Penny Halgren asked:


Sometimes tying a quilt seems like the very last resort to getting a quilt finished.

While hand quilters love the look of a skillfully hand quilted quilt, and machine quilters appreciate the beauty and complexity of fine machine quilting, tying a quilt can be equally rewarding. And those ties don’t need to be simple yarn knots with tails tied every 6 inches.

For example, take a look at some of the particularly ornate Crazy Quilts from more than 100 years ago. These gorgeous Crezy Quilts were tied, but it isn’t obvious how they were tied, since you can’t see the ties on the front; thus didn’t distract from the exquisite embroidery stitches.

On the back side of these quilts there are simple double thread tacks holding the quilt together. To achieve this, the patchwork quilt top was sewn to a foundation fabric, securing the top to the inner layer.

The backing layer is also attached to the foundation fabric in the center of the quilt, but the ties do not come through to the quilt top. By carefully pulling the needle and thread through only the backing and the foundation, the double threads could be tied on the back.

Extra work, to be certain, but clearly worth the effort in order to preserve the quality and beauty of the Crazy Quilt top.

But, What About the Patchwork Quilts of Today?

Everyone agrees that tying a quilt is much faster and generally easier than either machine or hand quilting.

Basically anyone who can hold a needle can tie a quilt and get a sense of accomplishment. All members of a congregation are invited to tie a knot in the prayer quilt, no sewing ability needed. Yarn, perle cotton or embroidery thread tied in a simple knot is perfect for that kind of quilt. When the quilts are made, the quilters place the ties in the quilts, and then the members of the congregation finish the quilts by tying the knots.

Other quilts would be ruined by either hand or machine quilting. Anyone who has seen a moderately heavily quilted quilt understands that the quilting tends to reduce the puffiness in a quilt.

If you want a puffy, fluffy quilt, using thick batting will give you that look. And tying the quilt will keep the layers together while maintaining the puffiness you want. Hand or machine quilting this type of quilt would significantly reduce the puffiness, and completely change the look of your quilt.

Many tied quilts are simply tied in the corners between the blocks, leaving the blocks as open space. Other quilts are tied in the center of each block with either yarn or perle cotton.

But, tying a quilt doesn’t need to be boring!

The best ties are washable, won’t unravel, will stay tied, and are strong enough to hold together when they are tied. Even with those considerations, why not add a little flair? Using embroidery floss or cording might be a possibility. And instead of using yarn or perle cotton, try a ribbon.

And what about adding something interesting in the tie? Sew a cute shaped button – say a train or fire truck – onto your quilt, and then tie the knot on the back of the quilt. Simply pull your thread from the back of the quilt, attach the button, and knot the thread, just as you would sew a button on a shirt.

Another possibility is a bow. Instead of just knotting your quilt tie, finish it off with a bow. Add a large button under the bow for an even more interesting look. As added safety against the bow coming untied, double knot it.

And speaking of trains, trucks and other things with wheels, make double-sided circles of fabric and sew them on to your quilt as wheels of your vehicle, attaching them just in the center. You might even add a button on top, and make the fabric circle wheel able to spin around.

If you have a lattice on your quilt top, maybe you could lay down a narrow ribbon and tie it in place with ribbon ties every few inches along the way. If you will wash the quilt or wall hanging, the ribbon strips might need additional stitching to secure them to the quilt top.

Where you place the ties on your quilt can be interesting, too. Just as quilters stitch their quilting to make a design, your ties can add to the design of your quilt.

If your quilt has an ocean flavor, your ties can be like birds in the sky or whiskers on a seal. A basket quilt might have bows along the handles of the baskets. And your Sunbonnet Sue might have ribbons on her hat.

Have fun with every aspect of your quilt – from sewing the blocks together to quilting the top – whether you hand quilt, machine quilt or tie your quilt, finish it so someone you love can enjoy using it.



Gregory

Penny Halgren asked:


ou have never made a quilt, you can start a quilting business.

We’ve been taught all our lives to share – share toys, share money, share food. Why not share your quilting knowledge? You can start a quilting business by sharing what you know about quilting.

You don’t have to be a veteran quilter with 50 years of sewing experience to have sound advice to share, either. If you have quilted for a month, you know more about quilting than someone picking up a needle and thread for the first time. Start a quilting business that teaches basic skills.

Your most basic quilting information could teach some important skills. A lot of wannabe quilters won’t even start a quilting project because the chore of selecting appropriate fabrics seems like such a daunting task. Perhaps you start a membership based website that offers quilting tips to beginners about how to start a quilt. You could also start your quilting business with an old-fashioned paper printed newsletter that you mail out monthly or quarterly to beginning quilters. Some of your topics could be how to select a quilt pattern, how to select fabrics, which threads to use, etc.

Of course, the longer you quilt, the more information you can share with your subscribers. But you sharing information is not the only kind of quilting business you can start.

If you are like most quilters or crafters, you have a lot of leftover fabrics taking up storage space! You could start a quilting business that concentrates on selling your fabric leftovers (and just think how much fun it would be to spend the money you make on new fabric)!

Maybe you could start a quilting business by developing a quilters consignment store online. People could pay you to sell their leftover fabrics, threads and other notions.

If you love quilts, but haven’t ever quilted and are afraid to try, you can still start a quilting business. You could coordinate quilters retreats for others. You can make arrangements at a local hotel or bed and breakfast to get great room rates for any overnight guests. Reserve a location, plan a few games, prepare snacks, whatever the quilters need you to do. They’ll benefit because they got a retreat without having to do a lot of the work and you will benefit by being around quilters and quilting. Maybe you’ll even be encouraged to start your own quilt project!

The two ideas that usually come to mind when people think about starting a quilting business are to sell quilts or to provide a quilting service for tops that have already been pieced. Both are good ideas.

If you choose to sell quilts, you have a lot of options. You could sell only appliqu?uilts (like pieced quilts, baby quilts, etc.). You could sell them online, through a small newspaper ad (or word of mouth since that’s free), or at area craft shows. If selling quilts at a show, take a project along to work on between customers. When shoppers see you working on a project, it draws their interest more keenly to your work which will hopefully lead to a sell.

Don’t let lack of experience be an obstacle between you and your quilting business. Your quilting business can grow right along with your quilting skill level. All you really need to start a quilting business is a love for the art and a desire to succeed – you don’t even need a lot of money. If you’ve been thinking about starting a quilting business, decide today to do it. You’ll be glad you did!



Wesley

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

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

Penny Halgren asked:


just have a lot of denim fabric lying around. Or, maybe you’re recycling old jeans and are looking for a quilt project. If you use your favorite search engine for free denim quilt patterns, you will likely uncover reference to a rag quilt.

Rag quilts are sewn with the seams on the top of the quilt. Snipping the quilt seams, then washing and drying the quilt give the desired ragging appearance. Most people consider it a “shabby chic” style. Rag quilts are very popular and denim’s natural fray would be an added accent to your denim rag quilt.

If you are looking for free denim quilt patterns, there’s good news. You can use any quilt pattern to create your denim quilt.

While you will find many free quilt patterns online or at your local library, there are few quilts designed specifically for denim. Denim is a fabric like any other. So, you may use it in any quilt you feel like trying!

If you plan to use denim in your quilt patterns, there are a couple of things you will need to keep in mind.

First, will your quilt be all denim or just feature a piece throughout the pattern?

Second, will you be using light or dark colored denim? Denim fabric comes in more colors, not just light and dark. There’s stonewashed denim for an extra worn look, and even colored denims.

You will need to consider the weight and colors of your denims as you create your denim quilt. Patterns may not have instructions for denim use so you will have to rely on your judgement.

If you are making a quilt using only denim fabrices, you will need to be certain that the denims are of the same weight range. Interspersing a heavy weight denim with a light weight one without putting some planning into it, could leave you with an awkward quilt. You wouldn’t want too many heavy denim quilt pieces on one side or the quilt’s final weight would be awkward.

Likewise, if you are planning to use denim as an accent fabric in your quilt, keep the weight of the other fabrics in mind, too. Nothing can ruin a quilt faster than mismatched fabric weights.

As important as the weight of your denim pieces, the color of your denim fabric is also important. For instance, if you are appliqu?g an “Overall Sam” onto a quilt that uses mostly cotton fabrics that portray an old, worn look, crisp dark denim overalls would look out of place. Weight of the denim in the same example would also be an important consideration.

If you are recycling your old jeans for your quilting project, maybe there are extra ways you can be creative. Depending on the quilt you are creating, maybe you could cut away the back pocket of your jeans to appliqu?nto your new quilt. If you happen to be making a throw, the pocket could become a handy remote control storage stitched right onto the throw! Maybe you could even recycle the belt loops. Sew them around the top and bottom border of your denim quilt and run a ribbon “belt” through them as an added decorative touch.

Applique quilts are a great way to use old jeans. Your old comfy jeans will transfer nicely to create a brand new comfy quilt for yourself or someone else. Have fun with your denim quilt project, whether you are starting with brand new pieces of denim fabric or simply finding a way to use your old jeans!



Jack

Penny Halgren asked:


would just like to make some extra money each month. Maybe you are miserable with your present full time job. No matter what your reason for considering, it, there is no time like the present to start a quilting business of your own.

Necessity made me start my quilting business. My job was cut when the State of California downsized. I wasn’t thrilled with the job anyway, but it paid the bills. So, with my kids grown and in college, I decided to look at the setback as an opportunity. I knew I loved quilting, so I explored starting a quilting business.

That was in 2004. It’s been a whirlwind of learning and success ever since! If you have been thinking of starting a quilting business but are afraid that today’s economy will not support it, think again. Think about your own economy rather than the country’s.

If you could stand to have some extra money, start a quilting business to earn some. Remember, even in bad economic times, there are people who are virtually unaffected by the times. And, depending on the quilting business you choose, the economy might help your business.

For example, if you are a quilter who ha s lots of remnants or fabrics you just haven’t used, why not sell those to other quilters? If you offer them at a discounted price, you create a win-win situation. You make money from your quilting business, and quilters save money by buying from you.

Statistics show that even though quilters prefer buying supplies from retail stores and quilt shows, the number of quilters buying supplies online has grown. In 2003, only 17 percent of quilters said they bought more than half their supplies online or through mail order. Just three years later, that percentage had jumped to 20 percent.

The 2006 survey shows statistics for quilters who bought more than half their supplies online. That survey doesn’t even explore how many quilters bought less than half their supplies via the world wide web. I’m sure that number is much larger!!

There are many ways you could choose to start a quilting business – thanks to high speed internet. High speed internet allows users to download files more quickly and safely than dial-up connections. This means that if your quilting business involves selling quilting patterns online, your customers could buy the pattern and download it right away. No shipping and handling charges (or extra work for you) since the pattern won’t have to be sent by postal carrier!

More quilters surveyed reported having high speed internet access. In 2006, 73 percent had high speed internet access. In 2003, only 62 percent reported high speed access..

Another good thing about starting a quilting business online is that your business will be truly global. Quilting is not just an American hobby. Quilting supplies and services offered through online quilting businesses reach much farther than the United State’s slumping economy. Don’t let a nation’s economic woes create a slump for you or your quilting business!

Internet businesses are great for a quilting business because the owner can dodge the expenses associated with renting or leasing store space, an added utility bill, etc. When you work from home, you are already paying those house expenses. Plus, you won’t feel the pressure to “sink or swim” that a retail storefront carries with it!

If you do decide that an internet quilting business is the way to go, keep track of your home expenses. If you dedicate a certain area of your home to your quilting business, chances are that you can deduct some of those come tax time.



Mildred

Penny Halgren asked:


Quilters who are not already a machine embroidery enthusiast just may find themselves engrossed in the craft once they realize they could incorporate machine embroidery into their quilting.

Embroidery is a traditional way to add special decorative touches to quilts. Whether by hand or machine, a quilter may accent his or her creation with embroidered flowers or other accents. But today’s machine embroidery – for those willing to try it – can make quilting quite different.

For instance, a quilter may use a simple embroidery design to let the machine “quilt” the project. Simple designs that can be stitched in one color work best, especially for the beginning machine embroidery quilter.

If you want to give this a try, look for an embroidery design that’s simple – one that you can visualize stitched into a quilt. Some redwork inspired designs work well. Other simple designs like flowers, circles, sun/moon, houses, hearts – there are all sorts of designs to choose from – can work well as quilting stitches.

Be sure to keep your quilt top’s theme in mind. We all know and love the traditional beauty of the double wedding ring quilt. While the quilt top is beautiful with its color variety, the quilt back is just as pretty with its simple stitching that follows the design on the top.

What if you used an embroidery machine to quilt hearts into the quilt design? That one unexpected touch would truly make your quilt unique.

Have you ever needed to throw together a quick quilt? Many quilting pros laugh at the notion, but sometimes we need a quick gift to give and want to make it personal. Lap quilts and baby quilts are very easy to create on an embroidery machine.

Simply hoop your top fabric, batting and backing fabric into an embroidery hoop. Pick a design and get to work! Even if you are quilting solid color fabrics, you can complete a quick, beautiful quilt with the embroidery machine in no time!

Some ideas for a baby blanket for a boy would be to use outlines of footballs, airplanes, trucks, trains, etc., for your quilting pattern. The hardest part of your job will be re-hooping fabric and pushing the “start” button!

Ideas for a baby blanket for a girl include outlines of flowers, baskets, dolls, kittens, etc.

The method above uses machine embroidery on relatively small quilts. Larger quilts can be done the same way or may be quilted with machine embroidery by individual quilt blocks. Experiment to decide which method is easiest for you and remember that the machine embroidery quilting method may change with each unique project.

If you can’t find a pattern you like already on embroidery file, ask a digitizer to help you create one. A digitizer is someone who takes art images like line drawings, clip art and fonts and alters them to become a stitch pattern. So if you’d like for your family tree wall hanging to be quilted with a tree pattern, a digitizer can create one for you.

Be sure to let your digitizer know you plan to use the image for quilting. The digitizer will need to plan stitches accordingly.

Quilting is rich in tradition and therefore many true-blue quilters do not like the idea of using machine embroidery to quilt their projects. Isn’t it great to try new ideas and techniques? Remember, not to long ago quilters refused to consider machine quilting at all! Embroidery machines will never take the place of quilters, but it can be a fun and rewarding sewing technique to try from time to time.



Lucille

Penny Halgren asked:


two kinds of necktie quilts. In one, fabric is cut to resemble neckties and sewn into the quilt block. The other actually incorporates men’s neckties into the quilt design. Using men’s neckties in quilts is an extremely popular trend.

In addition to being a current trend, the necktie quilts have enjoyed popularity over many decades due to the fact that they can be great memory quilts honoring the men in your life.

If you want to make a necktie quilt using men’s ties, you have several options. First, you need to decide if you will use the tie as is, incorporating the entire tie into your quilt design. Your other option is to use the ties as scrap fabrics, cutting pieces from each to complete a traditional quilt pattern.

Quilters who like to use neckties in traditional patterns often choose to use them as fabrics in Dresden Plate, Double Wedding Ring, and block patchwork among others.

If you opt to use the entire necktie in your quilt, you might start off by arranging them to form a starburst in the center of the quilt. Fill empty spaces with other fabrics, or more neckties if you have them.

You could also choose to use the neckties in your quilt’s border.

In addition to full size quilts, you could use the neckties to make wall hangings, Christmas tree skirts and stockings, or pillows.

If you have the urge to make a necktie quilt, but don’t have enough ties on hand, ask friends and family to save them for your project. Also, visit thrift stores and yard sales to grow your own collection of men’s neckties.

If you have plenty of ties on hand, but are having a tough time finding a starting place, visit your favorite free quilt pattern site to see what it offers. There are many free or low cost quilt patterns available on the Internet. You have a world of options at your fingertips if you are planning to use the old neckties in piecing your quilts.

If your necktie quilt is a memory quilt for a friend or family member, make sure to incorporate other mementos into it. For instance, if your father loved golf, try working a golf tie or golf themed fabric into your design of the quilt you are making for him or in honor of him.

Quilters who are low on neckties or time can create a wonderful memory lap quilt. Smaller in size means it takes less time to complete. While smaller in size, the necktie lap quilt can still be big on memories!

To make a quilt featuring fabric cutouts of men’s neckties, you have a couple of options. You may make the traditional neck tie or you may choose a bow tie pattern. Both are popular and widely available on the internet.

Applique quilters over piecing can use that method in making necktie quilts. If using the entire necktie, it may be appliqu?onto the quilt top wherever the quilter chooses. Using tie shaped pieces of fabric, the quilter may choose to appliqu?hose to a quilt top. The bowtie quilt design may also be appliquedd, but part of its novelty is how the blocks actually piece together to create a bowtie.

Once your necktie quilt project is complete, you can use any remaining neckties you have left over for other projects. Popular ways to recycle neckties include wearing them as belts or headbands or making skirts from them. You can find various instructions and patterns for those projects on the Internet as well.



Daniel

Penny Halgren asked:


Quilting has changed over the years, thanks mostly to the development of various quilting gadgets. Rotary cutters simplified fabric cutting and make it more accurate than scissors. In addition to ease and accuracy, the rotary cutter eliminated the blisters scissors can create on the thumb and finger! Something so simple has proven to be a revolutionary quilting gadget.

Speaking of revolutionary, today’s quilting has really benefited from computers. Computerized sewing machines are a big change for today’s quilter. The ¼ inch presser foot and a walking foot have become standard quilting gadgets on many sewing machines.

Once upon a time, machine quilting as reserved for use at an industrial level. While it’s a much bigger “quilting gadget,” home quilting machines are another useful and attainable tool for quilters.

The Internet may be the biggest quilting gadget. Today, quilters have a world of threads, fabrics and other supplies at their fingertips. The Internet also is a great search tool, great at helping professionals and hobbyists find unique and helpful quilting gadgets.

Quilters can also find a wide array of free quilting patterns online. The Internet offers quilters the chance to perform a general search for quilt patterns or search for a specific pattern.

The Internet is also helpful because it affords quilters the opportunity to join quilting forums, subscribe to quilting newsletters, and to learn from frequently asked question pages. Quilters may use the Internet to join online chats with other quilters. Quilters may utilize other websites, like YouTube, to view instructional videos about quilting and special problems quilters may encounter.

The Internet is also a great place to shop for fabrics. Many quilters do not live near traditional brick and mortar fabric shops and some larger retail chains are discontinuing their fabric departments. The Internet fills that gap for quilters.

Fabric has come a long way over the years, too. With improvements in fabric manufacturing, today’s cloth could conceivably last hundreds of years. Fabric manufacturers, in addition to giving quilters better quality, are also delivering more variety. Available styles and colors have diversified. If you like Japanese fabric and your local shop doesn’t carry any, look online for sources. You will see how different, yet how similar, fabrics from another culture are to your own.

The Internet is a useful quilting gadget for quilters who want to sell their works. Many quilters sell their quilts or quilting services online through Internet auctions such as eBay or through their own websites and advertising on other quilting websites.

With your favorite quilting gadgets, fabric and a design in mind, you are ready to begin your quilting project. But, if you want to truly customize your design, there are several quilting gadgets that will help. Custom cut acrylic templates can help cut even the most challenging patches. Fabric pencils and colored chalks provide quilters the supplies needed to temporarily mark fabrics.

The ultimate quilting gadget is computer software that helps you custom design your own quilt and quilt blocks. A little computer literacy is all that’s required. Such software will let you take a traditional quilt pattern that is pre-loaded into the program, and alter lines to create your very own creation.

Each quilter has his or her own favorite quilting gadget. Maybe your favorite is a light weight quilt frame, your old rotary cutter, or something as simple and standard as a seam ripper. No matter what your choice, there’s no denying that the world is full of useful and affordable quilting gadgets that make quilting more enjoyable.



Julia