Quilt Care From Fabric to Finished
Basic Care of Quilt Fabric: Wash your fabric before cutting it. Just like new clothes that have dark or bright colors, quilt fabric should be washed before use and by itself - without anything else in the machine. Washing quilt fabric before you use it tends to stretch the material into its natural “worn” shape. Washing also allows an opportunity for any excess dye to be released before the quilt is made so that there is less chance of colors bleeding after the quilt is finished. Please note: These guidelines do not apply to antique or vintage quilts. Antique quilts require special care that is not noted on this page.
Washing a Finished Quilt: It is generally ok to wash your quilt in a home washing machine, though the roughness of the wash cycle can cause stitches to loosen... something to keep in mind. When you need to wash your quilt, use cold water cycle with a mild detergent(that is free of perfumes, brighteners, and bleach); preferably a detergent recommended by your local quilt shop. Set the machine on a short gentle cycle. To keep the colors bright, add half a cup of vinegar to the wash cycle. If your quilt has become soiled washing and drying it properly will extend its life; if it is clean washing or dry cleaning it will shorten its life. If you use your quilt daily, under normal conditions, it probably only needs to be washed once a year. If you have pets, children, or a smoker in the home more frequent washing should be considered. "Airing" quilts on a line outside is a good way to keep them fresh between washings.
Drying Your Quilt: Quilts are heavy when they're wet. Try to support its extra weight so that the threads don't pop. You may want to partially dry the quilt in your dryer, but it is better to lay a quilt flat on rack to dry. It will take longer but it worth it to preserve your quilt for years to come. Do not iron your quilt. Ever.
Washing a Finished Quilt: It is generally ok to wash your quilt in a home washing machine, though the roughness of the wash cycle can cause stitches to loosen... something to keep in mind. When you need to wash your quilt, use cold water cycle with a mild detergent(that is free of perfumes, brighteners, and bleach); preferably a detergent recommended by your local quilt shop. Set the machine on a short gentle cycle. To keep the colors bright, add half a cup of vinegar to the wash cycle. If your quilt has become soiled washing and drying it properly will extend its life; if it is clean washing or dry cleaning it will shorten its life. If you use your quilt daily, under normal conditions, it probably only needs to be washed once a year. If you have pets, children, or a smoker in the home more frequent washing should be considered. "Airing" quilts on a line outside is a good way to keep them fresh between washings.
Drying Your Quilt: Quilts are heavy when they're wet. Try to support its extra weight so that the threads don't pop. You may want to partially dry the quilt in your dryer, but it is better to lay a quilt flat on rack to dry. It will take longer but it worth it to preserve your quilt for years to come. Do not iron your quilt. Ever.
How to Choose Good Starter Quilt Patterns
Choose quilt patterns made with large pieces. Quilt patterns made with larger pieces will go together faster than patterns with a lot of small pieces. Less seems make it easier to have an accurately pieced block and leaves less room for error. If you a new quilter, practice sewing accurate 1/4” straight seams.
Pick quilt patterns that use squares and rectangles. Straight lines are where you start when you learn to write and they're the easiest place to start sewing/quilting too.
Find quilt patterns made with pre-cuts: Pre-cuts are pre-packaged fabrics cut into a variety of measurements and sizes. By choosing a quilt pattern based on a pre-cut packs, you’ll save a lot of time cutting and preparing to sew your quilt. Pre-cut fabrics allow you to begin with an extra measure of accuracy.
Consider taking a beginner class to learn the absolute basics of quilting and be well on your way to enjoying this beautiful peaceful hobby.
Pick quilt patterns that use squares and rectangles. Straight lines are where you start when you learn to write and they're the easiest place to start sewing/quilting too.
Find quilt patterns made with pre-cuts: Pre-cuts are pre-packaged fabrics cut into a variety of measurements and sizes. By choosing a quilt pattern based on a pre-cut packs, you’ll save a lot of time cutting and preparing to sew your quilt. Pre-cut fabrics allow you to begin with an extra measure of accuracy.
Consider taking a beginner class to learn the absolute basics of quilting and be well on your way to enjoying this beautiful peaceful hobby.
The Basics of Applique
Needle turn Appliqué - Cut out your motif. Include a scant seam allowance. Carefully draw the placement diagram lightly to your fabric in pencil, then baste the motif in place with thread or quilting pins. Turn under the edge using a moist toothpick as you appliqué making sure to cover the placement lines, creasing the seam allowance with your thumb before laying the motif on the fabric. Cut out the motif still using a scant seam allowance. Sew a basting stitch along the edges of the motif. Pull the thread slightly in order to cup the seam allowance in to the wrong side. Pin the motif to the front of the block along your diagram and appliqué outside the basting thread. You may pull the basting thread just before you finish.
Freezer Paper Appliqué - Cut freezer paper to the size of the appliqué. Iron it on to the front of your motif fabric and cut generously around the motif. Pin it to the front of the block, then needle turn the edges under as you stitch, using the freezer paper as an edge guide. Cut freezer paper to the size of the appliqué. Iron it on the back of the motif fabric and cut generously around it. Baste the seam allowance in to the wrong side. Pin the combination to the front of the block. Appliqué, being careful not to catch the freezer paper in your stitches. Just before you finish, pull the freezer paper out. This will require a pair of tweezers.
Fusibles - On the paper side of your fusible pellon, trace the appliqué design. The fusible goes on the back of your motif. The traced image has to be reversed to match the pattern. Rough cut these shapes out then lay the web on the WRONG side of the fabric and iron according to the manufacturers instructions. Cut out the shape on the traced lines. Remove the paper from the back of your motif and place it fused side down on your quilt block. Fuse it in place according to the manufacturers directions. Use a satin stitch to cover the edges of your appliqué.
Freezer Paper Appliqué - Cut freezer paper to the size of the appliqué. Iron it on to the front of your motif fabric and cut generously around the motif. Pin it to the front of the block, then needle turn the edges under as you stitch, using the freezer paper as an edge guide. Cut freezer paper to the size of the appliqué. Iron it on the back of the motif fabric and cut generously around it. Baste the seam allowance in to the wrong side. Pin the combination to the front of the block. Appliqué, being careful not to catch the freezer paper in your stitches. Just before you finish, pull the freezer paper out. This will require a pair of tweezers.
Fusibles - On the paper side of your fusible pellon, trace the appliqué design. The fusible goes on the back of your motif. The traced image has to be reversed to match the pattern. Rough cut these shapes out then lay the web on the WRONG side of the fabric and iron according to the manufacturers instructions. Cut out the shape on the traced lines. Remove the paper from the back of your motif and place it fused side down on your quilt block. Fuse it in place according to the manufacturers directions. Use a satin stitch to cover the edges of your appliqué.
The Basics of Paper-Piecing
Most paper pieced patterns have the primary blocks numbered sequentially. This indicates the order in which the pieces should be sewn. Each piece within the block is labeled. These labels identify the order in which the block is constructed and the color and/or fabric type of each pattern piece.
STEP 1: The first piece is not sewn. It is pinned in place. Find the first piece, marked by the lowest sequential number. Pin this first piece so that the back of the fabric is against the back of the paper.
STEP 2: Cut out your second piece to cover with a seam allowance. Hold the pattern piece up facing you and lay the fabric behind it so that the seam allowance is going into the second piece. The right side of the fabric should be facing you.
STEP 3: To sew the seam, place the pinned pieces (or pieces your holding) into the machine with the pattern on the paper face up. Sew along the seam starting just before the seam starts and ending just after the pattern ends.
STEP 4: Flip the piece over in order to make sure that the fabric covers the entire second section with a seam allowance.
STEP 5: Now flip the fabric back and trim any extra fabric at the seam allowance being careful not to cut the paper, only the extra fabric.
STEP 6: Flip the piece over. Pull firmly against the seam to get rid of any ripples in the fabric and pin in place.
STEP 7: Repeat these steps to finish the block, following the numerical sequence for the all of the pieces. * When all blocks are finished sew all of the blocks together. Most paper pieced patterns come with a diagram which shows the finished picture labeled with the location of each block. The blocks are usually constructed in alphabetical sequence.
STEP 1: The first piece is not sewn. It is pinned in place. Find the first piece, marked by the lowest sequential number. Pin this first piece so that the back of the fabric is against the back of the paper.
STEP 2: Cut out your second piece to cover with a seam allowance. Hold the pattern piece up facing you and lay the fabric behind it so that the seam allowance is going into the second piece. The right side of the fabric should be facing you.
STEP 3: To sew the seam, place the pinned pieces (or pieces your holding) into the machine with the pattern on the paper face up. Sew along the seam starting just before the seam starts and ending just after the pattern ends.
STEP 4: Flip the piece over in order to make sure that the fabric covers the entire second section with a seam allowance.
STEP 5: Now flip the fabric back and trim any extra fabric at the seam allowance being careful not to cut the paper, only the extra fabric.
STEP 6: Flip the piece over. Pull firmly against the seam to get rid of any ripples in the fabric and pin in place.
STEP 7: Repeat these steps to finish the block, following the numerical sequence for the all of the pieces. * When all blocks are finished sew all of the blocks together. Most paper pieced patterns come with a diagram which shows the finished picture labeled with the location of each block. The blocks are usually constructed in alphabetical sequence.