Tiffany W asked:


I have seen quilting fabric before. What’s the difference between that and any other cotton fabric? I know decorator fabric is wider than other fabrics, but what’s so unique about quilting fabric that makes it especially for quilts? Also what about quilting thread versus other threads? It it just thicker? Thanks!!!!!!!

Margaret

Ang asked:


I want a machine that I can do the quilting myself at home but not the long arm machine that costs thousands of $$.I am still new to quilting and would like suggestions on a brand/model that would be good and easy to use without spending a ton of money.Any suggestions to a website that can help me research this would be appreciated.

Gertrude

gingerandcinnamon asked:


To be honest, it really doesn’t make sense to me what I have to research when it says ” historical significance”. Could it be the significant things of the discovery of quilt itself or the events that occured with quilting? In additon, the historical significance of quilting should be in at least 4 cultures/ time periods, for instance the 1840s. I really, really need help on this one, please!

Kathleen

cc asked:


I need a paper pattern (pantograph) called Sticky Buns for my long arm quilting machine. I know one exists for a computerized quilting machine, but I need the actual paper type. Thanks.
Thank you for the information on the pattern from Golden Needle. Actually I want to purchase a pattern that is about 10 feet long of “sticky buns”.

Erik

Penny Halgren asked:


America’s economic news has been rather grim lately: prices at the gas pump and grocery store, unemployment, and home foreclosures have all been on the rise.

What a great time to start a quilting related business!

Why would anyone want to start a craft related business right now in these economic bad times? I have the answers.

1.Quilts are always a practical yet beautiful long-lasting gift. Whether it’s a quilt for a newlywed couple or one that celebrates the birth of a baby, a quilt gift will always be treasured and used. It’s a very practical gift. In hard economic times, gift-giving doesn’t stop; people become more practical.

2. Quilts create a connection with family. Everyone has a cherished quilt in their family ‘ one made by a grandmother, or received on a special occasion. Those quilts become heirlooms and are usually passed down for several generations to enjoy. They enjoy not just the practicality of the quilt, but the wonderful story that goes along with it. People are more likely to give a quilt as a gift because they have a tradition of becoming a family heirloom treasure.

3.Even when finacial times are bad, there are still people who can afford to buy custom, top-dollar quilts. Those people are not affected by the failing economy and are not likely to be a do-it-yourselfer who would choose to make the quilt themselves.

4. You don’t have to sell quilts to have a quilting-related business. There are many other options. For instance, you could offer your fabric remnants for sale through an online auction. Maybe you would choose to offer a quilting service, either hand or machine quilting tops made by other people. You cold even offer quilting classes. If you think no one will pay to take a class during these hard times, try working out an arrangement with a local public entity like a library, community college or community resource center. Often times, they’ll have grant funding available to offer free classes to the community (so you’d be paid by the organization, not by individuals).

5. If you love quilting and would like to make extra money to help your family through these tough financial times, there’s no time like the present to start a quilting related business! Whether you will make and sell quilts or offer a quilting service, start-up cost can be very minimal. Write out your business info on 3×5 pieces of paper and post them on free bulletin boards around your community. Many newspapers offer free classified ads — use them to your advantage!

The American dream is to make money doing something we love. If you love quilting, it’s time to start your quilting business. Quilting businesses are great because you can work at them part time, in your spare time, until you feel comfortable making the transition into a full time career. If you’re already a quilter, you have the supplies you need at hand ‘ no need to invest in anything new.

You won’t necessarily need to rent a retail location to start your quilting business. Keeping your business home-based will allow you to skip the overhead expenses of rent and utilities! Make sure to dedicated a specific area of your home to nothing but your quilting business. If you keep records of your home’s utilities, you may even be able to deduct a portion of those expenses when you file your taxes.

You define success for your own quilting business. Maybe your goal is to make an extra couple hundred dollars to save for a special occasion? Perhaps your goal is to replace your fulltime job with your quilting. Maybe your dream is even bigger than that. With a little planning, it’s possible to achieve your quilting business dream!



Rodney

Carolyn asked:


This is a transparent quilt block piecing material. I only want the Fun-dation, the others are not as good. It makes foundation piecing for quilting easier. JoAnn’s used to carry it, but they do not anymore. HELP.

Gloria

Penny Halgren asked:


Did you know that more than 6 million beginner quilters decided to learn how to quilt during the last 3 years?

That brings the total number of quilters to about 27 million – that’s just in the United States. And most of those quilters, just like me, are presented with limited drawing and painting abilities.

Quilting is a fantastic way to create a work of art with fabric. It is well understood that the “painting” will not be perfect, and that colors and patterns are limited to what’s available in a quilt shop or hand dyed fabric.

Here Are My Top Tips to Help You Get Started in Making Quilts for You, Your Children & Grandchildren:

Combine blocks of fabric to create your quilts. By changing the shapes of the pieces within a block such as substituting triangles for squares and switching light fabric for dark fabric you can create a whole new quilt design. And, you will still keep the construction of your quilt the same.

Simple is the name of the game for many quilters. As a beginning quilter, focus on learning and practicing basic quilt making techniques that you will need to develop your craft.

Use one or two shapes for all of the quilt patches. This makes it easy to sew a quilt together. Squares and triangles offer many advantages in terms of simplicity.

Remember, interesting variations in quilt blocks are achieved just by where you place the fabrics in your quilt block, in addition to how each patch is divided in the quilt block pattern.

8 Easy Quilting Patterns to Get You Started

Quilt Pattern 1: A simple nine-patch quilt block can be used as an example of how different a block can look just by changing the placement of colors within the nine parts of one block. Using only two colors of fabric in alternating squares creates a checkerboard design.

Quilt Pattern 2: With the same nine-patch of two colors of fabric, using only square patches in each block, you can create a quilt pattern that looks like a big X.

Quilt Patterns 3 and 4: Want more of a challenge? Take some of the square patches in the blocks and divide them in half from corner to corner (commonly called half-square triangles in the quilting world), and create an Ohio Star or Pinwheel quilt block.

Quilt Patterns 5,6,7,and 8: Change the placement of your fabrics once again, and your block turns into a May Basket Quilt Block, a Maple Leaf Quilt Block, a Bow Tie block, or even a series of diamonds, called Slanted Diamonds.

Increase the number of colors in your quilt, and your design changes once again. And, by using only two basic shapes (squares and triangles) you can create all of your design changes.

Quilts are amazing works of art that have survived the test of time, and will continue to do so as long as there is fabric and quilting imagination.

Happy Quilting!

This article courtesy of theQuiltingCoach.com.

You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.



Paula

ruby_phoenix_princess asked:


I am interested in taking up quilting to make cat beds, lap blankets and bed quilts etc. I was wondering if there was any reason the Singer Prelude wouldn’t work for these things since in my research I saw they have specific machines for quilting.

Denise

Penny Halgren asked:


Beginner quilters are often mystified by the selection of quilting fabric. Rest assured that once you have a quilt or two under your belt, selecting quilting fabric gets easier.

If you are still uncomfortable selecting quilting fabrics, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Who will the quilt be for? If you are making a baby quilt, don’t choose open weave fabrics in which tiny fingers might get entangled. If you are quilting for a family member who absolutely hates floral designs, make sure not to pick any floral prints for that quilt. It really is that simple.

2. What kind of quilt are you making? If making a rag quilt, lightweight flannels fray and puff just right for the open seams. Cotton fabrics also fray well.

3. Store displays can help. If you are not comfortable in mixing and matching fabrics, make note of the displays in your fabric store. Coordinating fabrics are usually displayed together. While you are certainly not limited to fabrics as they are displayed, the store’s coordination can help give you some good options.

The price you will pay for quilting fabric will vary depending on the fabrics you choose, where you shop, etc. If you are lucky, you may buy a gingham for a lining for only one dollar a yard. Those fabrics can go up from there. Keep an eye on the price tag if you have a quilting fabric budget!

Many quilters have been accustomed to buying quilting fabric at retail chain stores like Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart chain, however, has begun to phase out some of those departments in stores throughout the United States.

More quilters are shopping online for quilting fabric and other accessories. If you have never bought fabric online but would like to try, do your homework to ensure you are working with a reputable seller.

If buying from an online auction site, you can review comments other buyers have made about the seller, quality of the quilting fabric or supplies they bought, etc. You will probably see descriptions such as “from pet free, smoke free home” included in the fabric listings you read. For buyers with pet or smoke allergies, that information is vital.

Also pay attention to whether you are buying quilting fabric by the yard or by the “fat quarter.” In most instances, a yard of fabric would be a better deal price-wise than a fat quarter.

To learn more about quilting fabric selection, join a local or Internet quilting club. More experienced quilters can help you gain your confidence.

With each quilting project you complete, you will discover you soon have a lot of leftover quilting fabric. That’s the mark of a serious quilter!

To keep your quilting fabric stash interesting, arrange a fabric swap with a few quilting buddies. Everyone can bring their quilting fabric scraps to swap. In addition to meeting people with the same interests, you are certain to pick up a tip or two!

Once you have a stash of quilting fabric, you’ll need to decide where to keep the fabric. Some quilters use cedar chests for fabric storage. Others use rubber or plastic large container totes. A simple cardboard box will also work.

Leftover quilting fabric scraps are handy to have around the house. Use them for quick projects, like a making coordinated pillow or a quilted postcard. If you think you have too much fabric, trade with your quilting friends, sell at an online auction or use free classified.



Brent

Penny Halgren asked:


g business doesn’t have to be a store that sells fabrics, notions, kits, gives lessons, etc. It doesn’t even have to make money for you. Maybe your quilting business could benefit a charity or other organization instead.

To start a quilting business as a nonprofit agency, check into your state’s laws about nonprofits. You don’t have to get into all the business paperwork hoopla if your real goal is just to help people. If, however, you’d like sales exempt status to buy fabrics and supplies for your charitable quilting business, you will need to check into it.

There are many ways to change your love of quilting into money for your favorite cause.

One way is to make a quilt and donate it to your favorite group to use as a prize in a fundraiser.

Quilted postcards could be another fundraiser. You could sell your quilted postcards at holidays and donate the proceeds to your favorite charity.

Another quilting business idea that could benefit charity is to sell subscriptions to a quilting newsletter you publish. A percentage of each subscription could be donated to your favorite cause. Unless you’re wealthy enough, don’t forget to hold out your expenses first, then donate the remainder. You’ll be getting back the money you put into each project and donating the difference.

Your love of quilting could also help an organization in a more hands on method. Get area seniors involved by taking your quilting or quilt piecing to the local senior adult center or nursing home. Spend some much appreciated time with the elderly and lead their quilt crafting time.

On the other end of that spectrum, young children would love to learn to quilt too. Make sure you volunteer to work with children who can safely work with a needle and scissors! You could turn this idea into a money maker by charging a nominal fee for supplies. Parents are always seeking ways to enrich their children’s lives. Many of them would love to see a “quilting day camp” for their kids!

Quilts are often needed at nursing homes, senior centers and at day cares, children’s hospitals and orphanages. Perhaps your project could be to make lap quilts for these people. Check with the marketing coordinator or manager to see if they’d welcome a donation of lap quilts.

You might also check at local food banks and area chapters of the America Red Cross to see if they would like quilted donations.

Team up with a group that provides holiday gifts to the needy. Make quilted throws, toys, kitchen accessories – anything!

Make quilted holiday ornaments for area nursing homes, schools, hospitals to enjoy. You could also make a holiday ornament pack (or several packs) to donate to a group to give away in a drawing.

If you are looking for a way your donations could give you some sort of financial impact, ask your accountant if your quilts can be charitable deductions. If you are thinking of forming a non profit, remember that the term doesn’t mean you are not paid for your time, it simply means your business cannot PROFIT. Any profit must be turned back into the business. Again, check with your accountant and state laws for specific information that may affect you.

Whether you want to start a quilting business to profit for yourself or to make money for your favorite cause, there’s room in the quilting industry for you! Decide who you would like to help and develop a plan for how you will help them. Quilting for charity is a great way to share your love for quilting!



Eddie