the hobbies out there at the moment, there is none rising as fast as quilting. Although that hobby, and indeed art, has been around for years, it is experiencing more popularity than it has done in over a century. Beginner quilting is a great outlet for your creativity and can occupy your mind for hours on end with something beautiful to show at the end of it. You can simply start with a couple of pieces of material to sew patterns on and move up from there, in line with your growing confidence and expertise. Beginner quilting is a worthwhile pastime for anyone and will nicely introduce you to the art with very little financial commitment. It will also give you good practice so that you will soon graduate to the more complicated designs. For more info see http://www.iheartquilting.com/ on Quilting.



Beginner Quilting - Lesson One



As previously mentioned, a good starting point for beginner quilting is sewing and embroidering on two pieces of material that are already cut to a uniform size. The only items of equipment you will need for beginner quilting is material, a needle and thread. Keeping it simple for a start will teach you more for a lower cost than starting off more complicated and immediately losing confidence. Follow the steps of beginner quilting and you will not go far wrong:



1. Buy two equal measures of fabric. They should be uniform in size and have an all-over pattern. The top and bottom piece can be different, but they should both be continuous in pattern.



2. Buy a piece of batting. This will be used to support the material when you sew it to make sure that the edges are even on the finished product. It is an essential tool in beginner quilting.



3. Before commencing sewing, wash both pieces either in a machine or by hand. Wash them together though so that any shrinkage of the material is experienced by both pieces rather than just one of them. This will save you cutting them to size at a later date.



4. Place the fabric pieces one on top of the other with the right sides, or the sides that will be the outer material, facing each other so that the inside is on the outside as such.



5. Place your beginner quilting batting underneath the pieces and begin to sew a seam around the bottom of the material and on both left and right sides. Only sew the top approximately three quarters of the length of the side so there is still a distinct gap. You should leave half an inch of the beginner quilting from the hem.



6. Turn the beginner quilting inside out via the gap at the top of the quilting after removing the batting from underneath the quilting. Be sure to examine the hem of the beginner quilting so that you notice any mistakes before completing your piece. All extra sewing should be performed with the quilting turned inside out, as it was when you sewed the original hem.



7. Finally, stitch up the rest of the quilt when the beginner quilt has been turned out correctly. Iron it to make sure that the fabric is even.



You have just had you first success at beginner quilting! However, making it and making sure that it stands that test of time are two different things! You should do your best to look after the piece so that it achieves a measure of longevity. Always hand wash the quilting and hang it outside to dry. Never use a dryer. If you want to preserve your beginner quilting then you should cherish it. You should now be ready to move on to your next project!

About the Author:
You can also find more info on Quilting Designs and Quilting Machine. IHeartquilting.com is a comprehensive resource to known about quilting.

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So how do you make the patterns for quilting?

First, of course, it depends on why you are making a quilt, which determines
what sort of pattern you would like and what sort of fabrics you would use.
For patchwork quilting – most American Colonial Style for example, it’s very
straight forward to make your patterns, and you can find lots of examples, with
sizes, for you to print off from the internet.

Cut paper templates for your shapes, and then trace them on to sand paper (fine
gauge) or plastic template material. Then trace the templates onto the fabric and
cut out.

Or, if you are making a quilt from varying shaped pieces, you can make a large
paper or card design, and gradually cut out and put together sections to match
your design.

You will need to determine the sequence of stitching to create each square or
section if there are overlapping pieces of fabric. Follow the tips above for using
foundation paper, which is numbered to reflect the pieces you use to make up
the block.

The art of quilting is really in the care and precision, both in the planning stage,
and for the stitching.

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When making a baby quilt or baby blanket, there is the dillema of what size a proper baby quilt should be. While there is no legal rule set in stone when it comes to setting the size of a baby quilt or baby blanket, some thought should be put into the dimensions of the quilt before undertaking a project like this.





When deciding on the size and dimension you would like the baby quilt you are making to be, you may want to consider such things as the size of a standard baby crib as this is one of the ideal places where the baby quilt will be used.





The most common size and dimensions of a baby crib bed or matress is 36"x52". If you would like the baby crib to fit the baby crib, you may want to take those dimensions into consideration when planning your quilting strategy.





Another factor worth consideration is the age of the baby. Healthy babies do grow at a steady and speedy rate, so making smaller baby quilts and baby blankets may not be what you would want to do. If the baby is a newborn, how long do you want the baby quilt to last?





Baby Quilt Sizes





Although size should be considered, do not worry about measurements too much. There are much more important aspects to fret about when making a unique baby quilt. But here are some sizes that are commonly used:





* 32"x40"


* 36"x36"


* 36"x45"


* 36"x48"


* 40"x52"


* 36"x60"


* 45"x60"


* 60"x60"





Those dimension listed above should be more than enough to give you an idea of what you size you would like to create. The 32"x40" size should fit a baby crib mattress nice and snug while the 60"x60" size will allow room for the baby to grow and when the child becomes a toddler and perhaps older, the 60"x60" will still be more than ample for use.





However, no matter what size or dimension you choose for the makings of your baby quilt project, the baby quilt will be unique and memorable because it is gift from you. The pouring out of your heart and soul into the making of the baby quilt is really what should matter.





If you would like to purchase unique baby quilts and baby bedding online, check out Unique Baby Quilts for many great brands of baby bedding including Pottery Barn, Disney, and Suzy's Zoo crib sheets, nursery decor, bassinet bedding, baby blankets for boys and girls, and many more baby bedding items.

About the Author:

For great deal on unique baby bedding, check out the Unique Baby Quilts online store.

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If you are thinking about learning how to quilt, or are a beginner and haven't made your first quilt yet, you might be wondering how long it will take you to make your first quilt. If you're afraid that it will take you months, or even years to make a quilt, you will be happy to learn that it isn't the case. Depending on the quilt you choose to make, you can have your first quilt done in less than a week, and may even make an entire quilt in a weekend.

There are many things that will help decide how long your quilt will take you to make. One thing is the amount of time you can devote to it. If you only have a few minutes, you might be better off just waiting until another time, as by the time you take everything out, get it all set up, and start quilting, you will have to stop to put everything away since you've run out of time. If on the other hand, you can set aside a few hours, you will be more likely to get more of the quilt done, and then you will want to devote more time to getting it finished.

Another thing that will help make your quilt take less time is if you make a smaller quilt. At least until you get the hang of things, the first quilt (and probably first few quilts) for a beginning quilter should be something small. Maybe something like a baby blanket, or a lap quilt. This way you will have experience in making the whole quilt an will get better at it and in turn be quicker with it. Also, by choosing a small quilt, you will see your results sooner, and will be more likely to want to continue making quilts.

If you keep your materials together and organized, you will also find that you will be able to finish your quilts faster, since you won't have to spend time just getting things together each time you want to work on your quilt. If you know exactly where everything is, you will be able to pick up where you left off, and get right back to being productive and getting your quilt done.

If you are a beginner quilter and are worried that you won't be able to finish your quilt, or that it will take too long to make the quilt, then just follow some of the above tips as well as any others that will help you quilt faster, and you will have your first quilt finished before you know it!

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.

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