Penny Halgren asked:


With applique and piece quilting, Sue Garman quilt patterns really do offer something for everyone.

Sue Garman quilt patterns often make use of appliqu?Applique is a sewing technique in which a design is stitched on top of another piece of fabric, usually using an appliqu?titch, blanket stitch, zig zag or satin stitch. Garman says that appliqu?s her favorite technique, but she also likes intricate piece quilting.

One of the Sue Garman quilt patterns that immediately comes to mind is “The Monster Quilt.” It would be a great gift for a child who is afraide of monsters hiding under the bed because this Sue Garman quilt pattern brings those monstors to the top of the bed…as colorful designs on the quilt top. In addition to the monsters that are appliqu?to the top of the quilt, Garman quilted a fun verse into the quilt’s border.

Another of the beautiful Sue Garman quilt patterns is “Mama Said.” Each block features a design and a special thought of all the ideals your own mother probably instilled in you: share, care, learn, play, love, hope, believe, dream and laugh. Once again, Garman has done an incredible job of capturing a segment of every day life and memorializing it for generations to come in the form of a quilt.

Sue Garman quilt patterns are not all whimsical. Some have a very traditional feel. “Floating Stars” and “Cotton Candy” are examples of quilts that recall the quilt patterns from long ago. “Floating Stars” is actually one of the Sue Garman quilt patterns that is a replica of a Civil War era quilt.

There are several free downloadable Sue Garman quilt patterns available online. Use your favorite search engine to see what’s out there. Sue Garman quilt patterns are also available in most quilt shops and in bookstores that carry her books.

One of the free Sue Garman quilt patterns posted on the Internet is called “Mother Goose and Friends.” Garman’s design features Mary with her little lamb, a very nimble Jack jumping over a candlestick, a likewise nimble cow jumping over the moon, and a frightened Little Miss Muffet, among other Mother Goose classic characters. This quilt would be the perfect addition to any nursery and would become a family heirloom.

When you want to learn more about the world of Sue Garman quilt patterns, consider reading words from Garman herself. Garman has a blog in which she shares her thoughts, tips and details about her latest projects.

Garman, who was taught to quilt by her grandmother, has entered her quilted creations in a number of shows. Sue Garman quilt patterns have been winners in various quilting competitions. Garman has won honors from the International Quilt Association and has won “Best of Show” at the Houston, Texas, livestock show and rodeo. Sue Garman quilt patterns have also been published in books authored by the quilting designer herself.

Garman is retired and taking more time to enjoy her appliqu?nd quilting hobbies. In her previous work life, Garman was a CPA and a former associate director of Johnson Space Center in Houston. She also served as a former deputy chief of staff of NASA. Now, in retirment, Garman is making time to design more quilt patterns and enjoys sharing her knowledge with other quilters. Retirement is giving Garman the opportunity to share her quilting knowledge by presenting more lectures about quilting and to create more Sue Garman quilt designs.



Steven

quiltaholic asked:


You take 2 pieces of fabrics…draw your design on the top one and hand quilt around the image…Then turn to the back and using a large needle, pull dark colored yarns through from the hand quilting stitches to the other side of the design to color in your design.

Miguel

Whit asked:


I’m new to sewing and need a few good quilting ideas. My step mom sews and loves it, she makes wedding dresses, clothes and quilts well just about anything she can sew. she helps teach me how to do this beautiful trade. but i just need some new ideas of quilt patterns.

Steve

saramah asked:


I have lots of fabric that would be good for quilting. I am having a garage sale and would like to sell quilting blocks of the material. As I am not a quilter I don’t know what the best size to sell the block in would be. Can you help?

Louis

Penny Halgren asked:


If you want to make a quilt for a dog-lover, you will certainly have fun with the project! There are almost as many dog quilt patterns as there are breeds of dogs

If the recipient of your quilt loves Scottie dogs, you will find various Scottie dog quilt patterns available for free online. Some are appliqu?uilt projects and others are foundation quilting projects. There’s also a very good Scottie dog block quilt pattern design for those who prefer traditional block piecing.

If you enjoy appliqu?uilting, you can find just about any breed you’d like to create your dog quilt pattern. Whether your quilt will feature a poodle or a boxer, there are many dog quilt patterns online, free for the using. If you have a specific breed in mind, use your favorite search engine to look for the dog quilt pattern you need.

If you want to feature cute dogs in general on your dog quilt pattern, there are plenty of options as well. One is called a “Floppy Eared Dog” and is sometimes referred to as the “Happy Dog” quilt pattern. The cut puppy would make an adorable quilt for young and old alike, either as a quilted throw or a full size quilt!

There is also a Sundrop Puppy dog quilt pattern available for free online. This dog quilt pattern was created to honor the special dogs who worked in rescue efforts after the September 11 bombing of America’s World Trade Center. The Sundrop Puppy dog quilt pattern is offered free online and is to be used for children’s charitable causes. Enlarge the puppy to make a coordinating pillow or cherished stuffed animal.

If the recipient of your quilt likes cats and dogs, the two animals harmoniously come to live in the puppy and cats quilt pattern. This quilt features blocks of cats with small fish cutouts combined with a puppy and his favorite treat, a bone. This cat and dog quilt pattern is sure to delight those who love pets!

You can always create a truly personalized dog quilt pattern by using your favorite traditional quilt pattern, and transferring photos of your featured dog onto the blocks. The transfer to fabric is simply done at home by using photo transfer paper available from your local hobby or craft store. Make sure you get the paper that fits the color of fabric you plan to use. The transfer paper you would use for white (and light colored) fabrics differs from the paper you would use to transfer to darker fabrics.

If you plan to use white or a light colored fabric, you could use a process known as digital direct to garment printing.

Since the equipment used for this process is generally expensive, most people don’t have direct to garment printers in their homes. The process is becoming more populare due to the soft feel of the transfer on the fabric. Photos printed with digital garment printing remain soft and long-lasting. The photo actually becomes part of the fabric because the inks penetrate the fibers! To find a digital garment printer in your area, check with local screen printers to see if they provide the process.

If you decide to try transferring your dog photos to your quilt with direct to garment printing, make sure your printed uses a digital process, not a sublimation process. Sublimation requires chemical pretreatment of the fabric and it will lose its natural look and feel.



Shannon

Penny Halgren asked:


nt to start a quilting business but don’t want to make actual quilts, how about selling quilted accessories?

Quilted accessories include a wide range of products: home d?r, clothing, pet accessories… and more!

In the home d?r category, your business could make and sell quilted potholders and matching aprons with pockets that coordinate with the potholder pattern. You could make and sell quilted oven mitts.

Table runners and mantel drapes are also popular quilted items for the home. Quilted placemats and coasters are also ideas.

For a living room, den, bedroom, dining room or kitchen quilted wall hangings are popular. These can be custom made to coordinate with your client’s own interior colors and style.

For a guest room or bathroom, why not quilt covers for a tissue box or photo or mirror frame? Quilted pillowcases are also good sellers.

Take the idea of home d?r to a smaller scale and perhaps your quilting business could be making quilted items for doll houses. Many collectors will pay top dollar to have their dollhouse beds accented with tiny little quilts. Such quilts would also be a niche business for baby dolls. Little girls love their dolls and many parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles would pay good money to have a special quilt made for a special doll!

Holidays open up a wide range of options for home d?r as well. Keep that in mind if your quilting business will focus on home d?r. Your quilting business could actually focus on holiday items.

Christmas ornaments, stockings, wall hangings, table decorations…the possibilities for that one holiday alone are endless! Imagine if your quilting business focused on all holidays.

For January, quilted d?r featuring snowmen and snowflakes would be popular for the winter theme. February is Valentine’s Day. Focus for that holiday would be on quilted items with hearts, cupids, etc. March brings St. Patricks’ Day and Spring.

April is Easter, and brings another slew of quilted holiday items to mind. Baskets made from quilted strips of fabric would be gorgeous. Patchwork eggs stuffed to perfection would also be fun items.

May and June bring graduations along with Mother’s and Father’s days. These months are great for quilted photo frames or scrapbooks with a quilted cover.

July’s patriotic theme would be great inspiration for quilted home de’cor as well. August and September sends children (and teachers) back to school. Quilted notebooks, tote bags, pencil cases would be great accessories for those months. Halloween and Thanksgiving also offer endless possibilities for home d&eacutecor, too. Use your imagination!

Quilted apparel could include a number of items as well. Belts and headbands are popular accessories. Quilted jackets are a higher ticket item you could make and sell. You could add small quilt blocks to simple cardigans as pockets. Combine your jackets with a matching quilted cap or tote bag and increase your price accordingly!

Other quilted accessories you could make include cell phone holders, lip gloss pouches, and eye glass cases. Coin purses and wallets are other ideas for quilted accessories. Purses and tote bags are also very popular items that translate nicely into quilted products.

The pet niche can be so much fun. People of all ages love to buy things for their pets. For cats and dogs, quilted carrying cases are good sellers. Pet beds are another top item.

Pet clothing is also very popular. Small dogs generally need the added warmth of a coat in the winter. Quilted coats, jackets and shawls are good sellers for pet clothing. Create a package by including the quilted coat or jacket along with a matching quilted hat.

No matter which niche you choose, any of these areas would offer great sales opportunities for your own quilting business.



Holly

MyThought asked:


I’m a beginner, and I’ve read that a walking foot is appropriate for machine quilting. Is it necessary or just helpful? Can you give me a link to a photo so I know what it looks like? What does a walking foot cost?

Thanks.

Patrick

nikkifrdm asked:


I want to start quilting, but I want to use hemp fabrics. What kind? Lightweight twill? Chambray?

Pedro

momwanda asked:


I have finally found time to take up my favorite hobby of making
quilts. I would love to find a website about quilting and quilting
patterns.

Diane

Janet asked:


I don’t have access to a darning foot, will a zipper foot do for free motion quilting?

Corey