QT User Blog

1. JoyAnn’s First Strip Quilt

This picture right here is a quilt posted from one of our app users JoyAnn (on the right) with her Grandmother-In-Law and her quilt top pieced in less than a day! This kind of quilt is perfect for any beginner or regular quilters looking to a make beautiful quilt that is easy to do while gaining more practice. What also makes this a fun first quilt to make is all the different kinds of colors that you can incorporate into the design.  Simply get the right measurements and pick out your favorite patterns!

Here is what you need: 

1. (40) 2 1/2 ” strips of fabric

2. Backing and batting for 48″ x 64″ quilt (about 3 yards of 42″ wide fabric)

3. Binding (about 1/2 yard)

This is constructed the same as when using the pattern for JoyAnn’s 1600 quilt.  The instructions can be found in the Gallery Library.  Sew all the strips together, end to end, making one long strip.   Then fold the long strip in half right sides together (short end to short end) and stitch along the side using a 1/4″ seam. Then cut the fold as you approach the end of the seam. Continue to repeat this process four more time. Your Quilt will be approximately 48″ x 64″. Then finish it as you wish.

This quilt with the different shades of blue with white is similar to the quilt above but is a bit larger and has white squares added into the design that are placed in between the lines.

2. Simple Rag Quilt

This kind of quilt is easy and fun to make for beginners. A simple rag quilt is often a four patch sewn with four different kinds of fabric that varies in colors and patterns. Use the numbering of the pattern to help follow the design as you make your quilt. However, there are different ways to make this kind of quilt depending on one’s own preference. Always be creative and have fun!

For more information on this quilt and instructions on how to make it click here.

 

3. Pinwheel Quilt

It is easier if you start by picking a pinwheel pattern such as this one in this image above. Having the pinwheel be bigger, take up more space, and be less complex will make it easier for you to cut, stitch and complete than if the pattern had multiple smaller pinwheels. Once you have tackled this type of quilt then try making a more complicated pinwheel quilt for practice.

4. Log Cabin Quilt

A log cabin quilt is also a great quilt to make as a beginner and is also a traditional quilt pattern. Notice how the pieces go in a clockwise motion and the pieces start out small in the middle then getting bigger as they move out away from the center. This is also a great way to practice piecing together blocks. It is also important to remember that there are different types of of log cabin patterns so simply pick one that seems easy to you and go for it! Here is another image of a Log Cabin quilt below.

5. Quick Corner Quilting

This technique is the best for a beginner who wants to make a quilt that incorporates triangles in the pattern. However, triangles are normally not a first good choice as a beginner to try out because the triangle shape can be a little more tricky to accomplish than straight line quilts. First try making one of the other quilts above and then try advancing to making this kind of quilt.

You can see the technique a little better in this image with the black squares outlining the pattern in a single block design. Sometimes it is easier to see it when it is outlined this way. If you look closely the design simply switches the center in the half block and each block has two “quick corners”.

Hint: Regardless of what pattern you choose to try for the first time quilting always make sure that the pattern has clearly written instructions that you can follow. As easy as the pattern may be, if there arn’t clearly written directions you won’t get that far. Having designs that are easy to follow and read will help you when cutting fabric precisely and make it easier to match up your points of the pattern together perfectly. That is why it is important for beginners to practice making quilts that are easy to cut and stitch together first before trying techniques that are more complicated.

 6 Butterfly Quilts

This is a photo of a single block design quilt that uses the quick corner technique in a caddy-wampus fashion to make butterfly wings. This kind of quilt is fun to make especially in the summer or spring time.

Always remember practice makes perfect, so keep on practicing your technique. Share with us on Quilter’s Thread mobile app your first quilt you made or tell us what helped you out as a beginner!

Live Well. Quilt Well.

 

Got a family member or friend expecting a little baby girl or boy soon? What better gift to give them than a special baby quilt made by you. Making a special one-of-a-kind baby quilt for that special baby is so much more meaningful than purchasing one from the store. Here are some tips on how to make a baby quilt more personal and unique for the baby on the way.

 

 

Tip # 1: Add the baby’s name 

If you already know what the baby’s name is going to be you can add it to the design of the quilt, making it even more personal. Having a baby’s name forever printed on the baby’s first blanket gives it a nostalgic feeling that will be carried on in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #2: Gender Neutral Shades

Neutral shades are always a safe go-to when making a baby quilt for a friend or family member, especially if you don’t know the sex of the baby yet. For instance the colors yellow, light brown, orange, white, teal green and gray are perfect. Here are just a few examples of how other quilters have made a neutral themed baby quilt fit for any baby. Notice that the yellow quilt has initials on it in the corner adding more character to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip # 3: Incorporate the season of the baby’s birthday

Another way to make a baby quilt more unique is to add in some themes of the season that the baby is born. For instance, if the baby is born in the spring try adding some floral designs to the pattern or even on the border of the quilt. There are also many different fabrics that will contain flowers, animals, trees or snowflakes which you can incorporated into the baby quilt as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip # 4 : Interactive and playful

Why not make a baby quilt that the baby can also use to play with as he or she grows up. For example, making a baby quilt that has the alphabetical letters in it can help the child learn his or her letters. Or another playful quilt is one that appears as a road that the baby can use later to play with toy cars or trains.

 

 

 

 

Share with us on our mobile app your favorite baby quilts that you have made or are currently working on! What’s your favorite style or theme? By commenting and posting on Quilter’s Thread mobile app you can earn points to potentially receive a gift card for the shops posted on the app.

Live well. Quilt well.

 

Free-motion quilting has been a constant discussion online in the quilting community and industry. What does free-motion quilting necessarily mean? Free-motion quilting is just like it sounds. Free-motion quilting is a technique used where stitches are added by swiftly sewing in any direction freely just on the surface of the quilt top. When free-motion quilting you are in control – not the machine, meaning you have to move the fabric under the needle in a certain motion creating a pattern.

When doing free-motion quilting you can make any type of design pattern such as simple circles to detailed leaves or echo quilting where you outline a focal point. Another way to free-motion quilt is to simply meander and let your hands simply guide wherever and watch your design come to life. This is a great way to add more design and technique to your quilt, however be aware that it takes a lot of time and dedication to build this skill. Here are some images below that show just how unique and different free-motion quilting can be.

  

There are two essentials things that you need before starting

1. Disengage the feed dogs in order to do free-motion quilting
2. A free-motion foot specific to your machine

One important tip about free-motion quilting is that thread tension can easily occur, so if you are a beginner first practice without the sewing thread in the needle in you’re sewing machine. Once you get more comfortable then add thread and then still practice some more. It will take time and patience to get the tension just right. Use top stitch needles size 90/14 in order to give you good results. For more detailed information and pictures explaining thread tension check out Greta’s Quilting Studio.

Another important tip is about the batting and what kind to use when doing free-motion quilting. First off the thinner your batting is, the more issues you are going to have with tension while sewing. Instead choose a batting that is thicker allowing more room for your stitches to interlock creating less tension. A good batting for free-motion quilting is one that is 80% cotton and 20 % polyester, this allows a better quilting texture.

Lastly when re-positioning your hands when you get close to the needle make sure to stop with the needle down before moving your hands back so as not to hurt yourself. Also by doing this it is ensuring that the fabric doesn’t move or budge while you re-position your hands properly. Most importantly when it comes to free-motion quilting always practice, practice and practice in order to improve the quality of your stitching designs.

Make sure to share with us on Quilter’s Thread mobile app your favorite free-motion quilting designs and tricks!

Live Well. Quilt Well.

Straight line quilting is when you sew straight lines across the top of the quilt in various directions depending on one’s preference and the pattern type. What’s great about straight line quilting is that it creates an overall clean and modern look for your quilt as shown in the image below. Although it sounds simple, straight-line quilting can be tricky and multiple complications can occur depending on your sewing machine settings and if your pattern is more complex. Even though it seems like straight line quilting is a simple technique here are some tips and tricks to help make it even easier for you to do.

Tools & Needs

• A sewing machine with:
  • Walking foot for your sewing machine (optional) will help things run more smoothly
  • An adjustable presser foot
  • Seam guide

• Quilt material:
  • Quilt top and bottom fabric
  • Batting material (preferably cotton)
  • Thread
  • Pins
  • A new needle can make a big difference

 Tip #1

Always increase stitch length and decrease pressure of presser foot when doing straight line stitching for best results making the stitches even more durable. Preferably use pressure at 1.5, stitch tension at 3.5 and tension at 3 if possible. Make sure to do a practice run to see if you like those settings, if not simply adjust to your own preferences. Also depending on the fabric type you are using you might want to adjust the pressure either higher or lower.

Tip #2

Puckering can occur when straight line quilting, especially if you sew over other seams which can cause the fabric to clump up like little bubbles. To avoid puckering, try to hold the fabric in place as much as possible when sewing. Make sure that the fabric of the quilt is supported at the back and front in order to reduce the fabric from shifting around causing more puckering to occur. When moving the fabric be cautious and gentle while using the presser foot. Also make sure to slowly guide the fabric through the walking foot when quilting for best results.

Tip #3

If you are a perfectionist and want exact straight lines you can also use a seam guide to help make even more perfect straight lines when quilting. A seam guide often comes with a walking foot but if it does not you can simply purchase one at a quilting store or online. A seam guide gives you extra guidance in order to evenly space your lines when sewing. A seam guide comes with two blades, one for the right side of the walking foot and the other side for left. The blades can be attached at the rear of the walking foot.

Other Helpful Tips & Tricks

• Always do a test run on an extra piece of scrap fabric to see if there needs to be any adjustments made before beginning.
• Keep testing until you are completely satisfied with your straight line stitching.
• Always change your sewing needle with a fresh new one before starting for best results.
• Back stitch every beginning of a line to help lock in the stitch to make it sturdy and durable.
• Work from the center to the outside of the quilt.

Make sure to share with us on our mobile app your favorite sewing tips and tricks that  you use when sewing your quilts. Post and share some of your favorite straight line quilts as well on Quilter’s Thread mobile app.

Live well. Quilt well.