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How can I make more time for quilting?
Sat 14 Jan 2012
In a recent survey to find out what I could provide to help quilters more, several responded “More time to quilt.” The comments generally had a smiley face added to the side. Seriously, though, it is possible to streamline your daily events to squeeze in a little more time for quilting. Here’s how. First, start by making sure your sewing area is convenient to everything you need. If you have a particular location in which you quilt, that’s great. If you quilt on the go, you will need to make sure your tote has all the supplies you will need. In your sewing ... Read More...
How should I store my quilts?
Sat 14 Jan 2012
If you have an heirloom quilt you want to preserve, there are a few basic dos and don’ts you will need to understand. First of all, fabrics don’t last forever. You can, however, extend the life of a fabric with proper care. The care techniques you choose will depend greatly on whether you plan to use or store the quilt. If storing it, clean it first. Use a hand held vacuum to clean the quilt, especially if it is very old. Remember, water breaks down the fabric fibers. Look for any food spots or stains.Bugs love to feed on stains so you will need ... Read More...
How can I keep my quilts fresh and fluffy?
Sat 14 Jan 2012
If you need to freshen up your favorite quilt, there is a way to do that without completing an entire wash cycle. It only takes a fabric softener and a couple of unique items to fluff your quilt. If you typically use a liquid fabric softener, use the sheet fabric softener for fluffing your quilt. Liquid fabric softener might leave a stain on your quilt that resembles a greasy spot. You won’t have to worry about that when you use a dryer sheet. To release more of the fabric softener, slightly dampen the sheet. Remember, most of the time we use fabric softener ... Read More...
Creating a Sewing Space for Quilting
Sat 14 Jan 2012
When the spring cleaning bug bites, why not take advantage of it by rearranging your sewing area? Whether you have an entire room devoted to quilting, a small area, or whether you quilt on the go, all work spaces can be made more comfortable or more efficient. The first consideration you will need to make is whether you will do any piecing or quilting by machine. If so, you will need to make appropriate accommodations for the sewing machine. Make sure it is set up at a height comfortable to you. You may have a sewing machine in a cabinet or you may have a ... Read More...
Dryer Sheets in Quilting
Sat 14 Jan 2012
Quilters are very innovative people. After all, who else would have thought to take a bunch of small pieces of fabric to artistically combine them into one special covering? It should come as no surprise that quilters come up with all sorts of resources for recycling. One popular item that quilters seem to find multiple purposes for is the common dryer sheet. Who knew there were so many uses for those little sheets that we normally just toss into our laundry. Some hand quilters keep a used dryer sheet handy to smooth out threads. Nothing is more frustrating than having your thread twist while ... Read More...
How do you get points to meet a lay down in the middle of the block?
Sat 14 Jan 2012
Matching points in a quilt has always been troublesome for many quilters. Many times, I've ripped a seam or two in order to facilitate that nice smooth, flat, points-matched area. I think pressing is critical in helping points match and lay flat. When I have four points coming together, I make sure no two seams are stacked together (too much bulk in one area, for one thing). By having the seams 'fan' around the block, not only does the block tend to lay flat, but you can use the 'nesting'of those two seams to help you match the points. Happy ... Read More...
Do you have a fun idea for a Teacher Quilt?
Sat 14 Jan 2012
We love questions here at How-to-Quilt.com! It's fun to give quilters a solution to their quilting challenge, and sometimes their challenge becomes our challenge as well - we especially love that. Recently a quilter sent in a question about a quilt she was asked to make for her child's teacher. Each child in the class had made a 3 inch by 5 inch drawing on fabric, and she wanted to sew a frame around each drawing and then place them around a center square that had been embroidered with the name of the teacher and the school year. She needed to know ... Read More...
If you are hand piecing is it possible to strip piece? When cutting the strips for the unit the stitches come lose. What suggestions do you have.
Mon 09 Jan 2012
You are correct, the stitches would come out. You would really need to cut each piece the size you need for the individual patch. This would not prevent you from replacing patches with strips, however. You would cut the strips for each individual patch the size that would fit in the patch, and then hand stitch them together. Read More...
Hand Sewing Quilt Patches
Sun 08 Jan 2012
When I was first learning how to quilt, some experienced quilter told me that "every quilter must make a quilt completely by hand." From start to finish - hand sewing the patches and hand quilting. I bought the story and made a queen-size quilt entirely by hand. Cut each one of the patches with scissors, sewed every one of the who-knows-how-many patches together by hand, and hand quilted it. It took two years! And when it was finished, I was pretty happy. Forget the fact that a few years later I had to fold it up and put it away ... Read More...
Is there a basic formula to change the templates to increase the size of a block
Sun 08 Jan 2012
I'm not a mathematician, so I don't know of a formula. What I did (before I had software) was to get some graph paper, create the block the finished size I wanted it, and then cut out the pieces of the block. It helps to label them somehow so you remember where they go in the block. The pieces you cut out will be finished size. You can use them as templates for cutting your fabric by adding the 1/4 inch seam allowance on all sides of the patch. Hope that helps. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren Read More...
I made a quilt, after it was done I saw it was fraying in places. What can i do?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
A product called Fray-Check could help if it's a small area. For larger areas, why not try to applique' a design over the affected area. One cause for the problem could be using less than the recommended 1/4 inch seam allowance. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com Read More...
What is a good quilt to use to teach 10-14 year olds how to quilt?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
When quilting daughter, Stephanie, was in 5th grade, I did a project with her Girl Scout troop, and the girls made an Ohio Star block. They did it by hand, and made a 12 inch block that they could make into a pillow. It was an easy block for them to make, and it might be a good one for your girls as well. I've included a picture of Stephanie's. (It is still waiting for the next step - it's only been 12 years!) I have posted the pattern: http://www.how-to-quilt.com/patterns/free-quilt-patterns.shtml It's under Ohio Star Quilt Block - there are patterns and ... Read More...
What are: Fat Quarter, Fat Half, Jelly Roll, Charm Pack, Quilt Kit?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
These are all different ways to purchase fabric. 1) Fat Quarter - a fat quarter is a piece of fabric approximately 18 inches by 22 inches. The way it works is that 1/2 yard of fabric is cut from the bolt, making a piece that is 18 inches wide and the length is determined by the width of the fabric from selvedge to selvedge. Once you have a piece that is 18 inches by 44 inches, you cut it in half again, this time cutting the opposite way, making a piece that is 18 inches by 22 inches. You can purchase fat quarters ... Read More...
What does “naturally antibacterial” mean as it refers to bamboo batting?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
The answer to this question comes from Judy Novella at Fairfield Batting Co.: Studies have shown that the bamboo plant is naturally antibacterial. There’s something in the plant itself. I think it’s called bamboo kun. It’s inherent to the plant. That is what makes the plant antibacterial. That characteristic stays with the bamboo fiber all the way through the manufacturing process. While growing, it resists bacteria. That eliminates any kind of chemical antimicrobial treatments you might need during processing. Those can cause skin allergy and irritation. The plant is naturally resistant. You don’t have to add those kinds of things when ... Read More...
How do you wash a pre-cut fabric, like charms and the ready made strips from the fabric store?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
You have a great point. Some of the smaller pieces are totally impossible to wash in a washing machine and still have any usable fabric left. Try washing them in a sink - more like soaking them. You can dry them in a lingerie bag or just leave them out to air dry. While this won't really address the issue of shrinkage, it may save you the heartache of the colors bleeding into neighboring fabric. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.TheQuiltingCoach.com Read More...
I just did some transfers of graphics on my computer to a quilt block using June Tailor's colorfast inkjet fabric sheets without any pretreatment. Are they safe to wash without fading?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
I haven't used that brand of pre-treated fabric, but I have used Printed Treasures. I would imagine they are all pretty much the same. I have had good success with the Printed Treasures. And they are much easier to use because they are perfect for running through the computer - stiff, and no loose ends. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com Read More...
I want to add a photograph of several occasions to their quilt. How would I accomplish this?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
Photo Fabric - there is photo fabric available at some quilt shops & at Joann's (four sheets run approx. $8 - 9.00). Simply follow the instructions on the package for using ready-made sheets. If you are using your own fabric - a product called Bubble Jet (a liquid) can be used before you copy your photos. Soak the fabric for about 5 minutes, pull it out, squeeze out gently and lay it out on towel until dry. When running the fabric through a printer (Ink Jet, NOT Laser), use regular copy paper to assist in the fabric feed. Tape the copy ... Read More...
I am looking for quilt paint to finish some quilts my grandmother left me
Sun 08 Jan 2012
Sounds like you have some real treasures. I'm not sure, but this site might help: http://www.dharmatrading.com/ I have purchased my fabric dye from here for years, and I believe they have liquid dyes that act like paint. They will be absorbed into the fibers of the fabric, not just lay on top. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren Read More...
Why do quilters use cotton fabric for their quilts?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
Selecting Fabric for Your Quilting Project Cotton Quilting Fabric Most quilters use 100% cotton fabric for their patchwork quilts. While part of the reason has to do with tradition, another part is due to what is practical. Cottons tend to shrink at the same rate as each other. Most natural fabrics will shrink at least a little bit, even though the manufacturer has pre-shrunk the material. Blends will shrink at different rates than natural fibers, and 100% synthetics will shrink very little or not at all. By mixing cotton fabric with cotton-polyester blends and synthetics, when you wash your ... Read More...
What rotary cutting tools do I really need for my quilting?
Sun 08 Jan 2012
Tools for Rotary Cutting Because there are hundreds of acrylic rulers, quilters ask which of those rulers they need for their Quilting Toolbox to make cutting patches easier. While you could go out and buy every single one, quilting rulers aren't like wrenches, where you need to have the perfect size to fit the bolt. (I won't tell, if you want to use that as your excuse to get all of the different sizes, though!) 6 inch by 24 inch ruler for rotary cutting It is wonderful to have a bunch of different size rulers for your rotary cutting - ... Read More...