Image by ejhogbin via Flickr

Beginners Guide To Quilting

Quilting looks difficult but is actually quite simple, just so long as you follow a few guidelines and do your quilting stuff in the right order. Many experienced quilters find their own quilting techniques over time, and after a little practise you’re sure to discover your own preferred methods. Quilting is still a popular pastime, although many people these days just don’t have enough spare time to create their own quilting masterpiece – which is a pity. Quilts make wonderful and cherished family heirlooms, they can add a unique sense of style to any room - and they can keep you snugly and warm.  

Before You Start Quilting – a word of warning from one who knows . . . quilting takes a lot of time and effort, especially if you quilt by hand. It would be very interesting to do a survey about how many half-finished quilts are lurking in closets around the country, started with the very best of intentions but never quite able to see the light of day as a beautiful finished product. Don’t let that put you off though, just be aware of the time and effort needed for quilting, and if you have an unfinished quilt hiding under the bed then why not finish it off . . . alternatively, you could pay somebody to finish your quilting for you, some people do that you know. Right, now, I hope that hasn’t put you off . . .

#1 – Choose Your Fabrics and Prepare Them For Quilting

Some people make quilts as a means of using up fabrics which they have lying around the house . . . the table cloth with a big red wine stain in the middle of it – the living room curtains which got a little scorched at the bottom when somebody left the heater a little too close for comfort (thank the lord for smoke alarms) – but some people like to choose new fabrics for their quilts. The thing is, decide on the size of quilt you want to make (remember, it takes a long time so you’re well advised to start small rather than promise your sister a new King sized bed quilt for Christmas) – decide on;

• size of quilt
• color scheme
• design

Always pre-wash your fabrics, big pieces can be washed in the washing machine, smaller pieces can just be hand-washed but always pre-wash ‘em, otherwise there could be a bit of shrinkage later which would spoil the whole quilt. After they’re dry you should iron them before you start cutting.

#2 – Cut The Pieces For Your Design

Now it’s time to follow your chosen pattern and cut up the pieces for the design of your quilt. You might need to cut squares, triangles and other shapes within your quilting blocks. After you’ve cut the pieces of fabric for each block and established the exact size of them, next thing to do for your quilt is to cut the border pieces which will go around each quilting piece. Once everything is cut up then lay them all out on the floor, table, design wall (if you have one) and get the full effect.

#3 – Start Sewing

Now it’s time to start sewing your quilting pieces together. Don’t forget to follow the pattern and keep checking back to it to make sure that you haven’t got carried away and are quilting the wrongs bits together. Pin the quilt blocks together first, then into rows as you build up the top cover of your quilt.

#4 – Backing Your Quilt

By now you’ll probably be feeling pretty smug with yourself, ‘cos you’ll be able to see a real picture of how your finished quilt will be. Let’s hope that you’re happy with the design, too late now, you should have taken more care before you started quilting. Anyway, onward and upward as they say. It’s now time to cut the backing piece to size, as well as the batting. If the top of your quilt is bigger than your backing material and it needs piecing together, get on with that bit now . . . okay, now cut the backing and batting to approximately one inch bigger than the top of your quilt on each side.

#5 – Layer Up Your Quilt and Get Ready To Start Quilting

Now the real business of quilting can begin . . . attaching the three layers together. This is where larger quilts can be difficult to handle  – literally. Layer your quilt and either pin it together or stitch it with needle and thread every three or four inches or so, just to make sure that the layers of your quilt don’t move around when you start sewing. If you’re going to do machine quilting then pinning ought to do, but if you will be quilting by hand then stitching really is best.  Some people at this stage of the quilting proceedings use a quilt frame to stretch the materials over and clamp the layers together which can be really handy, particularly if you are hand quilting.

#6 – Get Quilting

Whether you will be machining quilting or hand quilting, you can now really get started. You really ought to try both ways, even if you don’ t have a quilting machine you ought to be able to manage on your regular sewing machine. Be creative, try lots of different ways and see which method of quilting suits you the best. After you’ve finished quilting then you can remove the pins or the basting stitches, and get ready to bind your newly created quilt.

#7 – Prepare to Bind Your Quilt

The edges of your quilt will need to be properly prepared before you can start binding the quilt. Ironing them can help, and then make sure that all three layers of the quilt are cut evenly. Next thing to do is to pin the edges of the quilt, every three or four inches should do, and then attach the binding. Then . . . . hallelujah . . . your first quilting project is finished and you are the proud owner and creator of something unique and marvelous! Well done on your first quilting experience.