Quilting

Warm others with your talents

Quilting can be a great hobby to warm others with your talents. Perhaps the best part about this hobby is that there are no real rules to quilting patterns. Most quilters don’t use any set rules when quilting due to the fact that they are constantly creating their own techniques and tricks to achieve the desired result. There are many quilting books that are available; however, we’ve put together some tips to help you get prepared for your new-found hobby.

Here is a quick list of some of the quilting supplies that you will need:

• Quilting patterns
• Quilting needles
• Quilting fabric
• Quilting frames

Sizing and Colors

Every good quilter knows that the most important things that should be on your mind when designing a quilt are sizing and color. For the sizing, you should determine the size of the mattress the quilt is intended for. Unlike a comforter, a quilt is usually the same size as the mattress or even a little bit smaller. The sizing process will also determine the amount of quilting fabric you will need for the project. When it comes to choosing colors for your quilt, it’s actually a much more free process than one might think. After you have chosen or designed a pattern or layout, it’s simply a matter of filling in all the sections with the colors you select. You must ensure that you get enough fabric of each color for the entire design and this is why the sizing and color processes go hand in hand.

If you are familiar with sewing clothing rather than quilting, you may notice that there are several differences. Perhaps the most notable is the fact that quilting utilizes a narrower seam allowance. To correct for this, you will have to set up your sewing machine to a quarter-inch seam. This is something that sometimes takes a little getting used to, but it is an essential technique to quilt making.

Quilting Machines

Although any sewing machine can be used for machine quilting, some features will make it easier. Look for a model that allows the feed dogs to be dropped, so that you can guide the fabric yourself. Because of the bulk of fabric and batting, choose a machine that allows as much space as possible between the needle and the motor. Finally, remember that larger motors can run for longer periods of time than smaller motors. A smaller motor may overheat due to the continuous sewing involved in quilting.