Penny Halgren asked:


Americans relied on their local newspapers for more than information during the United States’ Great Depression.

Newspapers during that time also provided a service to quilters. Many newspapers published quilt patterns for their readers during the Great Depression.

1930 newspaper quilt patterns were very common in rural U.S. states. The Kansas City Star actually began printing patterns for quilters in 1926. The newspaper carried on the tradition until 1961. The quilt patterns were published weekly at first, then as interest seemed to dwindle, the patterns were printed monthly before being pulled from the publication all together. In all, just over 1000 quilt patterns were published by the Kansas City newspaper. Collectors have found copies of all of them and now offer a compilation for sale.

The Kansas City newspaper was not the only one to publish newspaper quilt patterns. Many other rural papers did the same.

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns helped preserve part of the country’s heritage. Even though times were tougher than ever economically, the 1930 newspaper quilt patterns focused on the things that were truly important to quilters of that day and served as an emotional boost as well.

One popular 1930 newspaper quilt pattern was “The Magic Vine.” The design was presented as a series in a newspaper column written by Florence LaGanke Harris. In addition to the weekly quilt pattern, Harris wrote a fictional story about a quilting group. Readers followed the antics of the group and its fictional leader, Nancy Page. As readers followed the goings-on of the imaginary quilting group, they also stitched along with each week’s pattern. Readers were so engaged by the weekly column and quilting that they submitted their own quilt designs for consideration. The end result from Harris’ column was a quilt of beautifully appliqu?flowers with vines that entwined. Another of the popular 1930 newspaper quilt patterns included in Harris’ weekly column was the “Memory Bouquet.” The quilt featured 9×12 inch blocks appliqu?with various flowers. Imagine the cheery look of the finished product with its hollyhock, tulips, violets, carnations, zinnias, jonquils and more!

The weekly 1930 newspaper quilt patterns gave quilters some much needed enjoyment and thrifty entertainment. In addition to providing reasonably priced quilt patterns during The Great Depression era in the United States, the quilts also focused on an important part of life in the 1930’s: the children. Many patterns for children featured nursery rhymes. Some quilts featured one single nursery rhyme while others compiled several children’s favorites onto one quilt top. The patterns were designed so that they could be appliqu?or embroidered. Redwork was popular on quilts at the time!

The 1930 newspaper quilt patterns were a direct reflection of life during the Great Depression. Quilters saved money by using the patterns. They continued providing necessary warmth for their families and offered the quilts they made from the 1930 newspaper patterns as gifts for many occasions.

If you would like to create your own quilt from 1930 newspaper quilt patterns, they are available — usually as copied images or in books. There are several collections available that could be appliqu? embroidered or hand painted. To find your own collection of 1930 newspaper quilt patterns, check your favorite hobby or book store for a book or dvd of all the available patterns. The Internet is another great source of finding 1930 newspaper quilt patterns.



Sandra

ErinR asked:


I have made a quilt for Christmas in a flying geese pattern. Now I just need to quilt it. I don’t know what a good “pattern” is to do the hand quilting. I have looked online and haven’t gotten any ideas.

Gene

Jennifer Walter asked:


Memories are never ending tales of the warmth and happiness that we have shared over a period of time with friends, family and relatives. This experience only gets better day after day and therefore there are many more memories that we will want to preserve over a period of time.

Here in a picture quilt shall be a great way to do that. A picture quilt serves the purpose of keeping memories for us intact and later narrates them as if it were just yesterday.

Another name which picture quilts are known by is photo quilt, while the name – memory quilt is there because of the purpose and the making procedures. Kindly don’t get confused when the terms photo quilt, picture quilt and memory quilt come up as they are all the same.

If I were to be asked then picture quilt of all the different types would be the one I shall like to have. Let me share a personal tale with you here, once I sat for 5 days to build a picture quilt for my granny and those 5 days were very trying.

Reason was not pain in making that design I choose but because I couldn’t stop my hands while making it for her and then when I finally presented it to my grandmother she cried endlessly. These are precious things that you should make and be proud off as well.

I hope you are dreaming off the emotional talk I have made, I think you are as upbeat as I sound to craft a picture quilt so here’s how

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

* Needles and pins

* Photo scanner

* Threads

* Sewing machine

* Select the fabric or else cut portions from your old worn out clothes

* Photos

* Fabric paper

* Printer.

* Cutting mat, Rotary cutter, and ruler

THE PROCEDURE:

We should try and give more importance to the design pattern and relevance to memories while making the picture quilt. In this summary we shall learn how to craft a printed and scanned picture quilt, but there are other things you can do to make one. Having a predetermined design and theme will help you make one without confusion.

There is no limit to imaginations and if you like to be creative then making one with a marriage, family reunion or graduation theme will be the prefect way to start. The color scheme will help enhance the effect of the final product.

Carefully choose the picture and make sure it has high resolution so that the photo does not get lost in the beautiful shades of the picture quilt. Generally the square should be 6 X 12″. Pick the photos and cut them in the shape you’d like them to be placed on the quilt.

Place the photos in a way as to match your pattern of quilt. Then cut the fabric in the same size (printed or printed). Now place the photo and the fabric on a plain board. Ensure that the photos are of high resolution and fabric material is ironed as well as cut into shape.

Now follow the steps that you would do for a normal quilt making – batting, piecing, quilting and in the end binding. What you have in hand is that ultimate and unforgettable picture quilt ready to hold your find memories.



Nathaniel

ashleyg asked:


What’s the difference between regular sewing fabric and quilting fabric, if there is a difference? I don’t want to end up purchasing the wrong fabric to create my quilt.

Jamie

Rose King asked:


“The art of quilting integrated the European and African cultures in America during the slave period. The African folk-tradition was considered inferior, and the European superior. In spite of this gap, quilting brought about the unity of these two traditions and cultures.

It brought the values of both the African and European American women together in a way no folk art tradition did before. Both of them deeply rely on the traditions of storytelling and folklore. Uniting women to sew and pass the traditions to new generations are the common characteristics of both traditions.

Not only did both African and European Americans make quilts to provide warm blankets for their families, but also to show their creativity and gain status, record family history, and to represent various themes and beliefs. Women considered it to be the best way to spend time together and display their skills.

Despite the fact that quilting is a process with individual interpretations, it is also a cultural process that came into being from the exchange and merging of both African and European traditions. The emergence of American quilting was one of the products of this process. The quilting styles of both traditions are highly symbolic. Both of them deeply rely on the traditions of storytelling and folklore. Uniting women to sew and pass the traditions to new generations are the common characteristics of both traditions.”

I make no apology for quoting these extracts, if you like, from my e-Book – The Essential Guide to Quilting. The book is basically about learning how to quilt, but firstly I felt that it was important to have a look at the history of quilting – like a lot of you reading this, I had no idea about how important this craft was to our history, indeed for much of the world.

I go into more detail on the History in the e-Book, so, as I said in my Autobiography, when I started Quilting several years ago, there was not that much good information about how to start thus I took a break from quilting to write the e-Book – The Essential Guide to Quilting – to put my readers on the right road without the hit & miss ride that I had, when I might have given up at times.

Most important to start out is to learn the main quilting terms, here are just a few:



Applique – Appliques are pieces of fabric applied to other pieces of fabric, using fusible webbing or stitching. The stitching can be done by hand or with a machine. Buttonhole, satin or blind stitches are the usual methods used.



Basting – Spray basting, thread basting and pin basting are common methods of basting. This process involves holding the quilt top, batting (the middle layer between quilts – usually cotton, wool or polyester) and backing together to finally sew it all together.



Bearding – the process of pulling the batting fibers through the tops and bottoms of the quilt, through the holes created during sewing, to produce a whiskered effect.



Cheater’s Panel/Cloth – They are pieces of fabric printed with quilt block designs. They are made to resemble a pieced or appliqued quilt top.



Here I have selected some of the less obvious terms in quilting with a quick description to draw attention to the need to learn them in order to get the most out of this fascinating craft. There are lots of terms to learn – believe me when I say I am not trying to put you off, merely to help you on your way.

(Article by Rose visit at http://www.aquiltingbee.com)



Glen

Penny Halgren asked:


le love crafting and are drawn toward quilting, but don’t feel like they have enough talent to sell the quilts they make. They sometimes don’t feel comfortable basing their quilting business around sharing their quilting knowledge. If you are one of those people, there is still a place for you in the quilting market!

All quilters need accessories. Your quilting business could be selling those accessories or niche products geared specifically toward quilters.

There are common accessories that come to mind immediately: scissors, threads, fabrics, etc. You could sell those items on an Internet auction site or start your own online store. With a little research, even someone with very little computer experience can get an online store up and running.

Maybe you would choose to offer only one accessory in your quilting business. You could start a quilting business that focuses on selling fabric fat quarters. You could also start a quilting business that sells nothing but threads.

Advertise this type of business on other websites, such as quilting how-to sites, and quilting newsletters.

Another niche idea to help you start a quilting business is to sell a novelty product that quilters would love. For instance, sell custom pin cushions. Sale online and at craft shows.

You could also sell patterns for dolls or toys that are quilted. If you have sewing skills, you could sew and sell the toys and dolls. A small classified ad in a craft or sewing magazine or newsletter should get the results you need for your quilting business. Also, think about advertising online with quilting and sewing newsletters. If you are sewing the toys yourself, try selling them at craft shows.

If the only thing you love more than quilting is a particular holiday, try combining your two passions into a quilting business. If you love Christmas, start a quilting business in which you sell quilted Christmas d?r. Quilted ornaments, tree skirts, stockings and other decor are very popular.

No matter what your favorite holiday, you can create quilted decorations to sell. Advertise in quilting and sewing newsletters online and buy a small classified line ad in a magazine. These are also great craft show items or sell them from your own website.

Advertising your quilting business does not have to be expensive. After all, the idea is to start a quilting business on a shoestring.

Plenty of newspapers offer free classified advertising. Give those a try. Don’t overlook free online classifieds, too.

Another idea is to join free online groups. Look for groups that relate to your particular quilting business. For instance, if your business is selling patterns for quilted toys, you will undoubtedly think about joining a group for quilters. But, don’t forget other groups like stay-at-home or work-at-home moms, etc. Think about the people who would likely use your product/service.

Be sure to follow the group’s rules. Some specifically state that products cannot be sold on their group sites. Usually, those sites do allow a “signature” in which your name is followed by your business website. Having your name followed by your website is good free advertising!

If you subscribe to a quilting or sewing newsletter, send them a press release when you start your quilting business. Press releases generate free publicity. Even if the newsletter does not use your information in its entirety, you could get a little mention somewhere. Always include your contact information — a phone number, email address or website.

You can also contact your favorite newsletters to see if they accept advertising. Getting a link on your favorite site will undoubtedly reach other subscribers who share your interests!



Frederick

stargurl78 asked:


I’m trying to figure out how big my pieces of fabric will be after I wash them. I know that I have heard cotton quilting fabric shrinks about 2-3%. Is this usually the standard?

Ramon