geliesantos' blog

  • How To Make Quilt


    How you can make a Quilt the Simple Way

    There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to making quilts. Quilters continuously change the rules, as they devise new and time saving methods to accomplish the same task in half the time. Decades ago quilters utilized to mark their fabric by making use of templates and then cutting each and every piece out using scissors. There are various ways on how to make a quilt simply and effectively nowadays.

    However     there are still many quilters that do quilting the old fashioned way, but more and more people are making use of rotary cutting. There are also quilting machines. These new techniques make quilting easy and pleasurable and a quilt can be made literally within a weekend. Once you start making quilts you may even find some of your own methods which is time saving. Here are a few tips to get you started:

    • Once you have chosen a simple quilting pattern you will need to read all the instructions to start off with as this is the best way to learn how to make a quilt properly. You will become familiar with all the various techniques used, as well as     learn the quilting terminology. If you are sitting in a quilting group, you'll learn all the terms used by quilter after reading the patterns.

    Quilting is a lot easier than it looks.     Even though there are numerous techniques which might seem impossible for beginners first starting out. However, don't be put off, as rules change all the time. You can aquire hundreds of quilting patterns online as well as from quilting magazines and quilting classes. Once you understand how the patterns work, you will then need to learn about the various materials useful for quilting.
    The material used is one of the most important characteristics, using the wrong fabric you will spoil the entire effect of your quilt. There are many fabrics that can hinder your quilting skills, so make sure you know exactly what type of fabrics to purchase when preparing to make your quilt. You will need to know how to make a quilt properly, since there is a lot of work and time that goes into a project.

    You also need to learn how to blend your colors properly, since there is a vast array of colors and designs when it comes to choosing fabric. By obtaining a color wheel, this will help you choose the correct contrasts. You need to be able to contrast dark and lightweight colors, and the color wheel will assist you to coordinate the colors.

    After you have all the basics of how to make a quilt, you have to also understand the basics of block construction, sashing, quilt layout, binding, sandwiching and borders. Also take a look at all the different option available, as well as all the basic materials you will need to get started. Once you have selected a basic pattern, you are now ready to make your first quilt. Quilt making is really a lot of fun and a very rewarding hobby.
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    posted 2011-09-08 in blog 127 views add comment

  • How To Quilt


    How To Quilt - Stitch Within the Ditch Quilting

    Stitch     inside ditch quilting is the name given to stitching across the seam lines of the pieced quilt blocks. As with free motion machine quilting, this is done from the top of the quilt with all the pattern of the quilting turning up on the quilt backing.

    You will need a walking foot machine foot, a set of quilting gloves and loads of patience.

    There are several things that you should think about before you begin quilting:

    *     Do you want the stitch in the ditch quilting to stand out or blend in? It is more usual to utilize a blending colour thread to the top, but you might wish to use a colour that stands out on the quilt backing to showcase the quilt design. It is fine to train on a different colour thread in the bobbin.
    *     Before you begin quilting, be clear about the routine that you are going to use: do you want to stitch in the ditch along every seam, just outline a particular pattern in the quilt blocks, or even just outline the quilt block itself?
    * Check your stitch length.     The actual norm is 12 stitches per inch, a little longer than everyday sewing stitch length.
    * Adjust the sewing machine tension. This is     almost certainly the single most important factor in helping to achieve good machine quilting results. Because of the thickness of two layers of fabric plus batting, the auto tension on your machine is unlikely to give the best results. Make up a practice block of the three layers applied in your quilt and sew a line of stitching. Look at the again of this sample block. Chances are you won't like what you see as the stitching will be too tight, so loosen the tension and try again. Keep experimenting until you feel that the appear of the stitches on your quilt top and support are giving the look that you want for your quilt.

    Quilting with     sew in the ditch

    Now you can begin quilting with sewn in the ditch on the quilt itself. Put on your quilting gloves: they really do help to stop your fingers sliding on the fabric. Begin in the middle of the quilt. This will include rolling the quilt to the right of the middle so that it fits nicely into the space on your sewing machine. Place the duvet so that the needle will come down on the seam line. Begin sewing, trying to keep your eye on the seam feeding into the machine rather than on the needle itself. It's amazing how your eye is drawn to watch the needle going up and down, which doesn't actually help you maintain a straight line at all.

    After a few inches wide of sewing, stop the device and reach round for the trailing end of thread. Pull gently on the thread so that the bobbin thread begins to pull through to the quilt top. Using a pin, pull the bobbin thread right through and tie a double knot with the top thread. This will safe the threads without having to use back stitching. Do this at the starting of each line of sew in the ditch or you will end up with trailing threads all above the place, getting caught up in the next line of stitching.

    Proceed sewing along the seam lines until you reach the edge of the cover. Take your quilt out of the machine and tie off the ends of the threads.

    Returning to the middle of the quilt, repeat the procedure with a new line of stitch in the ditch quilting going from the middle to the edge. Attempt to quilt in the same direction as previous lines to avoid your quilt backing puckering slightly.

    Making quilts with stitch in the throw away is a marvellous method of making quilts in its own right but also a great self-confidence booster before you attempt free motion device quilting.
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    posted 2011-09-08 in blog 133 views add comment