Diane Palmer asked:


If you love to sew, and quilt, then why not incorporate them into a business?

I find a great angle for a business like this, is to offer to finish other peoples quilts. I know you may prefer to make them from scratch and show them off at craft shows, but what happens is, many people will walk by your quilt, admire it, then say “Oh I have one I am trying to finish at home”

They feel too guilty to buy your quilt, because they have one they started years ago, and due to time, kids, stress and life, they just have not got it done, and it sits in a corner somewhere collecting dust.

Since quilting is your passion, then why not offer to finish off these quilts for a price?

Or, offer to start one from scratch with their fabrics and colors.

Another great quilt people like, since they are fairly quick, are the rag quilts. You could offer to create a rag quilt for your customer, using their fabrics, or fabric squares you have, and make a rag quilt in a weekend.

A rag quilt is much faster to make, there is not the fancy stitching afterwards, and these rag quilts actually get better the more times they are washed, so they make for a very useful quilt.

If you just want to make your own rag quilt, then there are many books on the subject, and you can purchase many fat quarters, or quilt squares online now. This is a great way to get some unique fabrics, as you are looking worldwide while on the internet.

Get quilting, and make some money.

how to make a rag quilt



Marc

Penny Halgren asked:


Since the star is a traditional symbol of Christmas, star quilts make great decorations and gifts for the Christmas season.

If you want to make a special holiday quilt, you will discover that there are many quilt block patterns with stars from which to choose. Simply integrate your Christmas fabrics and colors into any traditional star pattern and you are certain to have a quilt that will delight your family or its recipient for many years.

The Ohio Star is very popular among quilters. The Ohio Star is a nine patch quilt block pattern. The center is a square. Patches to the top, bottom, left and right of that center square are pieced to form the star’s points.

Another quilt block pattern features the center square with two triangles on each corner stitched together to make the points. This traditional pattern is gorgeous in any number of fabrics and colors, but is especially pretty in Christmas fabrics since the star is such a big symbold of the Christmas season.

The Lone Star quilt is another popular quilt design. The star looks as though it is made up of tiny diamond shape pieces of fabric. The diamonds alternate from the center to expand the large star out. Again, this very detailed quilt is remarkable in any fabric. Holiday inspired colors and prints will make your Lone Star Quilt a treasured holiday heirloom.

If you see a Lone Star quilt and think it looks like one you’ve seen before that had a different name, you are probably right. The Lone Star quilt is also recognized as Star of Bethlehem and Morning Star.

Another popular pattern to try is the Eccentric Star. Be creative when you piece this one. You could use a fabric with a Santa, manger scene, angel or other theme for the center square of each star. Or maybe you could tell a story though the series of center squares.

For example the first star’s center would be a child looking out the window waiting for Santa. The second star would be a stocking hanging on a wall. The third center could be Santa coming down the chimney. The fourth could be Santa distributing presents. Fifth could be Santa going up the chimney. The sixth could be the sleigh taking off. The seventh star could be a child waking up to find his toys. Stars eight could say “Merry” and star nine could say “Christmas.”

There are many options for the Eccentric Star block. Let your imagination take lead!

Your holiday quilt patterns do not have to be full size quilts. While they would certainly make festive holiday bedding, smaller versions would make great wall or door hangings to celebrate the holiday.

Decorate your mantel with star runners or make a wall hanging to place over it.

Don’t limit your star quilt blocks to home décor. Decorate clothing with them. Try stitching your favorite block to the front of a sweatshirt as a great gift for a quilting friend.

They also make nice additions to the backs of jackets. Surprise your favorite ladies (young and old alike) with star quilt shirts or jackets.

You might also use your star blocks to make holiday tote bags and purses. No matter which star pattern you choose or which item you decide to make, you know you will have a popular item when you piece star quilt blocks.



Douglas

mia.loveu asked:


I need tutorials, materials that i need…
I have got no clue about quilting but it looks like fun so im going to try it out.
Video tutorials would be apreciated!
I need step by step help!

Gertrude

Kathie W asked:


I’m a recently divorced and retired woman who finally has some spare time and really enjoy quilting. I’m trying to find a group of ladies who share my passion and are in the new york city area. Thanks in advance for your help!

Scott

Penny Halgren asked:


Have you ever looked at a box of memorabilia or trinkets and wondered what to do with it – other than close the lid and put it back on the shelf?

Maybe you have a collection of hankies from your grandmother. Or what about the bowl of buttons and the box of lace you’ve been saving for some project? Or maybe your husband, son, or boyfriend has a box of military medals.

You can easily share those treasures in a wall hanging style quilt.

Basic quilt blocks are the foundation for these memory quilts, and you will find an expression of creativity and soul as you develop the layout of your quilt and devise methods for attaching the objects.

Designing Your Quilt

Your collection should be the center of interest for your quilt or wall hanging. The first thing to do is pull your collection together and lay it out on a table.

Decide on a theme for your quilt. If you have a collection of gloves, your theme might be elegant parties. A collection of buttons might reflect memories of childhood. Those military medals might be to honor a soldier hero.

You might even want to make notes about your theme and thoughts to guide you as you make your quilt. Think, too, about keeping those notes as a journal for future generations to appreciate your creation.

Fabrics

Select fabrics that relate to the theme of your quilt – both in color and design. For example, you might not want to include a bright fabric with fire trucks in your memorabilia quilt with gloves representing elegant parties. However, that truck fabric might be perfect for a quilt with buttons from childhood.

Use a variety of lights, mediums and darks to give your quilt an interesting background, keeping in mind the mood of your quilt. A quilt with a somber mood might not be the place to put a wide selection of bright, fun fabrics.

Size of Your Quilt

Let your collection determine the size of your quilt or wall hanging. As you lay your collection out on the table, you will get a sense of how large your quilt needs to be in order to display your memorabilia in its best light. You may decide to add or remove some of the items; or even to make two quilts with your collection.

The Shape of the Quilt

Be open to a unique shape that might develop as you design your quilt. Your button quilt might be round; a quilt with military medals might take on the shape of a medal with the ribbon. Or, your collection may be perfect displayed on a traditional rectangular quilt. A hankie or collar quilt might have scalloped edges to echo the shape of the piece.

You may discover that the blocks within your quilt are different sizes, or even different shapes. For example, you may attach each glove to a block. You may place a short glove on a square block, while an elbow-length glove is better suited for a rectangular background. Be open to those different shapes, and know that you can always place strips of fabric around or between the blocks to piece the quilt.

Overall Look

As you design your quilt, keep in mind the idea of repetition in your quilt. By repeating themes, shapes and / or colors, your quilt or wall hanging will have the continuity of a traditional quilt while displaying the uniqueness of your collection.



Cindy

Ally asked:


I have never made any projects with quilting but I would like to start, I don’t have any experience in this area, but I do have a sewing machine and a quilt book, and I would like to do something with it. I have always like and admired quilting projects and I wanna to know which tools should I buy. What Are the Essential Quilting Supplies For Beginners?

Glenda

Sue’sMom asked:


I love to quilt, but fabric is getting so expensive. Most places are charging $8 to $10 per yard. I need a source for quilting fabric that is inexpensive enough to make my quilts without taking out a loan ;-D thanks.

Sally

Penny Halgren asked:


ve a little patience and love to pay attention to detail, maybe making reproduction quilts is the home-based business for you!

Almost everyone has a beloved quilt in their home, one made by a dear family member. Those quilts are often passed down through several generations. They eventually start to show wear and can be used for nothing more than display.

There are people who would actually love to use those quilts, but know that normal everyday use would destroy them. Those people would pay to have someone reproduce a likeness of that quilt.

If you decide to make reproduction quilts as your quilting business, you will need to know your customer’s wants very clearly. Maybe your customer would like the quilt to use the same color scheme but to be sewn with new fabrics. But what if they want exactly the same fabrics?

There are fabrics being manufactured today that are reproductions dating as far back as the 1800s. Those fabrics can be costly, though, so make sure you pass that expense along to the customer.

Another option does exist, but there are several “ifs” involved: “if” the fabric is still in good condition; “if” the customer understands the new quilt will look as worn as the old one but will be much more stable; “if” you have digital direct to garment printing available in your area, you can create the same quilt for much less than the reproduction fabrics.

Digital direct to garment printing is a process that apparel decorators use. It is NOT screen printing. It is NOT sublimation printing. It is NOT a transfer. Do not try to reproduce a quilt using any of those methods. Any of those methods will fade and wear quickly over time and will not feel natural.

Digital printers lay fabric on top of the printer platen and print onto the fabric as we would print paper from a printer at home. The inks are water based,actually penetrating the fabric fibers to become part of the fabric. A heat press is used to dry the water out of the ink, leaving only a soft natural looking fabric!

To create a reproduction quilt, you or your digital printer would scan in the fabrics and create your very own “yardage.” The print area is generally around 14×16 inches, so your fabrics would be printed in segments that size. If your customer doesn’t mind and if you think the fabric quality is good enough, you could actually scan in the entire quilt block and print it. You’d still have to piece the blocks to each other and quilt them.

To find a digital garment printer in your area, start by calling the t-shirt printers listed in your phone directory. Ask if they provide water based digital direct to garment printing. When you find someone who says yes, pay them a visit. Ask to see samples. You will not be able to feel any ink on the products at all. You also will not be able to see a line around it like transfers tend to leave.

If you choose to reproduce quilts as your quilting business, you will have truly selected a niche market. You can reproduce quilts that customers bring to you, or you can reproduce quilts that you love to resell at craft shows or in your own online store.

If you choose to reproduce quilts to resell at shows, be sure to attach a small tag or note that tells a little about the quilt’s history and a photo of its inspiration if possible. Sometimes knowing a little about the quilt’s past is the difference between making a sale or not!



Rosemary

Penny Halgren asked:


e a quilter and have not yet tried your hand at Leisure Arts quilt patterns, stop by your local library or bookstore to see what you have been missing!

Leisure Arts is one of the world’s largest publishers of craft instructional guides. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Leisure Arts publishes instructional DVDs, books, leaflets, and newsletters in addition to its website, www.leisurearts.com.

The company has many focuses from cross stitch to knitting, to Christmas entertaining. Leisure Arts’quilting patterns are some you will not want to miss.

Mary Engelbreit fans will love the Leisure Arts quilt patterns book called “Breit Quilts to Applique.”

“A Banquet of Quilts” is another Leisure Arts quilt patterns book. The designs are for quilted placemats and table runners. The quilt patterns will give you beautiful finished products to dress up any table and delight guest for many years.

12 Leisure Arts quilt patterns are featured in “A Year of Rag Quilts.” The blocks created will make great wall hangings and pillows. Combine them to make a full quilt!

“Seven Day Quilts” promises to teach techniques that will get you a completely finished quilt within a week! The Leisure Arts quilt patterns in this book are for very colorful quilts.

If you are looking for quilt patterns that are more traditional, Leisure Arts offers those, too. Leisure Arts quilt patterns of long ago are brought back to life in “Antqieu Quilts Recreated”. The book also demonstrates how to use reproduction fabrics in your quilting so your new quilt will look almost identical to the old ones!

Leisure Arts also offers some free patterns. To enjoy some free Leisure Arts quilt patterns, visit the website and click on the “Free Downloads” tab. You will need to enter your name and email address to register, but the downloads that follow are free.

There are quilting and other craft projects availalbe to download. From the craft downloads, you will find fun creations like a child’s rose petal t-shirt, a holiday card holder, and necklaces.

You will also find downloads for crochet and knitting, cross stitch, recipes, and paper crafts, too.

Leisure Arts quilt patterns and other Leisure Arts projects may be the topics of podcasts or webcasts. If you are interested in downloading those, select the “Webcast” tab and follow the directions. You will be able to select your focus, either quilting, crafts, cross stitch, etc., from a drop down menu. Once you download your audio or video, you can watch or listen to the instructions at your convenience.

After looking at the Leisure Arts quilt patterns and other projects, you may decide you are ready to buy one of the company’s books. The company offers its instructional books for sale online but they are also available in traditional bookstores. There is a “Store Locator” tab that will help you find your nearest dealer. Also, do not forget to check your local library. You may luck out and find that your library has nearly an entire collection!

Leisure Arts’ designs come primarily from freelance designers. This means that if you have a special pattern you have created, you have the opportunity to get it included in an upcoming Leisure Arts quilt patterns book! To learn more information about how to get your own projects considered for publication, check out the company’s website. Click on “About Us” then look down to see the “How We Get Our Designs” heading. You will find all the information you need there!



Bradley

ashleyg asked:


Looking for any good sites to get quality fabric for quilting maybe in china or somewhere like that. Please let me know

Jill