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Art QuiltQuilting is a process of piecing together scraps of fabric to create beautiful works of art that can be practical besides creative. It involves three stages. First a facing is created. Then a backing and filling are chosen. Next, the three layers of the quilt are arranged as a sandwich to be stitched together on either a quilting frame or hoop. -
Watercolor QuiltThe craft of quilting dates back as far as 3400 B.C.E. when the depiction of quilt featuring an Egyptian pharaoh was found on a carved ivory figure. At the same time it started in Egypt, it also began in China. The knights of Crusaders in the 11th century used quilted garments for warmth and protection, followed by the Romans who brought it to Europe. Primitive quilts looked like cumbersome pallets. The quilting frame was invented to help in stitching the layers together. The Japanese used "Yosegire," a crazy piecing that is believed to have inspired the crazy quilting craze in America and Europe. The great quilting age in Europe and American emerged in the 1800s, resulting in quilting bees, where rural women met to make quilts. While soldiers defended America, the women back home stayed busy making quilts depicting the various wars. Although new techniques have developed, such as computing quilting, contemporary women of the 21st century continue to also make traditional quilts. -
There are many different types of quilts, done by both hand and machine sewing that are suited for various kinds of quilters.
While some quilters enjoy piecing geometrical shapes, others prefer designing art quilts.
Traditional quilts are usually made from blocks and geometric shapes.
Art quilts offer more creativity. In short, they're art done with fabric, creating everything from landscapes to portraits.
Also known as foundation piecing, foundation piecing is making perfect points with paper piecing.
Appliqué quilting is sewing on cut-out appliqués to create a picture.
Crazy quilting is working with any scarps of fabric, piecing them together in any crazy order, using various embroidery stitches to sew them together.
Amish quilts are made with abstract shapes in solid colors, such as the ones done by Pennsylvania and Ohio quilters.
Computer quilting is using a computer to design and print patterns or print on fabric. Quilters usually use photographs on computer quilts.
Watercolor quilts are made by piecing squares of fabric to create an impressionist or watercolor effect. - Besides taking quilting lessons and joining online message boards, join a quilting guild where you can learn new techniques and make friends with other quilters. Quilting guilds are found in every state and many regions of the world (see Resources).
- One of the biggest misconceptions about paper piecing is that bigger pieces are easier than piecing smaller ones. However, it's just the opposite, as smaller pieces are much simpler to do than bigger pieces.
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By rolling left over fabric strips on empty toilet tissue roll, you can avoid re-ironing or wasting time searching for a particular strip. Once rolled, line them in a shoe box, marked according to color or theme.
Stitching in the ditch is a popular quilting technique of outlining objects. However, it's easier to do this by machine rather than by hand. Rather than stitch on the seam line, it looks better to stitch 1/4 inch from the seam line because this can avoid bulk resulting from the seam allowance. -
When cutting out pieces from pattern templates, always lay the template on the fabric's straight grain and then cut on the grain of the fabric. Cut quilting borders and sashes on the lengthwise grain of the fabric, as it's easier for the fabric to stretch.
When quilting with bright deep colors such as reds, wash each piece separately. Because reds often fade, the color can stain other colors.
