Quilting 101 - Quilt making tips and resources How to Quilt: Scrap Quilts How to Quilt>Scrap Quilts Bonnie Hunter is a quilter who specializes in scrap quilts using fabric from thrift shops or donations from friends' closets. Recently she visited with us for our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation, and the specific topic was how to choose the garments at a thrift shop that will make great fabric for a quilt. Here is a sampling of her answers: Penny: How do you know whether a particular garment would make a good fabric for a quilt? Bonnie: I look for garments the same way I look for fabric. If it says 100% cotton, then that’s the first thing I’ll look for. The next thing I check is how the fabric feels in my hand. I look for the same kinds of things when I look for articles of clothing to cut up for fabric. Penny: You don’t use polyester? Bonnie: No, I don’t. Men’s shirts, so far, have not incorporated spandex. Penny: How do you estimate how much fabric you’ll be able to get from a particular garment? Bonnie: The size of the garment will give you an idea.
Day Style Designs: Online Quilt Shop Dedicated to Free Motion Quilting information, tools, and supplies. GLQC Quilt Care Tips on Storing and Caring for Your Quilt Have you ever wondered whether or not your should wash your Great Grandmother's silk and velvet quilt? Does that antique quilt you've stored in the attic worry you? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Storing Your Quilt 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Labeling Your Quilt Part of maintaining good care of your quilt involves keeping with it any information you have (such as maker's name, date, pattern name, MQP#, etc.). Cleaning Your Quilt There are two accepted ways of cleaning your quilt, but generally speaking only one should be used: vacuuming. Washing (the wet-cleaning method) a quilt can be done but only with great caution. If however, you have determined that it is desirable to attempt washing your quilt, first test wash a small section to make sure that the dyes are stable and won't run. NOTE: Historic textiles should NEVER BE PRESSED with a hot iron. Displaying Your Quilt 1. 2. 3. NEVER hang a quilt in direct sunlight. Bibliographic References Find a Conservator
Free-Motion Quilting Basics This is a simple overview of free-motion quilting on a home machine. For a post detailing my process for managing the size and weight of a larger quilt during quilting, please refer to my post on the Modern Quilt Guild blog. I prepare my machine as follows: Fit machine with darning/free-motion foot.Set stitch length to zero.Lower or cover feed dogs (depending on the machine).Fit machine with a brand new needle. For this quilt, I used cotton thread in a light warm tan to match the natural Essex cotton/linen I used for the sashing. Because free-motion quilting takes so much thread, I like to fill a number of extra bobbins before I start. I prefer to use a quality 100% cotton thread like Aurifil 50 wt for both piecing and quilting. Better threads tend to do well in most machines, but sometimes machines are finicky. Be sure to avoid any thread labeled as "hand quilting thread." Here's another example of a quilt where I matched the thread to the sashing used.
Quilts + Color