Quilting Basics

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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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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As the holidays approach and we are all trying to think of unique gifts for friends and family, quilters have the creative edge. Even skipping over the obvious gift of a quilt, quilted vest, or quilted home accessory, quilters can give a truly unique gift.

How about giving quilting kits for holidays and other gift-giving occasions?

Chances are that friends and family have been admiring your work and have even stated they wish they could quilt. Those are the people who would love to receive your quilting kit this year. Putting together a quilting kit is not hard and it will allow you to share your craft with others.

First, remember to keep your quilting kits simple. A throw pillow, a wall hanging, table runner or placemats are a good start.

Next, pick your designs. Be sure to keep them pretty basic so beginners will not easily be discouraged. Make a copy of the finished design or quilt block so it can be used as a check point throughout the project.

Cut and label the pieces of fabric needed to complete the project. Remember to include directions. Either handwrite them or type them. Remember to include information about the batting unless you plan to include it in your kit as well.

Remember to include all the necessary notions in your quilting kit: a small pair of scissors, coordinating threads and a couple of needles. Your recipient will be delighted!

Quilted oranments, tree skirts and table runners make nice quilting kits. Find your favorite designs and make holiday quilting kits for your friends.

For friends who have some quilting skills, you could assemble kits to make quilted clothing items or larger projects.

If you are part of a quilting club that is looking for a fundraiser, creating quilting kits would be ideal. Quilting kits encourage others to learn the craft and give a sense of satisfaction upon completion. The fundraiser could be year around since many of the projects could be completed and be given as gifts or holiday ornaments themselves. Keep skill levels in mind when making quilting kits: beginner, intermediate and experienced.

If your club is making quilting kits for a fundraiser, keep in mind to price the kits according to the level of difficulty for which they are designed and on the contents inside the kit. A beginner kit will cost less than a quilting kit because it will not be as complex and detailed. Complex designs will involve more work in putting the quilting kit together. More supplies will also be needed to complete it...which in turn means more cutting of pieces.

Packaging your quilting kits is simple. Use resealable plastic bags to hold the items. Include a copy of the finished product or of the quilt block template. Don't forget detailed instructions, too! Add your phone number to the instructions in case your friend runs across something they don't understand. Zip the plastic bag closed and your quilting kit is complete!

If you want to give something a little more than your quilting kit, tuck it inside a personalized tote bag that will be handy for carrying along the project (and future projects). Personalize the tote bag yourself with appliqué, rhinestones, fabric paints or embroidery (or a combination of them all). You may also take the bag to a local embroiderer for a custom monogram or personalization.

You may soon find that your quilting kits are the hit of the holiday season and don't be surprised if friends and family come to request your quilting kits each year!

About the Author:

Penny Halgren

http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Make Quilt Kits for Others

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Which hand quilted patterns were stitched into American quilts made in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? Nine common patterns seen by this quilt historian are described here.

1. Clamshell is one of the earliest patterns. They were stitched allover the top on whole cloth and patchwork quilts or as the background between other quilting patterns.
2. Feathers were most common on pre-Civil War fancy and elaborate quilts which were used on special occasions, or given as a gift. The feather was not shaped like a bird's long pointed feathers; they were short like a flower petal, and rounded at the end. Feathered designs were stitched in a variety of motifs such as a garland, wreath, pineapple, and heart. Feathered designs were commonly used on red and green appliqué quilts made in the middle years of the 19th century and on Colonial Revival style appliqué quilts made in the 20th Century before the second World War.

3. Hanging diamonds were squares on point, often used in conjunction with feathered patterns. They could be large or small in size. They were stitched around appliquéd pieces to hold the batting on place and fill in the background areas of the quilt. After the Civil War the size of the handing diamond increased and it became the sole quilting pattern on some patchwork quilts. Larger size diamonds are found on vintage quilts.

4. Another common choice for an all over pattern patchwork and utilitarian quilts is
a square grid. As the allover pattern, the squares were large to larger in size. As the background pattern, they were smaller depending on the patchwork or appliquéd pattern. Here again, a special quilt received smaller grids, which filled the empty areas to hold the batting and layers together well.

5&6. Cables and chevrons were stitched into borders and sashing strips. Cables were connected curved "S" shapes running vertically down a border or sashing. Chevron's were straight lines forming "V's" filling the width of the border in a zigzag shape. One, two, and three lines decreasing in size formed the cables and chevrons. Both century's quilt makers used these two patterns.

7. Single and Double parallel lines were usually quilted on the diagonal across the entire quilt or just in the borders. Pre-Civil War quilts could have triple parallel lines, stitched close together in the background areas around appliqués and in the borders. In the late nineteenth century, women also quilted lines across the appliquéd pieces. Single and double lines, spaced further apart than earlier quilts, were stitched in vintage era quilts.

8. Fan quilting is also called elbow quilting because the quilter used the reach from her elbow to her fingers to make the arch or fan shape. Methodist Fan and Baptist Fan have been popular names for the fan too, because it was fast and easy pattern for a group of church women to stitch around a large quilting frame. In England the fan is called waves. The pattern was common later in the last quarter of the 19th and first half of 20th century quilts, and especially popular in the Southern and southern Midwestern states. The fan was mostly used on everyday quilts.

9. The one-quarter inch inside the seam stitching was sometimes referred to as "quilting by the piece" or "in the piece" reflecting exactly how it appeared. This pattern was used occasionally from the mid-nineteenth century on, never being a common pattern until the late 20th century.

Kimberly Wulfert is a quilt historian, speaker and teacher, specializing in dating antique quilts and textiles. She has developed two easy quick charts for dating quilts made between 1775 and 1950 and they're portable to put in your purse for shopping. http://www.antiquequiltdatingguides.com

Want to see and read more about quilts of all kinds, art, reproduction and antique, and the women (mostly) who made them? Sign up for her free newsletter at http://quiltersspirit.blogspot.com and be with an international Quilters Spirit Circle of Friends!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Wulfert
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hand-Quilting-Patterns-on-Antique-Quilts&id=1519078

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Are you looking for some quick quilt patterns? Maybe you are just beginning to quilt. Or perhaps you have a baby shower coming up and you want to give a present that is pretty, but will not take weeks to finish.

Well, you have come to the right place. The following easy quilt patterns look gorgeous and can be finished quickly. In fact, for a baby sized quilt, the quilt top can be completed in less than 24 hours.

1.Log Cabin

The Log Cabin is perhaps the best known of the quick quilt patterns. First, it is colorful. The pattern can use up to 13 different fabrics in a block. Next, it is easy. If you can sew a straight seam (and even if you can't) you can still make a lovely quilt from this block. Plus, it is quick. Using modern strip piecing techniques, you can easily complete the quilt top in less than 24 hours.

2.Whole Cloth

A whole cloth quilt is just one entire piece of fabric the same dimensions as a pieced quilt top. Actually, there are fabrics out there that look like pieced quilt tops. They are gorgeous and excellent practice.

Please do not think that a whole cloth quilt is not "real." As long as the quilt has a top, batting and a backing stitched together, it is a quilt. Whole cloth quilts are wonderful ways to practice. They are definitely worth investigating for the beginning quilter.

3.Four - Patch

You can't get much easier than a Four-patch block alternating with a plain square. These basic patterns allow you finish a quilt quickly. This pattern also lends itself to novelty prints.

4.Denim Rag Quilt

Denim rag quilt patterns are all over the web for good reason -- they are comfy and sturdy. Plus, now you can recycle your old jeans into something useful!

For beginning quilters who are scared of actually quilting the quilt sandwich or attaching the binding, this is a great first project. A denim rag quilt is rugged. It is simple. It is the go-to quilt for picnics and watching fireworks.

5.Rail Fence

A rail fence is one of the easiest quilts to make. It requires only three coordinating fabrics and very minimal cutting. It is also very forgiving if your seam allowances are off.

Can a beginning quilter make a gorgeous quilt? Of course. You just need to choose a pattern that displays the fabric and not your stitching. So, go ahead; choose one of the simple quilt patterns listed. You can't go wrong.

Maybelle Maddison is a true Southern Belle and dedicated quilter. She has made it her mission in life to spread the joy of quilting! Visit her site at http://www.joannfabrics.org for quilting information, pattern reviews and suggestions on how to start and keep quilting!

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There are two kinds of necktie quilts. In one, fabric is cut to resemble neckties and sewn into the quilt block. The other actually incorporates men's neckties into the quilt design. Using men's neckties in quilts is an extremely popular trend.



In addition to being a current trend, the necktie quilts have enjoyed popularity over many decades due to the fact that they can be great memory quilts honoring the men in your life.



If you want to make a necktie quilt using men's ties, you have several options. First, you need to decide if you will use the tie as is, incorporating the entire tie into your quilt design. Your other option is to use the ties as scrap fabrics, cutting pieces from each to complete a traditional quilt pattern.



Quilters who like to use neckties in traditional patterns often choose to use them as fabrics in Dresden Plate, Double Wedding Ring, and block patchwork among others.



If you opt to use the entire necktie in your quilt, you might start off by arranging them to form a starburst in the center of the quilt. Fill empty spaces with other fabrics, or more neckties if you have them.



You could also choose to use the neckties in your quilt's border.



In addition to full size quilts, you could use the neckties to make wall hangings, Christmas tree skirts and stockings, or pillows.



If you have the urge to make a necktie quilt, but don't have enough ties on hand, ask friends and family to save them for your project. Also, visit thrift stores and yard sales to grow your own collection of men's neckties.



If you have plenty of ties on hand, but are having a tough time finding a starting place, visit your favorite free quilt pattern site to see what it offers. There are many free or low cost quilt patterns available on the Internet. You have a world of options at your fingertips if you are planning to use the old neckties in piecing your quilts.



If your necktie quilt is a memory quilt for a friend or family member, make sure to incorporate other mementos into it. For instance, if your father loved golf, try working a golf tie or golf themed fabric into your design of the quilt you are making for him or in honor of him.



Quilters who are low on neckties or time can create a wonderful memory lap quilt. Smaller in size means it takes less time to complete. While smaller in size, the necktie lap quilt can still be big on memories!



To make a quilt featuring fabric cutouts of men's neckties, you have a couple of options. You may make the traditional neck tie or you may choose a bow tie pattern. Both are popular and widely available on the internet.



Applique quilters over piecing can use that method in making necktie quilts. If using the entire necktie, it may be appliqu?onto the quilt top wherever the quilter chooses. Using tie shaped pieces of fabric, the quilter may choose to appliqu?hose to a quilt top. The bowtie quilt design may also be appliquedd, but part of its novelty is how the blocks actually piece together to create a bowtie.



Once your necktie quilt project is complete, you can use any remaining neckties you have left over for other projects. Popular ways to recycle neckties include wearing them as belts or headbands or making skirts from them. You can find various instructions and patterns for those projects on the Internet as well.

About the Author:

Penny Halgren

http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Neckties Make Great Quilts

photo credit: MShades