How to Learn the Parts of a Quilt

Do you know the difference between background, binding, and backing fabrics when talking about quilts? What about the difference between patches and blocks? Then again can you describe sashing, setting corners, and borders? All these terms relate to specific parts of a quilt. Learn more about these parts of a quilt and how they relate to each other below.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The part of the quilt that was designed to be seen is called the QUILT TOP. A traditional quilt top can be made as follows:
   * whole cloth-one piece of fabric, usually heavily quilted with lots of patterns.
   * pieced-many pieces of fabric sewn together to make blocks, or
   * appliquéd-shapes applied or sewn to a piece of fabric.

2. Many times there are a variety of things that are sewn together to form the quilt top. Among these are (numbers correspond to diagrams):
   1. BLOCKS-the basic unit of a quilt top; the design of the quilt.
   2. PATCHES-each piece of fabric that is needed to complete a BLOCK. You sew many patches together to make a block.
   3. SASHING-a small width of fabric, the length of the block, placed as a frame between blocks.
   4. SETTING SQUARES-a square of fabric that connects the sashing pieces.
   5. INSIDE BORDER-a fabric used to surround the quilt after the blocks are sewn together like a frame. This border is usually smaller in width than the outside border.
   6. OUTSIDE BORDER-The final fabric that surrounds the quilt. This serves two purposes. First, it frames the quilt design and second it stabilizes the various pieces from stretching.
   7. BINDING-finishes the quilt by encasing all three layers.
   8. BACKGROUND FABRIC-some quilts have a neutral fabric that is used to fill in the square where there is no pattern. This fabric is called the background fabric.

3. The middle, or puffy part of the quilt is called the BATTING.

4. The fabric on the back of the quilt is called the BACKING fabric.

5. QUILTING is the actual stitch made with needle and thread that secures the quilt top, batting and backing together. The quilting stitch adds dimension to the quilt as the batting puffs up between the lines of quilting.

Tips & Warnings

• A great way to learn and remember the various parts of a quilt is to make a quilt.

[Susanh]

on 6/29/2008 Nice article!!