Choosing Fabrics for a Quilt

Quilting is a type of sewing that involves a needle and a special quilting thread is used to sew through three layers of the quilt: the top, the batting and the backing. The quilter typically passes the needle from the quilt top all the way through to the bottom layer and then pushes the needle back up. Simple to quite elaborate patterns are formed by these quilting stitches. Tying is another method of holding the three layers of the quilt together. A bed covering or similar large rectangular piece of quilting work is called a quilt. A quilt does not have to be rectangular, however. Many quilts hang on the wall as art quilts and are all kinds of shapes and sizes. Given the popularity of quilts as heirlooms and gifts, it's no surprise that many people who might have been intimidated by sewing and crafts will attempt to learn this skill as they grow older.

In this free instructional clip series, an experienced quilter will demonstrate the methods you need to master your journey to become an expert quilter. Learn how to choose and size fabric and create the perfect quilting squares.

"I am Elva Gentry and I am at Granny Bee's Quilt Shop in Dickson, Tennessee. Granny Bee's is located in Miss Mable's Village at 300 West College Street. Today I am going to be teaching the underground railroad. This book is written by Elenore Burns and Sue Birshard. I will be teaching one block from this book. I am going to be choosing my fabrics to go with this and I need five different color fabrics. We can use fat quarters with this. So, I am going to choose a fat quarter and I need a blue. This is going to be my starter fabric. And I like this blue so I will build some more fabrics on to this. I need two background colors. I have chosen my fabrics here. This is one of the backgrounds, this is the other background. Here's the blue. I need a brown and I need a red. And we will be cutting these blocks, these pieces out and sewing these pieces together."