Andi asked:


My mom loves to quilt, but I don’t know anything about it. I thought it would be nice to get her some cool quilting tools or gadgets for Mother’s Day, but I have no idea what to get or where to start looking. Any quilters out there with an idea of something she might enjoy? Thanks!

Lori

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

Karen Lincoln asked:


Quilting has been an age old tradition. In days gone by, women used to gather around and do quilting work together. This was quite exciting for them, as they would get to meet one another, as well as do things that they enjoy together. Quilting has also passed down to generations, and is still carried out by many. Quilters love to spend their time, sewing and patching different pieces of fabrics together and seeing their designs taking shape.

In the olden days, quilts were made by hand, as no machines were available then, and this was quite a time consuming process. If the quilt was small, then it would not take much time. However for larger quilts, time taken to complete was much longer, and these were quite tough to handle. Can you picture, a group of women, all sitting together, making a large quilt, and constantly having to get up and move, in order to cover each part of the quilt. Sounds tiresome doesn’t it?

Thanks to technology, all this has changed. Though there are many, who still prefer to make hand made quilts. Nowadays, you have machines to help you with your quilting. These days, women don’t have the patience, nor the time to sit and hand make quilts, more so if its a large quilt. In today’s age, you’ll find mostly machine made quilts, as hand made quilts have become extremely rare. Machines make the quilting process much quicker, and a lot easier. You can either use a regular sewing machine, which has quilting capabilities or you can use a long arm quilting machine, which is exclusively meant for quilting.

The long arm quilting machine is extremely popular. These machines are specifically meant for quilting larger quilts. Its arm is around 18 inches. These machines are electronic, and make the process of quilting rather quick, as it covers a wider area in a short span of time. Moreover, its much more comfortable as you don’t have to keep getting up and changing your position or the quilt’s position. This long arm machine makes the quilting process much more efficient, and is time saving as well. You can now make a quilt with a long arm quilting machine in a short period of time, and with not too much of effort.

A regular sewing machine can also be used for your quilting purpose. However the main draw back with a regular machine is that, its arm is just seven inches in length. And so the person who’s making the quilt, can focus only on a portion of the quilt, at a time. Moreover, you have to keep shifting your position, along with the quilt, so that it fits into the sewing machine. This lands up being as uncomfortable and uneasy as making your quilts with hand, where you have to keep moving.

You can purchase a long arm quilting machine at various prices. The difference in prices is mainly due to the quality of the machine. Machines of well known brands, are naturally much more higher than the lesser known brands. It all depends on you, your budget and how much your going to be using your long arm quilting machine. You rather spend a little more than compromise on quality. Alternatively you can wait for sales or discounts.



Jerry

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:


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:


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:


If you have ever considered starting a quilting business but don’t feel good about America’s tough economy, I challenge you to think again. There are plenty of reasons to start your own quilting business now!

Money spent on quilting supplies in 2006 increased 45.4 percent. That year, quilters spent $3.3 billion in the United States alone. Statistics further show that the average quilter spent just over $2,300 for supplies in 2006.

Some will argue that times have changed since 2006. It’s true. Times have changed and those changes make this a great time to start a quilting business of your own.

For instance, many large businesses and corporations are downsizing. Quilters can turn their hobby into money if they find themselves without a “regular” job. Maybe you could use your quilting skills or knowledge to earn extra money on a part time basis. In times like these, every little bit of money you can earn helps!

But in addition to all those great reasons, there’s still a bigger reason that this is a great time to start a quilting business.

Statistics show that quilters would prefer to buy supplies from retail stores and quilt shows, but the number of quilters who shop for supplies and services 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. The survey doesn’t even address how many quilters bought LESS than half their supplies online. I’m sure that number is huge!

More quilters report having high speed internet access. In 2006, 73 percent of quilters surveyed had access to high speed internet – which makes shopping online safer. That percentage was 12 percent higher than in 2003.

Here’s another good reason to start a quilting business online. As more and more quilters reach retirement age, spending more time at home and often moving to rural communities where there are no quilting shops, online opportunities will continue to grow.

Quilting is not solely an American hobby. Quilting is spreading world-wide. Not too many years ago, Japan and Australia hosted their first quilting shows. Those shows have grown and we are now seeing quilt shows in many Scandinavian, European and Asian countries.

To sum it up: quilting supplies and services offered online reach much farther than the United State’s slumping economy affects. There’s no need to let a nation’s economic slump create a slump for you or your dream business.

Whether you want to offer a hand or machine quilting service, sell supplies or start a remnant shop on your favorite online auction site, there’s no time like the present to start your own quilting business.

Internet businesses give quilters the opportunity to be business owners without the often expensive overhead of renting office or retail space. An internet business is just as real and viable as a brick and mortar location – each setting has its own benefits. An internet business will allow the quilter time to grow his or her business without feeling the pressure to “sink or swim” in a storefront location.

If your dream is to start a quilting business, don’t wait another day. That doesn’t mean you should march in and tell your boss you’re through tomorrow, but you should start investigating your quilting business options. The online market is not saturated, and the sooner you get in and find your niche, the sooner your own quilting business will be profitable!



Jamie

Jennifer Walter asked:


Chenille is a tufted velvety yarn is known as soft or Imitation chenille. Unlike some of the other quilting textile which you can find on the market, chenille is not very old textile. It’s popularity only arises only in the recent times. Ten odd years ago its existence was not common.

Not many quilters actually had the chance to use them in their quilting projects. It existence is not as famously known as that of silk or cotton. The corporeal is smooth, mild & synthetic. In semblance also it is soft feathery.

At present, chenille has its own brightness with numerous qualities. These are the qualities which make chenille quilt unique as compared with other quilting fabrics. Its distinctiveness had made chenille one of the much sought after quilting fabrics of all time.

As chenille quilt is a kind of soft cloth with perfect look that’s why is excellent to prepare gift quilt, bedspreads & lap quilts. In 1996 designer Christine Bramhall also designed chenille jacket which later on became the talking point of the fashion industry.

LIST OF MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES NEEDED WHEN DEALING WITH CHENILLE FABRIC:

* Iron

* International type sewing machine

* Rotary cutter

* Cutting Board

* Sewing needles – International size 12

* Rotary ruler

* Needles

* Stitching machine

* Chenille – colors of your preference

* Cutting Board

* Fabric to make blocks, silk shall be most attractive.

* Pins – Glass Beheaded or plastic make.

* Batting

* Design for chenille quilt

Please follow these instructions carefully when you are working on your quilting projects:

1. Pre-wash the textile separately. Please do ensure the colors don’t fade and the textile doesn’t shorten. Then well dry the textile & Iron it later including the sprinkle starch. Try to be attentive that the textile be completely dry & dense with out wrinkles. Dry clean would be a better option if you can avoid washing.

2. More the layers and varied designs give chenille quilt a royal appearance. It can be used in different ways such as an appliqué pattern or block pattern. Place the base textile on the bottom & layer textile on top. Flat a textile & pin the layers together.

3. On every side stitch 5 or 6 layers of textile together keep away the pins. Later on the stitches are to be detached therefore stitches should be done loosely. While using block quilt patterns cut the textile as stated and make simple blocks as directed. Don’t let to slip from the mind to use the combination of textile while through it with chenille.

4. As the pieces joins do lining, batting and quilting as you would for any other quilting fabrics. Better to ensure do not quilt above chenille pieces as it looses it’s feather with the stitches on it.

5. Put attaching next to the edges using 2.5 inches attaching folded lengthwise. Be careful that never attach chenille. Always use silk as it is permanent and stronger cloth you can also feather the chenille by moderate wash drying with air blow.

Chenille is extent to use, as appearence can be swollen and warmer than normal quilt. They also require additional care like any of your precious things might require. These quilt do not ask for a wash regularly.



Tonya

Penny Halgren asked:


have to quilt to start a quilting business. There are plenty of ideas to find your niche in the world of quilting businesses.

Making and selling quilting kits is one niche market. Beginner quilters would purchase quilting kits. They are your target market. As you plan your quilting kits, keep in mind some of the obstacles a beginning quilter would face and strive to overcome them.

For instance, a beginning quilter might be daunted by all the patterns out there from which to choose. If a beginner selects a difficult pattern, chances are that the project will never be finished and the beginner might never try quilting again! To avoid that, select simple quilt patterns for your quilting kits.

Another obstacle beginning quilters face is fabric selection. Your quilting kit will have the fabric pieces with it, taking the guess work out of color coordinating and fabric selection.

Go ahead and cut the pattern pieces for your quilting kits, too. Beginners will especially love this! You could offer intermediate level quilters with another option. For the slightly more advanced quilter, you could print (or trace) the patterns onto fabric and allow the quilter to cut them out. Take into consideration how much time this might take, however.

Don’t forget to include threads and even a needle for hand stitching!

There are many different levels at which you could offer quilting kits. You could make kits for quilt block pillows, wall hangings, lap quilts or full size quilts. You could also compile kits for quilted toys and dolls.

Another niche market for quilting kits could revolve around holiday themes. Offer kits that will make ornaments and other decorations.

How will you sell your quilting kits? Many have dreams of mass market production, but you can sell your quilting kits without a contract from a large chain store! Consider selling the kits from your own website or Internet store. You could even sell them from an online auction site/store.

Small, classified line ads are an inexpensive way to advertise if you choose to advertise in craft magazines. Don’t overlook all the free publications in your particular area, either. A lot of newspapers or local tabloid sized magazines offer free classifieds.

Writing an effective classified line ad is not hard. Keep the information short and sweet, and don’t forget to include your contact information. A good classified ad might read: “Quilting kits. Perfect for beginners! See designs online at www.mywebsitename.com.”

You will also need to consider how to package your kits. The first way that comes to mind (and probably the easiest) is to include the fabric pieces, threads, needle and good instructions in a resealable plastic bag. The idea is to keep the kit simple for your buyer but to make money for your business. So, the less paper you include for directions, the more profitable your kit. But, make sure you include all necessary directions!

For instance, your detailed directions could fit on one side of paper or card stock. On the other side, take a photo of a completed quilt block from your kit. Make sure to include your business name and contact information on that side as well.

Home computers and inexpensive color laser printers make professional printing very affordable. Consider investing in a laser printer if you will be printing your own directions. Copy printed by inkjet method smears and runs if it gets wet.

When you assemble your kit, make sure the sheet or cardstock is inserted in the bag so that the photo of the completed quilt or block faces outside. This gives your customer a chance to see what they are purchasing and an example of how it should look upon completion.



Debbie

Penny Halgren asked:


Like many other crafts and hobbies, quilting has survived the test of time. Some quilt historians date the beginning of quilting back to the middle ages, when quilted clothes were made for warriors sent to battle in cold climates. According to history, fabrics were layered and stitched in the same quilting method used today to keep the layers intact and keep the warriors warm.

You might note several differences:

· The quilting was done by hand (as was the construction of the clothes)

· There were no fancy designs of either the quilting pattern or the clothes

· Probably this clothing was made by local tailors (who generally were men)

Quilting today is much more fun and includes both men and women! Because there are more than 20 million quilters in the US, fabric stores have dedicated sections of their shops to quilting fabric. In many communities, it is easy to find a quilting store or two (or three) – a shop that caters just to quilters. And finding quilting fabric online is getting easier by the day.

With a wide selection of resources, the next question is whether you will enjoy quilting. The art of quilting has something for almost everyone.

Traditional patchwork quilts are still very popular. They provide a framework for design while allowing the quilter to use fabric selection to vary the overall look of the quilt. Contemporary quilts, or art quilts, are also popular, and provide a canvas for designing quilts that has no bounds.

Many quiltmakers still rely on hand sewing which makes quilts portable. Your quilt project easily goes into the waiting room of doctors and dance classes, travels with you in the car on long trips, and turns idle time into productive time.

Other quilters complete their entire quilt project on the machine – from piecing blocks to machine quilting and finishing the binding.

Whether your quilt is made by hand or machine, the sense of pride you feel when your quilt is finished is at least equal to the feeling of love, admiration and appreciation that the person who uses or receives the quilt feels.

And you become a thread in the history of time – linking past generations with the future.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

www.How-to-Quilt.com

Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com

Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts



Lois