How To Quilt
There’s nothing like a warm and comfy quilt to keep you snug on cold, rainy days. You can buy all sorts of lovely quilts from department stores, but isn’t it nice if you can create your own quilted work of art, instead? A lovely handmade quilt is something you can treasure and be proud of.
The art of quilting isn’t as difficult as you think. With just a few materials and some easy steps, you can do this like a pro. Here are some basic instructions on how to quilt properly.
What You’ll Need
Quilt block patterns
Fabric to be used for quilt top
Fabric for quilt’s back
Batting
Thread (Cotton is more preferable)
Needles or quilting needles
Bias tape
Cardboard
Quilting frame
Tailor’s chalk
Cutting board
Quilter’s ruler
Rotary cutter
Pencil
Scissors
Seam ripper
Pin cushion
Long pins
Procedure:
Pick the fabric and pattern you will use. Books on quilting or online sites can help you find a suitable pattern to make. Remember, the pattern can either affect the fabric you choose, or the fabric can affect the pattern. Don’t choose a stretchy fabric for quilting, though.
Pre-treating your fabric depends on you. Some wash their fabrics first before using it, to avoid shrinking and prevent color runs, while others opt not to, since unwashed fabric allows them to start quicker and is easier to cut. Whether you wash or don’t wash your fabrics, make sure you treat all the pieces just the same.
If you prefer not to wash, test a small part of the fabric for color fastness. Dip it in warm water and check out if it runs. If it does, you have to wash it to get the extra dye out.
Cut out the pattern, as precisely as you can. This is very important, because if the pieces aren’t properly cut, the quilt block won’t correctly line up. To get an accurate cut, use a quilter’s ruler, a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat.
Using the needles and thread, sew all the blocks, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. To make sure the seam allowance’s measurement is accurate, mark the sewing machine’s throat plate with some masking tape. There are also machines with a quarter inch foot, making this part easy. Check the pattern for directions on how to piece the pieces together. Take proper care when sewing around corners, since this is more difficult that sewing a straight line.
The number of blocks depends on how big each one is, or how big the quilt is going to be. When you’ve got all the blocks you needed, decide if you want a border for your quilt. Some quilter put strips of fabric around all the blocks, and one to three borders around the edge. It’s a good way to make up the quilt’s square footage, in case you don’t feel like making up enough blocks for the whole size you like. Use scissors to cut out long fabric strips, then sew them on the blocks, making straight lines again. Keep using the strips to sew them together, creating one big piece. Sew the outside border pieces on, too.
Choose a batting. This comes in different types and shapes. Low loft batting is easier to quilt, but thinner, so it’s not very warm. High loft batting is thicker and “poofier”. Another type is fusible batting, which can be ironed to the bottom and top pieces, so basting won’t be necessary.
Find a backing material. It’s usually a big piece of solid fabric. If you prefer the backing to edge the quilt, find a fabric that’s a couple of inches bigger in every direction.
Baste the top, batting and backing together. If it’s a fusible batting, just iron the layers together, but if it’s regular batting, lay out the three on top of each other, find a contrasting thread, then sew them together. Begin in the middle, then work your way outwards in each direction, smoothing out the wrinkles as you go.
Safety pins can also work instead of basting. Place them three to four inches apart, beginning at the center.
When the layers are combined, sew them together, using either a matching or contrasting thread. Begin at the middle, then work your way outwards, making small and even stitches. Usually, the pattern has quilting directions included, but if there isn’t any, just “stitch in the ditch”, meaning you follow the seams in the quilt borders and block, keeping the stitching 1/4 inch away from the seam.
Remove the basting, then finish the quilt’s edges. Trim all the layers, so they are the same on the quilt’s edges. Sew along the edges with a bias tape, and sew this lengthwise on a side, all along the edges. Afterwards, wrap it around the other side, and sew again.
When done properly and precisely, quilting becomes an art. This doesn’t mean you don’t get to have fun, though. Remember the steps above when making your own quilt. When you’re done, you’ll surely find the outcome amazing.