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  • 31Aug

    What are Greige Goods?

    General Quilting & FUN No Comments

    Quilt Question:
    What are greige goods?

    Quilt Answer:
    When cotton fabric comes from the loom in its natural state, it is known as “greige goods”.

    Pronounce that like “gray goods”. Depending on the intended use for the fabric, it may be finished in a great number of ways.

    Most mills today sell their goods to “converters” who have independent dye and print plants do the finish work. In fact only a few years ago (it is now 2008) about 99% of all fabrics intended for the American home quilting market were finished in other countries. A very large percentage of print goods were done in Korea. Out-sourcing has touched every market. It can be more cost effective to ship fabric, have it finished, and ship it back to the US than to have it done here. The ownership of the fabric may not change hands, and a “USA” label does not always tell you where the fabric was made, processed, and finished. If this is important to you, email manufacturers and ask!

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  • 27Aug

    Free Bird Quilt Pattern to Download

    FREE QUILT PATTERNS, General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    Follow this link to a Free Crazy Bird Quilt Block Pattern you can download. It’s a comical little bird done in foundation piecing.

    This was featured in QUILTMAKER’S ALL-TIME FAVORITES–Spring ‘06. They have generously provided the pattern for the blocks as a PDF file you can download and use.

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  • 26Aug

    Bug Jar Quilt Block

    General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    You will find a pattern and instructions for making a Bug Jar Quilt Block here.

    Jar Quilt Block

    Jar Quilt Block

    It is a square block with a short fat jar instead of the typical rectangular jar patterns you usually find. If you collect squares of fabrics, this pattern lends itself to using them for the jars. And of course you can “fill” your jar with anything you like, it doesn’t have to be bugs! Buttons, candy, jelly beans, cookies, or even a mottled fabric to represent JAM. You might even want to add a label on the jar.

    I’ve never used this block for a quilt. It’s too cute as a placemat, table runner, apron embellishment or pocket, or use tiny blocks to make a kitchen curtain border. One jar block makes a really cute potholder. But you’ll have to make several potholders because everybody who sees yours will want one!

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  • 26Aug

    Making Batik Fabrics in West Africa

    General Quilting & FUN No Comments

    We all love the gorgeous batik fabrics that are so popular today. This video clip shows you some batik fabric print-makers in Cape Coast, Ghana using original block printing techniques and line dry washouts.

    Making traditional batik fabrics

    Making traditional batik fabrics

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  • 25Aug

    How to Custom Make Cards: Card Tricks Using Ink

    General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    You can make your own custom print papers with stamp inks. Try this technique with fabric, too.

    Background technique for paper or fabric

    Background technique for paper or fabric

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  • 25Aug

    How to Make a Quilty Card

    General Quilting & FUN No Comments

    Custom-made greeting cards are a joy to make and a joy to receive. Watch this quick video for a complete how-to for this sweet card. Supplies list follows the demonstration.

    How to Make a Quilt Card

    How to Make a Quilt Card

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  • 22Aug

    What is English Paper Piecing?

    General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    Quilt Question:
    What is meant by “English Paper Piecing”

    Quilt Answer:
    English paper piecing is a hand-piecing method. You can achieve precise piecing this way, although it is time consuming.

    1. To begin, you need to cut the exact finished size pieces you will need from a moderately stiff paper. Cut one paper piece for each fabric piece needed in the pattern.
    2. Cut your fabric pieces and allow a 1/4 inch seam allowance on all sides.
    3. Center a paper piece on the wrong side of a fabric piece. Fold the seam allowance over the paper piece and press; do this for each quilt piece.
    4. Assemble the blocks by sewing the pieces together, right sides together, papers still inside the folded edges. Stitch along the fold edges of the corresponding pieces in the design. Keep your stitches along the fold so they won’t appear on the quilt front when you open the pieces flat after stitching.

    You can sometimes find unfinished antique quilt tops with the paper still in the backs of the pieces. Sometimes you can get a glimpse into the past from the writing on the papers . . .

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  • 21Aug

    How Does Foundation Piecing Work?

    Crazy Quilts, FREE QUILT PATTERNS, General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    Quilt Question:
    How does foundation piecing make the design?

    Quilt Answer:
    Once you have printed or drawn the design stitching lines on the foundation of your choice (paper or fabric), you begin with the area of the design numbered 1. Work from the back of the foundation, because that is where the printed or drawn lines are.  Place the fabric for the first piece with the wrong side against the foundation. You can use odd shaped scraps of fabric, just as long as they completely cover the numbered area you are working with.

    Select the fabric for area #2. Place it right side together on top of #1. You will stitch all three layers along the seamline between #1 and#2, extending a little beyond the ends of the line. Stitch from the underside of the foundation, so you can see the stitching line.

    Tip: If you have a lightbox, it makes positioning the quilt fabrics easier. My method is to hold the foundation unit up to a window or light and look through it that way.

    After stitching, turn the unit over with the quilt fabrics on top. Open the seam you have just stitched. You can trim the seam allowance of the quilt fabric pieces only (NOT the foundation!) if they are scrappy and uneven. Press the seam open.

    Select the fabric for quilt piece #3. It will go right side down on top of pieces #1 and #2, and you will stitch along the seamline on the back just as before. Then turn the unit over, flip open piece #3, trim, and press. This creates a “stacking” of fabric pieces as you go, and you will see how you can achieve precise corners and points. You do not have to cut and handle odd-shaped triangles. Let the “next seam” do the shape for you. Continue to sew and flip and press each numbered piece until you have covered each area of the foundation block.

    If you use paper as a foundation, stitch with a small stitch length and it will perforate better for easier removal. Just tear carefully along the perforated stitch lines and remove the paper after you have finished stitching. If you use fabric or fabric type foundation products, you will leave them in the quilt top and they will become part of the quilt.

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  • 21Aug

    What Are Some Different Kinds of Quilt Batting?

    General Quilting & FUN, Quilt Tips and Ideas No Comments

    Quilt Question:
    What are some different kinds of quilt batting?

    Quilt Answer:
    Quilt batting is made from loose fibers combed and packed together into a flat, even piece. You buy batting according to the size of the quilt you are making. Batting is made from cotton, wool, and silk on the “natural” fiber side. It is also made from polyester or acrylic fibers.

    Cotton is usually a tighter batting and not as easy for the needle to glide through as wool and silk. Wool has superior loft and warmth, and silk is noted for having loft and good insulating properties, too. Wool and silk are especially easy to hand quilt. Polyester is known for being washable and quick to dry, while providing good shape retention and warmth. Many quilters have a preference and will use only one kind of batting, while others suit the batting to the intended use for the quilt.

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  • 21Aug

    What is the Difference Between Quilt Backing and Quilt Lining?

    General Quilting & FUN No Comments

    Quilt Question:
    What is the difference between quilt backing and quilt lining?

    Quilt Answer:
    The two terms are used interchangeably and they mean the same thing. They both refer to the “back” of the quilt, the layer on the bottom.

    Quilt backing fabric is available in wide widths so you can have one seamless piece to quilt through. Some quilt makers piece the back of their quilt as well as the front for creative reasons. Like any other aspect of making a quilt, your imagination is the limit!

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