Quilting

You may need to measure a quilt for a variety of reasons: to make sure it is large enough to fit a bed, to determine what size hanger you need to purchase, or to add additional borders or trim. No...

Kaleidoscope quilts can be masterpieces of optical illusion, with the viewer not quite knowing where one block ends and another begins. Depending on the colors of the fabric, this design can be...

Before you begin cutting and piecing a king-sized (and any size) quilt top, you must calculate yardage. If you skip this important step, you may not have enough fabric to finish your quilted...

The half log cabin block is a variation on the traditional log cabin quilt. Rather than having a central square with strips sewn all around it, the half log cabin is set off-center, with the...

Layer Cake Quilts are a relatively new way to use larger print fabrics to create fun quilts for the family. The "Layer Cake" is usually a 10"X10" square of fabric and each quilt is made up of at...

With the resurgence of quilt making in the past 20 years there has been a flourishing in art quilts. Beading has become a common way to embellish this type of textile artwork. Adding beads to your...

The craft of quilting is centuries old. It has changed and developed through the styles of each passing era, shaped by the development of new fabrics, dyes and patterns. If you think about it, a...

Yo-yo quilts are not actually quilts, as they have no batting or backing. They are technically coverlets because they are put together and laid over a bed for a decorative effect. Circles of...

Polar fleece is soft and warm, available in many bright prints and colors. You can make a colorful, warm quilt with fleece. The fabric doesn't fray and is easy to wash, so you can make a casual...

There are many different types of photo albums available at scrapbooking stores, but for a truly unique gift consider a quilted keepsake album. These hand-made gifts are perfect for a new baby,...

Mariner's Star, or Mariner's Compass, quilting blocks have a variety of design options. Many quilters choose to make an eight-pointed star, but the star can have up to 12 different points. The...

Traditional quilting and art quilting differ and converge in varying ways; where one is a generational tradition passed down grandmother-mother-daughter, the other is often explored by visual...

Wide quilt backing fabric is available in a few basic colors and designs, making it difficult to find a match for many quilts. Flat bedsheets are also an option, but they also have limited...

Occasionally a quilt maker will decide to make two quilts exactly the same or will make a reproduction of a previously made quilt. Log Cabin quilts are a good candidate for this treatment since...

Netting is a type of woven fabric known for its excellent stretch and large holes that allows items behind the netting to be visible. Netting is often combined with quilting for projects such as...

Yo-yo quilts are ideal for experienced quilters for several reasons. For one, the methods used to create the quilt are somewhat complex and require skills better mastered on less complex projects....

Cotton batting is a traditional filler used in the making of quilts. It provides the insulating layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers of fabric and is then quilted in place. The...

Quilted potholders are an attractive gift to make for housewarming parties and newlyweds. For an even more special design, a scalloped edge can be added to the potholder. Figuring out scallops...

A handmade baby quilt is something to treasure for many years. Since it is baby sized, it takes much less time and work to make than a full-size quilt. While you have endless patterns and designs...

Once you've finished piecing a quilt top, you must find an appropriate backing. Rather than settling for whatever you see first, take your time to make the right choice. If you carefully consider...

Textiles tell a story, and antique and vintage quilts often tell more than a story. They tell history, too. A little knowledge will help identify antique and vintage quilts as to historical era,...

Drawing your own free-motion quilting motifs is a wonderful way to put your creative signature on your quilting work of art. You can find inspiration for your designs from the quilt itself, from...

A quilt with a musical pattern is the perfect gift for a music lover. You can make a quilt with a variety of musical symbols and even musical instruments. This is a creative quilt that you can...

Even with the most careful of sewing, sometimes blocks end up with uneven edges and need to be "squared up." Sometimes the differences are more extreme than others, and often blocks...

The quilting design for a finished quilt is like the icing on a cake. When choosing your design, it's best to think in opposites. Quilts with large open areas are ideal for intricately detailed...

Many seasoned and new quilters finish with the actual quilting of their quilts and want an easy, no-fuss way of binding their masterpieces. Choosing to bind a quilt using backing can satisfy that...

The motivation for people to quilt their own fabric often comes from the inability to find just the right yard length of goods at the local fabric store. Whether it's to make a beautiful evening...

Constructing a queen- or king-sized quilt can be an unwieldy proposition. If you use a quilting hoop, you will have excess fabric hanging down on all sides. A better option for many quilters is a...

If you can sew a straight line you can assemble quilt blocks. Look for block designs with straight-line seams, avoid mitered corners and points, and keep the number of pieces in each block to a...

The use of decorative threads in a longarm sewing machine can sometimes cause problems with the tension between the top and bottom. There are designs that employ different thread types in the top...

The kaleidoscope quilt is one of those patterns that can truly look like four or five different quilts, depending on the fabric placement. This block can look like pinwheels, can be broken up into...

Thousands of different quilting designs exist, but most of them never see a quilt template manufacturer. If you have devised your own quilting pattern or find one you want to adapt, making your...

When you have finished piecing a quilt with simple or intricate quilt blocks, it is time to add material to the quilt top. Add material to your quilt by sewing on borders. Make your borders as...

Learn to sew young and it will last a lifetime, but some sewing skills and lessons have to be unlearned for quilts and quilting crafts. Some quilters learn to quilt without ever learning to sew by...

Few linens are as comfortable and comforting as a quilt. It's often difficult, however, to find a quilt that suits a man's aesthetic preferences. You can make a quilt more likely to fit with a...

The Hopscotch quilt isn't one that most beginners would think of trying, but it ought to be. Its simple design of squares and strips make it a wonderful way to practice strip-piecing skills and...